Another message noted that Vermont is buggy in June. How is it in late July and early August? Is basic bug repellant effective or should I visit at another time? If so, when?

By the time Black Fly season ends, the mosquitoes are the size of hummingbirds. But you'll be OK if you bring some serious repellant like Cutter's. Forget about that wimpy Avon stuff.

Vermont is glorious anytime of year, but particularly in the summer. We live very close to Lake Champlain and I have never found it to be excessively buggy. Do bring some Cutter's, just in case, but don't let the threat of a few insects keep you away.

We go to Vermont all the time. I've never noticed any profusion of bugs. Unless of course, you'll be wandering about the woods, which would, I would presume be "buggy" no matter where or when you go.

Oh, Puleeze stay away Na, Na, Na, NaNa...

It's not unusually buggy here. I've lived here most of my life, and haven't found it to be worse than any other area of the country, in the summer or any other time. Bring repellant, but don't stress over it.

Sherry,

You don't state where in VT you're going to be and depending on your location, the bugs could be either close to non-existent or prepared to pick you up and fly away with you as a little snack.

Near Lake Champlain, on the lake, on top of the mountains, and in the villages, bugs shouldn't be much of a problem. Just about everywhere else, the gnats are awful, followed by deer flies and skeeters. In two of the four places I've lived in VT, the gnats were occasionally so bad mid-summer that they would keep us from venturing outside - Cutters does not keep them away. Nothing does. The other critter to be mindful of is the tick. If you venture off the beaten path, be sure to check yourself for ticks.

Right now is peak black fly season(and it's very bad this year!), it will be for another few weeks. By the 4th of July, the black flies are pretty much gone. Of course, as in any eastern forset environment there are various deer flies, mosquitoes, horseflies, etc - but nothing you woudn't find anywhere else in the northeast. If you are really concerned, late summer thru the winter are the least buggy. At least there are no poisonous creepy crawlies up here!