what would you see and do in Vermont?

[Spence]

Looking for some good suggestions from the class. planning on taking a week off sometime in August.  First couple days taking my wife to Lancaster and let her roam around the shops, then swing by home till Tuesday morning. The plan would be to ride up to Vermont. And wander around in that area till fri morning then ride home. So asking for any suggestions on roads we should ride, interesting places to eat, good places to stay, any other things we should see. Note a couple years ago we did ride up Mr.Washington in NH and rode the conway train. Thanks in advance.

[Sport-Touring]

[motospeed9058]

Can't go there without bringing home some honest to goodness Vermont Maple Syrup. I think the Ben & Jerry's factory is there as well, not for sure though.  Always heard that tour was a good tour.  That's all I got.  

[Rincewind]

I have done a few trips up that way.  I'd recommend going up VT Rt 100, but also going back-and-forth on some of the Green Mountain passes that run East-West, such as 125 and 73.  Ben & Jerry's does have tours, and ice cream.  Take the ferry in Burlington over to NY and look for Nessie.  Then come down thru the 'Dacks.  Be sure to hit Ensign Pond Road and Tracy Road in NY.  

[VT636]

Rincewind is right about the Mountain Passes. VT17 ' Appelachian Gap' is one you should not miss. The western slope is in poor condition though so be careful if you feel like getting a knee down...

He's also right about Tracy Road - taking the Essex-Charlotte Ferry across the lake and dubbing around on Lincoln Pond Rd and Tracy Rd in the E-Town/Mineville area of NY would be worth your time on a sunny day - if the lake ever goes down from flood stage.

From Lancaster I'd take 2 across into VT then take 15 west at the junction. Take 12 South at that junction which dumps you out in our state capitol (2 goes there too, more directly I might add, but its relatively uninspiring, although you're likely to see a moose on the eastern portion).  As an alternative to 12, you could take 15 across to Morrisville, then 100 south thru Stowe which is a big tourist area.

Burlington is a nice down, but if you're looking to ride rather than shop I'd take 100 south, cross the greens on VT17, cross back on VT125, then 73, then 4. You can ziq zag your way through some nice riding, then take 100 all the way south into MASS - the last leg of 100 south of Willmington is the curviest.

If you decide to do the Stowe thing, you can drive to the top of our biggest mountain, or take 108 (smugglers notch) over. Popular, but with no centerline and out-of-staters constantly taking up 80% of the road its nothing you want to push the pace on for fear of a head-on collision.

Make sure you stop in Waterbury for Ben and Jerry's tour, and if Beer is your thing there are lots of local microbreweries.

[Bryan217]

Nothing to add, but have to agree on the VT Maple Syrup (Grade B) and Tracy Road.

My recent visit to that area with the Bennington Triumph Bash included both.  

[Spence]

Thanks for the Ben and Jerrys idea.....saw it or read about it before. Will definitely check that out!  Will also check out some of the routes mentioned when I can look at a map.  How bout places to stay anyone stay somewhere up that way that they really liked?  Interesting food places??  Looking for GOoD deep dish pizza and good coffee shops with outdoor seating?!?!  :-)  

[Scratch33]

http://www.vermontbrewery.com/

[cbsnbiker]

People have mentioned most of what I'd mention (Ben & Jerry's, Route 17, etc.).

Burlington is a great college town, but Route 7 south of Burlington is a PITA. Take Route 116 instead.

Middlebury is a great little college town with good restaurants and such. Again, Route 7 south of Midd is a PITA; other routes are better. However, Route 125 heading east from Midd is pleasant.

Bennington is also a nice town.

If you're interested in such things, check out Otter Creek Brewing: http://www.ottercreekbrewing.com/

If you're a Beemer rider and/or like old European (especially British) iron, check out Bud Provin's shop: http://thenickwackettgarage.com/bmw/

[epconde]

Looking for some good suggestions from the class. planning on taking a week off sometime in August.  First couple days taking my wife to Lancaster and let her roam around the shops, then swing by home till Tuesday morning. The plan would be to ride up to Vermont. And wander around in that area till fri morning then ride home. So asking for any suggestions on roads we should ride, interesting places to eat, good places to stay, any other things we should see. Note a couple years ago we did ride up Mr.Washington in NH and rode the conway train. Thanks in advance.

http://www.newenglandriders.org/BestOfNewEngland/BestRoads/VTBestRoads.htm

http://www.newenglandriders.org/BestOfNewEngland/BestViews/VTBestViews.htm

http://www.newenglandriders.org/BestOfNewEngland/BestThingsToSee/VTThingsToSee.htm

[JNUNZMAN]

Taking rt 2 up thru the Champlain Islands is a nice ride. However with recent Champlain flooding, I'm not sure what affect that may have had on the roads.
Rt 105 across the top of the state is a nice run also.
Possibly already said, Rt. 2 from Barre/Montpelier on into NH is a really scenic, but not incredibly technical run. Very enjoyable.
If you like brick oven pie, Pie in the Sky in Stowe is a great place for pizza.
Last summer I had a nice ride up there taking the Bridport Ferry where a new bridge is under construction to NY State, a 5 minute ride, and hugged the Champlain coastline north. Gorgeous scenery there too and made a loop thru the Adirondacks.
Lots to do up there.

[bungie4]

I'll be there in August, planning on doing the 6 gaps ride. Google it.

[Corbeau]

6 gaps? I know only of 4… App, Lincoln, Middlebury and Brandon. 5 if you count Smugglers' Notch.

[VT636]

Routes 9, 30 and 4 all feel like gaps as they do cross the greens, but they're not named as far as I know.


Lots of cafes with outdoor seating in Burlington. Most of the suggested routes place you more towards Montpelier, Stowe, Waterbury etc. and there are options for that there too.

Champlain Islands are fine - no more flood - but its not a very exciting ride and you work yourself into a corner.

Positive Pie has good Pizza in Montpelier. Green Mountain Coffee is also in Waterbury so if coffee is your thing ck it out.

[epconde]

6 gaps? I know only of 4… App, Lincoln, Middlebury and Brandon. 5 if you count Smugglers' Notch.

Bethel Mountain Road (Rochester Gap), Warren Mountain Rd-Roxbury Mountain Rd (Roxbury Gap), Hazen's Notch (Route 58 up north)

[epconde]

Taking rt 2 up thru the Champlain Islands is a nice ride. However with recent Champlain flooding, I'm not sure what affect that may have had on the roads.

Vermont North #15 is a much better ride: http://www.newenglandriders.org/BestOfNewEngland/BestRoads/VTBestRoads.htm

The islands are now good to go.

[epconde]

Champlain Islands are fine - no more flood - but its not a very exciting ride and you work yourself into a corner.

Vermont North #15 is a much better ride: http://www.newenglandriders.org/BestOfNewEngland/BestRoads/VTBestRoads.htm

[epconde]

Thanks for the Ben and Jerrys idea.....saw it or read about it before. Will definitely check that out!  Will also check out some of the routes mentioned when I can look at a map.  How bout places to stay anyone stay somewhere up that way that they really liked?  Interesting food places??  Looking for GOoD deep dish pizza and good coffee shops with outdoor seating?!?!  :-)  

All of this stuff is free on the NER website: http://www.newenglandriders.org/BestOfNewEngland/Accomodations/Accomodations.htm

http://www.newenglandriders.org/BestOfNewEngland/Restaurants/Vermont.htm

[Castaway]

I just did an up-n-back to Woodstock, VT, this past weekend. It really was a dash so I don't have good back road suggestions, but as for towns, Woodstock was pretty nice ... a little on the quaint side, but good BnBs there and some good restaurants, too. There's the Quechee Gorge that looks pretty cool for checking out - we just passed it.

[Doug Just Doug]

Love those VT gaps mentioned above. You may already know, but the Crown Point/Chimney Point bridge across the south end of Lake Champlain is being reconstructed. Free ferry service is provided instead. https://www.nysdot.gov/lakechamplainbridge/lcbclosure

[TuffguyF4i]

Lots of NY in the dacks is much nicer and better maintained than much of VT.  Since you are coming from the west, i think you should hit up rt 30 and take that north through the dacks...see lake placid, Whiteface, Lake George,,,ect.  Then make your way across the valley to eastern NY and into VT.  Then hit all of the roads these guys are talking about.  If you shoot up 9N by Lake George you will get a good ride...then duck over onto "App Gap" as mentioned before.  Then you can also go on Smugglers Notch rd, which is very unique and fun.  

If you are looking for a cool place to stay that is south of the 'dacks, check out Saratoga, NY.  Very hopping outdoorsy kinda place in the summer.