Lake Champlain/South Alburg
 

Family of 5 (3 kids - 19, 15, 12) considering a vacation to VT. Thinking of renting a house on Lake Champlain - specifically S. Alburg (found a house on the water for rent there). We've never been to VT for a summer vacation.

Looking for info on:

- Lake Champlain - Do you swim in it or is it too cold?
- The area in general - are there any cute New England towns nearby?
- The town of S. Alburg.
- Is there any good hiking nearby?

We would like to spend a week hiking, visiting cute towns, playing on the water. Other suggestions/ideas welcome - we will be driving from Pennsylvania.
Any/all info greatly appreciated!

When? Sometimes you are able to swim in August, otherwise bring your wet suits

We were planning to go in July.

The Champlain Islands are relatively flat, so you'll have to drive a bit to do some hiking. You've got the Green Mountains to your east, and the Adirondacks to your west. You could always drive over to Stowe for the day and do some light hiking there-be sure to drive through Smugglers Notch.
Alburg is a small town on the Canadian border. Very quiet.
You could always day trip to Montreal for some city excitement.

I grew up going to the Lake Champlain Islands and feel as though it is my second home! I acutally worked for 2 summers at a family camp in south hero and DH and I rented a house there as well years later. North Hero is a small, quaint "town" with Hero's Welcome that you won't want to miss. Great sandwiches as well as some shopping! The North Hero House is a nice place for dinner as is the Ruthcliffe Lodge in Isle la Motte. AMAZING views at the Ruthcliffe!

You could also do some hiking at Jay Peak. Email me for additional information if interested. I have a book with a nice hike that dh and I did while staying in the area.

You should have a great time!

Also, Burlington is about an hour's drive south and your kids will enjoy Church Street - a cobblestone street closed off to traffic and lined with nice shops / outdoor cafes.

Cheers!

cindyloo, I also grew up going to Lake Champlain summers and I too worked for a few years at a family camp in South Hero...the same one my family went to for years, and my brothers and nieces and nephews still go--58 years at the same great place! Eagle Camp? :)

Re swimming in Lake Champlain--the water was cold, but not frigid. We swam every summer, but then, I grew up in the Berkshires where water never warms up very much either. Now, after years in Texas and FL, I doubt I could get in. It's all relative. The lake is great for boating too, either sail or motor.

We always made jaunts to Smugglers Notch for hiking, and Shelburne for the museum. Burlington was the "big city", and now I understand quite a nice one at that. Montreal is an easy day trip. Everyone seemed to enjoy the ferry trip from the island to Plattsburg as well....although we didn't do anything but turn around and take the return ferry back. It's an area of simple pleasures, but with a lifestyle that is sufficient to keep my family going there all these years!

Hope you'll get a chance to drive down to the camp and take a look around JCee--you might find it is something you would enjoy too in future summers. Wah wideee wah... (cindyloo will get that I think :D)

YEs, OO! Eagle Camp! wah widee wah! I got it! I miss Eagle Camp! When were you there?

I was pretty sure we were talking about the same place cindyloo! :) I started going in 1948! Worked there in the 60's when I was in college. My niece and nephews worked there more recently and their parents still go...our/their last name is Evans.

Ft. Ticonderoga (a short drive away) could be interesting. Smugglers Notch and Stowe for hiking around. You can walk around the grounds of Top Notch, a resort that was built by the Von Trapp family (of the Sound of Music). There is a nice shop there, as well. Also, I believe you can take a gondola ride up Mt. Mansfield (you can drive to the top, also). Shelburne museum would be of interest to kids and adults. In Stowe, you can rent bikes and ride the bike path. It winds past creeks, wild flower fields, and offers beautiful views of Mt. Mansfield.

A drive through Fairfax toward Johnson (on the way to Smugglers Notch, perhaps) will bring you past a few covered bridges and some old cemetaries (although the cemetaries are a bit off the main roads.

I hope this helps. Have fun!

Oh my goodness, OO, as in Julie Evans? I worked with her in 1995-1996.

oops! that would be 1985 and 1986!

JCee: any cute towns in VT? I haven't seen one yet that isn't cute...some cuter than others...it's all relative.

Another idea for a day trip, or maybe an overnighter, would be to cross over the lake and drive to Lake Placid to see the Olympic training area and town. Lovely area.

Another idea for a relatively good hike would be Quechee (sp?) Gorge near Woodstock. You really can hike all over VT, just not right at edge of lake.