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utumn in New England unfolds with the richest of colors as fall foliage decorates the mountain ranges. If you find yourself visiting Vermont, the Green Mountain State has plenty to offer for a lengthy vacation or long weekend. Either way, cozying up in Vermont means quaint inns, friendly locals, fresh brewed Green Mountain coffee, delicious maple syrup and enjoying the blissfully quiet nature that abounds among the leaves. My husband, Bryan, and I headed up this way in October for a long weekend. Our first stop was Waterbury, home to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream and quite close to the popular winter retreat of Stowe, where many families come to ski and go dog sledding. While foliage is in full swing with bright hues of reds, yellows and oranges, Vermont usually sees its first snowfall in November. As we traveled up the byway, we stopped at Palmer Lane Maple for a taste of real maple syrup. You cannot visit Vermont without trying the nectar of the gods and heading home with at least 10 bottles for souvenirs. From there, we headed into the Lake Champlain Islands, a very popular spot during the summertime, but much more quiet during the autumn and winter. A quaint stay at North Hero House on the lake in this peaceful town—which is anything but cookie-cutter—was the perfect way to break up all of the sites and attractions. The inn’s owner, Walter Blasberg, is a venerable fountain of information about the Champlain Islands and is proud of the beautiful country house that many people make memories at. From North Hero, we took a drive back down to the bustling city of Burlington,with a youthful vibe proud of its foodie and beer scene. It was
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BY JENNIFER FAUCI jfauci@antonmediagroup.com
Church Street marketplace
The mural off of Church Street all aboard the Burlington Brew Tours evening Pub Crawl Tour for a taste of downtown Burlington’s nightlife and beer culture, which was not only informative, but very delicious as well. The next morning was spent meandering Church Street Marketplace, a beloved shopping district in the city that features everything from art,
Boats on the harbour in Burlington jewelry, clothing and coffee shops to several restaurants and cafés. Other highlights of this youthfully vibrant town included a walk along the Burlington Waterfront Park and a visit to Echo Lake Aquarium, a very popular destination for families with young children. If you take anything away from
Mount Philo State Park a northeastern road trip through Vermont, let it be this: Stop for a minute and soak in the illustrious landscape of this beautiful region, because not everywhere in the world looks like it. As you plan your trip, visit www. vermont.org for additional resources and information.
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VACATION & TRAVEL • DECEMBER 7 - 13, 2016
Exploring The Green Mountain State BY JENNIFER FAUCI
the world. Visit the factory for a tour, learn all about the bears and how they are made, shop around and make your own very special teddy bear, complete with clothes, accessories and personalization. Located at 6655 Shelburne Rd., Shelburne. For more information, visit www.vermont teddybear.com.
jfauci@antonmediagroup.com
If you think that skiing and sledding are the only things to do in Vermont in the wintertime, you are sadly mistaken. With so many cities and friendly locals eager to show off their proud state, you won’t have time to worry about what to plan next. Waterbury, the Champlain Islands and Burlington are three very different cities in Vermont that offer visitors unique perspectives and activities for a memorable trip. The best part? It’s all between a 20 minute and one hour drive away from town to town.
Ben & Jerry’s Factory and Ice Cream Shop
Be sure to check out the most famous stop in Waterbury: the Ben & Jerry’s Factory. An ice cream paradise for kids and adults alike, Ben and Jerry (who are actually from Merrick), create their famous pints of delicious ice cream here. Hop on the tour, visit the flavor graveyard of retired ice cream flavors and learn about their charitable endeavors. You can even get a cup or cone of your choice on the way out. For more information, visit www.benjerry.com. Located at 1281
Shelburne Country Store
Mount Philo State Park
Snowflake prints at the Bentley Museum
Snowflake Bentley Museum
Vermont Teddy Bear Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Waterbury.
Dog Sledding
Dogsled tours take guests through a five mile run that lasts for about an hour. Afterward, it’s time to pass out treats to the dogs and enjoy a complimentary hot chocolate or tea. For more information, visit www. destinationhotels.com/stowemountain-lodge/things-to-do/ winter-activities/dog-sledding-winter.
Wilson Bentley’s hobby turned into a new way to describe how no two snowflakes are alike. He became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal in 1885, which would eventually grow to more than 5,000 snow crystal photomicrographs. The Bentley Museum is open from March through December and is located at the Old Red Mill at 4A Red Mill Dr., Jericho. For more, visit www. snowflakebentley.com.
Vermont Teddy Bear
Founded in 1983, Vermont Teddy Bears have become famous all over
There’s plenty of places to take in the gorgeous scenery of Vermont, but Mount Philo State Park is something special. A brisk 30 minute walk uphill features trails and a paved road that will take visitors up the mountain for spectacular views. The park is also another fun sledding, skiing and snowshoe location if there’s snow in December. Located at 5425 Mount Philo Rd., Charlotte. For more information, visit www.vtstateparks. com/htm/philo.
Burlington Brew Tours
What better way to explore Burlington’s proud beer culture and foodie scene than an evening Pub Crawl Tour? Hop on a tour bus for a four-hour guided tour. Stops include Magic Hat Brewery and Switchback Brewery Visit www.burlington brewtours.com for more information.
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