http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/ A blog with news, advice, and tips for touring Vermont. en Copyright 2004-2005 info@grunberghaus.com info@grunberghaus.com Ublog Reload 1.0.5 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=363

Vermont Free Family Days at State Parks and Historical Sites

Admission to all state owned parks and historical facilities is free. Here is the best source of information on this event and others throughout the summer.

Echo Aquarium and Science Center
Burlington, VT
Echo's Body Language exhibit is geared toward children but interesting for adults too. It covers the topic of how our bodies move and the complex but fascinating physics behind it. There are 17 interactive displays including dancing with your shadow and emailing the image to your family or friends. Continues through September 1.

Manchester Antique and Classic Car Show
Manchester, VT Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15, 2008
Address: Dorr Farm, Route 30, Manchester, VT
A large show with some 800 old vehicles on display in one of Vermont's prettiest towns.

Ethan Allen Days
Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15, 2008
Hildene Mansion 1005 Hildene Road Manchester, VT
A weekend of Revolutionary war displays, camps, battle re-enactments, displays, kid's tent, fife and drum corps - located in the area where Ethan Allen lived in during a very important time in Vermont's history.

Antique Gas & Steam Engine Show
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
Old Stone House Museum , 109 Old Stone House Road, Brownington, VT

Hot Air Balloon Festival
Quechee, VT
Friday - Sunday, June 13 - 15
One of Vermont's top events. Also includes craft fair and food tents. Bring the camera to get some great shots.

Vermont Culinary Classic
Stowe, VT
June 13 - 22, 2008
A ten day celebration of culinary arts that includes cooking demonstrations and tastings.

Green Mountain Corvette Classic
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
The fifth year of this well attended car show which gets a large number of old and new Corvettes.

Kids' Pirate Festival
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, 472 Basin Harbor Road, Vergennes, VT
A popular event for families that encourages kids to participate in pirate-themed activities.

Green Mountain Brass Band Concert
Sunday, June 15, 2:00 pm
Waterbury Center State Park 177 Reservoir RD Waterbury Center, VT 05677 +1 802-244-1226

Carving Studio & Sculpture Center Gallery
Annual Members' Show
West Rutland, VT
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15

Indoor Livestock Barn Days
Adams Farm, 15 Higley Hill Road, Wilmington, VT
Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15
A good event for families with young children. Hands-on activities such as goat milking, demonstrations, learning how farms work.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:25:07 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=363 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=361

Vermont is chock full of food producers. Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Ben and Jerry's ice cream, King Arthur Flour, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Cabot Cheese are the best known but the list goes on and on with what seems like hundreds of small and medium size companies making items as diverse as cookies, pizza, beer, and tea. If you like good quality food, you will love Vermont.

This weekend is a good opportunity to sample chocolate from Vermont and other places in New England. The Vermont Chocolate Show was formerly held in Stowe but it has moved to The Inn at Essex, a larger venue near Burlington.

The exhibitors are mostly made up of chocolate manufacturers but also some surprises such as an art exhibit and a Vermont vodka company that makes chocolate flavored spirits!

The event is scheduled to run Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18th.

(c) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

]]> Thu, 15 May 2008 21:28:48 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=361 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=360

The Vermont Craft Council, an association of several hundreds craftspeople throughout the state, started the Open Studio Weekend 16 years ago as a way to increase awareness of the craft-making community.

It's easy now to not only see the scale of the craft industry here, but also the deep wealth of skill right here in our little 'ol state. The trees, farms, and mountains are beautiful but they can overshadow a great supply of talented people here sometimes.

This year's Open Studio Weekend is taking place Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25. It's a great time to see both studios that are open frequently to the public and also the "off the beaten path" studios that are rarely open to visitors.

There is an incredibly detailed Open Studio guide and map guide on the Vermont Craft Council website. Some 250 studios will be open on the weekend. Let me emphasize that this is not people making flea market junk. These are first rate craftspeople. For example, take a look at the Studio and Gallery page on the Craft Council's website.

If you don't want to print a lot pages from the website, you have enough time to order the complete tour guide free by US Postal mail. Just click here. It will also be available at most of the studios and also the state's official welcome centers on the highways and main roads leading into the state.

It's a great time to visit. Everything here will be fresh and green, the daytime temperatures will be warm and the night time cool.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Mon, 12 May 2008 21:02:21 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=360 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=359
St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

The New York Times Travel section last week published an article about athenaeums around the eastern US, mainly New England. "Where Greek Ideals Meet New England Charm" includes a mention of the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, a combined library and art gallery located in downtown St. Johnsbury. It's an outstanding facility where you can easily lose track of time.

The town of St. Johnsbury is a wonderful place to visit and great entrance to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. Other attractions in the area include the
Fairbanks Museum, Old Stone House Museum, and Stephen Huneck Dog Mountain.

More information about these attractions and others are listed on the Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce website.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo above) Grunberg Haus ]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:38:08 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=359 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=358
Budweiser Clydesdale horse photo from Mount Snow

Mount Snow is the only northeast ski area that will be hosting the Budweiser Clydesdale horses this year.

They will be available for viewing at a Friday night pizza party, a Saturday afternoon parade, and in one of the parking lots after the parade.

Mount Snow Ski Resort is located in southern Vermont near Wilmington VT, between Brattleboro and Bennington.

More information is available at the Mount Snow Events Calendar.

(c) 2008 [except the photograph] Jeff Connor
]]> Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:21:03 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=358 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=357

One of the largest telemark ski events in the country takes place every year at Mad River Glen ski area in Fayston Vermont.

The North American Telemark Organization TeleFest takes place this coming weekend, March 8 and 9. About 1,000 telemark skiers will be taking part in races, clinics, equipment demonstrations, fun runs, and parties.

The cost is $54 per day or $104 for two day. and includes lift ticket, clinics, use of demo gear, contests, and Magic Hat dance party.

About a week later, March 17 - 21, the next door ski resort at Sugarbush will host the FIS Telemark World Cup Finals with the best telemark skiers in the world competing.

If you are not familiar with telemark skiing, you can read a good article about it on Wikipedia.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor (except the photo from NATO) Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Tue, 04 Mar 2008 23:23:20 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=357 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=356
Most of the people I speak with are surprised to hear we get more snow in March. When they are seeing the beginning of Spring where they live, Vermont is building to a grand winter finale.

To see what I mean, take a look at Stowe Resort's five year weather history. Not only is March the snowiest (I guess that is a real word), but it's the end of the month when the largest amounts of snow are falling. The last week in March averages 32 inches at Stow, far more than any other week there.

Stowe's Snow Report shows 309 inches of snowfall so far this season, just short of the season average of 327 inches.

It's been a great year for skiing and other winter activities but don't feel that you have missed it if you have not been here yet. There is plenty of snow here for you to enjoy and more is on the way.

In fact, this is a good time of year to enjoy winter. The days are longer, temperatures are higher, and there aren't as many people skiing, snowmobiling, snow shoeing, etc. I wish more people were aware of how good it can be here in March. It would be great to see the ski areas and the Vermont's Department of Tourism getting the word out about March. I'm sure more people would come if they knew what it is like here this month.

For the more technically inclined, and maybe a few inexperienced skeptics, you can view a current snow depth map from the National Weather Service to see how much snow you can expect when you travel to Vermont or other New England states.

The areas in dark blue represent depths of 20 to 39 inches (50 cm to 100 cm), and the purple lines, which you can see run along the mountain ranges, represent 59 to 98 inches (150 to 250 cm). Those are current snow depths, not the amount that has fallen this season. The map is updated every day.

Plan a trip to Vermont and enjoy this great winter season we will continue having for the next month.



(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:16:53 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=356 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=355

The Inn at Baldwin Creek in Bristol Vermont has a restaurant called "Mary's" that is well known and highly regarded around here. It has won many awards and reviews including Yankee Magazine 2005 Editor's Choice Award and 2005 Restaurateurs of the Year award from the VT Lodging and Restaurant Assn.

Each month, the Inn holds a dinner presentation and the selection this month is artisan cheese. The featured speaker is Jeff Roberts of Montpelier, VT, author of the Atlas of American Artisan Cheese , co-founder of the Vermont Institute for Artisan Cheese at the University of Vermont, and a Slow Food USA director.

Jeff Robert's Friday March 14 presentation includes dinner at 6:30 pm with tastings of regionally-produced artisan cheeses and a talk based on his research, stories about artisan cheese makers, and links to broader changes in American agriculture.

You can make a reservation by calling toll free 888-424-2432 or emailing info@innatbaldwincreek.com. The dinner and talk is $25 per person.

This presentation is part of The Inn at Baldwin Creek Annual Table Talk Dinner Series which are held the second Friday of every month. The inn's website has a list of the monthly presentation dinners as well as cooking classes.

Mary's Restaurant Chef/Owner Doug Mack has been there about 24 years. You can see him making fried zucchini flowers (!) on Vermont Public Television's Feast in the Making cooking program.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Fri, 29 Feb 2008 21:59:25 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=355 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=354

Photo courtesy of October Siberians

I read today that the famous Alaska Iditarod race is starting this Saturday and it lead me to thinking about all the sled dog activity here in Vermont. (Side note: many participants in the sport prefer the term "sled dog" rather than "dog sled" but you will see both terms used even by the people who run professional operations.)

In fact, if you would like to see a sled dog race and won't be in Alaska this week, there is a race you can watch at Burke Mountain Ski Resort in East Burke VT. There will be races both Saturday and Sunday.

A number of operations around Vermont offer sled dog rides and a couple of them offer skijoring too. Skijoring is done on skis and involves the dog(s) pulling the person via a harness attached to the dog. I've seen skijor racing a couple of times and it's impressive how fast they get going. You certainly don't want to fall down . . . I'm not sure the dogs would stop for a while - they're pretty enthusiastic.

The best one-stop source of information about sled dog rides in on the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association website. Atii is listed as one of the sled dog outfits but they are taking a year off from sled dog rides because they are rebuilding their group of dogs. Many of the current dogs have gotten too old to pull. However, Atii is still offering skijoring this year.

It's a unique adventure. Give it a try.

(c) 2008 [except the October Siberian photo] Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2008 21:13:30 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=354 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=353

Peak Adventures is a Vermont company that puts on extreme races several times a year. Their snowshoe marathon is coming up next weekend on Saturday March 8 starting at 8:00 am in Pittsfield VT.

The course is a 6.5 mile loop with 7,200 feet of elevation change along ungroomed and snowmobile trails. See the topo map on the website for more detail. The marathon runs four loops, the half marathon runs two loops, and there is a one loop fun run for those who just want to give snowshoeing a try. There is a ten hour time limit for all racers.

For beginners: I can tell you from personal experience that running in snowshoes takes twice the exertion of road running so plan accordingly! It's not enough to be in good shape. You have to be in great shape.

You can register online at peakraces.com and click the link to runrace.net or register that morning at the General Store in Pittsfield from 5:30 to 7:30 am. Registration costs $75 and includes a beanie hat and the post race meal.

The post race celebration begins at 6:30 pm and includes lobster and shrimp dinner, "plenty" of Long Trail beer, the awards ceremony ($1200 for the marathon only to the top three men and women - $300 for 1st place, $200 for 2nd place, and $100 for third place; plus unique finishers awards for everyone and a special award for top three male and top three female in the marathon and half marathon).

(c) 2008 [except the photo from Peak Adventures] Jeff Connor ]]> Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:55:15 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=353 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=352

Ben & Jerry's Homemade has a winter festival every year but this year is a little special because the company is celebrating its 30th birthday.

On Saturday, March 1, from 11:00 to 4:00, there will be free tours at the Waterbury VT manufacturing plant, plus games, snow sculpting, cake, music, food, snowshoeing, and other fun stuff - there may be a small fee for some of those.

When you are there, they will give you a small pin to put on your shirt or jacket. Show that pin to some of the many businesses in Waterbury to get a discount. Some restaurants, gift stores, an antique store, and even the local pharmacy are participating.

Who knows, maybe Ben and/or Jerry will show up. They both still live in the area and stop by from time to time even though they are retired from full time work now.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus ]]> Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:21:47 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=352 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=351

I've written Vermont Travel Notes entries about Stephen Huneck's unique dog chapel in St. Johnsbury VT as well as his artwork and galleries around the state (the newest is in Stowe). His whimsical and sometimes touching artwork is very popular with dog owners all over the world. As a result, he has received publicity in a large number of places, the most recent being CNN and its website. The article is entitled "Doggy Disneyland draws animals, owners by the pack" and it's a good description of Stephen, his artwork, and his 175 acre farm with widely known dog chapel. It's quite a structure, requiring an expenditure of several hundred thousand dollars, and well worth a visit if you are a dog lover. From our inn, it is a little over a 45 minute drive to Dog Mountain..

Another great place to visit in the St. Johnsbury area is the Fairbanks Museum. I also recommend a drive north to Lake Willoughby and then over to the area around the town of Island Pond to do some moose spotting.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:15:25 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=351 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=350
AirTran has the newest fleet of Boeing 717's in the US

On May 21, AirTran will begin nonstop flight service three times a day between Burlington, VT (BTV) and the Thurgood Marshall Airport, Baltimore/Washington (BWI). The airline will be using Boeing 717-200 planes which seat 117 passengers, 12 in business class and 105 in coach.

There are 14 AirTran destinations available from BWI, plus service to about another 50 cities you can view on the AirTran website Destinations and Route Map pages. Boston is one of those cities and is a popular airport for visitors to Vermont and other parts of New England.

AirTran is kicking off its Burlington service with a low introductory fare of $59. It must be booked by March 17, 2008, for travel through June 11, 2008. Fares listed are one way, available daily and are valid in either direction. There are some other charges such as $3.50 segment fee, $10 Sept 11 fee, and $18 airport passenger facility fee so be sure to read the fine print. You can book online or call 1-800-AIR-TRAN (1-800-247-8726) (extra $7.50 fee for phone calls too).

Currently, the Burlington airport has service to and from Atlanta, Cleveland (CLE), Cincinnati (CVG), Chicago (ORD), Detroit (DTW), Newark (EWR), New York (JFK), New York (LGA), Orlando (MCO), Philadelphia (PHL), Washington DC (DCA), Washington DC (IAD). To see details on these flights, go to the Burlington airport website

Winter tip: if you are flying here, we recommend renting a four wheel drive car. One of our recent guests requested one but it was not available when he arrived so he got a front wheel drive substitute . . . which he greatly regretted when we got a lot of snow during his visit. Be sure to insist on no substitutions for your four wheel drive car. None of the rental car companies have winter tires for some unfathomable reason but four wheel drive will help you get around much more safely. Remember, you are coming to the mountains of northern New England: we get a LOT of snow.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2008 22:08:22 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=350 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=349

Jay Peak's Mardis Gras is taking place this week with ski races, Louisiana style dinners, and music performances. I guess this is as far north from New Orleans as you can get in the USA to celebrate Maris Gras.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor

]]> Tue, 26 Feb 2008 14:23:33 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=349 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=348

Most of the weather forecasts I've seen for north central Vermont call for about six to ten inches of snow Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Josh Fox at The Single Chair Weather Blog is forecasting 13 to 18 inches. The upper elevations, such as the Mad River Glen ski area he is forecasting, get more snow than standard forecasts because of their altitudes. That seems like quite a disparity between 10 inches and 18 inches but it is not unusual for the upper elevations to get twice as much snow as the standard forecasts call for.

The headline in Fox's blog entry yesterday says: "Here we go !!! Big mid-week dump is now in the making !!"

I enjoy reading Josh's blog because he writes in a very friendly and well constructed conversational style. The entries are often detailed but when I find the writing has gone into more detail than I have time for, I just move on to something else.

And he is not perfect. But when he does have a cold streak (pun intended), he owns up to it and often explains how it happened. It gives the non-meteorologist interesting insight into how weather forecasting is done.

Roger Hill is a popular Vermont meteorologist located here in Waterbury. His web site is Weathering Heights (pun intended). He is not saying much about accumulation yet. His web site has lots of colorful weather maps if you enjoy getting into the details of weather.

Another popular weather forecasting service is put out by the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium in St. Johnsbury VT. It is called Eye on the Sky and is produced by Chris Bouchard. His forecasts are the ones used by Vermont Public Radio.

Eye on the Sky is calling for one to three inches of snow Tuesday east of the Green Mountain and two to five inches west. The snow could mix with rain at times over the far southern valleys. On Tuesday night, Chris expects an additional three to seven inches.

Whatever the snow accumulation ends up being, this latest storm should make for good skiing, snowmobiling, sleigh rides, etc. We have deep base almost everywhere except I noticed snowshoeing at the lowest elevation in the Mad River Valley yesterday that the snow is only a few inches deep there. Most upper elevations such as our inn have a couple of feet of snow on the ground and the ski areas have much more.

For weather forecasts in other parts of Vermont, you can use the weather do-hickey in the right hand column of this blog. Just enter the zip code of the place you would like to visit or use one of the samples I supplied.

As a side note, I noticed on the Eye On the Sky website that on this day in 1936, three inches of BROWN snow fell in Vermont. It was most likely due to dust storms in the Great Plains. So I guess that was a "dusting" of snow (pun intended).

There's snow time like the right time to stop writing before I pun again.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:28:42 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=348 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=347
Vermont's Tubbs Snow Shoes


I just received an email from my friends at Umiak Outfitters in Stowe VT that they are having their annual 30% off sale on skis, boots, snowshoes (20% on Tubbs brand) and sleds this weekend.

In addition, Umiak has a online retail store page with discounted prices plus a clearance sale page on their website you might be interested in if you can't make it to their sale.

In fact, in your travel to Vermont over the next few weeks, it's a good idea to drop into the local ski shops and outdoor outfitters to see what they have on sale. Most of these shops have their summer gear on order and their new stuff is already starting to arrive.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:38:34 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=347 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=346
Photo by Robert Eddy FirstLightStudios.net

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs in Montpelier offers classes several times a year but they have one big school event that takes place every summer. The school was founded in 1981 by the mother of the current owner and classes have been offered every year since then.

This year's 27th Annual Hooked Rug School will be held June 6–15, 2008. There will be one five-day and two weekend sessions with a total of 23 classes. Class size is limited to about a dozen students so now is the time to look over the course outline and decide whether to attend.

From the Green Mountain Hooked Rugs web site: "Classes range from beginning hooking, dyeing, fine hooking tapestry to primitives and wide-cuts, pictorials, folk art, punch needle, penny rugs, braiding and more. Students select one class per session.

"Teachers hail from all over the United States and Canada. Rug exhibits and a well-stocked rug shop are open daily. "

Green Mountain Hooked Rugs has a shop that is open year around at 2838 County Road, Montpelier VT.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:49:47 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=346 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=345

The highlight of the Burlington VT Mardis Gras weekend is the big parade with dozens of floats tossing over thousands of beads, Louisiana Moon Pies, and Lake Champlain Chocolates. The parade attracts a large but fun and easy going crowd.

Get into place about 2:00 to 2:45 in the afternoon. The parade runs on Burlington's Main Street and Church Street.

Magic Hat Brewery is the sponsor of the event. On their website, they offer this advice for where to watch the parade:

"2:45 pm- Line up on Main Street between South Winooski and Church Street and Church Street between Main and Cherry and spread out!!!

"3:00 pm- Catch beads, Moon Pies, Lake Champlain Chocolates, and more as the event parades down Church Street

"Families with children 7 and under can watch from the Little Jambalaya Zone on the courthouse side of Main Street"

The Magic Hat Block Party takes place after the parade featuring bands and a comedy show performing at several venues around town.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:24:14 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=345 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=344

The Today Show will be broadcasting from the Timbers restaurant at Sugarbush Ski Resort on Thursday, February 21. This is the first time that all the on-air team from the Today Show has traveled to a location for a live broadcast. The very next day, the same team will broadcast live from Miami FL.

Coincidentally, on the same day The Learning Channel will be in Waitsfield and other Mad River Valley locations to film a thirty minute segment of their Destination Weddings & Honeymoons program. This special is scheduled to be broadcast nationally in April on both The Learning Channel and Women's Entertainment network. After the initial April airing, cable affiliates can broadcast it in their markets.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:55:11 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=344 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=343

The 2008 edition of the Stowe Winter Carnival will be held Jan 18 - 26. This is one of the biggest winter events in Vermont and New England with ten major activities including ice carving, movies, children's carnival, and a large village block party.

Tourists are invited to join the locals in fun events like the snow volleyball tournament, Super G ski race, snow golf tournament, costume contest, music and dancing, church supper, and general merriment at the local bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Click here for the events calendar. Better descriptions are available on the Stowe Area Association calendar.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:49:33 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=343 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=342

I found this Vermont Sweatshirt on Shawn's Blog. It does not say where he found it. There is a good local store called Rocking R that sells souvenir T-shirts and other clothing so I may take a look to see if they have this item.

I suppose this is the kind of image you have when you're a small, rural state. In reality, there are tons of things to do here, especially in outdoor recreation, dining, the arts, and shopping. It's enough to make someone think about writing a blog on what travelers to Vermont can find here.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:40:36 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=342 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=341
Today's high was around 50 degrees F (10 Celsius) and tomorrow's forecast is a few degrees higher. It will cool down to day time highs in the low 30's F by the end of this week but we are going to have several days of light rain, sleet, and a little snow for the next few days. The ski report we just received from Jay Peak describes the conditions as "spring like."

All the ski areas especially in northern Vermont have so much base built up that the conditions won't be terrible but if you have been reading how great the skiing has been in Vermont, don't expect those conditions to exist now.

The skiing this week won't be terrible but it won't be great either. By Saturday, conditions should be back to normal. Keep an eye on the weather forecasts.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus ]]> Mon, 07 Jan 2008 23:01:00 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=341 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=340

You can use the standard Google Results Page to check the "real-time" (as opposed to fake time, I guess) status of any flight. Just type the name of the airline and flight number (e.g. Jet Blue 123, aa456) into the Google search box. The most up to date information from FlightStats.com will be displayed.

Better yet, get a free subscription to Flight Stats on their web site. There is an enormous amount of information available including airport flight delays, security wait times, and other important pieces of information all air travelers need these days.

Google has a long list of "Subscribed Links" such as this. They include Gas Buddy for the best local gas prices, Weather Channel, Calorie Lab for nutritional information, City/Town Info for information about cities you are visiting, and more.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn]]> Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:08:58 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=340 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=339
Jay Peak photo credit: Brian Keet photo of skier Mike Britt, taken Jan 2, 2008.

Today I received a snow report email from Jay Peak with the photo above and very little text. The photo nearly says it all so there's little need for much text.

Without a doubt, Jay is the King Kong of snowfall in the eastern United States. So far this ski season, they have had 200 inches of snow. It looks like this year will exceed their annual average of 350 inches of snow.

Several characteristics contribute to this. Jay is located in far northern Vermont , just a few miles from the Canadian border. It is at the far northern reach of the Green Mountain range which creates a "snow belt" that catches moisture soaked clouds. These clouds pick up their moisture from nearby Lake Champlain or the Great Lakes farther to the west. When they hit the upper elevations, they release the moisture in greater quantity than lower elevations.

See Jay Peak current conditions here.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor
]]> Thu, 03 Jan 2008 21:06:40 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=339 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=338
We have a ton of snow on the ground so downhill and cross country skiing, dog sledding, sleigh rides, sledding, snow shoeing, will be great. For more detail, you can click on the Weather Channel link here or in the right column of this blog.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:45:00 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=338 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=337
New Year's Eve fireworks at Sugarbush.

Resolve now to spend part of this year in Vermont!]]> Tue, 01 Jan 2008 08:11:18 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=337 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=336
Plowing and grooming at Sugarbush.

I can't remember when Vermont has had this much snow so early in the season. It just keeps coming and I'm spending a bundle to have Butch, my snowplow guy, keep the driveway cleared and sanded. Today he was here twice at $50 per visit. Our inn is more than 600 feet from Route 100 which is nice but we pay for it this time of year.

Also, I have hired Dustin part time to help roof rake and shovel. If I did it all myself I won't have time to do much else.

In fact, we've had so much snow Butch had to bring up his John Deere tractor with front bucket to lift the snow banks farther away from the driveway. His 3/4 ton pickup and plow just can't move snow when it gets piled up more than a couple of feet.

Last night and this morning we had about eight inches of snow. The National Weather Service is calling for another 8 to 14 inches tomorrow. A quick check of the Stowe snow report shows that they have had about two feet of snow this past week and 148 inches of snow this year, 111 in December alone. That year-to-date total is about 50% greater than the five year average as shown on the Stowe Weather Data Summary page on their website.

I hope we get a lot of ski guests this year to help offset the cost of moving snow around.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:00:54 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=336 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=335

There are more than 100 cities across the world that welcome the new year with a "First Night" celebration. The concept was developed to offer an alcohol-free and substance-free way to start the new year. Boston was the first city to start this tradition and Burlington Vermont was the fourth to adopt the concept.

This year is the 25th anniversary of Burlington's First Night. It is the city's largest one day arts festival and will attract thousands of visitors. There is a wide range of performances which you can read about in the festival's 48 page guide.

In addition to Burlington, First Night celebrations are held in Montpelier and St. Johnsbury.

All the first night celebrations are family friendly but the one in St. Johnsbury puts special emphasis on children's entertainment.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor (except the St. Johnsbury festival logo above) ]]> Fri, 28 Dec 2007 21:38:50 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=335 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=334

The Alchemist brew pub and restaurant in Waterbury has been hugely popular right from day one four years ago. They have about seven excellent brews available including some standards and some specials from time to time. Moreover, they actually have a chef preparing food so the fare there is much better than the average hamburger and fries that most bars have. As a result, it is crowded most nights. If you like craft brewed beers, the Alchemist should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Vermont.

John Kimmick, the brew master, just started a blog and has one entry posted so far. It's a pretty good one as a matter of fact and gives the reader a good insight into what kinds of beers he is offering and some of the thought and work that goes into creating them.

The blog is called Notes from the Brewery and is subtitled "or What's Going on Down Here and Why." (The Brewing equipment is in the basement under the pub.)

I've seen quite a number of Vermont blogs get started only to dwindle quickly. That is why I usually wait until I'm sure the blog will really keep going before I recommend it or add it to my list of links in the left column of this blog. But I'm making an exception this time and we'll see how it works out. John even mentions being busy with work and family so I won't be surprised if the Alchemist blog has only occasional entries but that is OK as long as they are as good as the first one and John keeps writing them once in a while.

In addition to the blog, take a look at The Alchemist website for more information about the brews, the menu, news, operating hours, map, etc.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Tue, 25 Dec 2007 19:52:09 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=334 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=333
Right now is a good time to plan ahead and get dinner reservations in order to beat the crowd and avoid long waits or having to call around to even find a restaurant with an opening. Naturally, it's easier to find an opening early or late evening, so you may have to be flexible in your plans.

Call or email your innkeeper or look online to find restaurants. Any good innkeeper will be able to tell you the best restaurants in the area that will fit your needs. Or, if you like to do some shopping for restaurants on your own, do a online search for the regional chamber of commerce website for the area in which you will be staying.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Mon, 24 Dec 2007 11:01:56 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=333 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=332

"ngader" posted this luggage wheel photo on Flicker with this tip in the caption: " Rule of thumb : When buying luggage, check the wheels. Try not to buy wheels with rubber bits. Buy the full fibre / hard plastic wheels."


Yesterday, I received an email alert from Squidoo about a blog on how to prevent lost luggage.

The writer, Victoria Neely, once worked for an airline as a baggage agent so she knows what she is writing about. With all the things she has seen go wrong with luggage, she says she is "frankly amazed that most checked bags return to their owners unscathed!"

Even if your bag is not lost (and there is a six in one thousand chance it will be), it's likely to get broken or dirty at some time or another.

You can't make it impossible for something to go wrong but there are a number of things you can do to improve your bag's chances of greeting you in good shape at the other end of your mutual journey.

There are a lot of useful tips in this article along with some interesting and surprising facts. For instance, did you know there is a reason baggage is handled roughly instead of gently?

And Ms. Neely is not hesitant to recommend some bag brands that she has seen hold up well.

Take a look - I'm sure you will read something you did not know!

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn]]> Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:50:05 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=332 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=331

The Vermont Ski Areas Association is sponsoring a learn-for-free program January 5 -13, 2008.

This is a heck of a good deal. The lessons can be for either skiing or snowboarding, and include lift ticket and equipment rental at no cost whatsoever.

They are calling it the "Ski Vermont New Year’s Resolution" program. It is geared toward first time skiers and snowboarders ages six and older.

The participating resorts are the best in the state: Ascutney, Bolton, Bromley, Burke, Jay Peak, Killington, Mad River Glen, Magic, Middlebury, Mount Snow, Okemo, Pico, Smuggs, Stratton, Sugarbush, and Suicide Six. To see where these resorts are located, go to the VT Ski Areas Association map page.

Spaces are limited so I suggest you register right away. You can do so on the VT Ski Areas Association website Learn for Free page.

Don't put this off. It's such a great deal that spaces will fill quickly.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Sat, 22 Dec 2007 16:24:50 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=331 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=330
Stowe's first rail jam of the season, November 24.

Vermont skiing is off to a good start this year with plenty of snow. For example, at Stowe, the snow-making trails have 1.5 to 4 feet of base built up so far. Stowe has received about a foot of natural snow the past week and a total of nearly three feet this season. You can get details on the Stowe Snow Report page of the resort's website.

Things are looking good for the big kick off week between Christmas and New Years. Now is a good time to make reservations.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Sun, 25 Nov 2007 10:14:43 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=330 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=329
Peter Greenberg's website is full of useful travel information.

Here is some ammunition to use with the airlines if your fight is canceled. It involves a little-known FAA rule that requires the airline to book you on the next available flight whether it is their flight or another airline.

It's called Rule 240 and it's a good thing to remember when you are dealing with an airline front desk person or supervisor.

However, like most things in life, there are exceptions. You can read more details about it at the Peter Greenberg website.

]]> Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:37:04 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=329 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=328 "Seven Most Influential Bloggers of 2007" that he has been reading.

I am familiar with most of these blogs but a few are new to me. I guess they are "influential" but to me they're mainly interesting and informative blogs I enjoy reading.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor]]> Sat, 24 Nov 2007 20:19:54 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=328 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=327
" 22" Flash Trolley" by Titan Luggage of Germany . . . Made with 100% polycarbonate . . . extremely lightweight and scratch-resistant, with sturdy ergonomic telescopic handles and protected exterior zippers . . . fully lined and padded . . . removable garment and toiletry cases . . . TSA approved combination lock and 4 swivel wheels" It's $475! but it will probably survive 20 years of airline abuse so that's just $24 per year: on the Luggage section of Flight 001.

Flight 001 is a website with travel related products including "luggage, carry-on, tech-to-go, packing aids, groom bags, essentials, travel i.d., wallets, jet comfort, meal service, aerotherapy, time travel, gadgets, entertainment, books, and airtunes."

I found myself spending a lot of time just looking around this website and learning about all the different products I didn't know were available.

If someone asks you what you want for the holidays, have this website bookmarked for them.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:28:35 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=327 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=326

I was recently looking for travel bags and came across a site you might be interested in too. It's called Trusty Pony for no reason that I see but it has a lot of "cool stuff for travelers" as it claims.

You can find helpful items under categories such as Air, Family, Fancy, Gadgety, Girly, International, Outdoorsy, Road Trip, Sporty, Urban, Warm-weather, Luggage & Bags, Body, Books & Guides, and Gifts.

There are countless worthwhile and clever items that you can use even when you are not traveling. Give it a look - you'll probably see something of use to you or someone you know (think holiday shopping).

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Sat, 24 Nov 2007 19:12:33 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=326 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=325
Snowshoeing is easy to do and can get you into some back country that you would not ordinarily be able to see.

The week between Christmas and New Year's Day is one of the busiest of the year for Vermont tourism. It is considered the kick-off week for the ski season even though there has been skiing on some trails since mid November.

Skiers usually account for about half our business that week and I assume the same is true of other lodging establishments except those right at the ski resorts.

Whether you want to ski or not, right now is the time to make travel plans and get lodging reservations made.

By the way, you will find many inns have a two or three night minimum that time of year because it is such a busy time and they can't turn over rooms fast enough if they have a lot of one night reservations. You may find some exceptions and perhaps a last minute, fill-in type availability if you can only stay one night.

A good place to start a search for Vermont lodging is at the state's official tourism website: VermontVacation.com.

(c) 2007 (except the vermontvacation.com photograph above) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

]]> Sun, 18 Nov 2007 20:26:54 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=325 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=324 Boston Snow Expo this Thurs - Sun. The Expo is being held at the Bayside Expo Center on Mount Vernon Street. There will be many special offers, drawings, free gifts, contests and special promotions. The Expo draws a lot of people because it has an equipment sale at pre-season discounts. The link above will take you to a PDF page that lists all the resorts and vendors who will be at the Expo.

Adult admission is $10 but there are $3 discount coupons available if you submit your email address at the Onthesnow.com website.

If you have young children, you can introduce them to skiing at a gentle practice ramp that will be set up specifically for that purpose. And there will an artificial ice rink too.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor ]]> Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:34:58 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=324 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=323 Stowe and Okemo are jumping on the early opening bandwagon along with Mount Snow and Sugarbush. Stowe has had 6" to 12" of natural snow at the highest elevations plus they have been making snow for a couple of weeks. They will open Saturday and Okemo opens Friday. I have not checked all the ski areas in Vermont so there may be some others opening also.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Thu, 15 Nov 2007 07:29:28 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=323 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=322
Nov 11 photo by Sugarbush President Win Smith . . . "Hmmm - I wonder if we could open early this year."

Sugarbush is officially opening on Thanksgiving Day but snow conditions there are so good now that president Win Smith decided to have a sneak preview this coming Saturday. You can see photos from his recent hike up the mountain when he began thinking about an early opening.

Two lifts and four trails will most likely be open. Lift tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for juniors. The resort will then be closed until Thursday so it's Saturday or wait until Thanksgiving to get your first runs in this season.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn]]> Wed, 14 Nov 2007 10:20:28 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=322 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=321

I enjoy skimming the Vagabondish web magazine from time to time. Today I read a helpful article there on clever ideas for using a digital camera in your travels.

For instance, it recommends writing a reward poster in case you ever lose the camera. Write your email address and a reward amount on a piece of paper. Be careful on that - you don't know who will find your camera. So don't write your name, address, and phone. Use only an email address as the article recommends, and use one that does not contain your full name.

Take a photo of the poster and lock the file so it does not get erased. If someone finds your camera, all they have to do is look at the stored photos and they'll see your contact information and reward. That greatly increases the chances of your getting the camera back.

Another good use for a digital camera is to take a photo of local maps so you can refer to them in your travels. The article uses the example of a subway map.

I think you will enjoy reading the other ten ideas in the full article at the Vagabondish blog.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor

]]> Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:07:48 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=321 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=320
Mount Snow, located in southern Vermont mid-way between Brattleboro and Bennington, spent all summer and $6 million on upgrades including 101 new, state-of-the-art fan guns (see their Oct 10 video for details)

I was surprised to see that Mount Snow resort opened last weekend. Usually Killington likes to lay claim to having the longest season in Vermont by opening early and not closing until late May or early June. Let's make a note to check the Killington website in June to see what they are doing to keep their record intact. I predict they will be trucking in Zamboni shavings from indoor ice skating rinks throughout New England.

Mount Snow says on their website that this is their earliest opening since 1998. And they did not open just one token trail. They had 11 of them operating, plus four lifts. You can see video of last weekend's first day on the video page of their website.

By the way, the Ski Magazine reader survey I discussed in yesterday's blog entry, ranks Mount Snow number 18 in the East. Another Vermont ski area ranked in the top 20 is Stratton, which came in number 13.

Stratton is an interesting place. It would probably rank higher in the standings but it is known as a very expensive place to ski. And, in the world of skiing, that is really saying something.

Stratton is ranked sixth in the east for snow quality and fifth for grooming. It also has the third highest ranked lift system. What holds it back is its 32 ranking for value. At Stratton you get some of the best skiing and snowboarding but you're gonna pay for it. Big Time. That does not deter some folks. In fact, we once had a guest at our inn who told me he liked the fact that it is expensive because it means uncrowded lift lines and trails.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:07:23 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=320 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=319
The new lodge and heated outdoor pool at Sugarbush - photo courtesy of SKI Magazine

The longest running and most respected ranking of ski resorts in North America is published each year by SKI Magazine. . It has an independent research company survey its readers to rank ski resorts on 18 criteria: "Overall Satisfaction, Access, Après Ski, Dining, Family Programs, Grooming, Lifts, Lodging, Off-Hill Activities, On-Mountain Food, Scenery, Service, Snow, Terrain/Challenge, Terrain/Variety, Terrain Parks, Value and Weather."

This year, 7,000 readers took part in the survey. These are active skiers who put in an average of 23 days a year on the slopes.

According to those readers, the top 10 alpine ski areas in the East are:

1. Tremblant, Que.
2. Smugglers Notch, VT
3. Whiteface, NY
4. Stowe, VT
5. Holiday Valley, NY
6. Sugarloaf, Maine
7. Sugarbush, VT
8. Killington, VT
9. Bretton Woods, NH
10. Okemo, VT

The best single source of information on Vermont ski areas is at the Vermont Ski Areas Association website. That website was down this evening but it should be back up soon.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Mon, 12 Nov 2007 20:22:03 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=319 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=318
I'll make you a deal. If you spend a few hundred dollars to travel to Vermont, in exchange we will give you million dollar views that will return your investment many times over.

Here in northern Vermont, we are moving quickly from fall into winter as this photo illustrates magnificently. It was taken yesterday afternoon from the Burlington area looking east toward Mount Mansfield. This is all natural snow and on the other side of the mountain, Stowe ski resort has been busy the last couple of weeks making even more snow to build a deep base for the skiers and snowboarders. The resort opens its trails November 21.

That bump on the right side of the mountain ridge line is known as the "nose" and the larger lump on the left side is the "chin."

This photo is from "Hugho" who posts a photo every day on his Megapickles photoblog. There is a link to the blog in the left column of this Vermont Travel News blog too. You should go to his blog to see the full size version of this photo. I also recommend you spend some time poking around the archives to see the great diversity and talent on display. I look at it every day and am always rewarded with a new and beautifully rendered photo. Most of them are taken around northern Vermont with a rare foray into, for example, a nearby area such as the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Sat, 10 Nov 2007 20:09:21 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=318 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=317

Vermont Hand Crafters was formed in 1955 and now has 200 members, most of whom will be at the group's annual show Thursday through Sunday, November 15 - 18.

Some 150 crafters will be on hand with samples of their work for sale. They include items such as paintings, fiber art, fine art, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, photography, pottery, stone, toys and figurines, and wood.

The event will be at the Sheraton Conference Center, located at exit 14 W from Interstate 89 in South Burlington.

This show was named by the Vermont Chamber of Commerce as one of the Top Ten Events held each year.

Admission is $7.00 for all four days ($4 for Sunday only admission) but there is an online discount coupon available on the Vermont Hand Crafters website.

(c) 2007 (except the show logo above which is copyright by Vermont Hand Crafters, Inc.) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Thu, 08 Nov 2007 22:24:23 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=317 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=316

Vermont is a mecca for cheese lovers and there is even one farm where you can take cheese making classes. Lazy Lady Farm in Westfield Vermont is a small dairy farm with about 25 alpine goats they call "lazy ladies."

The farm holds cheese making classes during the winter. "The classes are for the curious and for the future cheese makers." To get more information and schedule a class, call Laini Fondiller at 802-744-6365 or laini@sover.net.

To learn more about cheese makers in Vermont, visit the Vermont Cheese Council website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn]]> Wed, 07 Nov 2007 20:48:20 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=316 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=315
Jay Peak has a 25-year, month-by-month snowfall table on its website

Last night we had rain at our place but the mountaintops received a dusting of snow that looked nice when the sun came out today. This is the second or third snowfall at the upper elevations this year and it will melt soon most likely. The same thing happens every year and it serves as a reminder that the big stuff is on the way. We don't have much time left to clean out the gutters and get the snow tires on.

Stowe and Sugarbush have both been making snow for a week or so, and both plan to open in a couple of weeks.

Somewhere below I mentioned that Jay Peak averages about 350 inches of snow per year. That number is close enough to their 20 year average of 366 inches but actually for the last ten years, Jay has averaged 385 inches per year. The resort has a Historical Snowfall Totals page on its website that makes for some interesting reading. Last year got off to a bit of a slow start but Feb and Mar made up for it. Note the monthly totals for the epic 2000/01 season. Last year was in the same category. It will be interesting to see what this year brings but whatever it is, it will be big - it always has been.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

]]> Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:48:46 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=315 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=314

We're lucky to have the Green Mountain Club offices just a few minutes drive from our inn ( (map here). It is the single best source of information about hiking in Vermont. The club is best known for being the organization that maintains Vermont's Long Trail, the only trail that spans the length of the state from the Massachusetts border to the Canadian border.

The club has just issued its latest version of the Long Trail Map. You can order on the club's website which also has hiking books.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Sun, 04 Nov 2007 22:55:18 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=314 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=313

Travel to Vermont and you will see the dairy farms that are a large part of the state's image. But from time to time you'll see other animals too, some of them exotic breeds you would not expect.

There are a goodly number of sheep and goat farms now (mainly to support all the small cheese producers here), exotic bovines such as Scottish Highlander Cows that look like Musk-Ox cousins (there are usually some out at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe), buffalo and elk (they're being raised for restaurant consumption), miniature horses and donkeys, and I even know of a camel (it's on Route 2 a little south of Richmond VT, on the west side of the road).

I know of several places with Llamas and Alpacas but I did not know there were so many of them until I read the list of Alpaca farms in VT on the Sponsors page on the Northeast Alpaca Association's Fall Spectacular website.

The public is invited to the show being held at the Champlain Valley Expo this weekend, November 2, 3 and 4, 2007. About 100 Alpaca farms from all over the northeast will be displaying some 500 alpacas.

These are fascinating animals and you can learn more about them at Benefits of Alpacas page on the Log Cabin Farm website.

Alpacas originated in the Andes mountains of South America so it is a breed of animal very much at home in the mountains of the northeast but they adapt well to other environments as well. They are small, easily handled animals known for being intelligent, calm, and clean. They don't need a lot of land, they are disease resistant, and they produce a fiber as soft as cashmere that's also lighter, stronger and warmer than wool. The hair is just cut off them like shearing sheep wool, so the animals are not butchered.

You can even purchase an Alpaca there. "Coco," pictured above, can be yours for just $20,000 for example. Everybody in your neighborhood has a dog or a cat but you can set a new standard with an alpaca in the backyard! Besides Coco (who is owned by Alpacas of Easton ), there others for sale on Alpacas For Sale page on the Association's show website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:44:40 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=313 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=312


TheStreet.com is an stock market investing website run by Jim Cramer, whom you may have seen on CNBC's Mad Money television show.

One of the columnists on that website, Mike Woelflein, recently wrote an article entitled Avoid Lift Lines and Ski More This Season on where to find the best uncrowded ski areas around the country. The first place he mentions is Jay Peak, located in Jay, Vermont.

Jay Peak is located in northernmost Vermont, a few miles from the Canadian border. It is known for getting the most snowfall of all the Vermont ski areas, averaging about 350 inches per year. It's very popular with Quebec skiers because it is only about an hours drive from Montreal. From Boston, it is about a 4.5 hour drive.

At our inn, we don't get too many skiers going there because it is about an hour's drive and we are close to Stowe, Sugarbush, Mad River Glen and Bolton Valley. However, the guests who do spend a day at Jay invariably come back with great compliments about the experience.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn]]> Sat, 27 Oct 2007 13:18:17 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=312 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=311 Magic Hat Brewing are known for being, shall we say, a little off beam but they make a high quality product, have fun doing it, and contribute generously to charities.

They produce special runs from time to time and here is their Halloween seasonal offering:



The beer is great plus you get a distinctive box you can use to store your Halloween decorations.

They have a factory tour, tastings, and souvenir shop at their South Burlington factory.

(c) Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Vermont Inn
]]> Thu, 25 Oct 2007 23:54:42 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=311 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=310
freefoto.com

This Saturday, October 27, Bennington VT is determined to win the Guinness World Record for the most jack-o-lanterns on display in one place. The current record is held by nearby Keene NH which set the record in 2003 with 28,952 officially counted.

Who says Americans don't have enough leisure time?

There will also be a Main Street parade at 4:00.

Seeing that many jack-o-lanterns will probably be an impressive sight so don't forget your camera.

Bennington is a nice town to visit with many architecturally and historically significant buildings. I recommend you take the walking tour around the Old First Church and cemetery on the west side of town. There is a very good quality Welcome Center in an old brick blacksmith's shop at the Corner of Route 7 and Elm Street where you can pick up literature on things to see. For some reason, it is closed on Sundays - when most visitors would be coming into town.

The Bennington website has a listing of local attractions.

You will also be near Arlington and Manchester, both of which are scenic towns. Manchester is known for its outlet stores but even if you won't want to go shopping, you should drive through this very pretty village. Just take Route 7 north from Bennington. It's about 15 minutes to Arlington and another 15 to Manchester where you will see the Reluctant Panther and the Equinox, both world class ($$$$) lodging and dining facilities. Since we are now entering "low season", The Equinox is running some specials, one of which offers three nights of lodging for just $333 - a fraction of what the rooms cost during busy seasons.

There are many other good quality inns and motels in the Manchester area that are not as expensive.

Southwest Vermont is one of my favorite areas to visit but it's been a while since I was there so I think I'll take another look at lodging places down there and get a trip scheduled soon.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor



Bennington Old First Church,
the oldest church in Vermont ]]> Thu, 25 Oct 2007 22:12:18 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=310 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=309
Bartonsville VT covered bridge courtesy of Freefoto.com - - chosen for this blog entry just because I like covered bridges and it looks "Vermonty"

This landed in my email inbox from a friend who was forwarding it after it had been forwarded to him. I don't know if Jeff Foxworthy actually wrote this or if it is from someone who is imitating him, but it's worth a couple of chuckles.

By the way, up here country folks are not called Rednecks. They're "Woodchucks."

Here you go:

"Forget Rednecks . . . here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about Vermonters. . .

"If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Vermont.

"If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Vermont.

"If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Vermont.

"If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Vermont.

"If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of New York City for the weekend, you live in Vermont.

"If you measure distance in hours, you live in Vermont.

"If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Vermont.

"If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you live in Vermont.

"If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Vermont.

"If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you live in Vermont.

"If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Vermont.

"If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Vermont.

"If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Vermont.

"If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Vermont."

I especially enjoyed the Home Depot remark because yesterday I stopped to help a guy who was cutting long and awkward wire shelving and needed a hand to help steady it while he used the metal clippers. I did not even give it a thought until I read this. And that reminds me too of a few weeks ago when I helped a woman and her husband who were looking at the same deck stain I had bought the month before. After we discussed what color the stain would actually be compared to the color chip on display, I took them around to the aisle that had the paint pads and poles I used too.

People here are more quiet and reserved than you will find in some other parts of the country where folks are friendly and more outgoing. However, here you find it's just polite to keep to yourself. Vermonters don't want to intrude but don't let that seem standoffish to you. If you start a conversation with a Vermonter, you may want to find a place to sit because you're going to be there a while. Just the way it's done here.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:16:38 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=309 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=308 Yapta.com.)

Turns out that this is not consistent among airlines. Some do it and others don't. And some, such as Delta and American, will charge you a fee just as they would if you were to change your ticket. That charge is usually $100 on domestic flights and about double or triple that on overseas flights.

There are exceptions: Northwest charges $25 while United, US Airways, and JetBlue don't charge.

Many times you won't get your money refunded in cash but as a voucher for future use. I did not see any information on how long these vouchers last and no doubt that varies from airline to airline and from time to time.

NOTE: don't believe everything you see in this article. What I have written here is what I found on the internet and none of it is from the airlines' own websites. I could not find anything on their websites about this topic but admittedly I only checked three of them by entering the word "refund" in their search boxes . . . I find dealing with airlines more dismal than dealing with government regulations. However, as I have noted in previous blog entries, JetBlue is one of the best airlines to deal with.

And it probably goes without saying in any conversation about airlines, nothing is consistent even within the same company. One person will give you one answer and another person at the same airline will tell you something different. The best thing to do is to make an inquiry if you find out that tickets on your flight are being sold for less than you paid. I'm still surprised when a polite and friendly phone call will get me a discount or adjustment. Give it a try and let me know how this works for you.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:28:47 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=308 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=307

The last two days were beautiful with warm temperatures and clear skies. Today was the opposite with rain and wind all day long. Yesterday we still had a lot of colorful leaves on the trees in north central VT except along the high ridge lines. Today many of those leaves got knocked off. However, I made a trip to Burlington this afternoon and, while the spectacular scenery is gone, there still many spots of bright yellow, gold and orange on the hillsides.

This has been the best and longest lasting fall foliage season we have seen in the seven years we have lived in Vermont. I've never seen so many red trees as I did this year. One of our guests drove up to Lake Willoughby a couple of weeks ago and was still stunned and shaking his head the next day as he told us about a huge mountainside that was mostly red. He had never seen anything like it and could not even imagine such a thing if he had not seen it himself.

There will be areas of southern Vermont that are at peak now, especially in the valleys, as well as in the Lake Champlain basin. It won't last too much longer so if you want to see the best foliage period in years, you should get up here in the next week to ten days.

Honest and accurate foliage reports by state foresters are available on the VermontVacation.com website.

Why and how leaves change color is a bit complicated but if you would like to read up on it, here is a link to VemontVacation.com web page an article reprint from the U.S. Dept of Agriculture.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn
]]> Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:43:42 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=307 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=306
Leave the sandwich bags for sandwiches - this is a true leak-less solution.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) airplane carry-on regulations on liquids, gels, and aerosols mandate that carry-on bags are limited to a maximum of three ounce liquid containers, that they be in a clear bag of a maximum of one quart capacity, and a limit of one bag per person. It's known simply as the 3-1-1 rule.

Here is a practical solution from a company called 3-1-1 Travel Bag

The Clear Bag System Original, $24.95:
Four (4) medium (1.0 oz) pumps
One (1) mini (.50 oz) pump

The Clear Bag System Fashion, $34.95:
Two (2) large (1.75 oz) pumps
Two (2) medium pumps
Two (2) mini pumps

The Clear Bag System Fashion Elite, $44.95:
One (1) large pump
Two (2) medium pumps
Two (2) mini pumps
Two (2) small (.50 oz) jars

All the containers are reusable and additional jars and pumps are available in an assortment of sizes starting at $4.00.

The 6-X-8-inch clear cases meet the TSA carry-on regulations and the pumps are non-aerosol, airless pumps as specified in those regulations. Each bag has some extra room for toothpaste and deodorant. These bags are a ideal solution for carrying liquids in your checked luggage too.

Keep all those friendly folks at the X-ray machines happy (and fellow passengers too). You could buy small containers of your favorite brands but that gets expensive if you can even find them in those sizes. And, trust me, I know from personal experience that sandwich bags are not dependable.

You can purchase online at the Clear Bag System website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:03:42 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=306 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=305
Vermont Craftworkers website

The 27th annual Essex Fall Craft and Fine Art Show will be held three days, Friday through Sunday, October 26 - 28 at the Champlain Valley Expo center in Essex Junction, Vermont.

This event has some 400 exhibitors and is ranked as one of the top shows in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine. There will be artisans displaying "hand blown and stained glass, fine scents and herbal soaps, forged iron, garden accents, original oils and watercolors, weather vanes, candles, pottery, music, leather and sheepskin, calligraphy, note cards, furniture, jewelry, baskets, florals, and gourmet specialties such as dips, sauces, vinegars, and sweet treats. "

There is a one dollar discount coupon available on the show's website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn

]]> Sat, 20 Oct 2007 22:34:20 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=305 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=304
Tickets are $75 per person. There will be a benefit auction for items such as restaurant dinners, lodging stays, chef prepared dinner in your home, cooking lessons in your home, shopping spree for wine and cheese, etc.

Details are available on the Vermont March of Dimes website.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Sat, 20 Oct 2007 15:25:53 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=304 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=303

I am often asked by visitors what there is to do here in Vermont. The first things that comes to mind are outdoor activities such as hiking, bicycling, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, sailing, skating, swimming, skiing, snowshoeing, dog sled rides, and so on. Vermont is blessed with beautiful scenery and clean air that visitors can enjoy outdoors year around.

There is a great showcase for all these activities at the All Sports, Recreation and Fitness Expo this weekend at the Champlain Valley Expo center near Burlington in the northern part of the state.

The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Division of State Parks, and the Department of Tourism and Marketing have partnered to put on this event and create a “Vermont Village where visitors can sign up for their hunting license, book campsites at state parks and participate in a 3-D laser shoot. The Expo will feature commercial exhibits, interactive activities, demonstrations, clinics, seminars, sports celebrities, product/service sales."

One hundred exhibitors and 60 demonstrations will cover a wide variety of activities for people of all ages including golf, yoga, rock climbing wall, extreme sports, hockey on a plastic ice surface, children's activities team sports, dog agility trials, nutrition, skiing, U.S.A Luge track, etc. There will almost certainly be several things you will be interested in.

Here is a link to a $2 discount coupon you can print and bring with you.

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Thu, 18 Oct 2007 11:24:21 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=303 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=302
Yapta.com could save you hidden money on your airfare

Did you know that if you pay for an plane ticket and the airline later reduces the price for that flight, you can get a refund for the difference? I sure didn't.

But how do you find out if your ticket would be eligible for this price drop refund? Go to the travel site Yapta.com and sign up for their free service.

All you have to do is enter your flight information and the price you paid for your tickets. Yapta will then track that flight for you. If the airline drops the fare before your trip, Yapta will let you know and tell you how to get the refund.

To see how airline fares bounce around, click on the Farecast.com link here or in the column on the left side of this blog. Farecast will let you know the probability of your fare being lowered. Yapta will also let you track flight numbers and they will alert you if the fare changes but Farecast I think does a better job of showing you the big picture by depicting the flight's price history and probability of change.

One downside to Yapta, which admittedly is in Beta, is that it is only available at this time for Internet Explorer 6 and 7. Firefox and Mac versions are in development however.

The User's Agreement you have to acknowledge requires that you agree this is for your personal use only, not for commercial use - you can't resell the service for example.

Once you have signed up (it's free) you will see a list of airlines and travel sites such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Travelocity. Priceline is not included, nor are Northwest and foreign airlines. I suppose this will change as time goes by.

I have not tried this service yet but when I have the opportunity to do so, I'll write a follow-up entry

(c) 2007 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn ]]> Wed, 17 Oct 2007 23:18:36 -0500 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=302 http://www.grunberghaus.com/blog/blog_comment.asp?bi=301
(c) Judith Lombardi Golden Acres Photography

There must be a billion photographs of Vermont fall foliage, mostly taken by us amateurs but there are some professionally taken examples that accurately render the scenes we saw but perhaps did not photograph too well.

One place to find excellent photos is at the fall foliage page on the Golden Acres website.

Golden Acres is the photography business run by Judy Lombardi of White River Junction, VT. She photographs mostly nature subjects which you can see on her beautiful web site.

Put a photo on your wall and y