Other Vermont Attractions

While in Vermont I visited the State Building in Montpelier. I toured several "sugar houses" where all sorts of maple products are sold and they give tours of the factory. I love to watch the pressing of apples into apple juice. YUM.
I visited the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) where I attended a talk about the rehabilitation program they have for injured birds. They introduced us to several of the resisdent raptors.
My favorite thing to do was drive the back roads through some of the many small towns that dot the countryside. I have discovered that the people who live in the places I visit are the best resource for locating the local attractions.

Red-tailed Hawk - VINS

Red-tailed Hawk - VINS

Turkey Vulture - VINS

Grist Mill and Museum - Weston VT

Dorset Marble Quarry - Now flooded - First in the country - 1785

One of my camping spots in Vermont

Quechee Gorge VT

State Building - Montpelier VT - The blue sky was a rare treat

Waterwheel Quilt Shop - Londonderry VT

Vermont Color

 

Oct 10, 2012 Wed
I have been in Vermont for three weeks and I have seen the sun for about two hours. You laugh. It’s true. Almost all of my photos were taken with overcast skies. I liked the muted colors caused by the defused light, but the photos weren’t exactly post card quality. This post will concentrate on the colorful hillsides of Vermont. I will include other Vermont attractions in separate posts.

Colorful Hillside VT

 

Color in the hills VT

Colorful Trees and Moon VT

Small Barn and Hillside color

Shot from Wal-Mart parking lot

Roadside scene VT

Vermont Color

What a spectacle to come home to

This was a nice spot to sit and reflect
 

Colorful Reflection

The Green Mountains VT

Coming down from the Green Mountains VT

View from Hog Mountain VT

White River VT on a gloomy day

Hope Cemetery Headstones Graniteville VT

Many of the inhabitants of Graniteville VT work for the Rock of Ages Monument Company. Many of them are masters at creating works of art from blocks of granite. There is a small cemetery in Graniteville “Hope Cemetery” that has some very unique headstones. I photographed a few of the headstones so you could see for yourself.

Soccer Ball Headstone

Race Car Headstone

 

Chain Link Headstone

Cube Headstone

Couple in Bed Headstone

Dramatic Headstone

Elaborate Headstone

 

Chair Headstone

 

Rock of Ages Monument Company

Oct 6, 2012 Sun
The “Rock of Ages” monument quarry and factory are located near Graniteville VT.
http://www.rockofages.com/
They offer tours of the quarry and factory. The employees of this company are master craftsmen and have created not only the more familiar headstones, but many of the granite monuments you find at various parks and tributes around the world.

This piece of granite was larger than my truck

Rock of Ages Monument Co Quarry

The Rock of Ages Monument Co Factory Floor

von Trapp Lodge Vermont

While waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for the sun to shine on these beautiful leaves in Vermont, I put on my tourist hat and decided to check out a few sites. One place that drew my interest was the von Trapp Lodge. I'm sure most, if not all of you, have seen the movie "The Sound of Music". The von Trapp family was featured in the movie. They were real people that left Austria during the NAZI occupation and eventually settled in the Green Mountains of Vermont because these mountains reminded them of home. They toured the world six months a year as the singing von Trapp's.
Of course there is much more to the story than that, but my space and your time is limited so if you wish to explore this very interesting family, you can always google them.
Here are a few photos from the Lodge.

The von Trapp family story

Front of the von Trapp Lodge near Stowe VT

Rear of the von Trapp Lodge

On the grounds of the von Trapp Lodge VT

Shot from the parking lot at the von Trapp Lodge VT

Baxter State Park ME

Sept 17, 2012 Mon
I decided to visit Baxter State Park before I started back tracking to VT to do some leaf peeping.
Baxter SP is home to Mount Katahdin. The highest peak in ME at 5,267 ft.
Baxter SP is a little over 200,000 acres. It was the intent of the former Governor of Maine Percival Proctor Baxter that the park be kept in its original natural state for eternity. There are primitive tent only campgrounds. There is no running water in the park. There are no dogs, motorcycles, or OHVs allowed in the park. It is primarily a hiking park, but there are day use areas for folks like me just passing through. The road through the park is unpaved, winding, narrow and steep in places. Often there is only room for one car. When you enter the park the gate person lets you know it will be a minimum of four hours to the opposite entrance. There is a 20 mph speed limit and 10 mph in places. If you stop and take a lot of photos like me it’s an all day affair. I was hoping to find a Moose, but I just found some pretty scenery.
Oh well.

On the road that leads to the park.
I can't decide if this is just nice graffiti or a nice painting on a rock.

Ledge Falls

Abol Stream Bridge
I saw a Northern Waterthrush here, but didn't get a photo.

Typical scene in Baxter State Park

Stump Pond

Mount Katahdin from the southern entrance to the park 5,267 ft

Mount Katahdin from near Patten ME 5,267 ft
You go through Patten after you exit the northern end of the park

 

Acadia NP Wildlife

Sept 13, 2012 Thurs
I did find some wildlife during my stay at Acadia NP.

Common Eider

Belted Kingfisher

Herring Gull

Wild Turkeys - RUN RUN

White tailed deer playing with her apple

I'll just play toss and fetch with myself