Vermont Travel Notes

This evening I stumbled across how to use Google Maps to determine GPS coordinates.

I did it by doing something I had never done in years of clicking the Link button on a Google Map - I actually read the link. Usually I'm busy getting the link to put into an entry in the blog. I never read the jumble of letters for heaven's sake! I'm right in the middle of trying to get something done dammit.

But this time I stopped long enough to look at it - which comes dangerously close to proof reading.

As I did, it dawned on me that some numbers in the middle of the link looked similar to GPS coordinates. Could it be? After a minute or two of copy and paste activity, I had my Duh-Oh! moment. They ARE coordinates! Who knew?

Well actually, I bet a lot people know. It's probably another example of the rest of world way out in front of me and I'm back here in the mountains of Vermont sucking wind.

So, for my fellow in-the-weeds, off-the-grid woodchucks, I proudly present how to find GPS coordinates from Google Maps . . .

Go to maps.google.com, enter an address in the search bar and click Enter

On the next page, right click the red balloon on the map. In the popup, click the last item, Center Map Here. (Or right click elsewhere on the map if the red balloon is not where you want the coordinates.)

In the upper right part of the blue bar, click Link.

In the window under "Paste link in email or IM" you will see what looks like a tragic explosion in a type setting shop:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en& geocode=&q=94+pine+street+duxbury+vt&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=30.130288,56.601563&ie=UTF8&ll=44.295457,-72.771957&spn =0.006635,0.013819& z=16&iwloc=addr

'Bout two thirds of the way through all that are the letters UTF8&ll and then the = sign. The numbers immediately following the = sign . . . 44.295457, -72.771957 . . . are the coordinates for my inn at 94 Pine Street, Duxbury, Vermont, the street address I entered in the Google Maps search window back in step 1.

You will probably notice that some other numbers in the Link code are coordinates. You are correct. It's weird but the first is for Coffeeville Kansas and second is, I kid you not, Baghin Iran. What's going on with that, I have no idea. And I really don't have time to mess around with it now but I'd love to some other time.

At any rate, if you ever need coordinates for your travels, that's how you can use Google Maps to help. Give it a try and email me to let me know how it works out for y'all.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

If you are on Twitter, you can follow me at twitter.com/GrunbergHausVT/. If you are not familiar with Twitter, you can read about it on Wikipedia.

The graphic above is a clever illustration of the links between me and those who I am following, plus those following me, and who we have in common on Twitter.

If you go to my TweetWheel page, hover the cursor on a user to see which friends we have in common. Click the users' names to see their profile pages.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

The Mad River Valley Chamber of Commerce (Waitsfield and Warren VT) is sponsoring a drawing for an incredible grand prize.

Some very lucky winner of the Ultimate Ski Vacation will get:

- Cat skiing at Sugarbush- a ride in a luxury cabin Snow Cat to have first tracks in the best terrain before the lifts start running.
- Seven nights lodging in a slope side luxury condo with two outdoor hot tubs, heated outdoor pool, fitness center, game room
- Six day "Ski the Valley" pass good at Mad River Glen and Sugarbush ski areas, plus Ole's Cross Country Ski Center
- Free use of high-end demo equipment
- Four dinners for two people at four of the area's best restaurants
- A lunch for two at the very popular Warren Store Deli
- Fresh flower bouquet from Blue Toad Florist
- 60 minute couples therapeutic massage at Mad River Massage
- Guided naturalist program with your very own experienced environmental educator, taking you on a personalized, guided outing in a unique alpine setting.

I have no idea what a "gold class" vacation like this would cost but I'm sure it's thousands of dollars.

And that is just the Grand Prize Winner. There will also be a First Prize Winner and five Second Prize winners.

Somebody has to win - it might as well be you. It's easy to enter and no purchase is required. Entries must be received by March 8.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Cabot Coop is a group of Vermont dairy farmers that was founded in 1919. They have a very good blog with lots of helpful information including recipes.

The blog just posted some Super Bowl Recipes I think you will find useful. They certainly sound delicious:

Point Spread
Cheese and Bean Quesadillas ("Sudden Turnovers")
Habanero Cheddar and Black Bean Spread
Hot as a Torch! Jalapeno Poppers
Baked Jalapeno Poppers
Hot Broccoli-Cheddar Dip
Pizza
"Pig Skins "
Hero Sandwiches
Nachos

The website also features a handy online recipe box you can use to store your favorites for future reference.

There is even a beer and cheese pairings page.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Forbes.com has an article called America's Best Snowy Drives with an accompanying slide show listing the top ten winter drives in the US.

Of note to us is that one is in Vermont, one is in nearby upstate New York, and they missed a great one in New Hampshire.

The Vermont drive is Route 100 from Stowe to Rochester. This is a 48 mile section of Route 100 that I am familiar with because my inn is on that road in Waterbury. You will find the entire drive enjoyable but the best part will be between Warren and Rochester where you are driving in the Green Mountain National Forest. I wrote a travel review of Route 100 on Milebymile.com that includes this section. It will have more details on what you can expect to find.

A nearby drive in upstate New York is within an easy drive of Vermont. This Lake George Loop starts and ends in Glens Falls NY at the southern end of Lake George.

One of my favorite drives in the country is in nearby New Hampshire. It takes me just 45 minutes to get over there from my north central VT location. The road is State Route 112, the Kancamagus Highway, a magnificent drive. The road runs East and West so it is best to drive it without the sun in your eyes. In other words, from east to west in the morning, and west to east in the afternoon.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

Photo (c) Okemo


Here is a very good deal I just found on the Okemo Blog. Starting tomorrow, Thursday, January 22, and continuing through Saturday, January 24, Okemo is extending its "Try and Buy" from 60 minutes to 90 minutes.

This program starts when the lifts start. It gives you a chance to see what the conditions are like before you purchase a lift ticket.

More information about this and other lift ticket information is available on the resort's website.

(c) 2009 Jeff Connor