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Vermont's Big Summer Kick-off Weekend
2008-06-11 20:25:00
Vermont Free Family Days at State Parks and Historical Sites Admission to all state owned parks and historical facilities is free. Here is the best source of information on this event and others throughout the summer. Echo Aquarium and Science Center Burlington, VT Echo's Body Language exhibit is geared toward children but interesting for adults too. It covers the topic of how our bodies move and the complex but fascinating physics behind it. There are 17 interactive displays including dancing with your shadow and emailing the image to your family or friends. Continues through September 1. Manchester Antique and Classic Car Show Manchester, VT Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15, 2008Address: Dorr Farm, Route 30, Manchester, VT A large show with some 800 old vehicles on display in one of Vermont's prettiest towns. Ethan Allen Days Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15, 2008Hildene Mansion 1005 Hildene Road Manchester, VTA weekend of Revolutionary war displays, camps, battle re-enactments...
More About: Events , Summer , Weekend , Kick , Kick-off

Vermont Chocolate Show This Weekend
2008-05-16 04:28:00
Vermont is chock full of food producers. Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, King Arthur Flour, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Cabot Cheese are the best known but the list goes on and on with what seems like hundreds of small and medium size companies making items as diverse as cookies, pizza, beer, and tea. If you like good quality food, you will love Vermont. This weekend is a good opportunity to sample chocolate from Vermont and other places in New England. The Vermont Chocolate Show was formerly held in Stowe but it has moved to The Inn at Essex, a larger venue near Burlington. The exhibitors are mostly made up of chocolate manufacturers but also some surprises such as an art exhibit and a Vermont vodka company that makes chocolate flavored spirits! The event is scheduled to run Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18th. (c) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
More About: Events , Weekend , Vermont

VT Open Craft Studio Weekend May 24 and 25
2008-05-13 04:02:00
The Vermont Craft Council, an association of several hundreds craftspeople throughout the state, started the Open Studio Weekend 16 years ago as a way to increase awareness of the craft-making community.It's easy now to not only see the scale of the craft industry here, but also the deep wealth of skill right here in our little 'ol state. The trees, farms, and mountains are beautiful but they can overshadow a great supply of talented people here sometimes. This year's Open Studio Weekend is taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25. It's a great time to see both studios that are open frequently to the public and also the "off the beaten path" studios that are rarely open to visitors.There is an incredibly detailed Open Studio guide and map guide on the Vermont Craft Council website. Some 250 studios will be open on the weekend. Let me emphasize that this is not people making flea market junk. These are first rate craftspeople. For example, take a look at the Studio and G...
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St. Johnsbury VT Athenaeum Included in NY Times
2008-03-13 02:38:00
St. Johnsbury AthenaeumThe New York Times Travel section last week published an article about athenaeums around the eastern US, mainly New England. "Where Greek Ideals Meet New England Charm" includes a mention of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a combined library and art gallery located in downtown St. Johnsbury. It's a wonderful facility where you can easily lose track of time. The town of St. Johnsbury is a wonderful place to visit and great entrance to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Other attractions in the area include the outstanding Fairbanks Museum, Old Stone House Museum, and Stephen Huneck Dog Mountain. More information about these attractions and others are listed on the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce website. (c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo above) Grunberg Haus
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Budweiser Clydesdales at Mount Snow March 21 and 22
2008-03-10 19:21:00
Budweiser Clydesdale horse photo from Mount Snow Mount Snow is the only northeast ski area that will be hosting the Budweiser Clydesdale horses this year. They will be available for viewing at a Friday night pizza party, a Saturday afternoon parade, and in one of the parking lots after the parade. Mount Snow Ski Resort is located in southern Vermont near Wilmington VT, between Brattleboro and Bennington. More information is available at the Mount Snow Events Calendar. (c) 2008 [except the photograph] Jeff Connor
More About: March 21 , Budweiser , March

Telemark Ski Festival at Mad River Glen This Weekend
2008-03-05 06:23:00
One of the largest telemark ski events in the country takes place every year at Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston Vermont. The North American Telemark Organization TeleFest takes place this coming weekend, March 8 and 9. About 1,000 telemark skiers will be taking part in races, clinics, equipment demonstrations, fun runs, and parties. The cost is $54 per day or $104 for two day. and includes lift ticket, clinics, use of demo gear, contests, and Magic Hat dance party. About a week later, March 17 - 21, the next door ski resort at Sugarbush will host the FIS Telemark World Cup Finals with the best telemark skiers in the world competing. If you are not familiar with telemark skiing, you can read a good article about it on Wikipedia.(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo from NATO) Grunberg Haus Inn
More About: Events , Festival , Weekend

"Do Y'all Still Have Some Snow Left in VT Now?"
2008-03-04 04:16:00
That's the question I got from a wonderfully cheerful person somewhere south of the Mason Dixon line who had never seen snow and was calling in early March. He wanted to know if he had missed the snow this year or if there was still time left to travel to Vermont and see snow. I was happy to tell him that most years we get the greatest amount of snowfall in March compared to other months. Most of the people I speak with are surprised to hear we get more snow in March. When they are seeing the beginning of Spring where they live, Vermont is building to a grand winter finale. To see what I mean, take a look at Stowe Resort's five year weather history. Not only is March the snowiest (I guess that is a real word), but it's the end of the month when the largest amounts of snow are falling. The last week in March averages 32 inches at Stow, far more than any other week there. Stowe's Snow Report shows 309 inches of snowfall so far this season, just short of the season average o...
More About: Nature , Advice , General , Left

“A Celebration of American Artisan Cheese” presentation Friday March 14
2008-03-01 04:59:00
The Inn at Baldwin Creek in Bristol Vermont has a restaurant called "Mary's" that is well known and highly regarded around here. It has won many awards and reviews including Yankee Magazine 2005 Editor's Choice Award and 2005 Restaurateurs of the Year award from the VT Lodging and Restaurant Assn.Each month, the Inn holds a dinner presentation and the selection this month is artisan cheese. The featured speaker is Jeff Roberts of Montpelier, VT, author of the Atlas of American Artisan Cheese , co-founder of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese at the University of Vermont, and a Slow Food USA director. Jeff Robert's Friday March 14 presentation includes dinner at 6:30 pm with tastings of regionally-produced artisan cheeses and a talk based on his research, stories about artisan cheese makers, and links to broader changes in American agriculture. You can make a reservation by calling toll free 888-424-2432 or emailing info@innatbaldwincreek.com. The dinner and talk is $...
More About: Events , Celebration

Dog Sled Rides and Skijouring in Vermont
2008-02-29 04:13:00
Photo courtesy of October SiberiansI read today that the famous Alaska Iditarod race is starting this Saturday and it lead me to thinking about all the sled dog activity here in Vermont . (Side note: many participants in the sport prefer the term "sled dog" rather than "dog sled" but you will see both terms used even by the people who run professional operations.)In fact, if you would like to see a sled dog race and won't be in Alaska this week, there is a race you can watch at Burke Mountain Ski Resort in East Burke VT. There will be races both Saturday and Sunday. A number of operations around Vermont offer sled dog rides and a couple of them offer skijoring too. Skijoring is done on skis and involves the dog(s) pulling the person via a harness attached to the dog. I've seen skijor racing a couple of times and it's impressive how fast they get going. You certainly don't want to fall down . . . I'm not sure the dogs would stop for a while - they're pretty enthusiastic. Th...
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Snowshoe Marathon Race March 8 in Pittsfield VT
2008-02-28 23:55:00
Peak Adventures is a Vermont company that puts on extreme races several times a year. Their snowshoe marathon is coming up next weekend on Saturday March 8 starting at 8:00 am in Pittsfield VT. The course is a 6.5 mile loop with 7,200 feet of elevation change along ungroomed and snowmobile trails. See the topo map on the website for more detail. The marathon runs four loops, the half marathon runs two loops, and there is a one loop fun run for those who just want to give snowshoeing a try. There is a ten hour time limit for all racers. For beginners: I can tell you from personal experience that running in snowshoes takes twice the exertion of road running so plan accordingly! It's not enough to be in good shape. You have to be in great shape. You can register online at peakraces.com and click the link to runrace.net or register that morning at the General Store in Pittsfield from 5:30 to 7:30 am. Registration costs $75 and includes a beanie hat and the post race meal.The post ...
More About: Events , Race , Marathon

Ben and Jerry's Winter Festival This Saturday
2008-02-28 04:21:00
Ben & Jerry's Homemade has a winter festival every year but this year is a little special because the company is celebrating its 30th birthday. On Saturday , March 1, from 11:00 to 4:00, there will be free tours at the Waterbury VT manufacturing plant, plus games, snow sculpting, cake, music, food, snowshoeing, and other fun stuff - there may be a small fee for some of those.When you are there, they will give you a small pin to put on your shirt or jacket. Show that pin to some of the many businesses in Waterbury to get a discount. Some restaurants, gift stores, an antique store, and even the local pharmacy are participating. Who knows, maybe Ben and/or Jerry will show up. They both still live in the area and stop by from time to time even though they are retired from full time work now. (c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus
More About: Events , Winter , Festival

CNN Article On Stephen Huneck Dog Chapel
2008-02-27 22:15:00
I've written Vermont Travel Notes entries about Stephen Huneck's unique dog chapel in St. Johnsbury VT as well as his artwork and galleries around the state (the newest is in Stowe). His whimsical and sometimes touching artwork is very popular with dog owners all over the world. As a result, he has received publicity in a large number of places, the most recent being CNN and its website. The article is entitled "Doggy Disneyland draws animals, owners by the pack" and it's a good description of Stephen, his artwork, and his 175 acre farm with widely known dog chapel. It's quite a structure, requiring an expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars, and well worth a visit if you are a dog lover. From our inn, it is a little over a 45 minute drive to Dog Mountain.. Another great place to visit in the St. Johnsbury area is the Fairbanks Museum. I also recommend a drive north to Lake Willoughby and then over to the area around the town of Island Pond to do some moose spotti...
More About: Shopping , Attractions , General , Article , Chapel

Discount Carrier AirTran to Begin Vermont Flight Service
2008-02-27 05:08:00
AirTran has the newest fleet of Boeing 717's in the USOn May 21, AirTran will begin nonstop flight service three times a day between Burlington, VT (BTV) and the Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore/Washington (BWI). The airline will be using Boeing 717-200 planes which seat 117 passengers, 12 in business class and 105 in coach.There are 14 AirTran destinations available from BWI, plus service to about another 50 cities you can view on the AirTran website Destinations and Route Map pages. Boston is one of those cities and is a popular airport for visitors to Vermont and other parts of New England. AirTran is kicking off its Burlington service with a low introductory fare of $59. It must be booked by March 17, 2008, for travel through June 11, 2008. Fares listed are one way, available daily and are valid in either direction. There are some other charges such as $3.50 segment fee, $10 Sept 11 fee, and $18 airport passenger facility fee so be sure to read the fine print. You c...
More About: Advice , Service , Flight , Discount

Mardis Gras at Jay Peak This Week
2008-02-26 21:23:00
Jay Peak 's Mardis Gras is taking place this week with ski races, Louisiana style dinners, and music performances. I guess this is as far north from New Orleans as you can get in the USA to celebrate Maris Gras. (c) 2008 Jeff Connor
More About: Events , Week

Big Storm On The Way Will Make For a Great Ski Weekend in VT
2008-02-26 03:28:00
Most of the weather forecasts I've seen for north central Vermont call for about six to ten inches of snow Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Josh Fox at The Single Chair Weather Blog is forecasting 13 to 18 inches. The upper elevations, such as the Mad River Glen ski area he is forecasting, get more snow than standard forecasts because of their altitudes. That seems like quite a disparity between 10 inches and 18 inches but it is not unusual for the upper elevations to get twice as much snow as the standard forecasts call for. The headline in Fox's blog entry yesterday says: "Here we go !!! Big mid-week dump is now in the making !!"I enjoy reading Josh's blog because he writes in a very friendly and well constructed conversational style. The entries are often detailed but when I find the writing has gone into more detail than I have time for, I just move on to something else. And he is not perfect. But when he does have a cold streak (pun intended), he owns up to it and often ex...
More About: Advice , Great , Storm , Weekend , Make

This Is A Good Time To Buy Winter Gear On Sale
2008-02-23 05:38:00
Vermont's Tubbs Snow ShoesI just received an email from my friends at Umiak Outfitters in Stowe VT that they are having their annual 30% off sale on skis, boots, snowshoes (20% on Tubbs brand) and sleds this weekend. In addition, Umiak has a online retail store page with discounted prices plus a clearance sale page on their website you might be interested in if you can't make it to their sale. In fact, in your travel to Vermont over the next few weeks, it's a good idea to drop into the local ski shops and outdoor outfitters to see what they have on sale. Most of these shops have their summer gear on order and their new stuff is already starting to arrive. (c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
More About: Shopping , Advice , Winter , Time , Sale

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs School
2008-02-23 03:49:00
Green Mountain Hooked Rugs in Montpelier offers classes several times a year but they have one big school event that takes place every summer. The school was founded in 1981 by the mother of the current owner and classes have been offered every year since then.This year's 27th Annul Hooked Rug School will be held June 6–15, 2008. There will be one five-day and two weekend sessions with a total of 23 classes. Class size is limited to about a dozen students so now is the time to look over the course outline and decide whether to attend. From the Green Mountain Hooked Rugs web site: "Classes range from beginning hooking, dyeing, fine hooking tapestry to primitives and wide-cuts, pictorials, folk art, punch needle, penny rugs, braiding and more. Students select one class per session. "Teachers hail from all over the United States and Canada. Rug exhibits and a well-stocked rug shop are open daily. "Green Mountain Hooked Rugs has a shop that is open year around at 2838 County Road, Mont...
More About: Advice , Events , Green

Mardis Gras in Burlington This Weekend
2008-02-23 00:24:00
The highlight of the Burlington VT Mardis Gras weekend is the big parade with dozens of floats tossing over thousands of beads, Louisiana Moon Pies, and Lake Champlain Chocolates. The parade attracts a large but fun and easy going crowd. Get into place about 2:00 to 2:45 in the afternoon. The parade runs on Burlington's Main Street and Church Street. Magic Hat Brewery is the sponsor of the event. On their website, they offer this advice for where to watch the parade: "2:45 pm- Line up on Main Street between South Winooski and Church Street and Church Street between Main and Cherry and spread out!!!"3:00 pm- Catch beads, Moon Pies, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and more as the event parades down Church Street"Families with children 7 and under can watch from the Little Jambalaya Zone on the courthouse side of Main Street"The Magic Hat Block Party takes place after the parade featuring bands and a comedy show performing at several venues around town.Below is a YouTube video of last y...
More About: Events , Weekend

Today Show and The Learning Channel in VT Feb 21
2008-02-21 04:55:00
The Today Show will be broadcasting from the Timbers restaurant at Sugarbush Ski Resort on Thursday, February 21. This is the first time that all the on-air team from the Today Show has traveled to a location for a live broadcast. The very next day, the same team will broadcast live from Miami FL. Coincidentally, on the same day The Learning Channel will be in Waitsfield and other Mad River Valley locations to film a thirty minute segment of their Destination Weddings & Honeymoons program. This special is scheduled to be broadcast nationally in April on both The Learning Channel and Women's Entertainment network. After the initial April airing, cable affiliates can broadcast it in their markets. (c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
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Stowe Winter Carnival
2008-01-10 04:49:00
The 2008 edition of the Stowe Winter Carnival will be held Jan 18 - 26. This is one of the biggest winter events in Vermont and New England with ten major activities including ice carving, movies, children's carnival, and a large village block party. Tourists are invited to join the locals in fun events like the snow volleyball tournament, Super G ski race, snow golf tournament, costume contest, music and dancing, church supper, and general merriment at the local bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Click here for the events calendar. Better descriptions are available on the Stowe Area Association calendar. (c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
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VT: What Happens Here, Stays Here. But . . .
2008-01-09 07:40:00
I found this Vermont Sweatshirt on Shawn's Blog. It does not say where he found it. There is a good local store called Rocking R that sells souvenir T-shirts and other clothing so I may take a look to see if they have this item. I suppose this is the kind of image you have when you're a small, rural state. In reality, there are tons of things to do here, especially in outdoor recreation, dining, the arts, and shopping. It's enough to make someone think about writing a blog on what travelers to Vermont can find here.(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
More About: General , Stays

So-so Ski Conditions This Week
2008-01-08 06:01:00
It is not unusual for Vermont to have a January thaw but the one we're working our way through now seems much warmer than normal. Today's high was around 50 degrees F (10 Celsius) and tomorrow's forecast is a few degrees higher. It will cool down to day time highs in the low 30's F by the end of this week but we are going to have several days of light rain, sleet, and a little snow for the next few days. The ski report we just received from Jay Peak describes the conditions as "spring like." All the ski areas especially in northern Vermont have so much base built up that the conditions won't be terrible but if you have been reading how great the skiing has been in Vermont, don't expect those conditions to exist now. The skiing this week won't be terrible but it won't be great either. By Saturday, conditions should be back to normal. Keep an eye on the weather forecasts.(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus
More About: Advice , Week , Conditions

Check Your Flight Status on Google
2008-01-04 07:08:00
You can use the standard Google Results Page to check the "real-time" (as opposed to fake time, I guess) status of any flight. Just type the name of the airline and flight number (e.g. Jet Blue 123, aa456) into the Google search box. The most up to date information from Flight Stats.com will be displayed. Better yet, get a free subscription to Flight Stats on their web site. There is an enormous amount of information available including airport flight delays, security wait times, and other important pieces of information all air travelers need these days. Google has a long list of "Subscribed Links" such as this. They include Gas Buddy for the best local gas prices, Weather Channel, Calorie Lab for nutritional information, City/Town Info for information about cities you are visiting, and more.
More About: Advice , Check , Status

Jay Peak Has the Most Snow in the East
2008-01-04 04:06:00
Jay Peak photo credit: Brian Keet photo of skier Mike Britt, taken Jan 2, 2008. Today I received a snow report email from Jay Peak with the photo above and very little text. The photo nearly says it all so there's little need for much text. Without a doubt, Jay is the King Kong of snowfall in the eastern United States. So far this ski season, they have had 200 inches of snow. It looks like this year will exceed their annual average of 350 inches of snow. Several characteristics contribute to this. Jay is located in far northern Vermont , just a few miles from the Canadian border. It is at the far northern reach of the Green Mountain range which creates a "snow belt" that catches moisture soaked clouds. These clouds pick up their moisture from nearby Lake Champlain or the Great Lakes farther to the west. When they hit the upper elevations, they release the moisture in greater quantity than lower elevations. See Jay Peak current conditions here. (c) 2008 Jeff Connor
More About: Advice , East , Snow

Great Ski Weather in VT This Weekend
2008-01-03 20:45:00
The weather forecast for Vermont this coming weekend looks ideal for skiing and other outdoor activities. Friday's high should be around 30 degrees F (about -1 C). Saturday and Sunday will both be in the mid to high 30's. We have a ton of snow on the ground so downhill and cross country skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides, sledding, snow shoeing, will be great. For more detail, you can click on the Weather Channel link here or in the right column of this blog.(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
More About: Advice , Great , Weekend

Happy New Year
2008-01-01 15:11:00
New Year 's Eve fireworks at Sugarbush.Resolve now to spend part of this year in Vermont!
More About: New Year , General , Happy , Happy New Year

Let it Snow, Let it Snow
2008-01-01 05:00:00
Plowing and grooming at Sugarbush. I can't remember when Vermont has had this much snow so early in the season. It just keeps coming and I'm spending a bundle to have Butch, my snowplow guy, keep the driveway cleared and sanded. Today he was here twice at $50 per visit. Our inn is more than 600 feet Route 100 which is nice but we pay for it this time of year. Also, I have hired Dustin part time to help roof rake and shovel. If I did it all myself I won't have time to do much else. In fact, we've had so much snow Butch had to bring up his John Deere tractor with front bucket to lift the snow banks farther away from the driveway. His 3/4 ton pickup and plow just can't move snow when it gets piled up more than a couple of feet.Last night and this morning we had about eight inches of snow. The National Weather Service is calling for another 8 to 14 inches tomorrow. A quick check of the Stowe snow report shows that they have had about two feet of snow this past week and 148 inches o...
More About: General , Snow

First Night New Years Celebrations in Vermont
2007-12-29 04:38:00
There are more than 100 cities across the world that welcome the new year with a "First Night " celebration. The concept was developed to offer an alcohol-free and substance-free way to start the new year. Boston was the first city to start this tradition and Burlington Vermont was the fourth to adopt the concept. This year is the 25th anniversary of Burlington's First Night. It is the city's largest one day arts festival and will attract thousands of visitors. There is a wide range of performances which you can read about in the festival's 48 page guide. In addition to Burlington, First Night celebrations are held in Montpelier and St. Johnsbury.All the first night celebrations are family friendly but the one in St. Johnsbury puts special emphasis on children's entertainment. (c) 2007 Jeff Connor (except the St. Johnsbury festival logo above)
More About: Events , Celebrations , Years

Waterbury's Alchemist Brew Pub Starts Blogging
2007-12-26 02:52:00
The Alchemist brew pub and restaurant in Waterbury has been hugely popular right from day one four years ago. They have about seven excellent brews available including some standards and some specials from time to time. Moreover, they actually have a chef preparing food so the fare there is much better than the average hamburger and fries that most bars have. As a result, it is crowded most nights. If you like craft brewed beers, the Alchemist should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Vermont. John Kimmick, the brew master, just started a blog and has one entry posted so far. It's a pretty good one as a matter of fact and gives the reader a good insight into what kinds of beers he is offering and some of the thought and work that goes into creating them. The blog is called Notes from the Brew ery and is subtitled "or What's Going on Down Here and Why." (The Brewing equipment is in the basement under the pub.) I've seen quite a number of Vermont blogs get started o...
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Make Holiday Dinner Reservations Now
2007-12-24 18:01:00
The week between Christmas and New Year's is one of the busiest of the year here. With all the snow we have had already this year, the out-of-state skiers are fired up about getting their season off to a good start with several days off from work and plenty of snow on all the Vermont ski trails. Right now is a good time to plan ahead and get dinner reservations in order to beat the crowd and avoid long waits or having to call around to even find a restaurant with an opening. Naturally, it's easier to find an opening early or late evening, so you may have to be flexible in your plans. Call or email your innkeeper or look online to find restaurants. Any good innkeeper will be able to tell you the best restaurants in the area that will fit your needs. Or, if you like to do some shopping for restaurants on your own, do a online search for the regional chamber of commerce website for the area in which you will be staying. (c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
More About: Advice , Holiday , Dinner , Reservations , Make