A Caribbean sunset? Not quite...it's Vermont.I'm just back from a trip to the islands...of Vermont. While the Green Mountain State may foster thoughts of skiing, snow and perhaps maple syrup, Vermont is a blast during the non-summer months. And yes, there are islands in the state, the foremost of which are North and South Hero, located just a few miles north of Burlington in the middle of Lake Champlain. It may not be the Caribbean, but these bucolic islands are absolutely lovely, and just as much of an escape.
I ventured north to attend a wedding on South Hero, and the bride and groom chose an innovative option, booking the entire Eagle Camp, a family campground open during the summer. Aside from the staggering views of the lake, which also provided a perfect spot for bonfires, the camp was a hit with us wedding-goers, with a mix of cozy cabins and tents and plenty of room to spread out and play croquet, bocce ball, and shuffleboard (W. Shore Rd.; +1 802 372 4242).
If you prefer to wait until the fall, be sure to visit during South Hero's Applefest, which is the largest apple festival in the state, and will take place October 10-11 this year. I visited years ago and still swoon when I think of the many varieties of apple goodies -- cobbler, cider, candied, pie -- that I sampled while there. A friend and I spent a good part of the afternoon walking through an orchard, pulling apples off the trees, awash in sensory overload. It was hedonism at its best.
If you're in town visiting the funky city of Burlington, getting to the
islands is a breeze along the Island Line trail. This 12-mile bike
path, suitable for mountain bikes, connects the downtown Waterfront Bike Path and the Colchester Causeway trail (see map), taking you from the waterfront docks in Burlington (where the very cool Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center is found)
along an elevated bike path. You'll pass through the Colchester Bog, a
property owned by the University of Vermont and is a habitat for many
bird species; then the Porter Natural Area, a 56-acre area of
conservation land. Eventually, you'll reach a 3-mile-long marble
causeway built by the Rutland Railroad in 1899, which offers sweeping
views of the lake, the Adirondacks, New York, and of course, South Hero
island itself. Unfortunately, that's as far as you can go 11 months out of the year, as there's a 200-foot section missing in the causeway -- known locally as "the Cut" -- which allows for larger boats to pass through. But in the month of August, a group called Local Motion operates a bike ferry to take you across "the Cut" for only $5 on weekends, and they're working on building a bike bridge to make the bike path a continuous route. If you're not visiting in August, all is not lost, as they're now offering charter ferry service for $120 for up to 18 passengers.
Photo: Janelle Nanos. Map: Bikekinetix
Subscribe to RSS feed
Subscribe to RSS feed
It should be easy to talk about how beautiful Vermont is, and to talk about winter sports, hiking, swimming, mountain biking, and all the sports. Vermont is also a destination for foodies because of the great restaurants all over the state. It has its cows, of course, but also has the highest rate of organic land for farming, and a great cheese tradition.
Most of all, visit Vermont to meet the wonderful people. They are friendly, helpful, and care for the land and their neighbors. They love to show visitors where to go for a good time. Vermonters make a vacation wonderful and living here is the best.
Hi Janelle nice info about Vermont from your experiences i like to go there.So I am planning to visit Vermont with my parents Is this a good time to visit? I am planning to stay in the Smugglers Notch area.
Smuggler's Notch is where I learned to ski - and it's a fabulous place to visit. Their outdoor activities in the summer now include llama treks and dog "carting" - a kind of dogsleeding without snow. Definitely worth the trip!
Thank you Janelle for writing about the Champlain Islands. The islands are absolutely beautiful and have an interesting history.
Thanks again,
Erica Houskeeper
VT Tourism
Outdoor activities is what people looking for now a days they seek for more adventure travel. Thanks for sharing very informative information.
HI Janelle, They were thrilled in South Hero to see the article. Aunt Janet sent it on to me. So good to see you and the "BC Girls".