NEWHART FOR DUMMIES
October 14, 2017 10:22 AM Subscribe
Next weekend, I'm visiting Vermont for the first time ever. I'll be flying into Manchester, NH, on Thursday, renting a car, and driving around solo for four days. My itinerary is open ended -- I just want to get a feel for the state, hopefully catch the leaves before they go brown, visit some small towns, and stuff myself with tasty food. The rough plan right now is to drive up to Montpelier and use that as a base to explore. Vermonters and those who know the lay of the land, do you have any tips for me? Any small towns I should visit or festivals I should be aware of? I happen to be a gay dude, so if there are any awesome gay bars, I'd love to know about them too.
Bonus question 1: I'm considering driving up to Montreal for a night. Doable?
Bonus question 2: How awful will driving be without an E-Z Pass? (This concern is inspired by this previous Ask.)
Bonus question 1: I'm considering driving up to Montreal for a night. Doable?
Bonus question 2: How awful will driving be without an E-Z Pass? (This concern is inspired by this previous Ask.)
Montreal is about a 2-3 hour drive from Montpelier, so quite doable, but check to see that the rental agency lets you take the car across the border.
Vermont does not have any toll roads so lack of an E-Z Pass won't be a problem.
posted by plastic_animals at 12:08 PM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Vermont does not have any toll roads so lack of an E-Z Pass won't be a problem.
posted by plastic_animals at 12:08 PM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Go to Burlington. It has lots of great breweries and food, many beautiful views...and heh, I just realized kapers already wrote basically the same thing. But it's true. There's a reason a number of my colleagues live there.
If you like IPAs and you've never had Heady Topper, definitely try some. You can also get Sip of Sunshine IPA up there, which isn't brewed in Vermont, but is perhaps even more delightful. So delicious.
posted by limeonaire at 1:58 PM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
If you like IPAs and you've never had Heady Topper, definitely try some. You can also get Sip of Sunshine IPA up there, which isn't brewed in Vermont, but is perhaps even more delightful. So delicious.
posted by limeonaire at 1:58 PM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
(check your MeMail, I offered you a place to stay but I think I didn't read that you weren't here til the weekend... so ping me to go get a beer or something) Montreal is SUPER doable. I was just there last week and it's basically two hours from Burlington. Strongly suggest going over one of the smaller border crossings though, much easier and people are much friendlier, and take the side route through the islands if you go and don't just do 89 the whole way. There is one toll between Manchester Airporty and Vermont, depending how you drive (there might be two). It is a dollar. They still take money. No tolls in Vermont at all.
I do not know the GLBTQ scene there too well, but you should know about this gay bar name controversy because it was all anyone could talk about for a while there.
There is also this historical marker designation happening Tuesday to celebrate Marriage Equality. I'd stop by if I were you.
Seven Days is the local (free) weekly indie paper and I'd pick one up as soon as you are within range (they give it away in my town, Randolph, not sure how far out it is) and it will tell you what events are going on then.
posted by jessamyn at 3:14 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
I do not know the GLBTQ scene there too well, but you should know about this gay bar name controversy because it was all anyone could talk about for a while there.
There is also this historical marker designation happening Tuesday to celebrate Marriage Equality. I'd stop by if I were you.
Seven Days is the local (free) weekly indie paper and I'd pick one up as soon as you are within range (they give it away in my town, Randolph, not sure how far out it is) and it will tell you what events are going on then.
posted by jessamyn at 3:14 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
Assuming you enter VT on I-89, stop at the first northbound rest area and check out how they deal with waste water. Trust me, it is interesting. Also pick up a beer map there (if you like beer). Then get off I-89 either at Sharon for VT14 or at Bethel for VT12. Take one of those roads north - VT14 connects to US302 in Barre which goes to Montpelier; VT12 goes directly there. Both are infinitely more pleasant that the interstate, and there will be no traffic to speak of.
When it is time to go home, take US2 east to St Johnsbury, then US5 south along the Connecticut river. You will end up back on I-89 eventually. Again no traffic and just a fun drive. Use your beer map to find microbreweries - just drink responsibly.
posted by leaper at 5:51 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
When it is time to go home, take US2 east to St Johnsbury, then US5 south along the Connecticut river. You will end up back on I-89 eventually. Again no traffic and just a fun drive. Use your beer map to find microbreweries - just drink responsibly.
posted by leaper at 5:51 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
I recently visited Burlington for the first time, and I think maybe that should be your home base. It's the kind of place where even the video game bar (The Archives) has a stellar cheese plate. Their co-op has like, 50 kinds of local apples. You could spend a week and not hit all the breweries and cideries in town. I had good food at ¡Duino!, Skinny Pancake, Citizen Cider, and well, almost everywhere. And you can't beat the views of Lake Champlain.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:52 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 7:52 PM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]
When you're coming in from New Hampshire, as you go along, you will see raptors. When you get into Vermont, you will definitely feel a change in the air, and things will get not hilly at first, but then it will get hilly. Then there will be a change where your cellphone will stop working. And things will get very much more hilly. As, now you are in the mountains. Then you are definitely in Vermont, the air changes, and your cellphone stops working and now you are in the Green Mountains. So refreshing!
I hope you brought a paper map. Because it's confusing, coming from New Hampshire. Once you get into Vermont.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 9:56 PM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
I hope you brought a paper map. Because it's confusing, coming from New Hampshire. Once you get into Vermont.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 9:56 PM on October 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you for the suggestions! I'm updating my Google Map with all your points of interest, although if Marie Mon Dieu is correct, I may have to print that map before I fly.
Research suggests that there are currently no gay bars anywhere in Vermont. Haha, crazy.
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:01 AM on October 15, 2017
Research suggests that there are currently no gay bars anywhere in Vermont. Haha, crazy.
posted by roger ackroyd at 10:01 AM on October 15, 2017
Queeche Gorge is a neat place to visit (short hikes), and Queeche is quaint town. Simon Pierce glass works is there (neat to visit - I love watching glass blowing and potters working) it has a $$$ restaurant there.
Woodstock VT (not the NY one) is also a neat town to visit.
There's always the Ben&Jerry's tour.
Poverty Lane Orchard/Farnum Hill Cider is in NH (close to the VT/NH border on 89) if you like orchards and classical/old-school hard cider.
posted by k5.user at 7:15 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Woodstock VT (not the NY one) is also a neat town to visit.
There's always the Ben&Jerry's tour.
Poverty Lane Orchard/Farnum Hill Cider is in NH (close to the VT/NH border on 89) if you like orchards and classical/old-school hard cider.
posted by k5.user at 7:15 AM on October 16, 2017 [1 favorite]
Burlington is very very very lgbt-friendly but unfortunately it's been too long since I've been there to rec any gay bars.
posted by kapers at 6:18 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kapers at 6:18 AM on October 17, 2017 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
Burlington for the quintessential university downtown, good food and bars, and gorgeous views.
posted by kapers at 11:07 AM on October 14, 2017 [2 favorites]