Vermont Here We Come!

Gary and I celebrated our wedding anniversary last week with a trip to Vermont.  A place we have wanted to visit for some time.  

 We decided to take the ferry from Essex, NY to Charlotte, Vt across Lake Champlain.  So peaceful and calm.

First stop...Horsford Gardens & Nursery.

This nursery has been growing plants and trees for over a 100 years and has one of the biggest selection of annual and perennials that I have ever seem.

Love this truck!

Next stop Burlington, Vermont

Burlington sits on the shores of Lake Champlain and the home of The University of Vermont.

After a five hour drive we were starving and The Skinny Pancake helped us relieve our pangs of hunger.  

To many choices...

 I had a Apple, Brie and Ham Crepe.  All made with local products.

 And Gary had the Lamb Fetastic... delicious!!

As the sun is setting we walked the shore on a wonderful day one.  Boy! it's nice to getaway.

The next day we spent the good part of the day at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont.  I know we live on a farm why would be want to visit another.  But this is no ordinary farm.

Shelburne Farms was created as a model agricultural estate in 1886 by William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb.  Yes, that Vanderbilt!

At one time this 3,800 acre farm employed over 300 farm hands.

Southdown sheep, Jersey dairy cattle, Hackney horses, pigs, poultry and gaming pheasants were raised.  Farm products such as milk, butter, pork, pears, apples, eggs and vegetables stocked the residence and were shipped to markets in New York City.  

 Horse barn

As many as one thousand trees a year were planted to create the sculpted landscape and 20 miles of crushed stone roads and carriage trails laid down for visitors to enjoy it.

The Inn at Shelburne Farms on the shores of Lake Champlain was originally the 19th century country home of Dr. William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb.

Since 1980 the farm has been producing fine Vermont "farmhouse" cheddar according to traditional methods, using raw milk from purebred Brown Swiss Cows.  The America Cheese Society has honored their cheddar with awards for excellence since 1990.

Our next stop took us to the Shelburne Museum...

 The museum is one of the most diverse museums of painting, folk art, quilts and sci-fi.

Currently just over 100 covered bridges are in the state of Vermont.

 Reminds of home

 Beautiful workmanship.

 The General Store.

 I might have to research who I. N. Lockwood is.

Steamboat Ticonderoga.  Now how did they get that on dry land miles away from water?

The next morning we headed home by way of Lake George.

 The ride through the Adirondack Mountains to Lake George is beautiful.

We ended our trip with a cool Hefeweizen at the Adirondack Brewery for lunch.

Next stop...we are headed to the great state of Washington.