YEAR VISITED: 2016 & 2020

FAVORITE CITIES AND EXPERIENCES: In 2016, while on a week long vacation to see the Griffey MLB Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Jill and I spent one day road tripping Vermont. Very few states compare to the natural beauty of Vermont – a state with a population under 700,000. We ventured out from Albany, New York and drove east along highway #7 which turned into state route #11 and eventually highway #103.

We traveled through the Green Mountain National Forest where we were surrounded by trees, a handful of waterfalls, and pulled off at a number of viewpoints. We drove through the towns of Bennington, Manchester, and Londonderry. In 2020, the whole family ventured across Vermont along interstate #87 where we ventured through Wilmington and Brattleboro.

STADIUMS AND/OR SPORTING EVENTS: We didn’t see any sporting events in Vermont.

ADVENTURE(S): Like something out of a movie, Jill and I stumbled upon the Vermont Country Store on the side of highway #103. It would best be described as an eclectic farmhouse boutique.

The store offered a little bit of everything and we spent nearly a full hour wandering around the store. We enjoyed the store so much we purchased way more than we needed, including Vermont maple syrup.

For the rest of 2016 we gave maple syrup as gifts to friends and family. Across the parking lot was the Vermont Country Store Kissing Bridge – a turn of the century covered bridge. We drove our rental car through the iconic bridge and of course had to take a kissing selfie in front of the Kissing Bridge.

Once we finally decided to leave the Country Store, we continued northeast along interstate #91. The freeway follows the Connecticut River and offers even more beautiful roadside viewpoints.

NOTABLE DESTINATIONS & STOPS: Adjacent to the Vermont Country Store is Mildred’s Dairy Bar.

Needless to say we ordered a couple of hamburgers and followed it up with ice cream cones. We ate outside on a picnic bench, enjoyed the food, and weather that was muggy but not too hot. The state of Vermont is absolutely beautiful and we look forward to returning.

• OUR LIST TO VISIT OR RETURN TO:
• Church Street in Burlington
• Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
• Smugglers Notch State Park
• Bennington Battle Monument
• Lake Champlain
• Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory Tour
• Green Mountain National Forest
• Rock of Ages Quarry
• World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet