THE INSIDER’S GUIDE TO THE MOUNTAIN LIFESTYLE
WINTER TWENTY FIFTEEN/SIXTEEN SUMMER TWENTY VOLUME TWENTYFIFTEEN FIVE SUMMER TWENTY SIXTEEN VOLUME TWENTY SIX
VOLUME TWENTY FOUR
Isn’t it time to vacation your way?
As a CLUB WYNDHAM® Plus owner, you can: e Choose the unit size that’s right for your vacation, from one to four bedrooms e Access new building inventory at Smugglers’ Notch e Increase the flexibility of your Smugglers’ float week to get you back in Prime Season e Travel the country without paying an exchange fee Visit us at the Village Center or call ext. 1253 today to learn more, including how you can enhance your float week to maximize your vacation time.
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18-hole, challenging, mountainside course • gravel paths locally owned & operated • restaurant & bar • no tee times necessary
Rates: Monday - Thursday, greens fee plus cart for 2: $35/per person (+ tax) Friday - Sunday & Holidays, greens fee plus cart for 2: $40/per person (+ tax)
802.933.5100
Directions from Smugglers’: turn right out of Smugglers’ entrance on to Route 108 North. Stay on Route 108 through the town of Bakersfield. Go approximately 1.5 miles and bear right on the Boston Post Road. Travel .5 miles and the Clubhouse is on the right. Closest course to Smugglers’, approximately 30 minutes.
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Welcome
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ARTICLES RIDE ON Mountain Biking at Smugglers’ Notch
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INSPIRED BY THE LAND Creativity in the Mountains
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MANAGING OUR MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUND
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FOCUS ON DISC GOLF
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A SPIRITED CHALLENGE
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DEPARTMENTS Chowtime
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Events
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FACTORY TOURS DAILY! Located at 6655 Shelburne Rd, one mile South of the Village of Shelburne. Tour Information: (802) 985-3001 or VermontTeddyBear.com. To order a Bear-Gram®: 800-829-BEAR
GET A FREE REUSABLE VERMONT TEDDY BEAR SHOPPING BAG with a purchase of $49 or more in our factory store. While supplies last. Not redeemable via phone or online. Coupon cannot be combined with any other offer. EXPIRES 10/31/16 Discount code BAG0014-05
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Explore Smuggs Magazine Summer 2016
Creative Design & Layout: Priscilla Emerling Editor: Karen Boushie Contributors: Karen Boushie Katherine Quimby Johnson Vicky Parra Tebbetts Copy Editor: Stacy Maynard Advertising: Steve Clokey 802.644.1119, sclokey@smuggs.com Sarah Thomas 802.644.1079, sthomas@smuggs.com Printing: The Offset House – Essex, VT Smugglers’ Notch Resort 4323 Route 108 South Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464 802-644-8851 1-800-451-8752 www.smuggs.com
Printed on 10% post-consumer recycled paper. When you are finished reading your copy of Explore Smuggs magazine, please pass it along to a friend or dispose of it in an appropriate recycling container. ©2016 All rights reserved. Any reproduction of articles or other features of this magazine is prohibited without written permission of the publisher. America’s Family Resort is a service mark; and Smugglers’ Notch Vermont, Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Smuggs, Got Kids?, Snow Sport University, and the accompanying designs are registered service marks of Smugglers’ Notch Management, LTD, and Smugglers’ Notch Management Company, Inc.
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Welcome to Smugglers’! We’re glad you’re here to share in our summer fun. I hope that you will find Explore Smuggs magazine useful as you plan your family’s vacation days. This issue of the magazine describes a few of the highlights you’ll find among plentiful resort and area activities. I hope you’ll enjoy reading about our mountain biking and disc golf programs, the vibrant history of the arts and current opportunities to enjoy the arts in our area, and stewardship of our mountain playground. You might consider wrapping up your vacation day by making one of the delicious cocktail recipes incorporating spirits produced by three of Vermont’s innovative distilleries! Smugglers’ has been honored by many awards over the years for our family programming, and we are committed to serving our guests through continued innovation in family recreation. With innovation comes change, and I am excited to say that change is underway — an investment of more than $3 million will develop a new indoor play area on the site of our FunZone that had been a magnet for visiting families since 1999. The new FunZone will have double the play space and offer a variety of activities, games, and inflatables for hours of unique entertainment, adventure, and challenge. Activities in the new play space will appeal to a broader range of ages. One area will offer upgraded game and inflatable features that accommodate families with children ages 3 to 8, and a second area will have high-energy features appealing to families with children ages 9 and older. We certainly appreciate your patience during the build phase, and encourage the construction and heavy equipment fans in your family to watch the action from the viewing platform and via live webcam. We hope you will return to Smugglers’ to enjoy this amazing new play area. Thank you for choosing Smugglers’ for your family vacation. Please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can help you out in any way — we are here to make sure you have your best vacation ever! Best wishes,
Bill Stritzler Owner and managing director
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Mountain Biking at Smugglers’ Notch by Vicky Parra Tebbetts
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Gearing up for a new season is not always elegant — or simple. Each spring the crew at Smugglers’ Notch moves mountains to create a biking hub where visitors of all ages and abilities may, in the spirit of the resort’s legendary approach to learning, discover the thrill of being a mountain biker. Sir Henry’s Hill, where ski and snowboard novices learn in winter, transforms into skills parks; skis turn to wheels on the Wonder Carpet conveyor lift; and the Morse ski patrol headquarters gives way to the bike shop, built in the spring of 2015 to house Smugglers’ blossoming mountain bike operations. Tracks, bridges, and banked turns in the skills parks are punctuated by rock gardens, a teeter-totter, and jumps, adding a new layer to resort guests’ summer experience. Trails weave through field and forest to form a network of three miles of single track and twelve miles of double track, providing a new window to summer’s scenic, truly Green Mountains. At Smugglers’, if you can walk, you can ride. The resort’s full-service Bike Shop offers rentals (with helmets included), lessons, and tours for all ages and abilities. Three and four-year-olds balance on pedalfree balance bikes. Bigger kids, teens, and adults select premium bikes with high-tech front or dual suspension to stay steady on park and trail features. Bikes specifically for women have lower clearance to smoothly touch toe to ground as needed. Cruisers for the open road take their place on the racks.
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Tailored for the beginner and intermediate rider from preschooler to practically pro, a combination of camps and programs kick into gear starting in June. Ten mountain biking camps, clinics, and special sessions offer excitement for all ages and abilities. Instructors create a warm-weather mountain experience, with coaching patterned after Smugglers’ time-tested and kid-approved ski school. From trained mentors to professional bike fitters who match riders’ skill with their level of comfort, adults play and learn at their own clinics, families meet for tours with special pricing, and women may pedal with the girls in workshops designed specifically for females. In a world where mountain biking is on the rise, the resort offers bigtime amenities with a warm welcome. “Smuggs has the family experience dialed,” says Tom Stuessy, executive director of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association. “It’s big enough for any level of rider to have fun all day, and small enough so parents can keep an eye on their kid — all day.” The popular children’s day camp offers variety and independence in a fun and safe environment: all day, all features, all trails. The camp is offered weekdays from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm. “If your kids want fun and thrills, it’s gotta be Mountain Bike Camp,” notes Operations Director Jeff Spring.
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Kendall MacLeod would agree. At age 11, she’s “growing up Smuggs,” returning to camp every summer. While mom Lindsey is delighted that Kendall is just as excited about Smugglers’ as the first day she started, Kendall loves meeting new kids all summer and the ever-growing variety of activities. She can’t pick one favorite, but the mountain biking trails, pump track, skills parks, and obstacle courses top the list. If she’s not biking, water parks, pools, ziplines, disc golf, and so much more await. In the resort’s grow-with-me style, Smugglers’ mountain biking programs
are evolving with guests’ experience. The resort has created programming to respond to guests’ desires, developing more tours and clinics with Vermont as its backdrop and tapping into a rich tapestry of nearby mountain biking resources. “Experiences such as the Guided Bike Tour are designed to be inclusive for everyone, even those with no mountain bike experience, as several tours are on gentle roads and pathways,” explains Spring. In the near future, Smugglers’ hopes to offer shuttle service to downhill trails. Counter to most resort-centered downhill biking development,
Smuggs plans to create a beginnerfriendly downhill network defined by sweeping switchbacks and flow trails. At the hand of Brooke Scatchard, one of Vermont’s most creative multi-use trail designers, Smugglers’ potential is almost limitless. Building off its successful base, the trail network will expand as it continues to cater to new riders in an approachable and fun manner. Lift service is not currently planned for Smugglers’, but not ruled out of future mountain biking development. Smugglers’ off-site guided tours and transportation allow bikers to roam beyond the Mountain Bike
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Vermont’s people and traditions are creating
a new standard in mountain biking.
RESORT MOUNTAIN BIKE PROGRAMS Please stop by Smugglers’ Bike Shop anytime between 10:00 am – 6:00 pm daily or call x1523 to inquire about any of the following sessions. Balance Bike Session Intro to Mountain Biking Intermediate Park & Trail Riding Family MTB Clinic Morning Trail Ride Backroads Bike Tour Guided Bike Tours — transportation included Women’s Mountain Bike Clinic MTB Open Park Park Session Day passes for the Mountain Bike Center are available.
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Center’s skills parks and contiguous trails. Nearby destinations include the 100-mile Lamoille Valley Rail Trail that stretches across northern Vermont and Stowe’s Cady Hill Forest, internationally recognized village greenway path, and the trail network at Trapp Family Lodge. These day trips offer access to all levels of terrain, from meandering on pavement to the jumps, dips, and step ups of expert single track. The Brewster River and Stowe Mountain Bike Clubs, regional chapters of the Vermont Mountain Bike Association, contribute to a network of trails on public and private land. This web extends the local and regional trail system to make north central Vermont the epicenter for mountain biking. Vermont’s mountain bike leaders credit the state’s people and destinations for the bike revolution sweeping the state. The loyal support of enthusiasts, 26 active Mountain Bike Association regional advocacy chapters, and a
handful of professional designers and builders who have made it their mission to keep building better trails are creating world-class mountain biking opportunities from Vermont’s rolling terrain. This unity, blended with a Yankee flair for independence, is spurring Vermont’s rise as a mountain bike mecca. Vermont’s people and traditions are creating a new standard in mountain biking. No matter where you look in Vermont this summer, you’ll see mountain bikes. Within this statewide landscape, resorts’ low-impact trails in accessible areas have created a catalyst that is encouraging mountain biking to take root in communities of locals and visitors alike. And amid this revolution, Smugglers’ Notch is defining the family mountain biking experience. Ryan Thibault of Mountain Bike Vermont, an online resource for all things bike, describes Smugglers’ as having “lit the wick” — as in
dynamite — on Vermont’s mountain biking world. He credits this explosive growth in opportunity to the Smugglers’ tradition of catering to the beginner, and grooming them for the advanced. Gone is the limiting selection of intimidating parks for elite riders; new experiences are accessible to everybody, and families who vacation together, play together. “It makes complete sense,” says Thibault. “Mountain biking is taking root and I’m looking forward to seeing Smuggs develop. They’re making history, and that’s exciting.” Born and raised in southern New England, Vicky Parra Tebbetts drifted north, eventually making her way to Vermont. A freelance writer with a passion for the Green Mountains, she spends most of her work time playing with words. Hiker, swimmer, swinger of birches, and a pretty mild biker, Vicky rides a Specialized. She and her family pedal home to their farm in Cabot.
Vermont Mountain Biking Resources Vermont Mountain Bike Association (VMBA): www.vmba.org Mountain Bike Vermont (MTBVT): www.mtbvt.com Lamoille Valley Rail Trail: www.lvrt.org Brewster River Mountain Bike Club: www.brmbc.org Stowe Mountain Bike Club: www.stowemountainbike.com Cady Hill Forest, Stowe: www.stowemountainbike.com/ trail-maps-info/cady-hill-forest/ Stowe Recreation Path: www.stowerec.org/paths/ item/51-rec-path Trapp Family Lodge: www.trappfamily.com
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Lajoie
StabLeS
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Conveniently loCated only 10 minutes from Smugglers’ notch Resort. We are a family owned and operated horseback riding facility that has been in business for over 25 years. We are the only horseback riding facility open 7 days a week all year long, with something for everyone. our stables are nestled in the foothills of the Green Mountains. Your trail ride will take you through our hardwood forests, cross into a grove of blue Spruce overlooking sloping fields. The views of Smugglers’ Notch remind you of the primitive beauty that is Vermont. We can accommodate all levels of riding ability – from the first time rider, to the family ride, to a faster paced private ride. We can custom fit a tour for you and your family. We offer ½, 1, 2, and 3 hour rides.
Our family and experienced staff are looking forward to making your horseback ride a memorable experience!
Reservations & Info: 802.644.5347 • www.lajoiestables.com Reservations are required • Visa/MC accepted • Open 7 days a week, all year long
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Inspired by creativity in the mountains by KATHERINE QUIMBY JOHNSON
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the Land
Artists have been capturing Vermont’s Mount Mansfield and the surrounding area since the 1850s. While the landscape provided a setting for human
activity in Jerome Thompson’s paintings of picnics and haying, Charles Louis Heyde’s landscapes, often featuring Mount Mansfield, focused on the power of nature. Since that time, artists have continued to be drawn to the area.
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Marcie Vallette, a painter who is the database manager and graphic designer at the Bryan Memorial Gallery in Jeffersonville, Vermont knows why: “It looks like time stopped here in the 19th century. There is a kind of space that artists like to deal with — a variety in the landscape — that you only get on a working farm.” Beyond the variety, Vallette says, the shape of the land offers “the three steps of a landscape — foreground, middle ground, and background.” 19th century artists Thompson and Heyde most often depicted the area in summer, but in the 20th century, a different season lured artists. “Particularly in winter, artists came because of the aesthetic challenge and pleasure of dealing with what is never really white on white on white,” says Mickey Myers, Executive Director of the Bryan Memorial Gallery. Beginning in the 1930s, Charles Curtis Allen’s winter workshops were based at the Smugglers’ Notch Inn in Jeffersonville. Allen and many of the visitors were affiliated with the artist colonies in Gloucester and Rockport, Massachusetts, but several settled in Vermont. Alden Bryan, an artist and entrepreneur, first came to the area in 1939 with Allen. In the early 1940s, Bryan and his wife, the artist Mary Bryan, moved to Jeffersonville, where he established the Windridge Bakery (now the home of 158 Main restaurant) and a gallery upstairs at the Smugglers’ Notch Inn. At about the same time, landscape painter Thomas Curtin visited the area for the first time. In 1957 he retired to Cambridge, Vermont, where he lived and had a gallery in the building next to the Cambridge Village Market, and welcomed his friends to stay with him and paint. Jane George Shaw grew familiar with the Bryans’ exhibitions when she worked summers at the Smugglers’ Notch Inn. While she got to know Thomas Curtin later, all three artists influenced her life’s work. A native of Jeffersonville, it was during Shaw’s time at Colby College that she discovered art history and made connections to the art in the area where she’d grown up. Curtin’s death in 1978 inspired Shaw to create an exhibit in his honor because, she says, “he caught the connection — the feeling — the inspirational connection to the land.”
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The success of both that 1980 exhibit and one the following year to celebrate the town’s bicentennial led to the construction of the town’s first dedicated art gallery, then called the Mary Bryan Memorial Gallery. Shaw became the gallery’s first executive director. She now owns and operates Visions of Vermont, a fine arts gallery in Jeffersonville that has showcased “Vermont Preserved … One Painting at a Time” since 2006. The landscape continues to inspire. The view from the window of Artists’ Mediums Art Shop in Cambridge makes it obvious why Chelsea Lindner chose the site for her gallery. “Our focus here is on Vermont artists in a beautiful setting and a gorgeous location,” she says. While the Art Shop includes landscape painters and photographers among the more than 50 artists exhibited, its focus is wider. “We’re trying to do a mix of contemporary and visual arts, as well as the useful,” says Lindner. Contemporary pieces include felted works by Susie Ryan and the “YellowDog” art of Pamela Harris. Handmade books by Elissa Campbell’s Blue Roof Designs, Carol Crawford’s woven scarves, and Barry Genzlinger’s one-of-a-kind turned bowls bridge art and utility. That same mix of traditional and contemporary, visual and useful, extends to the wide variety of classes in the arts available both in town and at Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Long-time Cambridge resident Karen Winslow offers regular workshops in a variety of venues. Resort guest Margaret Sapir says of Winslow, “Karen is a very good teacher. She combines a fundamental way of looking and technique that helps people get started. She is systematic
Photo courtesy of the Bryan Memorial Gallery.
“ ...There is a kind of space that artists like to deal with — a variety in the landscape — that you only get on a working farm.”
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but relates well to people working at different levels.” Sapir recalled one class that artists who worked with Allen in the 1930s and ’40s would have recognized. The group was traveling to the location Winslow had chosen when their car got stuck in the snow. Instead of sitting in the car until help arrived, they got out and began to paint. It isn’t only the students who gain from classes. Annette Hansen, a Fairfax resident offering classes in fiber arts and acrylic landscape at Smugglers’ this summer, describes a common experience: “I really appreciate the people who take my classes and come back to explore new things. That’s really fun. I enjoy seeing students thrive and succeed.” For Jeffersonville resident Cheryl Pecor, the reward of teaching goes beyond pleasure: “My purpose is, I am an artist to make everyone happy, to share my art.” Pecor will teach a delectable course in edible art this summer: working with fondant to turn cupcakes into daisies. At the recently founded Maple Ridge Center for the Arts, classes are, in a way, about closing a circle. “The beauty is, I couldn’t have started the center anywhere else,” says founder and master jewelry maker Silvio Mazzarese. “It was possible here because of strong support in town for things like this, and because we wanted to give back.” The Maple Ridge Center offers classes in jewelry making, painting, and art exploration for all ages.
With its motto of “bringing a diverse palette of the arts to the community,” the Cambridge Arts Council (CAC) has expanded on the areas’ artistic heritage for more than two decades. “We take our tagline seriously,” says Carol Plante, CAC president. The CAC sponsors monthly Poetry People gatherings at the library, the annual August Festival of the Arts, and this summer’s “Silo Project” — murals on the cement silos at the eastern end of Jeffersonville. Given its long artistic tradition and support for the arts, it’s no surprise the community has nurtured young artists. The most recent is Natalie Reed, a summer employee at the resort and the illustrator of the album cover art and a book in progress for Vermont songwriter/entertainer Rockin’ Ron The Friendly Pirate. The Vermont winner of the 2015 Congressional Arts Contest, Reed is currently finishing her first year at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Although she has a very 21st century goal as an artist — she has a comic on Instagram and wants to go into TV animation — Reed attributes her interest in being an artist to something Charles Louis Heyde would recognize: the power of nature. Reed says she spent a lot of time outside as a child. “That gives you a different understanding of the world. Being a kid outside strengthens your imagination. It lets you experience and exercise creativity.”
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But it’s never too late to start exercising creativity. Margaret Sapir did her first landscape at age 50. For Sapir, creativity is important because “it’s something that helps people appreciate the world better, because you take the time to see.” She says that she and her husband chose Smugglers’ because “I wanted a place where I could keep my interest and keep training.” That’s exactly what she found. Freelance writer and editor Katherine Quimby Johnson is a Vermont native and a 27-year resident of Cambridge. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaches in Champlain College’s Professional Writing Program.
ARTS EVENTS: Poetry People The art of the word is celebrated on the second Tuesday of the month, from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Varnum Memorial Library in Jeffersonville. Open to all who want to share and those who like to listen. Information at thevarnum.org/calendar or 644-2117.
Cambridge Music Festival Saturday, July 16, 2016. This festival, now in its 6th year, is a unique showcase of local bands, combined with a vendor market and family activities. The festival runs from 2:00 pm until midnight, rain or shine. In Jeffersonville. For more information, visit www.cambridgemusicfestival.com Festival of the Arts Saturday, August 13, 2016. Art fills downtown Jeffersonville as dozens of artists’ booths line Main Street, from Visions of Vermont to the Bryan Memorial Gallery. Annette Hansen and Natalie Reed will participate. For more information, visit www.cambridgeartsvt.org/fota
GALLERIES: Artists’ Mediums Art Shop http://artshopam.com • (802) 644-2872
Bryan Memorial Gallery www.bryangallery.org • (802) 644-5100
Maple Ridge Center for the Arts www.mapleridgevermont.com • (802) 644-8044
Visions of Vermont www.visionsofvermont.com • (802) 644-8183
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Managing our
MountaCn Playground by KAREN BOUSHIE
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MANAGING OUR MOUNTAIN PLAYGROUND? Those two concepts — management and play — don’t seem to go together. But the reality is that our playground does need to be managed. Consider its importance to what residents and visitors alike perceive as Vermont’s “green” identity. Consider the contribution it makes to recreational enjoyment, health and well-being. Consider that it plays a role in supporting how many of our community’s residents choose to make their living. Smugglers’ mountain playground is managed by a decades-long ethic of responsible stewardship that directs resort operations, including recreational programs. In addition to touching the full scope of the resort’s extensive programs, this ethic is far reaching physically, as the resort encompasses just over 3000 acres. Of that acreage, roughly 1100 acres are owned by the resort, with about 128 acres in development for lodging and services. 2200 acres, primarily for skiing and riding, are leased by Smugglers’ from the State of Vermont in a decades’ long arrangement that is replicated at six other Vermont ski areas, of which Smugglers’ is the largest leasehold.
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If there were no stewardship of our 3000 acres, consider the repercussions. Habitat destruction, erosion, and diminished water quality and flood resiliency are just a few of the unfortunate results when land usage is not responsibly directed. The challenge of managing resort acreage for recreation is that it is a balancing act. Mark Delaney, Smugglers’ chief planning and development officer, sums up the effort to balance: “We initiate programs that allow us to make recreational use of the land while minimizing impact.” Delaney’s department is at the forefront of resort development and works with resort managers to review their program’s impact prior to implementation. Oftentimes review is done in coordination with Vermont government agencies that
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oversee stewardship, such as the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, as well as with Vermont non profits with stewardship charters and with the resort’s neighboring private landowners. In small Vermont, there are many layers of interconnectedness to support stewardship, and a good neighbor policy is common. Take hiking, for example. While Smugglers’ walks and “wikes” primarily take place on resort property, many of the longer guided hikes offered by the resort are on state land managed by the Green Mountain Club (GMC). Smugglers’ provides support through a stipend for the GMC’s seasonal caretaker position at Sterling Pond from June through Columbus Day. The resort also runs mulch up the lift to service composting toilets along the trail. The resort keeps the
Sterling summit building open all year for shelter, and transports shelter and caregiver station trash down the lift for disposal. Delaney notes that the resort efforts on the mountain are coordinated with the GMC to ensure that there is no impact to the popular Long Trail, which runs between Vermont’s northern and southern borders, and crosses the top of Morse, Madonna, and Sterling mountains. Those mountain efforts might involve trail construction and maintenance. Because Smugglers’ ski and ride terrain is on lease land, it is required that an annual work plan be submitted to the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation to forecast maintenance as well as improvements anticipated in the next five years. Particularly with its glades, Smugglers’ has been recognized for “doing it right” from
both a management perspective and the perspective of our skiing and riding customers. The triple black diamond Black Hole is a test case, with periodic review by a forester to assess tree health. Smugglers’ approach is to cut glades to preserve islands of multiple stems and species of trees. By keeping that variety, it’s thought that these glades might be better able to survive the loss of older or unhealthy trees and maintain a process of regeneration that is more beneficial for overall forest health. As Smugglers’ glade architect Oliver Blackman has observed, “… the islands of trees will give us a fighting chance to maintain a sustainable glade while the open spaces and multiple lines allow even more skiers and riders to discover the appeal of skiing in the trees.” Balance.
Mountain projects might also involve trail maintenance. Water bars on ski trails are maintained to control erosion. Trail and trailside vegetation is brushed back in the summer with an eye to continuing to provide protective cover and younger edge growth that can benefit wildlife. Trail work requires seeding and mulching for cover, and there are stewardship components to those efforts, too. A new initiative directed by the state will require increased monitoring efforts at ski resorts to better control invasive species, along with a transition from standard mulch hay to increased use of straw or other weed-free mulch. “When a change like this happens, the resort is given a heads up by the state so that an internal impact assessment can be done,” notes Delaney. In this case, it has helped the resort prepare for the
future budgetary and acquisition adjustments that will be needed. Invasive species — yes, weeds — are a challenge that most homeowners likely can sympathize with. Smugglers’ undertook its own war on weeds through the Nature Conservancy’s Wise on Weeds program in 2007. The resort’s landscaping crew spent many hours eradicating invasive plant species from resort garden beds to promote the healthier development of non-invasive species. Smugglers’ was the first business in Vermont to participate in the program. The resort’s war on weeds continues, with current focus on purple loosestrife and the common reed. Both of these plants clog waterways and choke out native species, a concern particularly around Bootleggers’ Basin.
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Wetlands and wildlife habitat management are concerns for disc golf, mountain biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. These four programs share a usage area with many trails overlapping. With multiseason use, management and maintenance occurs year-round, and is shared by the Nordic Center, mountain biking and disc golf staff. These activities, as well as ArborTrek’s zip line canopy tour and Tree Top Obstacle Course, have brought new life to a property where active farming ceased in the 1950s. Oftentimes from a stewardship perspective it is best to use existing trails, with improved management practices, rather than creating new trails. When the Brewster Ridge disc golf course was designed in 2012, it maintained the basic footprint of the original course. As mountain biking began developing in that area, existing trails were discovered that were bootleg single track created by local enthusiasts. Mountain biking also has made use of existing snowshoe and cross country ski trails. With trails, the focus is on wetlands avoidance, minimizing stream crossings, and avoiding soil compaction for forest health. With the Fox Run 9-hole disc golf addition, trails were designed to avoid wetlands, and puncheon walkways were installed to reduce soil compaction in critical areas. Chipped wood from selectively harvested trees is used for trail maintenance to provide better footing and prevent erosion. With an eye on forest health, the state plans periodic harvests on state land that falls within
the resort’s lease area. Delaney also applauds the efforts of local sugarmakers who have tapped 80 acres on the Highland Hill community in the resort. He points out, “They’re in there monitoring for diseased trees and removing deadfall.” Keeping an eye on the ecosystem is critical because a challenge can have far reaching effects. In recent years, a beetle infestation has hit trees at Smugglers’, primarily hemlock, with the biggest effect on already damaged or weakened trees. After an inspection, trees determined to be compromised were removed from the high ropes course area last year to prevent further infestation. In another preventative measure, a snowshoe trail was closed temporarily last winter to prevent trail hardening that could weaken the hemlocks growing there. Smugglers’ continues to monitor trees in the area, with the assistance of ArborTrek guides, who are, quite literally, in the trees day in and day out. Management of Smugglers’ mountain playground extends beyond these initiatives — there are also active energy efficiency, water usage, and waste reduction efforts underway. Each effort, small or large, is a step toward the goal of ensuring that our mountain surroundings remain pristine and beautiful for generations to come. Karen Boushie is the public relations director at Smugglers' Notch Resort.
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Over the past four years, Smugglers’ Notch has put together one of the finest disc golf facilities in the country, serving players from beginner to pro level. The 18 hole Brewster Ridge course debuted in 2012, and after just two years, top professionals in the sport began to take note of the course’s quality and tournament availability. The sport took root with Smugglers’ families, as thousands of guests head out to the Brewster Ridge Pro Shop each year to add a disc or two to their collection, and play a few rounds. Now, with 36 holes of disc golf available for all ability levels, Smugglers’ is running one of the most prestigious events in the country this fall while continuing to introduce this fast-growing recreational activity to the local area and vacation guest communities. Haven’t heard of disc golf? Well, it’s about time to check it out! For those unfamiliar with the sport, it provides challenging competition for anyone who loves the outdoors, and it has seen phenomenal growth as a fun, low-impact activity for all ages. With drives, approaches, and putts, disc golf shares nearly all the rules and structure of the traditional game of golf. In 1983, when the first true disc golf disc was created to replace the plastic toy most people are familiar with, disc golf was transformed into a dynamic sport combining distance with accuracy as players strive to complete a course in the fewest strokes. Explore Smuggs recently caught up with professional disc golf player Steve Brinster to talk about the sport. Steve has over 80 career wins, including a championship round at this year’s Philadelphia Open. His accomplishments in the sport have earned him a spot on the Innova Disc Star Team and two lines of Innova signature discs molded to meet the player’s specifications. Steve has also championed the Smugglers’ disc golf operation, playing in the fall Green Mountain Championship that has become a Disc Golf Pro Tour event. He has helped design the new Fox Run course layout with disc golf director, Jeff Spring, that will be featured in the Pro Tour Championship, to be held at Smugglers’ directly following the Green Mountain Championship in September.
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Share with us what you think first timers should do to get started in the sport? Getting started in disc golf is easy … all you need is a couple of discs and the interest to have fun outdoors. Sounds easy enough! A lot of our guests here at Smugglers’ are from the East Coast. What is course availability like? There are courses everywhere in the Northeast. While the Northeast has a continuing number of courses being installed, very few venues can compare with Smugglers’ facility. The courses here and the pro shop are both top-notch and the lesson programs offer an experience you can’t find at any other Northeast resort.
Steve, share with us how you got started in the sport of disc golf. I started playing in 1994. My friends and I had seen the sport on television, and then heard that there was a course in our hometown – West Milford, in New Jersey. I almost immediately started playing local tournaments as an amateur. In 1997 I turned pro and I’ve been playing on the Professional Tour ever since. The highlight of my career thus far was in 2013 when I won my first major at the United States Disc Golf Championship in South Carolina. Currently I’m ranked in the top 10 in the world. I’m really excited to continue playing the major events and competing at an elite level. We understand there’s another side to your involvement in the sport – course design. Through the years I’ve been able to gain a wealth of knowledge, and I’m happy that I can apply that not just competitively but through my disc golf course designs. I’m proud to say that I’m the designer of the newest course at Smuggs, which will be hosting the Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship event in September.
Photos of Steve Brinster courtesy of Steve Hartwell
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Thanks for the shout-out for our courses. We’re excited to see the growth in interest here — it’s been amazing since the redesign of our 18-hole Brewster Ridge course in 2012. Let’s say families try the sport here during their vacation and like it. What’s the next step for them? Families can check out www.pdga.com — the Professional Disc Golf Association website.The course directory can help them find courses close to home. Usually most courses develop a group that runs leagues and tournaments. Weekly leagues are a great way for a new player to meet people and to get more involved with a local club and other players.
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Come Visit Our Tasting Room & VT Gift Shop Open Mon.-Sa t. 10 a.m.6 p.m.
632 LaPorte Rd., Morrisville, Vt. • 802-888-9400
www.rockartbrewery.com
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SMUGGLERS’ DISC GOLF FACILITIES THE BREWSTER RIDGE COURSE was designed to suit all ability levels from beginner to pro with four sets of tees on every hole. Spread over 30 acres of woods and meadows, the course highlights natural features and incorporates the land’s farming heritage. Watch for old farm equipment and weathered apple trees as you play the course. The Fox Run Meadows 9 hole layout is also available and features more open meadow shots. Use of Brewster Ridge and Fox Run is $10/round and $15/day. THE BREWSTER RIDGE PRO SHOP is located along the ArborTrek Canopy Tour driveway. The Pro Shop has everything a beginner needs to play, as well as a huge selection of discs to please veteran disc golfers. You’ll also find apparel and disc golf bags, plus snacks and refreshments. 802-644-2477 THE VILLAGE 9 DISC GOLF COURSE has nine holes that rise from the Village on the trails behind The Bike Shop. This course was designed with convenience and ease of play in mind. Course maps and disc rentals are available at The Bike Shop. Use of The Village 9 is free for guests with a SmuggsPass. 802-644-1523
Smugglers’ hosts the best players in the world! Our FallFest weekend, featuring the Green Mountain Championship and Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship, is spread over September 15-18, 2016. FallFest pairs disc golf competition with a celebration of mountain recreation and northern Vermont culture with live music and local food, craft beer and cider. Why not plan a fall visit to enjoy the fun? Spectators are welcome to watch the disc golf action. GREEN MOUNTAIN DISC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP. Thursday - Saturday. The largest disc golf event in Vermont in recent years, the Green Mountain Championship at Smugglers’ Brewster Ridge Disc Golf Course has a prize purse of over $40,000. Both pro and advanced players from across the country will compete over the course of four rounds and three days to bring home the Green Mountain Championship in this tournament is PDGA A-Tier, AM B-tier competition. This tournament is currently sold out with a waiting list for players. DISC GOLF PRO TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP. Saturday - Sunday. Smugglers’ hosts the championship round on the Disc Golf Pro Tour, a points-based series of five tournaments. Come watch some of the best disc golfers in the world who have qualified to compete for a top prize of $10,000.
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A Spirited
CHALLENGE With Vermont’s spirits industry growing by leaps and bounds while accumulating plenty of awards and admirers, the Explore Smuggs team decided it was time for a cocktail challenge. We chose three unique Vermont liquors and asked the owner of the resort’s Hearth & Candle restaurant to create a delicious summer cocktail for each.
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Not much of a challenge, really — it’s all in a day’s work for Akash Parikh, the Hearth’s owner. The restaurant’s bar is renowned for the generous variety of local spirits, wines and beers it keeps on hand. The summer drinks menu is likely to feature lighter refreshing cocktails, perhaps enhanced with seasonal fruits or herbs plucked from the Hearth’s kitchen garden. While flavor makes your taste buds happy, there’s something about a summer cocktail that is just plain fun. As Akash observed with a smile while unveiling his cocktail creations to the Explore Smuggs tasting team, “It’s fun for us at the bar to make cocktails, and it’s fun for us to see guests enjoying their drinks. We’ll make different cocktails for a table, and we’ll see them pass the drinks around the table so that everyone gets to try something new.”
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Ready for mixology magic? Meet northern Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch Distillery, Boyden Valley Winery and Spirits, and Elm Brook Distillery through these three unique cocktails.
802 Blackberry Ice Tea This cocktail uses Smugglers’ Notch Distillery’s Blend No. 802 handcrafted 88 proof gin. The distillery is a family operation in Jeffersonville that began attracting notice in its first year of operation when its flagship liquor, a vodka, won a double gold medal at the 2011 World Spirits Competition. The distillery has also produced amber rum, bourbon whiskey, a limited release rye whiskey, a wheat whiskey, and a hopped gin. Blend No. 802 is described by Wine Enthusiast as “scented with a lively mix of juniper, citrus and anise aromas … on the palate, the anise note pushes forward, and it finishes with a candied citrus-peel touch. It’s a small-batch gin with a velvety texture.” 2 ounces Smugglers’ Notch Distillery No. 802 blend gin 1 ounce Earl Grey simple syrup ½ lemon, juiced 6 mint leaves 8 blackberries 3 ounces water To make the simple syrup: 1 cup refined sugar 1 cup water 3 Earl Grey tea bags In a small sauce pan heat sugar and water over low heat until sugar is dissolved. Add tea bags and let steep for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Muddle the blackberries and five of the mint leaves with gin, then add water, lemon juice, and simple syrup. Fill glass with ice and shake. Strain into an ice tea glass over fresh ice, garnish with mint leaf (a floret is pretty). Akash recommends a thorough muddling of the blackberries to fully release their flavor. And not to worry about the amount of simple syrup, which will be much more than you need for one cocktail. Either make more cocktails, or save the syrup in the fridge for next time — it will keep for a month or so. The tasting team’s review: Summer in a glass. Big thumbs up for this refreshing drink with the pleasing rich color. So delicious you’ll wonder how your glass got drained so quickly.
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Ice Cider Negroni
Rail Dog Manhattan
Boyden Valley Winery and Spirits is located in a restored 1875 carriage barn on the Boyden family’s 100-year-old farm in Cambridge, Vermont. Wine, cider, and spirits are crafted from 10,000 grapevines and 300 acres of maple trees, as well as other locally grown fruit from sustainable Vermont farms. The Boyden Vermont Ice Cider is created from Vermont grown Northern Spy, Macintosh, and Empire apples, yielding a rich apple flavor that stands alone as an aperitif and pairs well with cheeses and desserts.
This cocktail features Elm Brook Distillery’s barrel aged maple spirit, Rail Dog. Rail Dog is distilled from the maple sap collected at Elm Brook Farm in East Fairfield (and from other nearby maple sugarmakers when needed) and aged in oak barrels for three years. This distillery also produces Literary Dog Vodka, a premium sipping vodka distilled 23 times. With its combination of locally sourced ingredients and a distilling process that takes place right on the farm, Elm Brook creates truly artisanal liquors. 3 ounces Elm Brook Farm Rail Dog 1 ounce Domaine Caton Ginger Liqueur
2 ounces Boyden Vermont Ice Cider
3 drops Urban Moonshine maple bitters
1 ounce dry gin
Combine over ice and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with an orange twist.
1 ounce Campari 1 basil leaf Combine all ingredients in a highball glass over ice; garnish with basil. According to Akash, “A Negroni is a classic cocktail, kind of an old school Italian drink, typically made with Campari, sweet vermouth and gin in a 1:1:1 ratio. Using the Ice Cider lightens the flavor and makes the cocktail a bit more summery. It also gives a livelier Vermont take on this classic drink. The basil delivers that fresh herbaceous aroma as you enjoy the drink.” While Akash observed that a Negroni can be an acquired taste, the Explore Smuggs tasting team quickly and enthusiastically took to this cocktail’s interesting combination of flavors.
Akash notes that this cocktail is a variation on the traditional Manhattan, and enhances the classic’s good flavor profile with a few unique twists. “The Rail Dog is a top quality liquor that is made to be enjoyed without any additions. However, it’s delicious in this cocktail, with the warmth of the ginger liqueur bringing out the maple base of the Rail Dog. The bitters balance out the sweetness. The orange twist adds flavor - fresh fruit always makes a cocktail’s flavor pop and adds an enticing aroma as you drink.” Review by the Explore Smuggs tasting team: This cocktail packed a punch with smooth, rich flavor — it’s one to sip slowly and savor.
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Tips for creating your own cocktail
k Consider your choice of liquor. Those in our challenge are all premium quality. When you’re experimenting, sometimes recipes need refining, so perhaps it’s not necessary to use high end ingredients until you feel your recipe is fine tuned. As Akash notes, “a refined palate appreciates the premium ingredients.”
k Think about your flavor combination. Generally, a cocktail will have a nice balance of bitter, sweet, and savory flavors. When putting together your own cocktail creations, you might identify the flavors you prefer to combine when cooking, and use those to influence your choices. For summer drinks, think about a combination of fruit, liquor and a third ingredient that could be an herb or another liquid. An example of a fruity combo — orange juice, vodka, and orange liqueur. “Play with it and have some fun,” Akash suggests.
k If you want to get serious, refer to a resource. One that Akash suggests is The Flavor Bible, by Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg. While the book’s extensive compilation of complementary flavors is primarily intended for cooking, Akash has found it to be useful for generating ideas for cocktail ingredients, too.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE DISTILLERIES THROUGH A VISIT TO THEIR WEBSITES, TASTING ROOMS, OR MARKET BOOTHS! BOYDEN VALLEY SPIRITS 64 Vermont Route 104 Cambridge, Vermont 05444 Tastings 10:00 am – 6:00 pm daily (June - October) p: 802-644-8151 w: boydenvalley.com
ELM BROOK DISTILLERY Available at: Smugglers’ Notch Country Store Burlington Farmers’ Market, Saturdays through October 29, 8:30 am – 2:00 pm Stowe Farmers’ Market, Sundays through October 16, 10:30 am – 3:00 pm p: 802-782-5999 w: elmbrookfarm.com
Intrigued by the recipes but would rather not make your own? You’ll find these cocktails on the menu at the Hearth this summer. SMUGGLERS’ NOTCH DISTILLERY 276 Main Street Jeffersonville, Vermont 05464 Tastings 11:00 am – 5:00 pm daily Also at the Barrel House Tasting Room 2657 Waterbury Stowe Road Waterbury Center, Vermont Tastings 11:00 am – 5:00 pm p: 802-309-3077 w: smugglersnotchdistillery.com
URBAN MOONSHINE “Herbal apothecary for the modern world,” Urban Moonshine offers a selection of organic digestive bitters and herbal tonics, including the maple bitters used in the Rail Dog Manhattan. Visit them at their store at 260 Battery Street in Burlington. w: urbanmoonshine.com
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chowtime The Morse Mountain Grille in the Resort Village has it all: breakfast, lunch, cocktails, and dinner. Breakfast mountainside is a morning favorite with bountiful selections of pancakes, signature French toast, meats, baked goods, fruit, and omelets. You’ll also find quick selections to pick up and take with you, like the generously sized and delicious homemade maple cinnamon roll. Families will enjoy the Friendly Pirate dinner on Wednesdays and breakfast on Fridays with special guests Mogul Mouse and Billy Bob Bear. Marko the Magician performs tableside magic during dinners on Tuesday evenings. Lunch includes appetizers and a wide selection of sandwiches, soups, entrée salads, specialty grilled pizzas, and burgers. In the afternoon, relax in the Pub with a beverage and munchies. Enjoy a family-pleasing dinner menu until 9:00 pm. Be sure to check out the selection of wines by the glass, the Little Smuggs Fun Menu for children, and the great dessert selection. If you don’t have room for a slice of the Vermont Maple Cheesecake after you eat your dinner, take a piece back to your condominium for a treat later - you’ll be glad you did! Extension 1247. You can’t come to Vermont without eating Ben & Jerry’s ice cream! We make it easy for you – the Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop at Smuggs is located in the Village Lodge and is open daily from 12:00 noon until 10:00 pm. Tempt your taste buds with a selection of ice cream flavors, sorbets, and low fat frozen yogurt in cones, sundaes, or shakes. More than 15 unique and fun flavors to choose from … try a different flavor each day of your stay! Extension 1303. Riga-Bello’s, a taste of Italy in northern Vermont! Enjoy pizzas with traditional toppings as well as combinations unique to Smugglers’ … try the Garden Path calzone, named after a popular meandering trail on Morse Mountain. This calzone offers the garden goodness of mushrooms, green peppers, broccoli, and red onion. Also serving pizzas, pasta, meatball subs, salads, and more. Open daily for evening dine-in or take-out 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Join the Friendly Pirate and Resort mascots Billy Bob Bear and Mogul Mouse for a pizza party on Friday evenings. Extension 1142. Lunch at the Green Mountain Deli features freshly made sandwiches, salads, vegetarian options, and specials daily. Cookies, muffins, and other treats satisfy anyone needing a sweet snack. The Green Mountain Deli is located in the Village Lodge and is open daily from 11:00 am until 4:30 pm. Extension 1141. The Mountainside Cabana allows you to maximize your sunning time by offering a selection of goodies at the Mountainside Pool. Visit the Cabana for beverages, snacks, hot dogs, ice cream, and full bar service. Try a special margarita, frozen drink, or ice cold Vermont microbrewed beer. Open daily 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. Extension 5014. The Hearth & Candle serves dinner nightly in a cozy setting right in the heart of the Smugglers’ Village. Seasonal menu items with locally sourced ingredients include an innovative selection of beef, poultry, and fish. After dinner, satisfy your sweet tooth with crème brûlée, cheesecake, or Vermont apple crisp. Dining rooms available for family friendly and adults only dining. Children’s menu available. Open for dinner nightly 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm. Extension 1260.
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The Hearth & Candle’s smoked salmon crostini served with caviar and caper berries.
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Brewster River Pub & Grill — good food and great beer, what more could you want?
Located just down the mountain from the Resort, the Brewster River Pub & Brewery offers hearty pub-style fare in a casual atmosphere perfect for hanging out after a Summer day filled with fun activities. A section of the menu entitled “Smaller Appetites” caters to munchers young and old with items like sliders, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, mozzarella sticks, and more. Appetizers include traditional favorites such as chicken wings, nachos, potato skins, and more unique flavors such as Southwestern egg rolls. There are a variety
of burgers and sandwiches, all served with a side of handcut fries. Entrées include beef, seafood, and barbecue selections. Soups and salads with homemade dressings complete the menu. Enjoy a wide selection of local beers, in addition to the pub’s own craft beers. Nightly chalkboard specials and live music. Open daily. (802) 644-6366 Our area’s newest dining destination, Martell’s at the Red Fox is a sports bar restaurant and lively music hall. Open seven days a week, Martell’s offers family dining in the evenings, with late night pub fare on Fridays and Saturdays, and a special brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu features a delicious array of appetizers, burgers, salads, soups, and entrées. Children’s menu available. (802) 644-5060. Located in downtown Jeffersonville just minutes from Smugglers’ in the historic
Smugglers’ Notch Inn, the Village Tavern serves hearty pub-style appetizers, soups, salads, and entrées nightly. Enjoy the casual atmosphere indoors or comfortable seating in the outdoor courtyard, and a meal that will top off your day with flavor and substance. Childrens’ menu available. (802) 644-6765. 158 Main Restaurant and Bakery is housed in the historic Windridge Farms Building, located in downtown Jeffersonville. There is literally nothing missing at 158 Main, with full breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus, all of which encompass everything from classic favorites to diverse specials sure to tempt every palate. 158 Main also offers an extensive bakery selection of breads, pies, cookies, and the baker’s daily surprises. So whether you are looking for a before-hiking breakfast, relaxed lunch, wonderful dinner, or the perfect dessert to cap your day, 158 has it all! (802) 644-8100.
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If you like pizza, you’ll love
’ Located just 12 minutes away from Smugglers’, Angelina’s Restaurant has been family owned since 1985. Serving quality homemade brick-oven pizza, subs and calzones. All our dough and sauces are made fresh daily.
Menus available at the Smugglers’ Notch Guest Service Desk.
802-644-2011 Eat in or take out. Delivery available when permitted. www.angelinaspizza.net
FAMILY DINING OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK! 4pm-CLOSE BRUNCH MENU SAT. & SUN. 9am -1pm LATE NIGHT PUB FARE AVAILABLE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS! LIVE MUSIC
SPORTS BAR & MUSIC HALL 87 EDWARDS RD (2 Miles North on 108 from Smugglers’ Notch) OWNER: GREG MARTELL 68 • explore
CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK FOR NIGHTLY SPECIALS AND ENTERTAINMENT CALL US TODAY! 802-644-5060 MartellsVT@gmail.com
Fit to be fried. The fried mozzarella at the Downtown Pizzeria is downright drool-worthy.
Above 158 Main, the Jeffersonville Pizza Department serves pizza, pasta, wings, and salads daily. Eat in or take out. Open Wednesday-Sunday. (802) 644-5550. The Family Table at the intersection of Route 108 and 15 in Jeffersonville has a loyal following who give rave reviews to its innovative menu and use of high quality fresh ingredients. Tops on the list of recommendations is the Dry Aged Ribeye. Lunch and dinner served Thursday, Friday and Monday. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Saturday and Sunday. Extensive wine list and full bar. Children’s menu available. (802) 644-8920 A fixture in Cambridge since 1985, Angelina’s offers quality homemade Italian pizza, pasta, subs, calzones, and breads. Try the steak bomb – steak, mushrooms, onions, and peppers – as a pizza or hot sub. (802) 644-2011. In Johnson, east of Smugglers’ on Route 15, the Downtown Pizzeria and Pub is a full-service eatery offering quality homemade food with family-friendly
value. Everything is made from scratch, including the most popular item on the menu, the hand-breaded fried mozzarella triangles with marinara and balsamic reduction. Choose from entrées such as ziti with vodka sauce, chicken parmesan, and of course, pizza, New York-style. The Vermonter specialty pie features chicken, apples, ham, a cheddar/mozzarella blend, alfredo sauce, and a maple drizzle. Enjoy a full bar with more than 10 kinds of beer on tap, a pool table, darts, and acoustic music. (802) 635-7626. Johnson’s Kitchen offers delicious Chinese food for lunch and dinner. Located on Johnson’s Main Street, the restaurant is open daily. (802) 635-8310. Located in downtown Morrisville’s historic train station, 10 Railroad Street specializes in pub fare with a sophisticated twist. Enjoy steaks, prime rib, clams, fish, burgers, sandwiches, macaroni & cheese, and more — the varied menu changes seasonally. Local beers, a selection of wines, and specialty cocktails complement your meal. Open daily. (802) 888-2277.
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patio May-Sept. Located on Cottage Club Road just off Route 108. Open 7 days for lunch & dinner 11:30 am – 2:00 am. Children’s menu available. (802) 253-9281.
Find a taste of Mexico and the American Southwest at Stowe’s Cactus Café. Choose the warm ambience of the adobe dining room or sit outdoors and relax over your meal in the garden patio. Choices abound on the varied dinner menu. How about kicking off your meal with the Cactus House Nachos or Ahi Tuna Tostada? Main dishes include enchiladas, quesadillas, soft tacos, fajitas, chimichangas, burritos, and chef’s specials. A daily dessert menu and childrens’ menu are available. (802) 253-7770. Eat and drink at Charlie B’s, a Stowe tradition with a festive atmosphere, Vermont Fresh cuisine, and an award-winning wine list of over 50 wines by the glass, martini bar, and Vermont local beers on tap. The Vermont-style decor features a cozy, friendly bar, high-back booths, and Baraw family ski memorabilia. Enjoy deck dining in summer. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Children’s menu available. Reservations (802) 760-1096. Piecasso on the Mountain Road in Stowe has been serving its delicious traditional New York-style pizza, authentic Sicilian pasta, and fresh seafood for over 10 years. Try a Positive Pie, a white base with a bed of spinach topped lightly with mozzarella, artichokes, roasted red peppers, and Vermont Butter & Cheese chevre. The restaurant’s bar features fine wines, fun martinis, and Vermont microbrews. And let’s not forget the homemade tiramisu and fresh fruit tart! Piecasso is a member of the Vermont Fresh Network, showcasing locally grown organic products whenever possible. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Children’s menu available. (802) 253-4411.
The Essex Outlets & Cinema, located about 25 minutes driving time from Smugglers’, features several dining choices to complement a shopping excursion or movie. Consider the Oriental Wok or Sukho Thai’s fresh and exotic flavors to tempt your taste buds. Independent bookseller Phoenix Books’ cozy café serves hot and cold beverages, light lunch selections, and sweet treats. Sweet Clover Market offers freshly made soups, salads, and sandwiches to go or to eat in their casual eating area. (802) 878-2851 (outlet center information line) If you’d rather dine in, visit the Smugglers’ Country Store for all your grocery staples like bread, meat, vegetables, fruit, and beverages. The store stocks a wide variety of Vermont specialty items such as jams and syrups from Butternut Mountain Farm in nearby Johnson and delicious Lake Champlain Chocolates. The store also carries a selection of gluten-free products. The Perk offers espresso, cappuccino, lattes, chai tea, and mochas both hot and cold, plus a variety of fresh fruit smoothies, iced tea, and lemonade. Choose from a variety of morning pastries and fresh baked goods prepared locally. On Jeffersonville’s Main Street across from 158 Main is The Farm Store, offering a variety of fresh organic produce and natural foods, plus cleaning and personal products and more. Open daily. (802) 644-9463.
The Sunset Grille and Tap Room is a family restaurant & sports bar serving down home cooking including steaks, ribs, burgers, seafood, wings and more in a casual and friendly atmosphere. The tap room features 30 televisions, including 3 big screens & satellite TV. Bar munchies are available until midnight every day. Outdoor dining on Sunset Grille’s secluded
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TAKE OUT AVAILABLE — CALL EXT. 1247 SOUPS
Soup du Jour French Onion Crock New England Clam Chowder Smugglers’ Mountain Chili Cup
SIDE SALADS
House Salad Caesar Salad
APPETIZERS
Buffalo Chicken Wings Maple Ale Glazed Chicken Wings Cherry Pepper Calamari Garlic Cheese Toast Woodchuck Cider Mussels Mediterranean Tapas Platter Bacon Pretzel Sticks with Vermont Stout Honey Mustard Smugglers’ Nachos (also available with chili and/or guacamole) Barbecue Pulled Pork Nachos
QUESADILLAS Add a side salad for a great combo!
SERVING BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER Daily, 8am - 9pm Extension 1247 Located in Smugglers’ Village Center
HOMESTYLE PLATTERS
Chicken Tenders Mountain Chili Grilled Cheese & Chipotle Soup Platter Cabot Cheddar & Pulled Pork Macaroni & Cheese (also available without pork)
SEAFOOD ENTRÉES
Fish & Chips Platter Asian-style Firecracker Salmon Bistro Shrimp Scampi Blackened Cajun Trout
Buffalo Veggie Cheese
GRILLED FLATBREADS Add a side salad for a great combo!
Vermont Cheese Flatbread Pear and Gorgonzola Flatbread Vermonter Flatbread apple chutney, bacon, spinach, VT Cheddar, cheese blend & honey mustard
ENTRÉE SALADS — add your favorite salad topper!
NEW! Entrée Salad Toppers: Pan Seared Chicken Breast, Garlic Shrimp, Crunchy Chicken Tenders, Firecracker Salmon or Blackened Cajun Trout
Sycamore Salad Chopped Cobb Salad House Caesar Salad Farm Stand Salad Pear & Maple Salad Asian Summer Salad Dressings: Ranch, Caesar, House Chipotle Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette, Wasabi Ginger Vinaigrette, and House Maple Poppy
HOUSE FAVORITE ENTRÉES
Side Options: mashed potatoes, rice pilaf, house fries, curly fries (gluten-free option available), hand-cut fries, carrots & celery, house coleslaw or housemade maple baked beans.
Eggplant Parmesan Pesto Chicken Gnocchi Chicken Bruschetta Risotto Maple Whiskey Barbecue Steak Tips Rib Eye Steak Smuggs-Style Barbecue Ribs (8 or 4 rib portions)
HOUSEMADE DESSERTS
Seasonal Pie Vermont Maple Cheesecake Hershey’s Chocolate Mousse Cake Seasonal Crème Brûlée Hershey’s Chocolate Brownie Sundae Cinnamon Bun Bread Pudding
SANDWICHES
Kids’ Menu
Grilled Buffalo Chicken Wrap Cajun Chicken Sandwich Pulled Pork Sandwich French Dip Sandwich Orchard Turkey Club Fried Shrimp Po’Boy Farmer’s Panini
Pasta with marinara sauce or butter Hot Dog Hamburger Cheeseburger Grilled Cheese Mozzarella Cheese Stick Platter Cheese Pizza Pepperoni Pizza Combo Basket – chicken tender & mozzarella sticks Breaded Fish Filet Chicken Tenders Mac & Cheese Grilled Chicken with house vegetable
HOUSE BURGERS Our 100% beef burger patties are housemade and served on a gourmet roll.
Starter (pick one): tortilla chips & cheese sauce, applesauce, veggie plate with ranch dip or Mandarin oranges
All sandwiches, wraps and burgers are served with a pickle and your choice of house fries, carrots & celery, house coleslaw, curly fries (gluten-free option available) or housemade maple baked beans.
House Burger House Cheeseburger Pub Burger Morse Mountain Burger Vermont Boyden Farm Sustain-a-Burger Asian Salmon Burger Your choice of cheese: Swiss, Cabot cheddar, American, Cabot pepper jack, or blue cheese crumbles.
All kids’ entrées include a starter, one side dish, beverage and dessert.
Side Dish (pick one): applesauce, rice, house vegetable, coleslaw, maple baked beans, mashed potato, curly fries, side salad, side Caesar salad, mandarin oranges or house fries Kids’ Dessert (pick one): Hershey’s cupcake, ice cream sandwich or popscicle
Don’t miss our tableside entertainment!
Marko the Magician – Tuesday, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm The Friendly Pirate – Wednesday, 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm & Friday, 8:00 am - 10:00 am Menu subject to change. Some entrée items not available at lunch. explore • 73
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events calendar
Your guide to events at the resort and in the area
JUNE
16-19
Stowe Theatre Guild presents “Seussical,” a musical based on the works of Dr. Seuss, but it isn’t just a string of his stories set to music. And it isn’t just one of his stories – it’s a story that weaves together Seuss’s most famous words and characters in unexpected new ways for all ages! Additional performances June 23-26 and June 30-July 3. www.stowetheatre.com or (802) 253-3961.
24-26
Vermont Quilt Festival. New England’s oldest and largest quilt event celebrates 40 years! Displays of more than 400 new and old quilts, vendors, workshops, appraisals. Friday and Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm; Sunday, 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. www.vqf.org
JULY 4
Independence Day! Smugglers’ Notch Resort and Jeffersonville. An oldfashioned July 4th celebration in Jeffersonville with a parade at 10:00 am, carnival with games and vendors, kids’ games, live entertainment, and food. Don’t forget the world famous frog jumping contest!
And back at Smugglers’ ... Starting at 5:00 pm, the Resort hosts a tasty Firemen’s Barbecue on the Green with proceeds benefiting the local fire department. Rockin’ Ron Carter is your host on the Village Green with music for all ages from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Vermont National Guard 40th Army Band plays their mix of classic favorites and patriotic tunes beginning at 8:00 pm. At dusk, enjoy the spectacular fireworks against the backdrop of the Green Mountains. It’s a full day of celebration!
7-10
Lamoille County Players present “Once Upon a Mattress,” a zany musical comedy based on the children’s tale about the princess and the pea. Additional shows July 14-17. www.lcplayers.com
8-9
Waterbury Arts Festival. Festivities Friday night feature live music in a street party atmosphere, and Saturday highlights high-quality, original artwork from more than 80 exhibitors and entertainment. www.waterburyartsfest.com
8-10
The 30th annual Stoweflake Hot Air Balloon Festival. More than 25 colorful balloons will be launched over the course of the weekend. Balloon rides and tethered rides available. Children’s activities, live entertainment, beer and wine garden, and food. Stoweflake Resort and Spa in Stowe, Route 108. www.stoweflake.com
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JULY CONTINUED ... Trail Race at Smugglers’. Explore the trails of Smugglers’ Notch with our 3rd annual Trail Race Series! The series consists of two trail races in and around the cross country trail network. Each race (second race August 19) will feature a 4k, 8k, and Kids’ Fun Run (ages 6 and under), and all races are open to runners of all abilities! www.smuggs.com/trailraceseries
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Cambridge Music Festival. This festival, now in its 6th year, is a unique showcase of local bands, along with a vendor market and family activities. The festival runs from 2:00 pm until midnight, rain or shine. All proceeds from this event benefit Cambridge 360, a local organization with the mission of raising funds for reinvestment in the community through projects such as building a community center. www.cambridgemusicfestival.com
20-23
Stowe Theatre Guild presents “Almost, Maine,” a story of gains, losses, and love in a Maine small town on one Friday evening. Additional shows July 27-30 and August 3-6. www.stowetheatre.com
22-24
Lamoille County Field Days. Country fair with horse show, music, food, crafts, livestock exhibition. Johnson. www.lamoillefielddays.com
28-31
Lake Champlain Maritime Festival. Commemorating the past, present and future of beautiful Lake Champlain! Lake Champlain maritime exhibits; vintage boat show; U.S. Coast Guard exhibit; live musical performances; kids’ entertainment; food and crafts. On the Burlington Waterfront, from Perkins Pier to the Community Sailing Center. www.lcmfestival.com
29-30
Stowe Brewers Festival. Celebrate Vermont’s tradition of brewing fine craft beer! This outdoor festival showcases dozens of breweries. Tasting sessions Friday, 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm, Saturday 11:30 am - 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Ticket purchase includes 15 samples per session. Live music by Waylon Speed, a premiere band playing “underground outlaw dirt rock from the mountains of Vermont”! www.stowebrewersfestival.com
30
Green Mountain Draft Horse Field Day. Watch demonstrations of draft horses plowing, haying, seeding, and logging, using modern and antique equipment. Free with admission to property. Tour by horse-drawn wagon ride, $8. Shelburne Farms, 11:00 am - 2:00 pm. www.shelburnefarms.org
Photo courtesy of Chris Diegel. www.chdiegelphotography.com
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8th Annual Festival of the Arts in Jeffersonville. The Cambridge Arts Council and the Smugglers’ Notch Area Chamber of Commerce celebrate the creativity and talent of regional artists! Lovely galleries and a wide range of artists display their work along Jeffersonville’s charming Main Street. Children’s activities and live music. Local restaurants offer delicious food for purchase. Parking is available at Cambridge Elementary. Festival hours 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Rain or shine. www.cambridgeartsvt.org
17-20
Stowe Theatre Guild presents “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s thrilling rock opera with a sometimes irreverent, always-impassioned look at Jesus’ last days. Additional shows August 24-27 and August 31-September 3. (802) 253-3961 or www.stowetheatre.com
19
Trail Race at Smugglers’. Join us for our second and final trail race! A 4k, 8k, and Kids’ Fun Run will take place in and around our cross-country trail network. Open to runners of all abilities! www.smuggs.com/trailraceseries
26 - September 4
Champlain Valley Exposition. The Champlain Valley Fair caps the Summer season in Vermont! Vendors, midway rides and games, entertainment, food, agricultural exhibits, nationally recognized performers and more. Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction. (802) 878-5545 or www.champlainvalleyfair.org
SEPTEMBER Photo courtesy of Chris Diegel. www.chdiegelphotography.com
AUGUST 4-7
4
Darn Tough Ride. Hundreds of cycling enthusiasts and their friends and families gravitate to Vermont to be a part of the Darn Tough Ride incorporating some of the most celebrated unique routes, challenging climbs, and exhilarating descents in Northern Vermont. The four itineraries - family, 48, 60 and 100 miles. Online registration is available through September 3. Spectators welcome! www.darntoughride.com
Franklin County Field Days. Agricultural and 4H displays, cattle show, crafts, games, rides, music, tractor and horse pulling, antique tractor pull, draft horse show, and demolition derby. Airport Road in Highgate. www.franklincountyfielddays.org
15-18
7
Green Mountain Disc Golf Championship. Thursday Saturday. The largest disc golf event in Vermont in recent years, the Green Mountain Championship at Smugglers’ Brewster Ridge Disc Golf Course is back! With a prize purse of over $40,000 both pro and advanced players from across the country will compete over the course of four rounds and three days to bring home the Green Mountain Championship! This tournament is PDGA A-Tier, AM B-tier. Spectators are welcome to watch the action.
FarMusic Festival. Boyden Valley Winery in Cambridge and Vermont’s Champlain Orchards offer a fun-filled day on the lawn at the picturesque winery for a battle of the bands, plus local artists, local food trucks, cider from Champlain Orchards, wine, cider, and spirits from Boyden Valley, and more! 12:00 noon – 6:00 pm. Free parking and free admission. www.boydenvalley.com
12-14
59th Annual Stowe Antique and Classic Car Meet. 800-plus vehicles on display, parade, automotive flea market, food. Nichols Field, Stowe, Route 100. www.vtauto.org
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FallFest at Smugglers’ Notch. Friday - Sunday. Join us for FallFest, a weekend celebrating mountain recreation and northern Vermont culture with live music and local food, craft beer and cider.
Disc Golf Pro Tour Championship. Saturday - Sunday. Smugglers’ hosts the championship round on the Disc Golf Pro Tour, a points based series of five tournaments. Come watch some of the best disc golfers in the world who have qualified to compete for a top prize of $10,000.
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16-18
British Invasion. A weekend celebration and salute to the great British motorcar. Enjoy the cars and visit the market place! Festivities are at the Stowe Events Field just off of Route 108 north of Stowe Village. $15 for two-day general admission. www.britishinvasion.com
16-18
Burlington Book Festival. “Three days of authorized activity”! Readings from famed authors, family events, demonstrations and workshops. Presentations held at venues in beautiful lakeside Burlington. www.burlingtonbookfestival.com
17
38th Annual Harvest Festival at Shelburne Farms. Celebrate Vermont farm and forestry traditions at this special event with music, storytelling, children’s activities, and traditional crafts. Farm animals and horse drawn hayrides. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. $10/adults, $5/child, free to children under 2 and members. www.shelburnefarms.org
17 & 18
Harvest Festival at Boyden Winery. Family fun includes grape stomping, hay rides, face painting plus wine tasting, meet the winemaker, tours of the winery & vineyard. Enjoy tasty dining from local food trucks, music by The TenderBellies, and much more! New this year — purchase tickets to be a judge on the winery’s Tapas Tasting Panel, Saturday, September 17, 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Pair specially prepared small bites from food truck vendors with Boyden wines and ciders and rate the one you like best to see which vendor earns the title of Festival Favorite and wins a prize! Festival hours Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. Free parking and free admission. www.boydenvalley.com
24 & 25
Old fashioned Harvest Market. Located in Underhill, Vermont, about 20 minutes from the Resort, the Harvest Market kicks off on Saturday with a small-town parade at 9:00 am. Children’s games, music, Vermont artisans, and delicious food offer fun for all ages. The famous Underhill Clutter Barn and town-wide yard sales yield lots of treasures!
28 - October 2
AppleFest at Smugglers’ Notch Resort. Celebrate a fall favorite - apples! Our second annual AppleFest highlights the traditions of apple growing in Vermont with apple-themed guided walks and free daily transportation provided to local apple orchards for pick-your-own fun. All ages can find fun with diverse activities that include tastings of sweet and hard ciders that introduce the award-winning flavors of Vermont’s cider makers, apple story time, and cider press demonstrations. Savor dining specials at Resort restaurants and samples of Vermont apple specialty foods at Smugglers’ Country Store. An apple a day during Vermont autumn play!
29 - October 2
Lamoille County Players present “Deathtrap,” a killer comedy-drama that is the longest running production on Broadway in the comedy-thriller genre. The play is filled with twists and turns surrounding the development of an on stage mystery. Be prepared to be kept guessing! In the historic Hyde Park Opera House. www.lcplayers.com
OCTOBER 1&2
Stowe Oktoberfest. Stowe’s Event Field on Route 108 is transformed into a Bavarian village complete with oompah bands, authentic German foods, freshly brewed Vermont beers, and face painting for the kids. www.stoweoktoberfest.com
1&2
Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival. Demonstrations, wool and yarn sales, herding demos, animal barn, children’s activities. 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Sunday. Fairgrounds, Tunbridge, Vermont. www.vtsheepandwoolfest.com
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OCTOBER CONTINUED ... 6-9 Lamoille County Players present “Deathtrap,” a killer comedy-drama that is the longest running production on Broadway in the comedy-thriller genre. The play is filled with twists and turns surrounding the development of an on stage mystery. Be prepared to be kept guessing! In the historic Hyde Park Opera House. www.lcplayers.com 7-9
Stowe Foliage Arts Festival. A short drive away through Smugglers’ Notch Pass, 200 arts and crafts exhibitors offer shopping options for all interests - jewelry, home goods, decor, furniture, clothing, food, spirits, maple products, and so much more! Topnotch Field, 3420 Mountain Road (Route 108); watch for the big tent. www.craftproducers.com
NOVEMBER 18-20
The Vermont Handcrafters’ Holiday Fine Craft and Art Show. This showcase of fine art and crafts produced by our state’s talented artisans is a seasonal tradition in our area! At the Sheraton Conference Center on Route 2/Main Street in Burlington. Friday 10:00 am 8:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am - 6:00 pm, and Sunday 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. www.vermonthandcrafters.com
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