Tapping Into Local Knowledge
Edie and I are Vermont matchmakers in the sense that we try to match whatever interest our guests may have with an appropriate museum, hike, cycling route, scenic drive, swimming hole, shopping opportunity, local artisanal cheese maker, sugar house, historic site, restaurant, or any countless number of other things of interest about Vermont. As an aid in this endeavor, as well as a resource for the curious, we continually memorialize all manner of odd, interesting, or quirky little known tidbits to enhance your stay with us and exploration of Vermont.
In order to make browsing the Local Knowledge contents more user-friendly, scroll through the various categories to see what posts they contain. Click on a category heading link to bring up just that category’s posts, or click on a post to bring up just that post. Have fun.
Posts by category
- Category: Art & Artisans
- Bookstock: Woodstock celebrates the arts on the Green.
- America’s most famous folk artist calls Vermont home.
- Local Vermont Artists and Artesans Open Their Doors.
- When Spring comes to Vermont, kinetic garden art emerges.
- Woodstock’s Sculpture Fest: Yard-art taken to a whole new level.
- Bridgewater Corners for didgeridoos–who knew?
- Category: Bike Rides
- The Vermont Gran Fondo is a great bike ride, and a huge challenge.
- 20 Mile Stream Road loop – a local bike ride favorite.
- A typical Vermont bike ride–a bit hilly in really beautiful surroundings.
- Vermont is famous for its cycling, and this route is a local favorite.
- Don’t miss this great Vermont bike ride for a great local cause.
- Category: Historic Roots & Local Lore
- The Bridgewater Grange preserves and nourishes Vermont’s rural roots.
- An often overlooked legacy of stone.
- The battle of Hubbarton: Revolutionary War enactment.
- A local mystery: Who built this stone chamber, and why?
- Spring sheep shearing time at Billings Farm & Museum
- And the light pushed back the darkness.
- Woodstock’s part in the Civil War and its connection to the Underground Railway.
- Woodstock celebrates the 150th anniversary of “Man and Nature.”
- Woodstock patron Mary French Rockefeller’s roots run deep.
- Covered bridges near Woodstock, Vermont–one in a series.
- Legacy of stone–a study of the art and industry of the Yankee farmer.
- Some people like to collect stamps, others join Vermont’s 251 Club.
- Four seasons each year amount to a Vermont timepiece.
- Tracing the history of a lost town–Plymouth Five Corners Vermont
- “Make Mine Moxie!”
- Edie keeps a New England tradition alive at the OCI.
- Edie’s Vermont roots run deep
- The Crown Point Road–Vermont’s first interstate highway
- Things you’ll see in Vermont, but might not notice.
- Vermont gold, and not the liquid kind.
- Category: Recipes & Local Foods
- Drewski’s On the River, an amazing culinary resource besides a great breakfast.
- Fabulous farm-to-table dining on a real farm.
- “Take a Hike,” and sip a cold, local craft-brew while lounging by the river.
- Chocolate cake from scratch served with whipped cream over raspberry Cassis sauce.
- The spirits of Vermont–another agricultural innovation.
- Local knowledge part 1: Four of our favorite Woodstock / Killington area dining spots.
- A paella-like Spanish rice to complement our Mexican dinner’s chicken enchiladas.
- Baked fresh Sockeye Salmon from Alaska’s Copper River Delta with a honey-ginger glaze.
- Grilled flank steak with roasted vegetables–a hearty meal for the Fall.
- Fall is here and heirloom apples–America’s national fruit–abound.
- Dicing onions on the way to a delicious rice pilaf.
- Meatloaf–our favorite version of this American classic.
- No visit to a New England inn is complete without a chocolate chip cookie.
- Garlic crusted chicken for everybody.
- Everybody’s family when they sit down to eat at the OCI.
- Joanie’s fruit cobbler is what’s for desert.
- Chef Brad is back in town and ready to cook for you.
- Tangy tomato soup–quick, easy, and delicious.
- This morning the OCI is serving French Toast for breakfast.
- This is the time of year for Vermont gold–the liquid kind.
- If you like coffee, and you like dessert, try this delicious coffee ice cream pie.
- Vinaigrette salad dressings–a culinary staple.
- Mexican night at the OCI–chicken enchiladas, Ole!
- Ginger glazed carrots always accompany OCI’s French country dinner.
- Apple cider jelly in the morning–a Vermont tradition
- OCI’s Italian minestrone soup from the summer garden
- Morning’s at OCI always start with a generous helping of Edie’s granola.
- Apple Cheese Tart, a New England farmer style dessert
- OCI’s Zucchini Curry soup is a consistent favorite.
- The sole of OCI’s French country dinner
- “Best pancakes I ever had”
- OCI’s recipe for eggplant Parmesan
- If you like cheese, you’ll love Vermont
- Category: Short Hikes & Natural Life
- There is fungus among us.
- A Fall afternoon on the Slack Hill Trail.
- First Vermont Spring wildflowers along the trail.
- Killington launches a new loop trail.
- A Woodstock ramble through Eschua Bog
- Wild mushroom hunting season now begins.
- A pleasant day-hike anytime of year, but especially in November.
- A backyard ramble with attitude and altitude.
- Feed them, and they will come.
- Take a walk along the Ottauquechee River before breakfast.
- While you’re at the lake, it’s just a short hike for a great view.
- Nearby Thundering Brook trail leads to Thundering Brook falls (both of them).
- A short drive, a short walk, and a 100 mile view
- A morning walk to Bridgewater Rock
- Category: Sightseeing & Local Culture
- Vermont is the place to take a balloon ride for Father’s Day.
- Shakespeare meets Calvin Coolidge.
- A nearby library is home to a national art treasure.
- The best kept secret in the greater Woodstock area.
- Artisans’ Park–a lot of facination within walking distance.
- Folk & blues festival at Plymouth Notch wakes up “Silent-Cal.”
- Killington hosts another Downhill Throwdown.
- All of a sudden it’s Spring time in Vermont.
- Stick season — discover Vermont’s quiet side.
- Spring also means that the CCC Road will soon open.
- Fall colors in Vermont–one of the wonders of the world.
- Favorite Back-roads Series–Pomfret and Cloudland roads loop
- Category: Summer Fun
- Fall is here, and the colors are blazing; take it all in from the seat of a bicycle.
- Old fashioned Summer fun of the liquid variety.
- Summer fun that you might not have thought of.
- On Memorial Day, our favorite bike route gets competitive.
- Spring is here. Time to get ready for the Bridgewater Raft Race
- Buttermilk Falls–A Vermont style waterpark.
- Category: Winter Ramblings
- Quechee Lakes, a downhome ski hill alternative.
- Local ski resorts offer a less expensive lift-ticket option–earn your turns.
- Winter retro fun: snow sliding gets back to its roots.
- Vermont backcountry opens up for snowboarders.
- This is the year for a New England sleddin’ adventure.
- Pico Mountain Ski Resort makes Winter fun available for everybody.
- More than you thought there was to know about snow.
- A dog day Winter’s afternoon in Vermont.
- Embrace Winter–Catamount Trail Assoc. offers backcountry ski courses.
- A rare opportunity to join in the celebration of Vermont skiing.
- Wintertime fun is found at Woodstock’s Union Arena.
- Free Winter advice: when a friend offers to teach you how to ski or snowboard, politely refuse (and go with a Pro).
- Fat tire snowbiking–yet another opportunity for Vermont Winter fun.
- Vermont’s Winter activity choices are sometimes V.A.S.T.
- Now is your chance to learn to ski or ride at Killington
- Ice fishing–Winter fun in Vermont just never stops!
- Vermont Winter fun part 2 — sledding
- A walk in the Vermont woods isn’t limited to Summers.