Vacationing in Vermont

Friday, June 19, 2009

We recently came back from a little trip to Vermont, near the Green Mountain National Forest. It was a rainy week, but we had fun hiking, swimming, & sightseeing.

Southern Vermont Natural History Museum

Here we saw a large collection of various New England birds and mammals. Most of the exhibits featured mounted specimens, but there were also live owls and hawks. We also noticed a good number of albino birds and mammals, as well. There's a scenic overlook with views into Massachusetts & New Hampshire. & The kids also enjoyed the sandbox with animal footprints.

Haystack Trail

On the one day that it didn't rain, we were able to go hiking on Haystack Mountain. With 5 adults, a 7-year-old, two 4-year-olds, and a toddler, we didn't make it all the way up to the top. But we did hike for about 3 hours, and it was a lot of fun. The trail got pretty steep at times, and I was worried that we wouldn't be able to make it back down, but I guess that kids are natural climbers, and they did just fine. The only drawback was the mosquitos, but it helped to use bug spray and to keep moving.

Adams Farm

We visited the Indoor Livestock Barn, where we got to feed and pet the animals on the farm. We saw goats, sheep, donkeys, alpacas, pigs, rabbits, and chickens. They also sold yummy fudge there. The kids had a blast.

In the summertime, they offer wagon rides and bonfires. In the wintertime, they also offer sleigh rides. Apparently, this area is well-known for skiing in the winter. We'll have to come back someday to check it out.