Please suggest ideas for ways to spend free time during a one month business trip to Vermont
May 24th, 2004, 05:32 PM
#21
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Drive thru Smuggler's Notch over to Stowe. Visit the Von Trapp Lodge and see where the Von Trapp family (of The Sound of Music) settled. There's also a lovely bike path that runs through Stowe. You can rent bikes right along the main road and several locations. It's a lovely path, and every turn offers a great view....sometimes Mt. Mansfield, another time a lovely field of wildflowers.
I agree with others that the Shelburne Museum is wonderful, and the ferry ride across Lake Champlain is very picturesque with the Green Mountains on one side and the Adirondacks on the other. The Adirondacks themselves are beautiful.
Montreal is fantastic. If you don't want to drive (it can be very confusing) you can take the Amtrak train. Go on Sat. morning and stay until Sunday afternoon or evening if you can.
Also, if you find yourself driving through the countryside and see an old cemetary (they dot the landscape) stop and walk around. Some of them are so old and and very interesting.
Have fun.
I agree with others that the Shelburne Museum is wonderful, and the ferry ride across Lake Champlain is very picturesque with the Green Mountains on one side and the Adirondacks on the other. The Adirondacks themselves are beautiful.
Montreal is fantastic. If you don't want to drive (it can be very confusing) you can take the Amtrak train. Go on Sat. morning and stay until Sunday afternoon or evening if you can.
Also, if you find yourself driving through the countryside and see an old cemetary (they dot the landscape) stop and walk around. Some of them are so old and and very interesting.
Have fun.
May 26th, 2004, 01:50 PM
#23
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BuffaloGirl, I agree with you that Montreal is fantastic. I disagree with you driving there from Burlington can be very confusing. I don't think there is the Amtrak train from Burlington, maybe from Essex Junction? If it is it doesn't run twice a day. staying in Montreal until Sunday afternoon or evening won't be possible if there is only one train. Driving is very easy. Just follow signs from Burlington to Montral on I89.
May 27th, 2004, 04:36 AM
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Earlxx: My brother lives near Burlington and during our many vacations there, my husband and I have day tripped to Montreal several times. Believe me, we get lost each time. We always end up on the wrong bridge. Not so much driving to Montreal, but driving back to Burlington. But that's OK...we always make it back.
It probably is an easy drive, not just for me!!!
It probably is an easy drive, not just for me!!!
Jul 11th, 2004, 08:15 PM
#25
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I just wanted to thank everyone for your suggestions. I truly loved Vermont. Unfortunately I had to spend far too much time working and not enough time playing.
Here's some commentary on what I did have the opportunity to do.
I took the ferry from Burlington to NY roundtrip, (2 hrs. roundtrip, $6.75). I didn't have much time, so I was unable to take my car to explore NY. I rode the ferry roundtrip (didn't have to disembark) and really enjoyed beautiful Lake Champlain.
I strolled Church Street in Burlington(which my co-worker initially thought was a street of churches because there is just such a street in St. Albans!). I'm not much of a shopper, but there is a great used book store there, and I enjoyed the atmosphere.
There was a jazz festival on Lake Champlain in Burlington. I sat by the lake and enjoyed the music. They have great swings for 1-3 people to sit in and enjoy the view. I loved that. I walked a little of the bike path but did not have time to rent a bike to experience the whole thing.
I drove to Grafton, a little town founded in the 18th century. If you go the visitor center, you can get a walking map. I followed the self guided tour, which takes you through the beautiful town. It was so peaceful b/c there is a lovely river that you can hear as you walk around. The whole tour is all of 30 minutes, but I really enjoyed it. By the time I arrived at the cheese factory at 5pm it was closed. Grafton was about a 3 hour drive from Burlington. I don't know if it is for everyone b/c my co-workers did not find my description too appealing!
They felt the same way about the Shelburne Museum, so I went alone. I'm glad I did b/c it gave me time to focus on what I wanted. It's expensive, about $18.00, but the ticket gives you 2 days admission. There is alot to see! My favorite was the 1950's house (don't know why!). I don't even begin to know how to explain everything you can see there, but it is worth a visit if you like Americana.
Three of my co-workers and I hiked a 2 hour hike to the top on Mt. Mansfield (?) in Stowe, about a 30 minute drive outside of Burlington. It was a little rigorous for my tennis shoes, but what a beautiful view! We snacked at the top along with many others who drove up or rode the gondola. I'm glad we hiked though.
Some of my co-workers and I drove to Montreal for a day. I was the driver and found it to be a straight shot on the 89 with no problems. It took about 1 1/2 hours. We strolled Old Montreal and had a long 2 hour lunch at a French restaurant off a side street. It was wonderful, and I'm sorry that I did not note the name. We stepped into the underground city and discovered it is just a mall for the most part. But the idea is very cool! 2 of my co-workers wanted to visit Olympic Park. We rode an avuncular (sp?), basically an elevator, to the top of a building there and saw great views of Montreal. I think it cost about $8.00 u.s. to ride it. That's about all we had time for in Montreal.
I accompanied a co-worker to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory which, unless you REALLY love teddy bears, is not worth the time. The tour only costs $2.00 and is about 30 minutes long.
We would have gone on a Ben and Jerry's tour but according to the brochure, they only give real working tours of the factory M-F. On the weekends the tours are on video and last 30 minutes. You get free tastings at either tour though. We wanted to see the real tour but couldn't go on a weekday.
I didn't get to do much else in Vermont. But my work enabled me to drive through much of the state, and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I almost hit a dear on the highway which was a traumatic experience for me, a product of the big city! Both the deer and I made it through OK, I'm happy to report.
Thanks again to everyone for your help.
Here's some commentary on what I did have the opportunity to do.
I took the ferry from Burlington to NY roundtrip, (2 hrs. roundtrip, $6.75). I didn't have much time, so I was unable to take my car to explore NY. I rode the ferry roundtrip (didn't have to disembark) and really enjoyed beautiful Lake Champlain.
I strolled Church Street in Burlington(which my co-worker initially thought was a street of churches because there is just such a street in St. Albans!). I'm not much of a shopper, but there is a great used book store there, and I enjoyed the atmosphere.
There was a jazz festival on Lake Champlain in Burlington. I sat by the lake and enjoyed the music. They have great swings for 1-3 people to sit in and enjoy the view. I loved that. I walked a little of the bike path but did not have time to rent a bike to experience the whole thing.
I drove to Grafton, a little town founded in the 18th century. If you go the visitor center, you can get a walking map. I followed the self guided tour, which takes you through the beautiful town. It was so peaceful b/c there is a lovely river that you can hear as you walk around. The whole tour is all of 30 minutes, but I really enjoyed it. By the time I arrived at the cheese factory at 5pm it was closed. Grafton was about a 3 hour drive from Burlington. I don't know if it is for everyone b/c my co-workers did not find my description too appealing!
They felt the same way about the Shelburne Museum, so I went alone. I'm glad I did b/c it gave me time to focus on what I wanted. It's expensive, about $18.00, but the ticket gives you 2 days admission. There is alot to see! My favorite was the 1950's house (don't know why!). I don't even begin to know how to explain everything you can see there, but it is worth a visit if you like Americana.
Three of my co-workers and I hiked a 2 hour hike to the top on Mt. Mansfield (?) in Stowe, about a 30 minute drive outside of Burlington. It was a little rigorous for my tennis shoes, but what a beautiful view! We snacked at the top along with many others who drove up or rode the gondola. I'm glad we hiked though.
Some of my co-workers and I drove to Montreal for a day. I was the driver and found it to be a straight shot on the 89 with no problems. It took about 1 1/2 hours. We strolled Old Montreal and had a long 2 hour lunch at a French restaurant off a side street. It was wonderful, and I'm sorry that I did not note the name. We stepped into the underground city and discovered it is just a mall for the most part. But the idea is very cool! 2 of my co-workers wanted to visit Olympic Park. We rode an avuncular (sp?), basically an elevator, to the top of a building there and saw great views of Montreal. I think it cost about $8.00 u.s. to ride it. That's about all we had time for in Montreal.
I accompanied a co-worker to the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory which, unless you REALLY love teddy bears, is not worth the time. The tour only costs $2.00 and is about 30 minutes long.
We would have gone on a Ben and Jerry's tour but according to the brochure, they only give real working tours of the factory M-F. On the weekends the tours are on video and last 30 minutes. You get free tastings at either tour though. We wanted to see the real tour but couldn't go on a weekday.
I didn't get to do much else in Vermont. But my work enabled me to drive through much of the state, and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery. I almost hit a dear on the highway which was a traumatic experience for me, a product of the big city! Both the deer and I made it through OK, I'm happy to report.
Thanks again to everyone for your help.
Jul 12th, 2004, 03:00 AM
#26
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I'm glad you enjoyed Vermont, Ladybrett! At least you got a little taste of it and perhaps you can go back and enjoy it sometime when you don't have to work.
This is the first summer in a long time I don't plan on visiting my brother there.
Thanks for letting us know how it went!
This is the first summer in a long time I don't plan on visiting my brother there.
Thanks for letting us know how it went!
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