Clousie

While most of the questions seem to be about visiting the cities, I'm more interested in the countryside. We'll be in Lake Champlain for a week in early September and several on the US Board have told us Montreal is only 1 1/2 hr away. We've been there before and are more interested in keeping this week more rural.

Does anyone know of any interesting/scenic/unique small towns or places between Lake Champlain and Montreal? Would especially like any interesting places to photograph. Did see a mention of what looks like a rather large cheese store close to the border which will certainly deserve a visit.

Clousie

The cheese store is Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser.

zootsi

We visit this area often. It's mostly flat farmland until you get east of Cowansville. The area directly south of Montreal is known as the Monteregie, slightly to the east it's known as the eastern Townships. There are about 2 dozen wineries in the Dunham area, most offer tastings. Lots of photo ops at the wineries. There are also many apple orchards. If you do any bicycling, this area offers world class road biking on paved and gravel paths, and quiet back roads. Some nice villages would include Phillipsburg (right on the lake), Stanbridge East, Freilsburg, Dunham, Bromont, Sutton. Lots of info on the Eastern Townships & Monteregie websites.

Vttraveler

We just visited a beautiful and unique 12-sided barn/museum in Mystic QC a little north of the border, to the east of Rte 133 and close to the towns of Stanbridge East, Bedford, Dunham described in the last post.
https://museemissisquoi.ca/home

Clousie

Sounds like a place to visit. Looks like a photogenic area, too.

Vttraveler

If you do go to the Walbridge Barn, there is a good restaurant/Auberge just down the road, L'Oeuf. It is in an old general store.

Clousie

Always appreciate a good food recommendation.

zootsi

L'Oef is a tiny restaurant where everything is made that day for each guest, so you need to reserve many hours in advance. There is also a very good tapas place in Dunham, and a casual French Cafe (lunch only) and a good Thai place in Bedford.

Clousie

Thanks for the heads up on that Zootsi and other suggestions.

Should we anticipate any problems in restaurants not knowing any French? Many websites have the option for the English version, but couldn't find one on L'Oef. Probably won't go there, since our schedule will most likely be very loose and difficult to make reservation for a certain time, but wonder about other places. Many years ago we were unable to get any translation of menus, but thinking it may have changed by now.

zootsi

There is very little English spoken in most of these towns, I'd guess that about 1/2 of the restaurants have English menus, and many of the waitstaff don't speak english. Definitely bring French/English dictionary or your Iphone translator. Realize that all highway signs are French only.

Vttraveler

We have not had any trouble eating dinner at L'Oeuf w/o reservations the two times we have been there. Last time was last week on Thursday evening. We had reserved through Booking.com but somehow Booking had given them the wrong date and they were expecting us the following night. We were still able to get a room and had dinner. there is a very nice screened in porch overlooking the garden in addition to the indoor restaurant room--I would not call it tiny. The owner and his wife said they were going to have 40 cyclists for lunch on Saturday. Their first language is French but they also speak English. They also make and sell chocolates and homemade jams, gelato and pastries and good coffee in the store connected to the restaurant.

The restaurant connected to L'Orpailleur Vineyard in Dunham is also quite good.

It is probably a good idea to have a phrase book that translates menu terms. There are quite a few people who speak English in the area which was originally settled largely by Loyalists.

There are maps and a good guide book you can view on line
http://www.easterntownships.org/guide

Clousie

I'm sure we'll enjoy our explorations from our homebase of North Hero Island. Thanks for the information.

Vttraveler

For restaurants near you, the North Hero House restaurant and Blue Paddle Bistro are good.

I had started a response the other day about day trips on the US forum but it disappeared. Will try again.