The Vermont Travel Guide

[dadavat]

I'll pile on to the token "I'm coming to VT" posts. We're staying at a house in Stowe for 9 nights in the beginning of August. I think I have a pretty good idea of where I'm gonna be going around Stowe/Waterbury/Burlington area. I do have two non-beer related questions for the locals though:

1. Has anyone ever used the summer camp at Stoweflake resort for their kids? It looks pretty cheap, like $60/day or something like that. We were going to drop our kids off there while we go to Hill Farmstead because they'll probably just complain the whole time (and i don't blame them, not too fun for a 10 and 7 year old).

2. Does anyone have any recommendations for day trips from the Stowe area (less than 2 hours one way)? We don't have passports so Montreal is out of the question. And last time we came up, we went to Franconia Notch for the day (which was awesome). We haven't been down to Montpelier yet so we'll probably check that out as well.

 

[coldafpipes]

I'll pile on to the token "I'm coming to VT" posts. We're staying at a house in Stowe for 9 nights in the beginning of August. I think I have a pretty good idea of where I'm gonna be going around Stowe/Waterbury/Burlington area. I do have two non-beer related questions for the locals though:

1. Has anyone ever used the summer camp at Stoweflake resort for their kids? It looks pretty cheap, like $60/day or something like that. We were going to drop our kids off there while we go to Hill Farmstead because they'll probably just complain the whole time (and i don't blame them, not too fun for a 10 and 7 year old).

2. Does anyone have any recommendations for day trips from the Stowe area (less than 2 hours one way)? We don't have passports so Montreal is out of the question. And last time we came up, we went to Franconia Notch for the day (which was awesome). We haven't been down to Montpelier yet so we'll probably check that out as well.

We use Stowe summer camp via Appletree learning.
http://www.appletreelc.com/programs/programs-for-residents/summer-camp

I don't know what it costs per day. Bill is an awesome guy (he's in charge of the fun stuff @ appletree). The population of the camp can change a lot it seems, week to week, but there are plenty of local kids as well as guests signed up. I don't know what Stoweflake is like, other than using their pool, but I haven't heard anything negative either. Stowe summer camp w/ appletree also directly across a big field from the Alchemist...or if you need coffee, PK coffee near Stowe Bev is tasty.

My recommendation for a day trip would be tubing in Mad River Valley. 9 Days in Stowe, you will need a dose(s) of chill. I suggest MRV because it's on 100, hard to get lost and there's a lot to do...

 

[dadavat]

We use Stowe summer camp via Appletree learning.
http://www.appletreelc.com/programs/programs-for-residents/summer-camp

I don't know what it costs per day. Bill is an awesome guy (he's in charge of the fun stuff @ appletree). The population of the camp can change a lot it seems, week to week, but there are plenty of local kids as well as guests signed up. I don't know what Stoweflake is like, other than using their pool, but I haven't heard anything negative either. Stowe summer camp w/ appletree also directly across a big field from the Alchemist...or if you need coffee, PK coffee near Stowe Bev is tasty.

My recommendation for a day trip would be tubing in Mad River Valley. 9 Days in Stowe, you will need a dose(s) of chill. I suggest MRV because it's on 100, hard to get lost and there's a lot to do...

Thanks for the reply! That Appletree camp is actually the one that we were looking at. It's great to get a thumbs up from someone. Mad river valley sounds great as well but tubing might be hard with an infant. I'll definitely check it out though. Thanks again!

 

[primebeer]

Haven't read through the whole thread, but Doc Pond's in Stowe was awesome when we visited last week. Same people as Hen of the Wood. Cool food, awesome tap list, and great ambience. Will be back for sure.

 

[GreenMtnMike]

I'll pile on to the token "I'm coming to VT" posts. We're staying at a house in Stowe for 9 nights in the beginning of August. I think I have a pretty good idea of where I'm gonna be going around Stowe/Waterbury/Burlington area. I do have two non-beer related questions for the locals though:

1. Has anyone ever used the summer camp at Stoweflake resort for their kids? It looks pretty cheap, like $60/day or something like that. We were going to drop our kids off there while we go to Hill Farmstead because they'll probably just complain the whole time (and i don't blame them, not too fun for a 10 and 7 year old).

2. Does anyone have any recommendations for day trips from the Stowe area (less than 2 hours one way)? We don't have passports so Montreal is out of the question. And last time we came up, we went to Franconia Notch for the day (which was awesome). We haven't been down to Montpelier yet so we'll probably check that out as well.

HF really isn't hard with kids, plenty of room outside to play. Or you can set up camp at Lake Caspian and just sneak away for a bit. We have season passes for the Jay Peak waterpark but they sell day passes as well. It's awesome for kids of all ages, and there's an indoor skating rink that rents equipment there as well. If you go up there stop at Brault's slaughterhouse in Troy and buy as much hot pepper jerky as you can carry.

 

[dadavat]

HF really isn't hard with kids, plenty of room outside to play. Or you can set up camp at Lake Caspian and just sneak away for a bit. We have season passes for the Jay Peak waterpark but they sell day passes as well. It's awesome for kids of all ages, and there's an indoor skating rink that rents equipment there as well. If you go up there stop at Brault's slaughterhouse in Troy and buy as much hot pepper jerky as you can carry.

Thanks for the info. That Jay peak place looks like a hit for the kids and my son is a hockey player so I'm sure he'd like to get on the ice once while we're on vacation.

 

[GreenMtnMike]

Thanks for the info. That Jay peak place looks like a hit for the kids and my son is a hockey player so I'm sure he'd like to get on the ice once while we're on vacation.

No problem, the following is my favorite way to do a day at Jay:

Have my wife drop my son and I off here. It is on 242 about a mile after the ski area entrance.

The hike is short, but steep and a little technical near the top. My son is 9 and can handle it, for the distance the payoff is pretty great:

Once we're at the top we hang out for a bit. Sometimes if the tram is running we will take it down to the waterpark, but normally we just walk down one of the ski trails and meet up with the rest of the family. Then I drink Long Trail Limbo by the pool and go on waterslides.

 

[dadavat]

No problem, the following is my favorite way to do a day at Jay:

Have my wife drop my son and I off here. It is on 242 about a mile after the ski area entrance.

The hike is short, but steep and a little technical near the top. My son is 9 and can handle it, for the distance the payoff is pretty great:

Once we're at the top we hang out for a bit. Sometimes if the tram is running we will take it down to the waterpark, but normally we just walk down one of the ski trails and meet up with the rest of the family. Then I drink Long Trail Limbo by the pool and go on waterslides.

Well that looks like a great way to spend a day. I'm sold.

 

[JustinBK]

Random question, but I was wondering if any TBers will be at the Gordon Conference on Visual System Development?

 

[chtoder]

Hey everyone, my fiance and I are heading up to VT in a few weeks I was hoping to find hike/outdoorsy activity suggestions near our Airbnb in Waterford. Most everything I've read about in this thread is at least an hour west and I was hoping to find something closer. My fiance is a saint but there are only so many brewery visits and long drives I can subject her to.

 

[ZackB1]

Hey everyone, my fiance and I are heading up to VT in a few weeks I was hoping to find hike/outdoorsy activity suggestions near our Airbnb in Waterford. Most everything I've read about in this thread is at least an hour west and I was hoping to find something closer. My fiance is a saint but there are only so many brewery visits and long drives I can subject her to.

If you are indeed in Waterford (and not Waterbury), I'd head north about 45 minutes to the Westmore area. You can hike a couple trails at Mt. Pisgah, or head out towards Long Pond and do the Bald Mountain trail.

 

[chtoder]

If you are indeed in Waterford (and not Waterbury), I'd head north about 45 minutes to the Westmore area. You can hike a couple trails at Mt. Pisgah, or head out towards Long Pond and do the Bald Mountain trail.

Thanks for the suggestions! We are in Waterford and not Waterbury... that confusion has caused a few minor mixups already

 

[ZackB1]

Thanks for the suggestions! We are in Waterford and not Waterbury... that confusion has caused a few minor mixups already

Haha good deal. Another option you have is to go south about the same distance--puts you in the Franconia Notch (NH)--lots of hiking and outdoorsy stuff to do there too.

 

[shankly]

Anyone have beer distributor recommendations in the vicinity of the Northeast Kingdom? I'm hoping to get a couple sixtels for a party i'm throwing in early September. Nothing too crazy--I was thinking something from Lost Nation, Zero Gravity, or somewhere else local that's actually attainable. I already submitted a request through Lost Nation's website & haven't heard back, so I want to have a couple backup options.

Ideally i'd like to rent a jockey box too, so if anyone has a lead on that it would be really helpful.

 

[user 307594]

Anyone have beer distributor recommendations in the vicinity of the Northeast Kingdom? I'm hoping to get a couple sixtels for a party i'm throwing in early September. Nothing too crazy--I was thinking something from Lost Nation, Zero Gravity, or somewhere else local that's actually attainable. I already submitted a request through Lost Nation's website & haven't heard back, so I want to have a couple backup options.

Ideally i'd like to rent a jockey box too, so if anyone has a lead on that it would be really helpful.

CBC Waterbury should be able to cover you. I'm pretty sure they rent jockey box too.

 

[BulkCarrier]

Anyone been to Foam yet? One of my friends in Burlington just posted a picture on Instagram that looked positively turbid and juicy AF

Best brewery in Burlington right now (HF/TA/Lawson's level type of beers)

 

[BulkCarrier]

Anyone know anywhere I could get a can of focal banger near Waterbury or Burlington area

Heady is the only beer TA is dispersing outside of the brewery right now. Focal and anything else you'll have to go there.

 

[SoggyBreeches]

Any feedback from the new Alchemist site? Supply, limits, selection, tour details etc? Would love to hear back from someone who has been recently. Heading up from Boston next month and hoping to bring back some 4packs / maybe a case? Thanks guys, cheers!

 

[Os]

last 2 trips up has been either a mixed case (Topper, Banger, Crusher) or a straight case of Banger... there's a line to start the day but they are good at processing people...

 

[PepeSylvia1]

Heading to Waterbury in early November with 2 couples. Will be hitting the bars and restuarants in town one night but looking for something else to do during the day. I am assuming it will be too cold for the swimming holes, might look for a disc golf course, or possibly go for a hike. Any ideas or must do outdoor activities around that time?

 

[abawol01]

Dri

Heading to Waterbury in early November with 2 couples. Will be hitting the bars and restuarants in town one night but looking for something else to do during the day. I am assuming it will be too cold for the swimming holes, might look for a disc golf course, or possibly go for a hike. Any ideas or must do outdoor activities around that time?

Drive a little and go to smugglers notch. Totally worth it. Disc golf, tennis, etc. It's a resort so there is fun for everyone.

 

[dadavat]

Heading to Waterbury in early November with 2 couples. Will be hitting the bars and restuarants in town one night but looking for something else to do during the day. I am assuming it will be too cold for the swimming holes, might look for a disc golf course, or possibly go for a hike. Any ideas or must do outdoor activities around that time?

There is a free disc golf course in Waterbury that I took my kids to. It was my first time so I can't attest to its quality but it had some nice views.

 

[Kingfish1]

Heading to Waterbury in early November with 2 couples. Will be hitting the bars and restuarants in town one night but looking for something else to do during the day. I am assuming it will be too cold for the swimming holes, might look for a disc golf course, or possibly go for a hike. Any ideas or must do outdoor activities around that time?

The Duxbury trailhead for Camel's Hump is about 15 minutes outside Waterbury. We did it last weekend and it was a great hike. Views will probably be even better in early November. If you don't have the time to go up and back there is also a 1 mile loop trail that supposedly has good views of Camel's Hump in that area, but we didn't do that so I'm not sure if it is worth it.

 

[GuzzleMcBrew]

Finally brought my baby girl to Pro Pig!

Pleasant surprise to find Boneyard on draft. Got to tick RPM!

 

[tylerk88]

Has anyone had any luck filling a Hydro Flask at a VT brewery? I've been using one as a water bottle and am curious how it'll fare as a growler.

 

[BarrelAged]

Hey guys, spending Fri/Sat this week on a Greensboro, Stowe, Waterbury, Montpelier loop. Wondering if there are any suggestions on dog friendly patios to sit and have beers/snacks with dog in tow. thanks

 

[Os]

Hey guys, spending Fri/Sat this week on a Greensboro, Stowe, Waterbury, Montpelier loop. Wondering if there are any suggestions on dog friendly patios to sit and have beers/snacks with dog in tow. thanks

you can have your dog outside if it's on a leash at Parker Pie

 

[youbrewidrink]

Hey guys, spending Fri/Sat this week on a Greensboro, Stowe, Waterbury, Montpelier loop. Wondering if there are any suggestions on dog friendly patios to sit and have beers/snacks with dog in tow. thanks

Pro Pig Brewery

 

[BarrelAged]

Pro Pig Brewery

Thanks. We ended up spending a few hours with our pup on the little patio in front of Blackback. Worked out great

 

[bearsonacid1]

Has anyone been to Monarch and the Milkweed in Burlington yet - specifically for dinner?