Staytripper — August 2020 by Seven Days

AUGUST 2020

Rock the Boat Sail away with Whistling Man

Blueberry Nights A Goshen inn and the great outdoors

Far Afield Five must-dos during Open Farm Week

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Have a Nice Stay

AU GU S T 2020

Due to a global pandemic, Vermont is in a season of many unknowns. We’re sure of one thing, though: Our summer is short and sweet, and we ought to make the best of it before cooler days and a potential second wave of COVID-19. Seven Days created Staytripper to guide you to in-state recreation during this era of limited travel and heightened safety concerns. Your summer vacation plans may have been canceled, but you can stay and play right here; safer, socially distanced options abound in our rural landscape. This issue will point you in the right direction for picnicking, river swimming, alpaca petting and island biking adventures. Looking to truly get away from the crowds? It doesn’t get much more remote than sailing on Lake Champlain or camping on a Northeast Kingdom lavender farm. So, staytrip and stay safe. And remember that spending your “vacation” dollars at Vermont’s struggling tourism businesses — from lodging to guided tours to attractions — helps them to survive this season and beyond.

CRUISE CONTROL ..................... 6 Sail Lake Champlain with Whistling Man Schooner Company BY KEN PICARD

INN AND OUT ............................. 10 Outdoor recreation and picnic dinners draw visitors to Goshen’s Blueberry Hill Inn

— CARO LY N FOX, EDITOR

BY KRISTEN RAVIN

•

DOWN ON THE FARM ............... 12 Embrace agritourism during Open Farm Week

Derby

Isle La Motte

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BY JORDAN BARRY

VERMONTING ............................ 14

Three close-to-home travel itineraries

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Irasburg Milton

Colchester

BY JORDAN BARRY, SALLY POLLAK & PAULA ROUTLY

St. Johnsbury

Burlington 12

INTO THE WOODS..................... 17

An enthusiastic camper shares her tips

•

Montpelier Monkton

BY MARGARET GRAYSON

Plainfield

DRIVING DESTINATIONS ......... 21 • Dog Mountain • Summer Drive-In Movies • Lavender Essentials of Vermont

KIDS’ ACTIVITY PAGE ............... 26 Word search, coloring, maze and more!

Middlebury

Fairlee

14 ON THE COVER: Nicole Handel trail running with her dog Bear on the Long Trail in Duxbury

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Orwell

•

Bethel

Goshen

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Exploring the state?

PHOTO BY NATHANAEL ASARO

Follow the pins to find the fun in this issue.

Rutland

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12 Arlington Westminster

Bennington

Brattleboro

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Cruise Control

Sail Lake Champlain with Whistling Man Schooner Company BY KE N PIC A R D

Capt. Hannah “Diddy” Langsdale

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apt. Hannah “Diddy” Langsdale has a favorite moment on every cruise she pilots on Lake Champlain. When her sloop reaches the open water and the sails are raised, she’ll switch off the “iron jib” — aka the motor — and let her passengers take in the peaceful and majestic beauty of hauling across the water powered by the wind. “It doesn’t seem like a lot, but … if you’re going 3 knots, it feels like 30 miles per hour,” she said. “This is the most fun you’ll have going 4 miles per hour.” Langsdale is the owner of Whistling Man Schooner Company. For more than four years, the company’s twohour sailing excursions have been ranked the No. 1 tour in Burlington on the online travel site Tripadvisor. And with good reason. Whistling Man offers unique but affordable daytime, sunset and moonlit cruises that leave from the Burlington waterfront. In years past, most of its customers were out-of-state visitors. This year, however, Whistling Man is seeing an uptick in local bookings, as Vermonters seek safe and socially distanced outings that are close to home and can be done in small groups. “My goal is to get people to realize what a gem they have in their own backyard in Lake Champlain,” Langsdale said. “There’s so much history and beauty

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANNAH LANGSDALE/WHISTLING MAN SCHOONER COMPANY

The Friend Ship and the Wild Rose on Lake Champlain

here, and I just want people to appreciate that even more.” Langsdale, 26, started working for Whistling Man in 2016 as a deckhand, with little prior sailing experience. Two years later, she had earned her captain’s license and bought the company from her mentor, Mathias Dubilier, who still works for her as a captain one day a week. Whistling Man owns two sister vessels — the Friend Ship and the Wild Rose — both replicas of the 19th-century, wooden-rigged cod and lobster fishing vessels that were traditionally used in Maine. Each is 48 feet long, but, due to slightly varying configurations, the crafts hold different numbers of passengers. Their designs cut through the waves easily and are smooth and comfortable to sail, even in choppy conditions. Both boats are designed with their lines “led aft,” meaning all the ropes to raise and lower the sails run back to the helm so they can be piloted by just one person. However, Langsdale always has a captain and deckhand aboard, both to crew the vessel and to attend to passengers’ needs, whether that’s opening a bottle of wine, spreading a cheese plate or taking photos. CRUISE CONTROL

» P.8

We kind of go where the wind takes us.

CAPT. HANNAH “DIDDY” LANGSDALE

The Wild Rose on Lake Champlain

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF HANNAH LANGSDALE/WHISTLING MAN SCHOONER COMPANY

There’s so much history and beauty here, and I just want people to appreciate that even more. CAPT. HANNAH “DIDDY” LANGSDALE

The Friend Ship in the Burlington harbor

Cruise Control « P.7 Assuming conditions are safe, Langsdale added, passengers are invited to take the wheel and raise and trim the sails. That said, passengers aren’t expected to do anything at all. They can simply kick back, dip their feet in the water and enjoy the ride. Along the way, Langsdale and her crew recount aspects of the history of this part of Lake Champlain and share stories and facts about the features they pass, such as the Champlain Thrust, Dunder Rock, Juniper Island and various Burlington-area shipwrecks. Cruises generally last two hours but have no set course or destination. “We kind of go where the wind takes us,” Langsdale said. “It’s just a great way to see Lake Champlain and get a different perspective of Burlington.” Due to COVID-19 and social-distancing requirements, Whistling Man is limiting its tours to six passengers on public (mixed-group) cruises. On private cruises, the Wild Rose can carry up to six passengers and the Friend Ship up to 10. Although most people book their tickets in advance, Whistling Man also accepts walk-ups as available. Cruises start at $50 per adult and $35 for children over 5, or $300 to $500 for the entire vessel. 8

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INFO WHISTLING MAN SCHOONER COMPANY, 1 College St., Burlington, 825-7245, whistlingman.com.

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Vermont State Historic Sites 2020 SEASON

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Inn and Out Outdoor recreation and picnic dinners draw visitors to Goshenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Blueberry Hill Inn BY KRI STEN RAVI N

Top: The exterior of Blueberry Hill Inn Bottom: Carly Averill picking berries in the Green Mountain National Forest

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or Vermonters planning summer vacations, social distancing may be a top priority. In their quest to avoid crowded spaces, more and more folks are focused on finding fun outside. With access to miles of trails, an open field and al fresco food service, a stay at Goshen’s Blueberry Hill Inn is all about the great outdoors. Innkeeper Tony Clark purchased the picturesque property in 1969 and opened Blueberry Hill in 1972; he still operates the inn with his ex-wife, Shari Brown. In keeping with tradition for the family-run business, their adult children, Britta and Oliver, are also on the property for the summer to lend a hand. Brown described the inn’s usual vibe as “very communal.” Before the coronavirus pandemic, guests who stayed in its 12 rooms would gather at a farmhouse table for a one-seating four-course dinner, help themselves to food in the refrigerator and congregate in common spaces. “Our whole setup was, we felt, pretty unique in that people who didn’t know one another sat with one another, and they got to know one another,” Brown said. “It’s interesting changing that

center is a four-season destination with trails for running, hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Outdoor adventurers can access the Blueberry Hill trail network, the Long Trail and the Catamount Trail. For those who truly want to embrace nature, Blueberry Hill offers camping. “We’re getting more campers than inn guests,” noted Brown. Visitors who schedule their stays through the booking app Hipcamp, which Brown called “the Airbnb of camping,” can set up in Blueberry Hill’s field, which has three outdoor showers and “great sunsets,” she noted. “There’s really no other place to stay,” wrote one camper in a Hipcamp review last year. “The meadow at Blueberry Hill is perfect, just a wide, green expanse of pure Green Mountain beauty.” Brown remarked that the inn’s business is down by 80 to 85 percent. Still, as the innkeepers have made adjustments, they’ve found comfort in new interactions with Vermonters showing their support. “We’ve been doing rocking business with the cookies,” said Brown of

We’re getting interest from local folks just wanting to explore their backyard. SHARI BROWN

Blueberry Hill’s famous chocolate chip cookies. Folks can purchase the sweet treats, along with granola, trail lunches and other goodies, through the inn’s online general store. The picnic dinners, too, have opened the doors to locals. “Now it feels much more welcoming to the local community, and they seem to be appreciating it,” Brown reflected. The inn even hosted a bluegrass picnic dinner on July 5, with a live band and 32 attendees. Typically, the inn’s guest list is mostly filled with out-of-staters looking for outdoor recreation. “More and more, even before [the pandemic], we’re getting interest from local folks just wanting to explore their backyard,” said Brown. Vermonters seeking sanctuary could certainly find it on the picturesque Goshen grounds. “We sometimes forget when there are no guests that there’s a pandemic,” mused Brown, who lives on the property, “because there’s just so much space here.”

INFO BLUEBERRY HILL INN, 1245 Goshen-Ripton Rd., Goshen, 247-6735, blueberryhillinn.com.

From top: Adirondack chairs by the pond; a bedroom with a view; Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center

PHOTOS: CALEB KENNA

whole energy, and it’s not quite the same, but we are making the best of it.” In the coronavirus era, making the best of it means, in part, foregoing deposits and limiting occupancy. While current state regulations allow Brown to book all of the inn’s rooms, she’s chosen to keep the guest count to about six or eight individuals. In June, the inn began offering picnic dinners in place of the usual sit-down supper. Guests and nonguests alike can preorder a plated meal featuring local fare and eat outside at picnic tables or in Adirondack chairs by the pond. “We give folks a tablecloth, and we roll napkins, and we give them mason jars, and we give them a candle and a little vase of flowers,” Brown said. Picnic service will continue as long as the weather allows. With less socializing taking place in the bed-and-breakfast itself, vacationers may be drawn to the myriad open-air activities available on or near its grounds. As Brown tells it, her ex-husband started one of the state’s first Nordic ski businesses, the Blueberry Hill Outdoor Center. Located in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area within the Green Mountain National Forest, the

SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

PHOTOS COURTESY OF OPEN FARM WEEK

Cloverworks Farm

Down on the Farm Embrace agritourism during Open Farm Week BY J ORDAN B ARRY

ermont’s farms have been busy this year. They’ve adapted to an incredible increase in demand for their CSAs, stocked farmstands for customers hoping to avoid the grocery store, and built online stores to offer local delivery. Much of that work takes place behind closed barn doors. For one week in August, though, those doors will swing wide open as Vermonters experience Open Farm Week. Like the farms themselves, this sixth annual event has adjusted its approach this year due to the pandemic. Some farms will go virtual, offering online workshops, guided tastings and behind-the-scenes stories on social media. Others will spread out across expansive pastures for tours, picnics and pick-your-own. INFO “Food and farms are such a wonderful way to explore Vermont,” said Tara Pereira, executive director of the Vermont Fresh Network OPEN FARM WEEK, and Open Farm Week committee member. “It’s about celebrating local August 10 through 16, farms, getting outside and learning where your food comes from.” diginvt.com. In addition to scheduled events at farms around the state, this year’s lineup includes activities you can get out and do on your own time. Farms open for picnicking and walks will be listed along with traditional tours and educational events, kicking off Vermont Fresh Network’s monthlong Great Vermont Picnic and new ongoing Farm Walks initiative. Read on for five farm-focused experiences to explore during Open Farm Week, August 10 through 16. Find the full list of events at diginvt.com.

Don’t Be Sheepish Cloverworks Farm, 4558 Creek Rd., Irasburg, 324-2039, cloverworksfarm.com

Cloverworks Farm raises Bluefaced Leicester and Border Leicester sheep in the Northeast Kingdom, selling wool, yarns and lamb. Daily tours — conducted at a six-foot distance — will take visitors on a walk around the farm. (Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes!) Learn about sheep farming

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in New England while you meet the flock. Back at the farmstand, browse the vibrant yarns and take a skein or two home for your next knitting project. Aspiring shepherd? On August 15, farmer Katie Sullivan will lead a free workshop for those thinking of starting a sheep venture of their own.

Yarn from Cloverworks Farm

Highland Times

COURTESY OF TARA PEREIRA/VERMONT FRESH NETWORK

Greenfield Highland Beef, 487 Gray Rd., Plainfield, 454-7384, greenfieldhighlandbeef.com

Combing a Highland cow at Greenfield Highland Beef

Checking out chickens and horses at the Miniature Farm

Looking for a good view? Pack a picnic and head to Greenfield Highland Beef on August 16, where you’ll find majestic cattle grazing on hillsides, with the mountains of the Worcester Range and the Adirondacks standing tall in the distance. The farm’s heritage cattle belong to the oldest registered herd of Highlands in the United States; post-picnic, you can get up close and personal with the gentle, shaggy, long-horned animals. Taking turns to practice proper social distancing, family units will be able to pet or comb a Highland calf. Beef will also be for sale on-site.

Life in Miniature The Miniature Farm, 247 Mears Rd., Milton, 238-8883, Facebook

Say hello to miniature and full-size horses, mini donkeys, ewes, goats, ducks, chickens, and pheasants at the Miniature Farm on August 11 and 13. For the second year, the farm leads walking tours through its animal habitats and barns for Open Farm Week — petting encouraged. Spending time with animals can be incredibly therapeutic, and these little guys are ready to snuggle. Bring a brown-bag lunch to eat at the farm’s picnic tables while you enjoy the fresh air and animal antics.

Food and farms are such a wonderful way to explore Vermont. TARA PEREIRA

Garlic braids from Last Resort Farm

Ya Herd? Morse Brook Farm, 226 Kurkul Rd., Westminster, 518-2155, morsebrookfarm.com

Established in 2019 when two friends combined their farming ventures, Morse Brook Farm raises Cheviot Cross sheep, Boer goats and cattle on picturesque pastures in southeastern Vermont. During Open Farm Week, Morse Brook will offer a glimpse into the life of a shepherd with daily herding demonstrations. Contact the farm to reserve a time, and be sure to stock up on meat, maple syrup and yarn from the farm’s sheep in the farmstand while you’re there.

Keeping Your Distance Last Resort Farm, 2246 Tyler Bridge Rd., Monkton, 453-2847, lastresortfarm.com

Garlic is the original social-distancing food, right? If you’ve been stocking up to keep people six feet away, Last Resort Farm will teach you how to weave it into a beautiful, storable braid. Farmer Eugenie Doyle has been offering an on-farm version of this garlic-braiding class during Open Farm Week for years, and it always sells out. This year, it will be aired via YouTube for what Pereira called “weatherand virus-proof learning.” Pick up a garlic bundle at the farm — available for preorder online starting in late July — and follow the video tutorial from the comfort of your home; it will be accessible anytime during Open Farm Week.

Morse Brook Farm

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Vermonting Three close-to-home travel itineraries STORY & PHO T O S BY JORDAN B A R RY, SA L LY P OLL A K & PAU L A ROUT LY

very week through midOctober, Seven Days presents “Vermonting,” a column of curated excursions in all corners of our great (but not so large) state. Indeed, Vermont’s diminutive size makes a multitude of short trips accessible, whether for a few hours, an overnight or a longer getaway. Find three sample itineraries here, and read more detailed travelogues at sevendaysvt.com. Before you hit the road for any of these destinations, read up on their current COVID-19 policies. And visit sevendaysvt.com/ vermonting-maps to download a map of these locations straight to your mobile device!

Travel Back at Mount In in American History dependence A tr

ip to the Mount Independence worth it for Ve State Historic rmonters who Site in Orwell have an intere is — and for thos st in state and e who enjoy a U.S. history gentle walk in settled in the the woods. The summer of 1776 site was , when thousa began buildin nds of Americ g an encampm an troops ent; they also nect to Fort T built a floating iconderoga ac bridge to conross the lake. To were tempora gether, the tw ry homes to 12 o installations ,0 00 to 14,000 tr the Revolutiona oops in the ea ry War. rly years of GATHER PIC

IC PROVISIO NS FROM BU This Orwell gr XTON’S STO ocery and deli RE. makes hearty specials. Pair subs and lobste your pick with r roll a local craft br ew, and enjoy at a nearby pi th e meal cnic table. LEARN AND STRE

TCH YOUR LE The visitor ce GS AT MOUN T INDEPEND nter and surrou ENCE. nding six-mile visitors past ar network of trai tifacts of the R ls lead evolutionary W story of the fo ar settlement rtress. Try the and tell the 1.6-mile Baldw path leads to th in Trail loop; an e edge of a prom offshoot ontory, affordi Fort Ticondero ng views of th e lake, ga and Mount Defiance. PICK-YOUROWN AT CHAM PL

AIN ORCHAR fruits availabl DS in Shoreh e here range fr am. August om apricots an peaches. Wear d apples to plum a mask and pr s and actice social di stancing as yo u pick. SPEND A NIG HT AT

E SHOREHAM house. Travele INN, built in rs may stay in 1799 as a tavern the guest room or in the loft-s s of the main ho tyle suites in th use e renovated sh eep barn. The pub offers outs on-site ide seating by reservation. GO FOR A SW IM

D.A.R. STATE PARK. Locat state park sits ed in Addison on the shores , this quiet of Lake Cham picnic on a bluff pl ai n. Go bird-wat overlooking th ching or e water before taking a dip.

Above: View from Mount Independence; lobster roll from Buxton’s Store

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Find more information on Vermont day trips and adventures from the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing at vermontvacation.com/staytripper.

Cool Off in Arlin

gton’s Battenki

ll River On a steamy summ er day, pack a coole r and a swimsuit, th toward a cooling di en head south p in the Battenkill Ri ver. Arlington, a town about 2,300 people, of is historically notab le for becoming the capital of the Verm fi rst ont Republic in 1777 and, much later, the longtime home of ar tist Norman Rockwe ll. Tucked in the va between the Green lley Mountains and the Taconic Range, Arlin sometimes overshad owed by larger and gton is more bustling near stand thigh-deep in by towns. But its river with a Verm ont IPA in your hand see this small town , and you’ll soon as a welcome escape from a pandemic.

At left, from top: Our Lady of Lourdes at St. Anne’s Shrine; Fisk Farm; Shrimp Marco at Ruthcliffe Lodge & Restaurant

FUEL UP FOR TH E DAY

Explore Isle La Motte by Bike French explorer Samuel de Champlain had the right idea when he landed on Isle La Motte more than 400 years ago. Paddling up the Richelieu River into the lake that would eventually bear his name, he steered for its lush forests and gentle hills. Even in 1609, the northernmost Champlain Island was a great place for a day trip. Today, the 7-by-2-mile island is great for “discovering” by bicycle. It’s mostly flat with very little traffic and short distances between intriguing points of interest. START YOUR DAY (AND PARK YOUR CAR) AT ST. ANNE’S SHRINE.

This Roman Catholic refuge invites guests to sit at the Stations of the Cross sculpture garden, visit the open-air chapel and pause for a picnic along the wooded edge of the sprawling property.

VISIT THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT FISK FARM.

Vice president Teddy Roosevelt was staying here on September 6, 1901, when he learned of president William McKinley’s assassination. Visitors can roam the fairy-tale buildings and gardens (there’s an art gallery in the barn) and view the Fisk Quarry Preserve.

DISCOVER THE ISLAND’S UNIQUE GEOLOGY AT THE GOODSELL RIDGE FOSSIL PRESERVE. Isle La Motte is part of the Chazy Fossil Reef,

formed 480 million years ago from a shallow tropical sea near what is now Zimbabwe. In the prized limestone, visitors can see the swirling shapes of marine animals that once inhabited it.

WITH A BURMES E PICNIC FROM This counter-servic MOONWINK. e restaurant in Man chester showcases Stannard’s native Bu co-owner May rmese cuisine. Tang y, slightly spicy flav traditional dishes su ors shine in ch as ong noh kou swell, a creamy, co conut-based stew with chicken and no odles. BROWSE READIN G MA

TERIALS AT NORT The sprawling book HSHIRE BOOKST ORE. store, founded in 19 76, is a must-stop in of Manchester. Ch the middle eck the website to see whether it’s op shopping (masks re en for in-person quired), or order ah ead for curbside pi ckup. STOP FOR

A DRINK AT THE CROOKED RAM. The Manchester ba r carries interesting Vermont beers and of the most dialedciders and one in selections of natu ral and local wines for a four-pack to go in the state. Stop , or sit outside with a cold one. SWIM BENEATH THE WEST ARLIN GTON COVERED red bridge stretches BRIDGE. Built in 1852, th acro

e ss the Battenkill; ne is the house where arby, on River Road Rockwell lived durin , g his years in Arlin shady spot by the br gton. Find a idge and go for a di p. Several compani kayaks and canoes es als o rent tubes, and facilitate drop -offs along the river . EXTEND YOUR ST AY

AT WEST MOUN TAIN INN. The century-old m ountain house offer s antique-filled room four-course dinner s, s and 150 acres of wo Don’t forget to wa odland trails. lk the gardens and visit the resident alp acas!

DINE BY THE WATER AT RUTHCLIFFE LODGE & RESTAURANT.

The charming eatery has been in the Infante family for 63 years. It offers tables by the lake, on the lawn, on the porch and inside — plus the option to go for a swim. Staying overnight? There are six guest rooms in the attached lodge.

WALK THE SANDY SHORES OF ALBURGH DUNES STATE PARK.

This is one of four state parks you’ll pass on the drive back through the islands. The beach is one of the longest along Lake Champlain and has shallow, warm waters.

At right, from top: Ong noh kou swel at Moonwink; Northshire Bookstore; the West Arlington Covered Bridge

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Rekindle the magic AT THE COURTYARD BURLINGTON HARBOR HOTEL WITH A VERMONT STAYCATION FOR TWO! Conveniently located in

Plenty of outdoor seating (socially distanced) and plenty of parking!

NEW SUMMER HOURS

2160 Mountain Road, Stowe overthewallvt.com To protect our patrons and our staff, please wear a mask as you enter. Thank you!

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the shores of Lake Champlain, the hotel inspires you to explore Burlington by day and relax and indulge by night. The Vermont Staycation Package includes lake view room (with Jacuzzi tub upon

Tuesday-Saturday 5pm-10pm Sunday Brunch 10am-3pm (Closed Mondays) Call for reservations: 802-253-9333

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7/22/20 8:12 AM

Camping by the Canadian border

n Hannah Vickery’s first camping trip, she didn’t make it through the night. She was 11, sleeping in her parents’ Virginia backyard, and she got spooked. “We heard a coyote,” Vickery said. “By the next morning, it had turned into a story where we saw, like, a grizzly bear.” Vickery, now 25 and living in St. Albans, has come a long way since that first attempt. Last August, she completed Vermont’s section of the Long Trail. The coronavirus pandemic has forced her to explore new, less-traveled trails, especially because the Long Trail shelters and facilities were closed in the early summer. Vickery is an essential worker at a crisis shelter, so being able to socially distance on the trails is important to her. She spoke to Staytripper about her can’t-live-without-it camping gear and how she handles misadventures. You hiked the Long Trail last year. Was there a learning curve to that kind of backpacking trip?

Yeah. My first night out — I’m kind of embarrassed, but usually when I backpack, I just pack in some granola bars or something and call it a day. This was my first time using a stove. I actually literally did not know how to use the Bic lighter. And I was struggling, trying to figure out how to light the lighter and stove. Thankfully, a guy at the shelter was like, “Can I offer some advice?” Then, by the time I was at the end of the trail, I was a practiced hand at lighting a lighter.

Into the Woods

This is a good segue into camp food and your favorite trail snacks. It sounds like granola bars are a big one.

An enthusiastic camper shares her tips

NATHANAEL ASARO

BY M A RG A R E T G R AYS ON

Yeah, so, granola bars were my favorite until after the Long Trail. I never want to eat another granola bar again. INTO THE WOODS SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

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74 Champlain Drive | Shelburne, Vermont 05482

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Support Your Community:

7/21/20 2:29 PM

Get It To-Go! The restrictions placed on restaurants are evolving, but many Vermont businesses are still making delicious food and drinks. Check GoodToGoVermont.com to see which businesses are serving up takeout, delivery, curbside pickup or on-site dining.

INTRODUCES

top news stories

Canoe, Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals & Guided Tours on the Lamoille River

days a week convenient email FILE: GLENN RUSSELL

Goodies from the snack bar at the Sunset Drive-In

Bethel Drive-In, 36 Bethel Dr., Bethel, betheldrivein.com Fairlee Drive-In, 1809 Route 5, Fairlee, fairleedrivein.com

10% OFF FOR VERMO

NTERS!

Exploring the outdoor wonderland is a gift we have as Vermonters. Come enjoy the beauty of the Lamoille River.

Adventure is out there. You just have to paddle it.

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Sunset Drive-In, 155 Porters Point Rd., Colchester, sunsetdrivein.com

Since the pandemic closed Vermont’s indoor theaters in March, most of us have been watching movies on our couches. But warm weather and the loosening of lockdown restrictions brought another option that is both refreshing and retro: the drive-in theater. For many, it’s the quintessential American summer experience: Buy the tickets, tune the radio, get some popcorn and settle in for a picture show. Yet, just six years ago, Hollywood’s transition to digital cinema threatened the survival of drive-ins across the U.S. In Vermont, three were left when the dust settled: Colchester’s four-screen Sunset Drive-In and the one-screen theaters in Bethel and Fairlee. Now, all three invite pandemic-weary Vermonters to soak in the magic of the big screen, with built-in social distancing and additional safety precautions. Most theaters have online ticketing; some deliver concessions to your car. And there are newer, pop-up options. Rutland’s Paramount Theatre has been holding sold-out drive-in movies on the Vermont State Fairgrounds, with plans to open another screen in Brandon. Up north, Moonrise Cinemas shows movies on a 52-by-26-foot screen on the Caledonia County fairgrounds in Lyndonville during the month of August. It will move to another, to-be-determined location for September. This sudden drive-in renaissance has a fringe benefit for movie fans. Because Hollywood’s big releases are on hold, the drive-ins are mixing up newer fare with older favorites that many younger viewers have never seen on a big screen: E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, Footloose, Jurassic Park, Galaxy Quest. Want to see Jaws the way so many scared-stiff moviegoers did in the summer of 1975, in a car under the stars with crickets in the background? Turn off your phone and drink it in.

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6/12/20 10:29 AM

THE SCALE 4T

MARGOT HARRISON

373 Blair Park Rd Williston Essex Junction - Coming Soon www.thescalevt.com 11 am- 8 pm daily

Also try: • MOONRISE CINEMAS, moonrisecinemas.com • PARAMOUNT THEATRE DRIVE-IN, paramountvt.org ST4t-scalepoke072920 1

SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

7/22/20 8:20 AM

“I love a dynamic downtown, full of life, creativity, great food, shopping options and live music. If we don’t support downtown businesses, this thriving cultural and economic center as we know it could irreversibly decline. There is no disputing that the experience of connecting with people, touching product and seeing stores is always a more human experience than going to Amazon.” SARAH PHANEUF OWNER, SLATE

Take a break from the big guys and support local first. Vermont merchants have faced mandatory store closures and other challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as some open back up, others operate online only. All need your support.

WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT FROM:

PICTURED: SLATE, 89 CHURCH ST., BURLINGTON, SLATEHOME.CO (JAMES BUCK)

SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

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Visit the Register for all the info on area shopkeepers who are selling their products online for local delivery or curbside pickup. Browse by categories ranging from jewelry to electronics, outdoor gear to apparel. Whether you need something for yourself or that perfect gift for a loved one, shop savvy and keep Vermont strong. SHOP T HE R EGIS T E R .C OM

6/22/20 2:21 PM

LAVENDER ESSENTIALS OF VERMONT

OPEN DAILY 10 AM TO 5 PM

ow n WHAT?

Destination

2103 Herrick Rd., Derby, lavender-essentials.com

Find creative, constructive and fun ways to spend your time from a safe social distance.

SUBSCRIBE AT SEVENDAYSVT.COM ST16T-NOW072920.indd 1

NATURE CENTER Included with admission:

Forest Canopy Walk Exhibits & Trails Live Bird Programs Details at vinsweb.org

149 NATURES WAY / QUECHEE, VT / 802.359.5000 SOCIAL DISTANCING & FACE COVERS REQUIRED

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COURTESY OF LAVENDER ESSENTIALS OF VERMONT

Lavender is a known healer — the flowering plant has antiseptic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. It also smells great and is used in aromatherapy to foster peace of mind, emotional balance and overall wellness. So a visit to a lavender farm just might be the breath of sweetsmelling air Vermonters need in a stressful, uncertain year. This is the fourth year Michele and Pierre Capron have been harvesting lavender and selling aromatherapy products — and the second year they’ve opened their Derby farm to the public. The 50-acre farm lost a lot of its lavender crop in the spring. “Mother Nature isn’t always kind. It’s not always predictable,” Michele said. But she replanted, and the new crop is expected to bloom in late August. Meantime, there’s plenty to do and see during a visit. Also try: Wander the lavender labyrinth, inspired by the work • CEDAR CIRCLE FARM AND EDUCATION of expert labyrinth designer CENTER’S PICK-YOUR-OWN FLOWER Lars Howlett. Pick your own FIELD, 225 Pavillion Rd., East sunflowers, mint and chamoThetford, cedarcirclefarm.org mile. Shop the farm store, full • TRAPP FAMILY LODGE’S WILDFLOWER of fresh vegetables and lavender WALKS AND GARDEN TOURS, products ranging from lotions 700 Trapp Hill Rd., Stowe, and oils to smudge sticks and trappfamily.com maple syrup. Enjoy the solitude of primitive, no-hookups camping — all groups are placed an acre apart for easy social distancing. Sign up for a romantic date night in the gazebo, complete with s’mores and heart-shaped sparklers, or stargaze through a telescope. Visit on the weekend for proper cream tea, served with lavender sugar cookies and lavender-blueberry jam. Or just stroll the fields, inhaling deeply. The farm is open for dropins Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to sunset. “You’re bound to meet me and my mom,” said Michele. “This is definitely a family farm. We’re trying to offer something different and affordable and an experience — the romanticism of a lavender farm on a former dairy farm in the Northeast Kingdom.”

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6/22/20 5:59 PM

Pick-Your-Own

Blueberries PEAK SEASON FOR PICKING! Visit OwlsHeadFarm.com for hours, picking info & curbside pickup!

BUY 6 QUARTS,

GET 1 FREE!

Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm

263 Blueberry Farm Road | Richmond | 434-3387

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SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

7/24/20 10:36 AM

HAVE YOU VISITED

DOWNTOWN ST. ALBANS LATELY?

There is always something new!

339

PINE ST.

SAT.

8:30-2PM

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Win a Daycation at

And, yes, we are open during Covid-19! Restaurants, cafes, shops, salons, galleries and more! In-state, out-of-state, everyone is welcome to visit Franklin County and check out Downtown St. Albans!

Smugglers’ Notch!

Want to spend the day splashing around a pool, mountain biking or exploring nature with your friends? Why wouldn’t you? Enter our Social Staytripper contest! HOW IT WORKS: Take a photo of the Staytripper cover and post it to Instagram. Tell us which adventure you’re inspired to try. Tag @sevendaysvt in your post and give us a follow. Use the hashtag #staytripper

The deadline to enter is Friday, August 7, at 5 p.m.

Please feel welcome to visit our Downtown Visit www.downtownsaintalbans.com to see what we have to offer! 24

SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

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Destination DOG MOUNTAIN 143 Parks Rd., St. Johnsbury, dogmt.com

Dog Mountain pays homage to our best friends with hiking trails, ponds for dogs to swim in, grassy fields, a Dog Chapel and a gallery devoted to the folk art of its creator, the late Stephen Huneck. It’s not just dog friendly; it’s a nonstop dog celebration. Canines can sniff, run, pee, play, romp and sniff some more, all of which is just fine. The 150-acre property in St. Johnsbury is open year-round and offers scenic mountain views. In non-pandemic times, its concerts and “dog parties” draw Also try: hundreds with two legs or four. These days, visitors can still • MILLS RIVERSIDE PARK, Route 15, hike through fields lined with Jericho, millsriversidepark.org wildflowers and into dense • SHELBURNE DOG PARK, 740 Harbor forest. Dog Mountain does Rd., Shelburne, shelburnevt.org request, however, that to enable social distancing, you leash your pet — a first — and wear a mask when around other guests. There’s plenty of room to spread out, though. Check out the gallery, where Huneck’s artwork is on display and for sale. It’s open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and until 5 p.m. on weekends. The same hours apply to the Dog Chapel that Huneck built. “Welcome,” says the sign out front. “All creeds, all breeds, no dogmas allowed.” Inside, thousands of people have pinned photos and notes of gratitude on the walls, recalling the companionship of pets they have lost. One sample: “The terror who loved everyone.” Even in these divisive times, we can all agree that dogs rule.

The Quincy Hotel OF ENOSBURG FALLS

WATERBURY’S FAVORITE CAFE! Open for online ordering and takeout

coffee, espresso drinks, breakfast, brunch, lunch, salads and smoothies See our menu and updated hours:

WWW.STOWESTREETCAFE.COM 29 Stowe St. Waterbury Village 882-8229

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You need a post-quarantine change of scene. Walk or bike along the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail, relax in our clean & comfortable rooms, airy balcony, porch and lounge or take a kayak on the river. MAKE YOU RESERVATION TODAY! quincyhotelvermont.com

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7/13/20 4:46 PM

MAT T HEW ROY

IN DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON

FILE: TRISTAN VON DUNTZ

hotelvt.com

The chapel at Dog Mountain

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SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

5/29/17 7/24/20 11:35 3:17 PM AM

Kids’ Activity Page Vermont Word Search Look up, down and diagonally to find every word on the list. Circle each one as you find it.

XWS J UM L U S A F D K K A E V I C I A H B R A O L MM I P QN L B G A T T I QO NMN Arlington Bethel Colchester Derby

T A N I E I G O S H E N I J H

J O N C K B S L C K S O R H K L O B S F M Y Z U Y M D T F O

H H K E N X L O E E K C P L C

N S B E S T KWH L AM P S O SWZ Z F O C A G R HM E E E T V H Z HO H T E H B Z E Y H

Fairlee Goshen Isle La Motte Lake Champlain

U R Y E R P Y N E O T T O P D V SM R T Y R C S OW P ZWE S H T A T B SM E L T K R G E

G P F E A T U O K J L D R R T

COLOR ME!

F Q O D E R B Y Y T X L J G A

Manchester Orwell Shoreham St. Johnsbury

Summer

2020 Take the Good Citizen Summer Challenge There are lots of ways to be a good citizen this summer. Visit a stop on the state's African American Heritage Trail, start the Venture Vermont Outdoor Challenge, or memorize and deliver Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Take a picture, send us a few sentences about your activity, and we'll enter you in a drawing for a gift card to a local business. Jackson Graham of Tinmouth, grade 4, delivering the Gettysburg Address

With support from:

Evslin Family Foundation

SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

FIND THE CURRENT ACTIVITIES AND AN ONLINE ENTRY FORM AT GOODCITIZENVT.COM

Used and Demo Hobie Mirage Kayaks Available!

•

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New inventory is in! We have SUPs, kayaks, rowboats and- as always - a selection of new & used sailboats and power boats.

• Fr e e sh ipp ing for or ders over $ 20 ( al l ot hers sh ip for $4 )

Discover VT from the water!

• Curb si de p ick-up avail able

• C al l u s t o or d e r b y p h on e or fo r re commen dati ons

SMALL BOAT EXCHANGE

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AUG 2020

CELEBRATE LOCAL FOOD & FARMS

7/27/20 2:24 PM

THE GREAT VERMONT PICNIC

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TASTING FLIGHTS WINE BY THE GLASS LOCAL CHEESE AND CHARCUTERIE OUTDOOR SEATING AND VINEYARD VIEWS

Iapetus Wine | Grown, Produced, and bottled by Shelburne Vineyard

ORDER TAKEOUT

& VT PRODUCTS TO-GO CHOOSE YOUR

PICNIC SPOT

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7/24/20 3:16 PM

THE TIE DYE SHOP One of a kind items. From t-shirts to tablecloths, we’ve got you covered.

# VFNEATS

EAT DRINK

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MEDIA SPONSOR:

7/23/20 5:11 PM

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SEVEN DAYS STAYTRIPPER AUGUST 2020

7/20/20 3:07 PM

“I SPY... SOMETHING DIFFERENT.” FIND TRAVEL GUIDANCE, TRIP IDEAS TO INSPIRE, AND MUCH MORE.

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