DOING THINGS THE OLD
FASHIONED WAY
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When traveling in Central Vermont, be sure to take the time to visit the
East Barre Antique Mall at Routes 2 and 302, which are the main highways through Vermont to the coast of Maine. Route 302 will take you through the
White Mountain National Forest on the scenic
Kangamangus
Highway, but while you’re still in Central Vermont, treat yourself to a 12,000 square foot local attraction, the East Barre Antique Mall. |
Here you will find three floors of merchandise displayed in a well lit, neatly kept shop whose reputation is built on having the cleanest shop in Central Vermont.
The East Barre Antiques Mall opened its doors on August 9th, 1993, in an old furniture store that was originally built to house the East Barre Opera House.
The mall has a lot of space devoted to furniture, where you will find refinished and rustic pieces. Every day is a new experience at the East Barre Antique Mall. Stop by for a visit.
History of the Hero Islands
Near the end of Route 2 in the northwest corner of Vermont, you will find yourself in Hero Islands on Lake Champlain. Named during the Revolutionary War for the famed and heroic Green Mountain Boys, these tranquil isles are today connected by bridges and ferries, but during the struggle for independence, travel was not so easy. In the summer, settlers traversed by boat. In winter months, they rode on horseback or trekked across bitterly cold ice.
Between North Hero Island and Grand Isle, there is a drawbridge spanning a stomach-shaped bay, known as the Gut. Here you will see sailboats and cottages basking in fair breezes, but had you arrived on a windy October night in 1776, a far different sight would have stretched before your eyes. With bad luck, you might even have lost your scalp!
Lying at anchor were more than 200 ships of war. Pulled up on shore were four-hundred Indian war canoes in front of blazing campfires, the flying sparks illuminating war dancers. Nine thousand soldiers were preparing for battle. America was about to be invaded for the first time.
Seeking to quash the upstart rebels, the British had carefully prepared a massive invasion fleet, studded with the finest Grenadier Guards, crack Hessian mercenaries, cannon, howitzers, bows, arrows and tomahawks. The plan was to sail from Montreal, down Lake Champlain and into the Hudson River, there to link up with another British force. On this night, only the second day out, no battles had been fought, and the soldiers, writing in their journals, were confident of victory.
By morning light, and with the wind from the North, the armada sailed west out into the broad lake, and south in search of a motley rebel fleet. In just three hours, a ferocious battle commenced behind Valcour Island against Benedict Arnold’s tiny American force of fifteen ships and 500 “half-naked” men. Some historians believe, because of the far-reaching consequences, that this was the most significant naval battle ever fought. Though tremendously out-gunned, the Americans so weakened the resolve of the invaders that the British turned back, giving a crucial year of time to the struggling defenders.
Never again has so much man and sea power gathered in the Gut for a night’s rest. The best spot to view the Gut is from Knight’s Point State Park, just off the bridge on the North Hero side.
Travel the Kingdom
A favorite vacation destination for over a century, the Northeast Kingdom offers endless recreational opportunities throughout the seasons, notable dining and lodging facilities, quintessential New England villages resplendent with classic architecture, enduring farmland, and a rich diversity of art, entertainment, and event venues all year long. Here visitors can pursue a variety of traditional adventures, including mountain biking, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, paddling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, wildlife viewing and more or they can engage in more unique offerings to include farm tours, primitive skill workshops, and farm to table culinary offerings. These types of vacation experiences showcase their cultural heritage, working agricultural and wooded lands, and create lasting memories for travelers while ensuring the sustainability the region.
The residents of this region have a goal to help protect and preserve the forested areas, clean waters, working landscapes, historic barns and buildings, and to preserve their strong ties to agricultural and community traditions, all of which continue to shape their rural lifestyle and scenic landscapes. As hosts it is their goal to share these traditions, features, and landscapes with visitors to the region in a way that will help them to sustain their most memorable visitor attractions and experiences for years to come.
The Northeast Kingdom makes good use of our abundant natural resources and working farmlands. Specialty foods produced in this region include prize-winning cheeses, a wide variety of farm-raised meats and poultry, savory relishes and mustards, maple syrup, sweet sauces, and sassy dressings. Farm stands and farmers markets provide an abundance of fresh produces. Look for them along roadsides and in town centers during the summer and fall seasons or at select indoor locations in the winter. Pick-it-yourself farms, offering the fresh delights of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, corn, pumpkins, and more can also be found throughout the region. As you browse the farm stand and farmers markets you may likely find yourself in the company of one of the talented chefs of an area restaurant. Throughout the region many restaurants collaborate with area farmers to infuse fresh, locally harvested agricultural offerings, including local produce, grass fed beef, free range chicken and artisan cheeses into their menus. This farm to table culinary practice insures a market for the local farmer which will help sustain the farm for future generations. Farm to table practices also allow restaurants the ability to incorporate fresh local foods into their menus creating a one-of-a-kind local dining experience that travelers can only find in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.
Beyond the wonderful foods visitors also have the opportunity to have a more hands-on experience at many area farms. Some farmers offer accommodations and special packages so they can share the farm life they love with visitors (chores are optional) whereas other farms welcome day visitors for barn tours, Llama treks, holiday wreath making and tree cutting, fiber dying workshops and more.
With so much to experience, the key to a great stay is often found in choosing the perfect host. In the Northeast Kingdom you are not a tourist. You are a guest and the folks there are eager to welcome you into their community.
Whether you're dreaming of a cabin in the woods, a cottage on the lake, a cozy room at the inn, a resort stay, or a room on the farm, you can find it and make your reservations on the regional tourism website, TraveltheKingdom.com. When you arrive you will find warm, local people who are anxious to greet you and make you feel right at home.
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