3 minute read
MAD RIVER VALLEY
Now that the snowflakes have melted at the legendary ski resorts of Sugarbush and Mad River Glen, the allure of the Valley shifts to scenic hikes and golf outings, mountain biking, a vibrant arts scene, and exceptional locally sourced dining. From the small town of Warren, with its landmark general store, and its mile-long-plus stretch of scenic Route 100 dotted with art and craft galleries, to the heart of Waitsfield and its many enticing restaurants, the Valley offers a relaxed vibe that will draw you back time and again.
DO Saddle up in the village of Fayston and discover a unique way to roam the countryside. Leisurely trail rides or multi-day treks begin at the picturesque Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm. One of the oldest horse breeds in the world, the Icelandics make ideal saddle horses. Though rides and treks require advance reservations, the farm welcomes fans of the breed to come by and admire these beautiful horses at play.
802-496-7141 • icelandichorses.com
SHOP Stop in and pay homage to the many food entrepreneurs of the Valley at Mad River Taste Place in Waitsfield—a retail store and gathering place for enjoying the artisan food and drink products produced nearby. With much of the region’s land conserved for farming, locally sourced products are abundant and celebrated. Cheeses, butters, breads, chocolates, charcuterie, spirits, and more are here to sample and purchase.
802-496-3165 • madrivertaste.com
DO What to do amid so much natural beauty? Get outdoors and take a hike! The Long Trail crosses Vermont’s highest peaks with a slew of side trails for those with just a short amount of time. Make your way along the Sunset Ridge Trail to stand atop Sunset Ledge. Just a 2.2-mile round trip (though with some steep ascents) rewards you with dramatic views toward Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks. madrivervalley.com/listing/ sunset-ledge
Mad River Taste Place
89 Mad River Green, Waitsfield madrivertaste.com
802-496-3165
American Flatbread
46 Lareau Rd., Waitsfield americanflatbread.com
802-496-8856
Eagles Resort
169 Eagles Rd., Waitsfield eaglesresortvt.com
802-496-5700
WHEN YOU GO: For colorful creations both functional and beautiful, peek into Mad River Glass Gallery in Waitsfield. Stand atop the viewing platform to see artisans Melanie and David Leppla at work, blowing and shaping hot glass into exquisite wares. madriverglassgallery.com; 802-496-9388
WHEN YOU GO: For colorful creations both functional and beautiful, peek into Mad River Glass Gallery in Waitsfield. Stand atop the viewing platform to see artisans Melanie and David Leppla at work, blowing and shaping hot glass into exquisite wares. madriverglassgallery.com; 802-496-9388 workers could not bring a lunch and protect it while at their machines.
At the heart of the Boott mill complex is a courtyard, with a clock tower whose steel bell would chime six times a day, serving as the mill’s time clock. Workers arriving after the morning bell would find the gates locked and be forced to enter through the adjacent counting house, where the mill agent held the power to dock their pay or dismiss them outright.
White Horse Inn
999 German Flats Rd., Waitsfield whitehorseinn-vermont.com
802-496-9448
802-496-9448
Hyde
Hyde Away Inn
1428 Mill Brook Rd., Waitsfield hydeawayinn.com
802-496-2322
802-496-2322
Though Lowell’s textile boom lasted for more than a century, the industry here and throughout New England experienced a sharp decline after World War II. Boott Cotton Mills closed its doors in 1955; by the 1960s, many of Lowell’s mill buildings were abandoned.
Warren Store 284 Main St., Warren warrenstore.com
802-496-3864
802-496-3864
The Inn at Round Barn Farm 1661 E. Warren Rd., Waitsfield theroundbarn.com
802-496-2276
802-496-2276
But in 1978, thanks in part to the support of Lowell native Paul Tsongas, then a U.S. representative, the Lowell National Historical Park was created, preserving a large swath of industrial infrastructure downtown. The park encompasses not only the Boott mills but also the Pawtucket Dam and Gatehouse, the Suffolk Mill Turbine and Powerhouse, the Kirk Street Agents House, the Mill Girls and Immigrants Boardinghouse, and the Lowell Canal System. There’s the Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center, which focuses on the lives of Lowell’s many generations of immigrants, and tours on working streetcars and, in warmer months, canal tours conducted by boat.
Sugarbush Soaring
Sugarbush Soaring 2355 Airport Rd., Warren sugarbushsoaring.com
802-496-2290
802-496-2290
Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm
3061 N. Fayston Rd., Waitsfield icelandichorses.com
Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm 3061 N. Fayston Rd., Waitsfield icelandichorses.com
802-496-7141
802-496-7141
Before leaving, I make another pass through the weave room, where Auger and O’Keefe are running the machines for a group of school kids. Still feeling the throb of the looms as I exit, I think of a memory O’Keefe shared from his youth, one of walking the streets of Lowell just after World War II and hearing the thrum of the mills. It was everywhere back then—the sound of the city, the literal pulse of Lowell.
115 John St., Lowell, MA. 978-970-5000; nps.gov/lowe
