Daytripping to Vermont is only natural

July 2012

It’s one of those perfect summer days where all the clouds look like turtles and teddy bears and a breeze takes the edge off the heat.

It’s one of those days where you just want to get in the car and chase that spot where the sky meets the blacktop.

For a change of scenery and a breath of fresh Yankee air, consider daytripping to Vermont. Lineups won’t be as long as if you choose the border crossing at Alburg, and from there it’s a short hop to a hearty lunch at one of Swanton, Vermont’’s many sweet offerings.

Try Jamerson’s Place for pub food and a calm, friendly ambiance (jamersonsplace.com). The local Coast Guard eats there, so you know it’s got to be hearty fare.

Fuelled and fired up, you’re ready to burn off some energy.

The Mississquoi Wildlife Refuge is just a few miles away. Established in 1943, the 2,700-hectare reserve attracts migratory songbirds and a host of other wildlife (fws.gov/refuges/). Wooden and gravel paths lead you through forest and field and marsh with buttercups and bulrushes at every turn. If you’ve ever thought of recording your own Sounds of Nature CD, this might be the place to do it.

It’s been a long day and you’re ready to leave Vermont, but not before rewarding yourself with an old-fashioned ice-cream cone from Devyn’s Creemee Stand in Sheldon Springs. You can enjoy your cone at a covered picnic table overlooking the water, or take it to go and drive one-handed. The perfect end to the perfect day.

Home is just an hour and a half north. You’ll be dreaming in your own bed by nightfall.