Monday, October 22, 2012

New England Vacation Day Four

Today we went to Vermont. On the advice of a couple of other guests of the resort, we went in search of The Vermont Country Store. It was fun, we bought candy and maple syrup and a few other things. Then we went in search of an apple orchard, specifically an apple orchard with apple cider donuts.  In the process of searching, we found the most delightful and beautiful little towns. We visited Chester, Rockingham, Westchester, and Bellows Falls in Vermont and we visited Walpole, New Hampshire. They were all along the banks of the Connecticut River and were so beautiful and picturesque. Many of were founded in the Revolutionary War era. The sun was bright and I got sunspots in many of my photos, but it's too beautiful not to show you.


We finally had to stop at a gas station and ask for directions to an orchard. (Did I mention that there are NO billboards in Vermont or New Hampshire.) The young lady we asked was very helpful and directed us straight to a beautiful orchard. Apple picking season is over, but they had a few apples for sale, along with pumpkins and gourds. We stopped at Alyson's Orchard in Walpole, VT. The people there were friendly and directed us to a place where we could get apple cider donuts. We followed her directions to Allen Brothers Farms and Orchards Bakery. They did indeed have fresh apple cider donuts, which I give two thumbs up. They also had all kinds of fresh baked bread and a deli with sandwiches, soups, and salads. We ate lunch there and brought the leftovers back to the condo for dinner.

The vista from Alyson's Orchard was nothing short of spectacular. We also stopped in Putney, VT at a place called Basketville. It's inside of a large barn and has all kinds of things for the home. I bought a Christmas ornament, Grandad bought a cap, and we indulged in a wine tasting which from Putney Mountain Winery which is conveniently located inside Basketville. We bought a bottle of Rhubarb Blush and a bottle of Vermont Cassis. I'm not sure how we're going to get them home on an airplane, but we'll figure something out.

Yesterday I told you that I was falling in love with New Hampshire a little at a time. Today can tell you that I'm head-over-heals for Vermont. I can't wait to see what we find the rest of the week.