Vermont - October 2023

 For many years I've wanted to see New England in the fall.  This year, my wife Glenda and I made it happen.  We flew into Burlington International Airport, picked up our rental car, and headed to beautiful Stowe, Vermont, about an hour away.  

Our room was booked at the Innsbrook Inn.  The online reviews were good, but in all honesty I would describe the accommodations as a Motel 6 experience at a Hilton price.  However, the breakfast served was excellent, and the grounds were beautiful.  We arrived in time for a really good supper at a nearby restaurant called Matterhorn.  We loved the beautiful mums in their garden!

A bit of old Austria

On our first full day we decided to visit Main Street in Stowe.  What a charming little town!  

We stopped by the Visitor Center so I could leave a record of our visit.  I think my aim for "Van Buren" was just a tad off.

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We spent all day walking around, visiting the shops and taking in the sights.  I love New England architecture, and walking around Stowe was like being in an episode of one of my favorite shows, "This Old House."  

Many online pictures of Stowe feature this iconic church building.

A nice young couple from France took our picture at Stowe's Halloween display.  We really enjoyed visiting with them.  

While Glenda got a massage, I took the opportunity to explore this old cemetery.  Most of the graves were from the 1800s.  

The next day we drove over to a place called Smuggler's Notch.  I don't know the story behind that name, but it was my favorite part of our trip.  I didn't get any pictures of the winding road up the mountain, but I assure you it makes the Pig Trail look like a piece of cake.  

On day three, we just drove around some more; another visit to Smuggler's Notch, a trip to Waterbury for Cider (and Apple Cider Donuts!), and we ended up in a cool little town called Johnsonville that we both decided we wanted to move to.

Later we made a stop at the Trapp Family Lodge, a beautiful place that I think is owned by decendents of the von Trapp family of Sound of Music Fame.  

Trapp Family Lodge had many beautiful flower arrangements like this.  

The road from the Lodge.

Pretty common scene in this part of Vermont.

The rest of the day, we explored the grounds of the Innsbruck Inn.  

As per the sign, this playground is not for sissies.

On our last night, we went to a fancy restaurant called Harrison's.  Glenda had the Beef Bourguignon, and I had a lobster roll (always wanted to try one.)  Both dishes were exquisite!  I talked Glenda into dessert, and since we couldn't decide between the carrot cake and the peanut butter pie, I suggested we get both.  Good call.  

One interesting thing about Harrison's - their menu lists an entree called "Chicken Razorback."  I asked our waitress if someone connected with the restaurant was from Arkansas.  She seemed confused, so I told her it was a little unexpected to see the word "Razorback" up here, since we were from Arkansas.  "Oh," she said, "Arkansas Razorbacks.  Is that some kind of mountain range or something?"  

Woo pig, sooie.  

We had an early, early flight the next morning.  We would be getting up at 2:00 am, driving an hour through a rainstorm back to Burlington and boarding our flight home.  We were sad to leave, but I was also missing all the wild critters that visit my back yard feeder at night.  They had raccoons up here in Vermont, but they weren't the same.  

By the way, special shout out to my neighbor buddy Everett, who took care of my wild animals while I was gone.  

We will be going back.  When, I'm not too sure, but this beautiful little town now has a place in both our hearts.  New England in the fall.  It's a dream come true.