NYC-->Burlington, VT: best route, where to stop along the way?
August 7, 2008 1:04 PM
Driving from NYC to Burlington, VT (actually, Waitsville) this weekend. What is the best route to get there? Also, what are some cool places to stop along the way (by cool I mean old bookstores or junk shops, flea markets, diners, farmstands, cemeteries, any obscure, odd, or curious local attractions, or things along those lines). Thanks!
We had a lot of fun at the Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield. And the Cabot Creamery.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:13 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:13 PM on August 7, 2008
Oh hey, I did something like this on memorial day weekend .
If you went straight from NYC, google maps is telling you to go north, through Albany and the rest of NY State.Since I was visiting middle VT and picking up my rental car in Port Chester (yay to non-nyc rental rates + Metro North), I instead went through CT and western Mass.
In western mass is the town of Deerfield which is home to a giant Yankee Candle tourist attraction. They have a monster factory and a GIGANTIC store It's quite epic and it will destroy your sense of smell for a few days but it is the kind of tourist attraction you just have to see. Also, there is a few antique stores and a fossil store between the Yankee Candle complex and the highway that are quite enjoyable too.
posted by Stynxno at 1:17 PM on August 7, 2008
If you went straight from NYC, google maps is telling you to go north, through Albany and the rest of NY State.Since I was visiting middle VT and picking up my rental car in Port Chester (yay to non-nyc rental rates + Metro North), I instead went through CT and western Mass.
In western mass is the town of Deerfield which is home to a giant Yankee Candle tourist attraction. They have a monster factory and a GIGANTIC store It's quite epic and it will destroy your sense of smell for a few days but it is the kind of tourist attraction you just have to see. Also, there is a few antique stores and a fossil store between the Yankee Candle complex and the highway that are quite enjoyable too.
posted by Stynxno at 1:17 PM on August 7, 2008
When you're driving through CT, be sure to take the Merrit Parkway. It's gorgeous.
posted by plinth at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by plinth at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2008
I was in VT about 3 weeks ago, I recommend the Cabot Creamery, especially the shakable-cheese for putting on your popcorn.
Also recommended was the Ben & Jerry's factory tour, just to the north.
If you're a Mac-person Waitsville is the home of Small Dog Electronics.
If you happen to pass by Finius T. Flubberbusters, dude, just keep on drivin'. That restaurant was lame.
posted by Wild_Eep at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2008
Also recommended was the Ben & Jerry's factory tour, just to the north.
If you're a Mac-person Waitsville is the home of Small Dog Electronics.
If you happen to pass by Finius T. Flubberbusters, dude, just keep on drivin'. That restaurant was lame.
posted by Wild_Eep at 1:18 PM on August 7, 2008
There's also a listing of Vermont farmer's markets and farmstands. (Weird. I'm doing a similar trip this weekend. Must be the time of year.)
posted by youcancallmeal at 1:23 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by youcancallmeal at 1:23 PM on August 7, 2008
I would definitely avoid the google maps route. The Adirondacks are lovely, but really, you always want to pick driving through VT over driving through upstate NY. I95 to I91 to I89 will take you through the prettier parts of Connecticut, the Pioneer Valley in MA, and through the Upper Valley of VT/NH. Soooo pretty! You could stop for lunch/dinner in Northampton, or Mass MoCA in North Adams (great art museum). Definitely stop at Ben & Jerry's!
posted by lunasol at 1:34 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by lunasol at 1:34 PM on August 7, 2008
I would avoid I95 through CT at all costs. Get to I-684 or I-94 as soon as possible and change to I-91 in Hartford. I-95 through New Haven is excessively curvy, and congested, and almost always under construction.
posted by mkb at 1:43 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by mkb at 1:43 PM on August 7, 2008
plinth's suggestion of the Merrit is great for avoiding I-95 - the Hutchinson in NY turns into the Merrit, which runs into I-91 just below Hartford, then a straight(ish) shot up into Vermont.
posted by pupdog at 1:56 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by pupdog at 1:56 PM on August 7, 2008
The Farmer's Diner is just off 91!
As a former CT resident, I agree that the best way is to take the Meritt to 91. Avoid 95 like the plague. Summer travel traffic is awful.
posted by Miko at 2:12 PM on August 7, 2008
As a former CT resident, I agree that the best way is to take the Meritt to 91. Avoid 95 like the plague. Summer travel traffic is awful.
posted by Miko at 2:12 PM on August 7, 2008
As a Vermonter, I think what you want to do is not take either I 95 or the Merritt. You want to take the Sawmill to the Taconic Pkwy. Take the Taconic to the end and take I-90 E to Rte 7 in Mass. Stay on Rte 7 all the way to to Burlington. Be sure to go to the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester. Plenty to see and do all the way to Burlington.
posted by Xurando at 2:16 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by Xurando at 2:16 PM on August 7, 2008
I second taking the Taconic Parkway up to the NY --> MA thruway, then taking 7 up. The Taconic is practically empty north of Poughkeepsie.
The Hutch/Merrit is great when there is no traffic, but there is a lot of construction and just random slowdowns that I always seem to run into for 20 miles when driving up that way. I've given up even trying that route anymore going into the weekend.
As far as attractions in VT, enjoy the scenery, stop at old wooden country stores along the way. I also recommend the Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour.
posted by effigy at 2:44 PM on August 7, 2008
The Hutch/Merrit is great when there is no traffic, but there is a lot of construction and just random slowdowns that I always seem to run into for 20 miles when driving up that way. I've given up even trying that route anymore going into the weekend.
As far as attractions in VT, enjoy the scenery, stop at old wooden country stores along the way. I also recommend the Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour.
posted by effigy at 2:44 PM on August 7, 2008
Waitsville? Do you mean Waitsfield?
posted by tigerbelly at 2:56 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by tigerbelly at 2:56 PM on August 7, 2008
Missed the follow-up. :) I've never heard the area referred to as Waitsville, and I grew up in a neighboring town.
I recommend Maynard's creemee stand further out of town on the way to Moretown/Duxbury, an exploration of the (pretty damn old, and cool and tucked away) Warren cemetery, some swimming in any one of hundreds of swimming holes along the Mad River, a grinder from the Warren General Store, flatbread @ American Flatbread in Waitsfield (used to be a small place called Richard's Flatbread, and has since gotten extraordinarily popular and moved to a larger location at Lareau's farm -- local swimming hole across the road, fyi), and avoiding I-95 like the plague.
posted by tigerbelly at 3:07 PM on August 7, 2008
I recommend Maynard's creemee stand further out of town on the way to Moretown/Duxbury, an exploration of the (pretty damn old, and cool and tucked away) Warren cemetery, some swimming in any one of hundreds of swimming holes along the Mad River, a grinder from the Warren General Store, flatbread @ American Flatbread in Waitsfield (used to be a small place called Richard's Flatbread, and has since gotten extraordinarily popular and moved to a larger location at Lareau's farm -- local swimming hole across the road, fyi), and avoiding I-95 like the plague.
posted by tigerbelly at 3:07 PM on August 7, 2008
If you go up I-91 in VT, you should stop at Curtis's BBQ off of Exit 4. 9th Wonder of the World.
It's one of the uniquely odd VT things - an old dude cooking up ribs and chicken in a bunch of old blue school buses in a town known mostly for its vegetarian hippies. Oh yes, the town of Putney also has a nice Co-Op.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:54 PM on August 7, 2008
It's one of the uniquely odd VT things - an old dude cooking up ribs and chicken in a bunch of old blue school buses in a town known mostly for its vegetarian hippies. Oh yes, the town of Putney also has a nice Co-Op.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:54 PM on August 7, 2008
nthing the Merrit Parkway, gorgeous art-deco era bridges and no effing trucks.
Also when I lived in that area I would often go to an Italian place in Stratford, CT which was close to I-95 and across the street from the Sikorsky plant. A little googling around makes me think it was this place.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 4:14 PM on August 7, 2008
Also when I lived in that area I would often go to an Italian place in Stratford, CT which was close to I-95 and across the street from the Sikorsky plant. A little googling around makes me think it was this place.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 4:14 PM on August 7, 2008
Go up one way and back the other, maybe. But for the love of God, skip Yankee Candle, which is nothing but a humungous tourist trap. Unless you really like stinky candles and terminal cuteness.
posted by beagle at 5:31 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by beagle at 5:31 PM on August 7, 2008
Wow, thanks, everyone, this is great! tigerbelly, great info (and sorry for the flubbing the name of the town.)
posted by agent99 at 8:44 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by agent99 at 8:44 PM on August 7, 2008
I wouldn't be much help with the best way to drive here from NYC, but blueberries, well, those I know. In Burlington try Adams Berry Farm for organic ones. There's also Owl's Head Blueberry Farm in Richmond. If you want to go a little more out of the way, try Covered Bridge Berry Patch in Underhill (128 River Road, Underhill, VT, 802-899-2818). I'm sure there are blueberry places in the Waitsfield area, but the ones I mentioned are closer to my stomping grounds, and I can vouch for their good pickin's...
posted by lovermont at 9:05 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by lovermont at 9:05 PM on August 7, 2008
Oops, that second link got messed up (damn my sloppy cutting-and-pasting!). Here's the correct link to Owl's Head Blueberry Farm.
posted by lovermont at 9:10 PM on August 7, 2008
posted by lovermont at 9:10 PM on August 7, 2008
Everyone off my lawn!
Waterbury isn't too far from Waitsfield (and right off of 89) so stop by The Alchemist for awesome microbrews! They don't open until 4pm though. If you are in town earlier there is another restaurant with excellent beers right next door called The Arvad's Grill & Pub.
Waterbury, as you may know, is the home to Ben & Jerry's too, so you can check the tour there if you wish. Although, IMO, B&J's isn't the best ice cream made in Vermont. The Strafford Organic Creamery in Strafford, VT (just off Exit 2 on I-89) makes delicious organic ice cream.
Have fun, but bring your umbrella. We are getting a lot of rain this summer.
posted by terrapin at 4:32 AM on August 8, 2008
Waterbury isn't too far from Waitsfield (and right off of 89) so stop by The Alchemist for awesome microbrews! They don't open until 4pm though. If you are in town earlier there is another restaurant with excellent beers right next door called The Arvad's Grill & Pub.
Waterbury, as you may know, is the home to Ben & Jerry's too, so you can check the tour there if you wish. Although, IMO, B&J's isn't the best ice cream made in Vermont. The Strafford Organic Creamery in Strafford, VT (just off Exit 2 on I-89) makes delicious organic ice cream.
Have fun, but bring your umbrella. We are getting a lot of rain this summer.
posted by terrapin at 4:32 AM on August 8, 2008
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posted by agent99 at 1:08 PM on August 7, 2008