Vermont Travel Notes

Father's Day weekend in Quechee, VT means it is time for one of the state's top annual events, the Quechee Balloon Festival.

The 28th Annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon, Fine Art, Craft & Music Festival starts June 15 and runs through the 17th. There will be balloon flights twice a day in the early mornings and early evenings. A craft fair is the center attraction at the Village Green event area and features the work of some 50 crafts people.

The entire festival emphasizes family activities and there are many items to make the event a family outing.

There will be live music such as rhythm & blues, jazz, 60's tunes, jump swing, a fiddlers' competition, plus an antique and classic car show, clowns, mimes, jugglers, puppeteers, unicyclists, vaudeville acts, and dancers, church rummage sale, and the Quechee Library book sale.

There will be many choices for food including breakfast, barbecue, sandwiches, ice cream.

The Ottaquechee River runs through the village and over a waterfall at the Village Green which make a picturesque backdrop for the event.

Exit 1 from I-89 onto Route 4 and travel west. Note: you will see signs about Route 4 being closed but that is for bridge repairs in Woodstock and you won't be going that far if you are going to the balloon festival.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Bennington Battle Flag

This Thursday, June 14, is Flag Day, a proclamation by Woodrow Wilson 91 years ago which then became an official holiday when President Truman signed a Congressional Act in 1949. June 14 was chosen because that is the day in 1777 when Congress officially adopted the basic layout of the flag that has evolved since then.

The flag above is popularly known as the Bennington Battle Flag but also referred to as the Filmore flag because it was carried home after the battle of Bennington by a soldier named Filmore who passed it down through the generations including President Millard. Today the flag is on display at the Bennington Museum.

The Bennington Battle took place in August 1777, twelve years before Vermont became a state. The Americans were led by General John Stark. He and his "Green Mountain Boys" defeated 600 German mercenaries.

General Stark gave a rallying speech to his men before the battle in which he said "My men, yonder are the Hessians. They were brought for seven pounds and ten pence a man. Are you worth more? Prove it. Tonight, the American flag floats from yonder hill or Molly Stark sleeps a widow."

The flag below is the one adopted by the Green Mountain Boys and was most likely also in use at the same battle.

I highly recommend a visit to the Bennington Museum - it's a beautiful facility. There are many historical displays, exhibits and events you can see on their Calendar web page. The museum also has the largest public collection of Grandma Moses paintings in the world.

The town of Bennington is located in the southwestern part of the state just a few miles from the New York and Massachusetts borders. Here is a link to a Google map of the Bennington Museum's location.

Green Mountain Boys' Flag



(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is one of the greatest assets for both the town of Burlington and the state of Vermont. It's in a scenic location right on the waterfront and it is one of the top places you should put on your list to visit.

Two fun events are coming soon:

# Kids’ Pirate Festival – June 16–17 (Father’s Day fun for the whole family!)

# Bon Voyage Party for Schooner Lois McClure – June 17

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

The Manchester VT Antique and Classic Car Show, also known to car enthusiasts as the "Hildene Car Show" or simply "Hildene" is this weekend.

Hildene is a mansion once owned by the son of Abraham Lincoln. It is now a museum with beautiful gardens and grounds. It is located in the countryside south of Manchester VT and north of Arlington in the southwestern part of the state. Here is a link to a Google Map of Hildene Road.

The countryside around there is ideal for driving tours.

Legendary stock car driver and NASCAR pioneer Junior Johnson, the "Last American Hero" as author Tom Wolfe called him, will be the Grand Marshall.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

The Burlington Jazz Festival continues this weekend with multiple performances Saturday and Sunday. A detailed schedule with biographies of the performers can be found here.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Tickets are now on sale for the Fed Cup Semifinal between the United States and Russia, which will be held at Topnotch Resort and Spa in Stowe, VT, July 14 – 15, 2007. Topnotch is ranked #1 in the Northeast and in the Top Ten Best U.S. Tennis Resorts by Tennis Magazine.

This will be the fifth meeting between the United States and Russia in Fed Cup play with the U.S. ahead in the series, 4-1. Russia defeated the United States in the 2005 Fed Cup Semifinal in Moscow the last time these two countries met.

While the USA is battling the Russians in Stowe, defending champion Italy will host France in Castellaneta Marina.

Tickets can be purchased by calling (888) 334-8782.

The Fed Cup has been played for more than 40 years and is the premier international team tennis competition and the largest annual international team competition in sport for women.

It is likely that the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, will play at the Stowe event. The two were part of the USA team that beat the Russians most recently in Del Ray Beach FL.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus