The Perfect Christmas Weekend in Stowe

     

For the past few years, Evan and I have been going to Stowe on the first weekend in December to celebrate our very own Christmas. It’s a time when we can enjoy a picturesque Vermont ski town, enjoy great food, and really get in the spirit of the holidays!

We start the day be chopping down our Christmas Tree at Murray Hill Farm in Waterbury Center. This family-run farm is super laid back. You pick up your saw and sled and then roam their Christmas Tree hills until you find the perfect evergreen. Pop it in the sled and coast back to the house for a cup of cocoa or warm cider before paying for the tree and heading on your way to Stowe.

We suggest that you stay at the Green Mountain Inn in the heart of Stowe village. It’s nestled in between all of the shops and offers gorgeous luxury suites with Jacuzzi tubs and fireplaces.  After dropping off your luggage, head over to Frida's Taqueria and Grill for a light lunch. I personally love the Pescado taco and you have to try one of their house-made margueritas! 

After lunch, spend some time exploring all of the fun shops in downtown Stowe. We like to pick up small gifts for our work holiday parties and family swaps. Make sure to stop by Laughing Moon Chocolates for a sweet treat. They often have candy cane making demonstrations on the weekends and all of their treats are delicious.

For dinner, we always go to The Whip Bar and Grill at the Green Mountain Inn. Make sure to wear your Fair Isle Sweaters so you can really dive into the ski lodge feel of the restaurant. If it's available, I would highly recommend their gnocci.  After dinner, pick up a movie from the main desk and enjoy a nice quiet night in your beautiful room!

Image by cdweber

Canoes and grapes

There's nothing better than spending an afternoon out on a loon refuge reservoir followed by cheese and wine at a local vineyard. That's exactly what you'll get with this itinerary:

Start with a canoe or kayak around Green River Reservoir. This isolated piece of heaven is also a great place to camp if you plan to stay in the area for a few days. Each site is reached by canoe or kayak! Located in between Johnson and Hardwick, the trip to this great state park is scenic and serene. Play a little Mango Season, and it'll really feel like summer.

After your trip around the Reservoir, head towards Jeffersonville for wine tasting and The French Gourmet experience at Boyden Valley Winery. This generations-old farm is now a vineyard with a gorgeous post and beam showroom and beautifully manicured terrace where you can enjoy about four different cheeses from around the area. I particularly enjoyed the 'Riverbend' red wine.

The winery is about 30 minutes from the reservoir. Plan to spend at least 1/2 day for the whole experience.

Floating down the Winooski River!

On a day when there are no clouds in the sky, you should round up the troops and go floating down the Winooski River! You’ll need two cars, and everyone will have to pile into one eventually, so plan accordingly. 

Drop one car off in the heart of Richmond near On the Rise Bakery in the public parking lot. Load everyone and your tubes into the second car. As you exit the parking lot, take a right on Bridge Street and then a left onto Cochran Road. You will follow this road along the river until you head over a bridge to the intersection with East Street. Park alongside of the road and weave your way down to the river.

You’ll definitely know when you’ve hit the Bridge Street bridge. There are beach areas that you can pull onto and then walk up the hill to the Richmond Park. Head over to the bakery for a warm coffee or cocoa and then head home for a grilled steak dinner!

We went on day in late summer when the water had gone down quite a bit, so it took us about three hours. 

image by: Cold Hearted Saint

Blueberry Picking!

July is Blueberry Picking time, so make a day out of it:

We would highly suggest visiting the Charlotte Berry Farm! A lovely family purchased this farm and has created a relaxing family/dog-friendly venue for all kinds of berry picking. In addition, "5% of all of profits from the berry farm this summer will be donated to local and global organizations that support peace." There's nothing better than listening to some folk music while eating and picking blueberries on a bright summer day in Vermont.

If you happen to be heading back into Burlington, stop by Chez Boheme in Shelburne. With everything from knobs to tables, this store is your one-stop shop for everything cottage.

In addition, we have a tried-and-true Coffee Cake Recipe that will knock your socks off. Combine with a cup of hazelnut coffee on the porch, and you're golden:

• 3 c. flour (plus 1 tbls.)
• 1 tbls. baking powder
• 2 c. sugar (plus 5tbls. for topping)
• 1 c. veggie oil
• 1/4 c. orange juice
• 4 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 1 tbls. grated lemon peel
• 2 c. blueberries
• 2 tsp. cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. With electric mixer, beat flour, baking powder, 2 c. sugar, oil, oj, eggs, and vanilla on medium for 4 min.
3. Fold in lemon peel, blueberries, and extra tbls. flour
4. In a different bowl, mix cinnamon and 5tbls of sugar
5. Pour half batter into bread pan, sprinkle half cin/sugar mix and blend in a bit on the top with a fork. Add rest of batter and sprinkle remaining cinnamon mixture on top.
6. Bake 75 minutes (or until toothpick comes out dry)

Enjoy!