Letters from Highland Lodge

The best thing about biking is that you can explore the hard-to-reach, out-of-the-way locations that paved roads don’t even go near. In the remote reaches of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, this is especially true. When the pavement stops, make sure you’re on a fat bike or hybrid and begin your off-road adventure in a landscape unlike any other.

If you didn’t already know, one of the sweetest things you can find at the grocery store calls our area home: Ben and Jerry’s. As you travel throughout the Northeast Kingdom’s majestic landscape, visit the Waterbury Ben and Jerry’s factory for a guided 30-minute tour and learn how the popular brand makes their delicious ice cream. Find your favorite flavor to sample or...

Color has attracted my attention all my life; before I could talk I drew with crayons. Growing up in Ohio as a farmer’s daughter, I spent time in the fields, marveling at the distant tree line and being aware of the upturned rocks at my feet.  I have studied art through high school, university, and workshops.

The urge to create is instinctive and...

If you’ve visited Vermont or the Northeast Kingdom in March before, or if you’re a nearby resident of the region itself, then you know what March means. If not, I’ll give you a hint: it has nothing to do with basketball. The month of March, for us, is way, way sweeter. This remarkable time of the year is when Vermont’s sugar makers open the doors to their...

Devoted to our tradition of lodging cross-country skiers during their winter adventures, the Highland Lodge is just steps away (literally!) from some of the most enjoyable Nordic trails in the country. The Greensboro trails, groomed and maintained by the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, run between the villages of Greensboro and Craftsbury. Conveniently nestled on a hilltop between the two, Highland...

Thanks to modern snowmaking capabilities (and a little help from Mother Nature) Burke Mountain opened early for the season--the earliest opening in years. At Burke Mountain, enjoy some of the finest ski slopes and trails in the area; hone your skills at the Burke Mountain Academy with a knowledgeable and experienced instructor, or put your skis to the test on the steep, ungroomed...

The drive northwest to the Vermont Reindeer Farm in Brownington is well worth the journey. Celebrate the holidays with the only live reindeer in the entire state! Walk the nature trail on snowshoes as the reindeer, named after Santa’s own, stroll through the forest in search of snacks.

Call it what you want. Farm to table. Farm to plate. Field to fork. Take your pick. It all means the same thing and it’s redefining every fabric of our lives. So bring your appetite. The movement that serves these mouthwatering fruits, vegetables, meats, and cheeses, fresh from the farm six miles down the road, is growing faster than arugula.

Perhaps one of the Northeast Kingdom’s most famous characteristics is the breathtaking colors that blanket our rugged landscape in the fall. Usually starting around mid-September, the dense forests covering the Green Mountains (kind of ironic right now, don’t you think?) provide ample opportunity for some of the absolute best fall foliage viewing in the country. We’ve...

One of the hidden gems of the Northeast Kingdom is no crown jewel; it’s mud. A lot of mud. Or rather, the beautiful, colorful, and smoothly molded pottery from Vermont-born Lynn Flory’s studio, Mill Village Pottery. Her space, called a sanctuary by visitors, is a place where decades of professional discipline, practice, and training meet the imaginative freedom of creation and...

Our state may be small, but we have a long history riddled with ingenuity, innovation, and inventiveness, especially in the Northeast Kingdom. Because of our relatively secluded location (stopping at the neighbors for some sugar sometimes meant a three-mile hike one-way) our ancestors had to get creative with what they had and make their own of whatever it was they needed. Sometimes, we saw...

There’s no better way to spend a summer Saturday in Vermont than attending the Annual Antiques and Uniques Festival. Continuing more than 40 years of tradition in Craftsbury and the surrounding towns, it is one of the area’s most cherished summer events. Over 100 antique vendors cover Craftsbury Common in a picturesque, country way while live folk music performances entertain,...

Even though we’ve had to reluctantly pack away our winter gear and our favorite skis, spring and summer blanket the Northeast Kingdom, revealing the landscape’s breathtaking natural beauty that earned it its moniker. Countless mountain peaks roll off to the horizon and beyond like towering oceanic rogue waves. Just as it is in the winter months, Vermont is perfect for the outdoor...

Take a step back in time with a nostalgic shopping spree at Red Sky Trading in Glover, VT. Doug and Cheri open their doors for the summer season, offering their patrons the unique style and experience you can only find at Red Sky. From kitschy collectibles to local artisan cheese, this small shop is the kind of care-free and casual the world needs more of!

Take a trip into town at St. Johnsbury to catch some great views, shop the wares in the artisan stores, and discover some of the Northeast Kingdom’s best-kept secrets. St. Johnsbury’s Main Street Historic District is an attractive and timeless section of the Northeast Kingdom’s largest town. From elegant architecture of the Victorian era to the soaring heights of Italianate...

March can mean many things to Americans. For some, it’s all about basketball. For others, it’s simply the end of winter, the de-thawing in preparation for the April rains. In Vermont, March means maple syrup season, or "sugaring," when thousands of maple farmers feverishly await the flow of precious maple sap from their sugar bushes. 

A quirky local favorite, Parker Pie Company, started as a small pizza shop in the back of a country store in West Glover, Vermont, near Lake Parker. The foodie destination boasts famous pizza and great American pub fare, along with a revolving beer menu with many selections that feature both Vermont brews and beverages from around the globe. Stop for a quick bite along your adventures, a cool...

Vermont is a winter adventurer’s paradise. Between snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, and even sledding, the outdoorsmen of the colder months will find that there is no better state to be in than this mountainous mecca. The world’s best beer and cheese are just bonuses!

So between slices of sharp cheddar and growlers of Edward IPA, use this handy guide to find...

Vermont is one of the best states to be in during winter. The famous landscape of the Green Mountains and steep water-filled valleys transforms into a snow-covered paradise during the winter season, and some of our biggest summits become meccas for winter sport enthusiasts and athletes. Between a daytime lesson, an alpine plunge from a true Vermont summit, and a moonlit snowshoe walk, these...

Fall is the perfect time to visit Vermont’s rolling hills, forested valleys, and unbelievable vistas. It’s even better to do it on horseback as you journey along backroad paths and grass fields instead of paved roads and highways. At D-N-D Stables, autumn views and the peaceful off-road trails are more than just a tour of the natural landscape; it’s an experience. And it...

Originally built as a dormitory for the Orleans County Grammar School, the Old Stone House Museum is a historical granite block building known for its massive structure—and it’s lucky to be around. In the early 20^th century, a building company targeted the Grammar School dormitory for its granite to use as blocks for railroad bridges. Its builder has a prominent place in...

Not too far north of the Highland Lodge sits the looming peak of Mount Pisgah, one of Vermont’s most iconic mountains best known for its location along the crystal clear water of Lake Willoughby. With a half-mile high summit and a breathtaking view of the lake below, Mount Pisgah is a serene escape into the natural side of the world that offers hiking opportunities on its three trails...

Inspired by the panoramic views from atop the Barr Hill Nature Preserve, Caledonia Spirits makes Barr Hill craft gin and vodka using raw local and regional ingredients. The distillery’s mission is to support working landscapes and local agriculture from its vista views on Greensboro’s highest point, all while carefully crafting some of the world’s best gin. Its signature...

Looking for that postcard-worthy view that has made Vermont famous? If you missed Barr Hill last month or are seeking something a little more spectacular, take the time to make the short drive down to Owls Head Mountain in the northern edges of Groton State Forest. Besides the world-class Owls Head vista, Groton State Forest also has a year-round network of hiking trails and one of the state...