Amy’s guidebook
Outdoor activities
Cross country skiing heaven plus mountain biking, snowshoeing and other sports. The trails are vast and fantastic and there are trails for beginners to experts for every type of activity. You can rent skis, bikes, snow shoes and they even have a little skating pond.
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Craftsbury Outdoor Center
535 Lost Nation RdCross country skiing heaven plus mountain biking, snowshoeing and other sports. The trails are vast and fantastic and there are trails for beginners to experts for every type of activity. You can rent skis, bikes, snow shoes and they even have a little skating pond.
Barr Hill is a beautiful little hill in next door Greensboro. There is a small parking area and from there you can walk up to hill and around the circumference of the knob taking in the view around. It's just about a mile round trip with just a little elevation gain. Barr Hill overlooks Caspian Lake and beyond the lake runs the spine of the Green Mountains. There's a little interpretive sign telling you which mountains you are looking at.
This a beautiful spot anytime of day but especially so at sunset. In season the clearing at the top is great for a picnic.
To get there, turn left out of driveway, go 5 miles to Greensboro and take very sharp left onto Lauredon Ave. Follow approx .5 miles to Barr Hill Rd. Follow Barr Hill 1.5 miles to parking area. Park and head up the path.
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Barr Hill Natural Area
1521 Barr Hill RdBarr Hill is a beautiful little hill in next door Greensboro. There is a small parking area and from there you can walk up to hill and around the circumference of the knob taking in the view around. It's just about a mile round trip with just a little elevation gain. Barr Hill overlooks Caspian Lake and beyond the lake runs the spine of the Green Mountains. There's a little interpretive sign telling you which mountains you are looking at.
This a beautiful spot anytime of day but especially so at sunset. In season the clearing at the top is great for a picnic.
To get there, turn left out of driveway, go 5 miles to Greensboro and take very sharp left onto Lauredon Ave. Follow approx .5 miles to Barr Hill Rd. Follow Barr Hill 1.5 miles to parking area. Park and head up the path.
Bread and Puppet is a bit of magic, performances generally Sundays at 3 in Summer. If you have the time you won't find this experience anywhere else. Check out the website for current show times, they do change seasonally.
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bread and puppet theatre
753 Heights RdBread and Puppet is a bit of magic, performances generally Sundays at 3 in Summer. If you have the time you won't find this experience anywhere else. Check out the website for current show times, they do change seasonally.
Food scene
Check website - not open every day of the week!
Great fun bistro pub just down the hill a couple miles from the cottage. The little bar is great for meeting some folks from neighborhood and both indoor and outdoor seating is a fun time. If it's a chilly evening bring a coat in case you are seated outside, there's heaters too but it's nice to be cozy. Good food, great cocktails, always great service and vibe.
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Blackbird Bistro
1037 S Craftsbury RdCheck website - not open every day of the week!
Great fun bistro pub just down the hill a couple miles from the cottage. The little bar is great for meeting some folks from neighborhood and both indoor and outdoor seating is a fun time. If it's a chilly evening bring a coat in case you are seated outside, there's heaters too but it's nice to be cozy. Good food, great cocktails, always great service and vibe.
30 mins from the cottage and only Thu-Sat nights.
The BBQ here is fantastic. Racks of ribs and dry rub wings are really and truly excellent and worth the drive over. Lots of other god stuff on the menu as well. Also a very fun place to have a meal and drinks, particularly with a group of friends. Great atmosphere.
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Black Diamond BBQ
639 Morristown Corners Rd30 mins from the cottage and only Thu-Sat nights.
The BBQ here is fantastic. Racks of ribs and dry rub wings are really and truly excellent and worth the drive over. Lots of other god stuff on the menu as well. Also a very fun place to have a meal and drinks, particularly with a group of friends. Great atmosphere.
Check website because dining options change throughout the year with more options available in summer and in ski season.
Great cozy bar and good dining in a historic inn. Also fun taco nights!
The cross country ski trails stretch from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to the Highland Lodge and then a bunch more trails branch off from the Hi Lo. You can park at the lodge and ski from there. Or you can ski to the HiLo, have a drink or a meal (if open) and then ski back.
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Highland Lodge
1608 Craftsbury RdCheck website because dining options change throughout the year with more options available in summer and in ski season.
Great cozy bar and good dining in a historic inn. Also fun taco nights!
The cross country ski trails stretch from the Craftsbury Outdoor Center to the Highland Lodge and then a bunch more trails branch off from the Hi Lo. You can park at the lodge and ski from there. Or you can ski to the HiLo, have a drink or a meal (if open) and then ski back.
Parker Pie is an out of the way little bar and restaurant 22 mins/11 miles from the cottage serving great beers (including Hill Farmstead beers on tap) and great pizza and often music and lots of local color. It's really a little convenience store in front, but then they added pizza in the back, and then they added a bar and restaurant, and then well it's kinda fun and cool, so people started flocking to it and it's been busy and happenin' for years. In summer it can get crazy busy but there's lots of outside seating.
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The Parker Pie Company
161 County RdParker Pie is an out of the way little bar and restaurant 22 mins/11 miles from the cottage serving great beers (including Hill Farmstead beers on tap) and great pizza and often music and lots of local color. It's really a little convenience store in front, but then they added pizza in the back, and then they added a bar and restaurant, and then well it's kinda fun and cool, so people started flocking to it and it's been busy and happenin' for years. In summer it can get crazy busy but there's lots of outside seating.
Groceries and Take out
Close to the cottage in Craftsbury Village is the Craftsbury General Store, open 7 days a week. The Genny is a one stop for so many things including all basic groceries, really good take out, quality sandwiches, truly excellent pizza, delicious baked goods (brown butter choc chip cookie a winner!), great beer selection, fab wine selection (owner is sommelier), artisan crafts, fresh breads and gift items all in a friendly fun little store.
Take out options include breakfast burritos and sandwiches, good coffee, sandwiches and great pizza, healthy inspired deli salads, reheat-able meals and great baked treats (don't miss the brown butter pecan choco chip cookies). Vegan and vegetarian options always available.
You can pick up a wide selection of groceries including local meats and veggies, dairy, fresh local breads, bulk foods, excellent wines and beers as well.
In addition to all the great stuff to eat, the Genny also has a good selection of gifts and chocolates and nice stuff to bring home. They do gift baskets too.
truly excellent sandwiches, pizza (order by 6 to be sure they aren't overwhelmed with orders), and take out salads and ready to heat meals. The quality of the food here is excellent, a bit upscale, more so than your average corner store for sure. You could mix and match a bunch of stuff for a great dinner. They also have all the basics for food, you could pick up local burger, sausages and veggies and go home and make something. Excellent wines and beers as well. This store is definitely worth a visit, and if you are doing something active or just traveling Thursday it's a great spot to pick up provisions.
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Craftsbury General Store
118 S Craftsbury RdClose to the cottage in Craftsbury Village is the Craftsbury General Store, open 7 days a week. The Genny is a one stop for so many things including all basic groceries, really good take out, quality sandwiches, truly excellent pizza, delicious baked goods (brown butter choc chip cookie a winner!), great beer selection, fab wine selection (owner is sommelier), artisan crafts, fresh breads and gift items all in a friendly fun little store.
Take out options include breakfast burritos and sandwiches, good coffee, sandwiches and great pizza, healthy inspired deli salads, reheat-able meals and great baked treats (don't miss the brown butter pecan choco chip cookies). Vegan and vegetarian options always available.
You can pick up a wide selection of groceries including local meats and veggies, dairy, fresh local breads, bulk foods, excellent wines and beers as well.
In addition to all the great stuff to eat, the Genny also has a good selection of gifts and chocolates and nice stuff to bring home. They do gift baskets too.
truly excellent sandwiches, pizza (order by 6 to be sure they aren't overwhelmed with orders), and take out salads and ready to heat meals. The quality of the food here is excellent, a bit upscale, more so than your average corner store for sure. You could mix and match a bunch of stuff for a great dinner. They also have all the basics for food, you could pick up local burger, sausages and veggies and go home and make something. Excellent wines and beers as well. This store is definitely worth a visit, and if you are doing something active or just traveling Thursday it's a great spot to pick up provisions.
GENERAL STORE!! (far more than hardware!). Five miles away, left out of driveway. This is our local grocery store in Greensboro. If you are cooking food and you need ingredients, they have most of what you need. It's also worth giving yourself 15+minutes to explore in there. The store is non descript on the outside, but has groceries, hardware, gifts, toys, chocolates, housewares and pretty quality clothing if you forgot something. They have all groceries, fresh local artisan breads, Jasper Hill cheeses, Hill Farmstead and Alchemist and a ton of other beers, a deli counter, fish is fresh on Friday. Get a fresh loaf of Elmore Mtn Country French or Patchwork Polenta if there's any left!
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Willey's True Value Hardware
7 Breezy AveGENERAL STORE!! (far more than hardware!). Five miles away, left out of driveway. This is our local grocery store in Greensboro. If you are cooking food and you need ingredients, they have most of what you need. It's also worth giving yourself 15+minutes to explore in there. The store is non descript on the outside, but has groceries, hardware, gifts, toys, chocolates, housewares and pretty quality clothing if you forgot something. They have all groceries, fresh local artisan breads, Jasper Hill cheeses, Hill Farmstead and Alchemist and a ton of other beers, a deli counter, fish is fresh on Friday. Get a fresh loaf of Elmore Mtn Country French or Patchwork Polenta if there's any left!
Pete's Greens has been growing certified organic veggies since 1995. The farmstand is packed full of super fresh organic produce grown right here in Craftsbury as well as local meats, local cheeses, fresh breads, local flours, grains, beans, maple syrup, honey and lots of other good stuff produced mostly in VT.
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Pete's Greens
266 S Craftsbury RdPete's Greens has been growing certified organic veggies since 1995. The farmstand is packed full of super fresh organic produce grown right here in Craftsbury as well as local meats, local cheeses, fresh breads, local flours, grains, beans, maple syrup, honey and lots of other good stuff produced mostly in VT.
Tiny self serve farmstand selling grass fed beef raised here in Craftsbury. Excellent beef and good prices.
Thompson Family Farm
Tiny self serve farmstand selling grass fed beef raised here in Craftsbury. Excellent beef and good prices.
Fifteen minutes away is another great farm stand, this one specializing in pork products grown on their farm. Expect a range of sausages, ham, bacon, pork cuts etc all via self serve. Stop by!
LeBlanc Family Farm
Fifteen minutes away is another great farm stand, this one specializing in pork products grown on their farm. Expect a range of sausages, ham, bacon, pork cuts etc all via self serve. Stop by!
Hikes!
Elmore Mountain is a lovely 2.5 to 3 hour round trip 3.4 mile loop hike to the top of Mt Elmore. At the top is one of Vermont's last remaining fire towers and the views from the tower overlook Elmore Lake and look right down the spine of the Green Mountains toward Mt Mansfield. It's just a stunning view from the tower. We love this hike year round (even in winter you can often hike this).
The trailhead is just 35 minutes from the cottage In Elmore, VT and if you are coming to the cottage through Stowe and Morrisville it is on your way.
To read more about this hike see the description at All Trails. This hike to this 2600 ft peak is ranked moderate.
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Elmore Mountain
Elmore Mountain is a lovely 2.5 to 3 hour round trip 3.4 mile loop hike to the top of Mt Elmore. At the top is one of Vermont's last remaining fire towers and the views from the tower overlook Elmore Lake and look right down the spine of the Green Mountains toward Mt Mansfield. It's just a stunning view from the tower. We love this hike year round (even in winter you can often hike this).
The trailhead is just 35 minutes from the cottage In Elmore, VT and if you are coming to the cottage through Stowe and Morrisville it is on your way.
To read more about this hike see the description at All Trails. This hike to this 2600 ft peak is ranked moderate.
Hunger Mountain -This is a really nice and fun hike to the top of mountain, bald top, 360 degree view from top. Takes 2-3 hours round trip to hike. The trailhead is just under an hour from the cottage.
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Hunger Mountain Trailhead
Hunger Mountain -This is a really nice and fun hike to the top of mountain, bald top, 360 degree view from top. Takes 2-3 hours round trip to hike. The trailhead is just under an hour from the cottage.
Lake Willoughby is an absolutely gorgeous deep long lake carved by glaciers and the Mt Pisgah trail takes you to high cliff lookouts above the lake. Can be done in 3 hours round trip for an adult. There are 2 trailheads - north and south. Just pick one and do an out and back. Or you can take two cars and leave one at one trailhead and hike through to it.
The trailheads are around 40 minutes drive from the cottage.
Mt Pisgah, Westmore, VT 05860, EE. UU.
Lake Willoughby is an absolutely gorgeous deep long lake carved by glaciers and the Mt Pisgah trail takes you to high cliff lookouts above the lake. Can be done in 3 hours round trip for an adult. There are 2 trailheads - north and south. Just pick one and do an out and back. Or you can take two cars and leave one at one trailhead and hike through to it.
The trailheads are around 40 minutes drive from the cottage.
Breweries
Hill Farmstead brews some of the finest beers around and has been honored with the title best brewery in the world multiple times over the years. If you are a beer lover and have time to plan a visit the brewery is only 10 minutes away.
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Hill Farmstead Brewery
403 Hill RdHill Farmstead brews some of the finest beers around and has been honored with the title best brewery in the world multiple times over the years. If you are a beer lover and have time to plan a visit the brewery is only 10 minutes away.
Walking/Running
Across the street from the cottage is Whetstone Brook Rd - a great place to walk or run. This dirt road turns into a 4th class rd at about 1 mile, then after passing the beaver dam on the left it intersects with Circus Rd/Bayley Hazen Rd at just under 1.5 miles.
2.7 mile out and back - from the cottage to the intersection with Circus/Bayley Hazen Rd is just under 3 miles and you might have one car pass you, but probably not!
3.1 mile loop - from the cottage head out Whetstone brook and at the intersection with Circus Rd (1.3 mi) take a left and go another .5 miles on this quiet dirt road, then at the interection with East Craftsbury Rd turn left again and loop back to cottage.
6.9 mile out and back - Once again from the start of Whetstone Brook Rd head out, and at 1.3 mile you will intersect with Circus Rd/Bayley Hazen Rd. If you go straight here on the dirt Bayley Hazen Rd you will have a quiet walk/run until you intersect North Shore Rd. Turning back here will get you 6.9 miles.
Whetstone Brook Rd, Craftsbury, VT, EE. UU.
Across the street from the cottage is Whetstone Brook Rd - a great place to walk or run. This dirt road turns into a 4th class rd at about 1 mile, then after passing the beaver dam on the left it intersects with Circus Rd/Bayley Hazen Rd at just under 1.5 miles.
2.7 mile out and back - from the cottage to the intersection with Circus/Bayley Hazen Rd is just under 3 miles and you might have one car pass you, but probably not!
3.1 mile loop - from the cottage head out Whetstone brook and at the intersection with Circus Rd (1.3 mi) take a left and go another .5 miles on this quiet dirt road, then at the interection with East Craftsbury Rd turn left again and loop back to cottage.
6.9 mile out and back - Once again from the start of Whetstone Brook Rd head out, and at 1.3 mile you will intersect with Circus Rd/Bayley Hazen Rd. If you go straight here on the dirt Bayley Hazen Rd you will have a quiet walk/run until you intersect North Shore Rd. Turning back here will get you 6.9 miles.
6.8 mile run /walk around the Lake Caspian - This is a great one. Park your car at the ball field parking lot at the corner of Lake Shore Rd and Breezy Ave in Greensboro. Then run counter clockwise first left onto Breezy Ave past Willeys Store on the right, then bear left/straight out of town past the library and onward toward East Craftsbury on East Craftsbury Rd. At 3 miles, after passing Highland Lodge on your right, you will take a left onto Lake Shore Rd (dirt) and then it's all quiet dirt road all the way back. At 4.5 miles you will take another final left back onto Lake Shore Rd and then it's just 2.3 miles back to the ball field. You can also do this in the other direction, clockwise. I like getting the pavement out of the way and relaxing on the dirt roads for my final miles.
Lake Shore Rd, Greensboro, VT 05841, EE. UU.
6.8 mile run /walk around the Lake Caspian - This is a great one. Park your car at the ball field parking lot at the corner of Lake Shore Rd and Breezy Ave in Greensboro. Then run counter clockwise first left onto Breezy Ave past Willeys Store on the right, then bear left/straight out of town past the library and onward toward East Craftsbury on East Craftsbury Rd. At 3 miles, after passing Highland Lodge on your right, you will take a left onto Lake Shore Rd (dirt) and then it's all quiet dirt road all the way back. At 4.5 miles you will take another final left back onto Lake Shore Rd and then it's just 2.3 miles back to the ball field. You can also do this in the other direction, clockwise. I like getting the pavement out of the way and relaxing on the dirt roads for my final miles.
Consejos para la ciudad
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Mexi-Rico Food Truck
On Thursdays 11-6 Juan and Sabina open their food truck next to Pete's Greens farmstand at 266 S. Craftsbury Rd Craftsbury 05826. Tacos and tamales. Fun place to grab some lunch or dinner!
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Margarita Mondays at Highland Lodge
In summer Highland Lodge (3 miles to left out of cottage drive) hosts Margarita Mondays. Picnic style event, maragaritas plus a handful of other drinks - 2 food trucks Caja Madiera and Mexi-Rico plus small batch ice cream from Wilson Herb Farm.
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Middle Eastern Food from Chef Nadav
Each Friday Chef Nadav produces delicious food and delivers to your door Friday afternoons. Think falafel, lebneh, souvlaki.... See every changing seasonal weekly at Chef Nadav's website which I can't post here because of the settings! Easy to search for, just enter Chef Nadav into your browser.
Order on WEDNESDAYS for Friday delivery.