I was not a hiker. I was not a religious person. I was not trying to ‘find myself’ (although some might have thought I was lost).

Why did I walk the 500-mile Camino de Santiago pilgrimage….over and over again? Some might wonder. Some might question my sanity. But after walking six ‘Caminos’ in six years, most of my friends and family now FINALLY understand my obsession. There are many, many routes of the Camino de Santiago where ‘pilgrims’ have been walking since the 9th century. All routes (from origins all over Europe) end in Santiago, Spain, where legend has it that the remains of St.… Read More

Agriculture and farming has a long tradition in the Upper Valley and throughout Vermont. Until tourism became an economic engine for the area and the state, farming was the major industry. Even in places such as Hartford, Quechee, and Woodstock – where mills, transportation, and trains drove the economy – farming played a critical role in the lives and survival of early Vermonters. Orchards, grain fields, and livestock once covered the terrain and still play a major role in the lives of the residents and visitors to the Green Mountain State.

In his book The Natural and Political History of the State of Vermont, founding father of Vermont, Ira Allen, accurately describes the state’s people, and farmers, and their ingenuity in the following manner: “I am really at a loss in the classification of the inhabitants – they are all farmers, and again every farmer is a mechanic in some line or another, as inclination leads or necessity requires.… Read More

VINS New Canopy Walk Designed to Delight

Vermont Institute of Natural Science is expanding – upwards! Over the past few years, the local environmental education center has undertaken a project to design and construct a 900-foot-long canopy walk, and the project is expected to be ready for its grand opening in October.

Those who know VINS are no stranger to the flora and fauna at the center’s 47-acre campus, and may have even experienced them up close along the nature trails. Soon, though, visitors will be able to experience the forest from a new perspective: one that’s fifty feet or more above the ground.… Read More

The Prouty is billed as the largest charity challenge north of the city of Boston, and anyone in the Upper Valley witnessing the event, and the participants and volunteers taking part during The Prouty weekend in July, would not doubt that statement. Well over 3,000 bicyclists, walkers, rowers, and golfers take part in order to raise money for research, and services, for the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at DHMC. One reason the event is so popular is that 90% of money raised stays local, and funds the work done at DHMC.

One of those over 3,000 participants is Quechee’s own Jenny Gelfan.… Read More

It was a cool spring day in 1978, when a pickup truck drove up the drive to the Quechee Inn. Emblazoned on the truck’s doors was a hot air balloon with the words “Glens Falls, New York Balloon Festival. Short of stature but with a hearty voice and smile to match, he came into the Inn and introduced himself as “Ed Griskott, organizer and promoter of the Balloon Festival. Looking for a Mike Yaroschuk; want to talk hot air ballooning. And, as they say, the rest is history.

Mike Yaroschuck and his wife, Barbara (plus three children), had recently purchased the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm from the Quechee Lakes Corporation and were starting down the road to establish the Inn as the traveler destination of the Upper Valley.… Read More

Bringing a Hometown Feel to the Big City

New York City, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Despite that Molly Shimko, director and co-writer of The Fling LP the musical has made it by city standards, she’s still a small town girl at heart and credits her childhood in Quechee as the source for her success and creativity.

“The people and places I love are idyllic,” says Shimko over the phone, taking a quick break to interview from working on a show at The Juilliard School where she works as a wardrobe supervisor. Her hometown of Quechee is what she says inspires her in the arts.… Read More

Should you decide to spend your next international vacation ‘giving back’ or helping others, it will change not only someone else’s life, but also YOUR life.

My personal journey into international volunteerism started 10 years ago as a ‘Trip of a Lifetime.’ I celebrated my friend’s 50th birthday by joining her on an adventure with Habitat for Humanity to build a house for a deserving family in Botswana, Africa. After that trip to Botswana, I quickly became ‘Hooked on Habitat’ and, yes, I believe I am now addicted to this type of vacation.

On the surface it looks like an international volunteer is making a grand gesture of selflessness – giving up valuable time and hard-earned money to help others.… Read More

The theme of this year’s annual Mud Ball is NEON. Seeking to out-do itself, the Mud Ball, one of the Upper Valley Haven’s celebratory fundraisers, is seeking maximum contrast to spring mud with bright lights and Day-Glo cocktails. Scheduled for Saturday, March 23, from 7pm to 11pm at The Quechee Club, the Ball attracts a crowd of people whose enjoyment of a good party is enhanced by awareness of supporting a worthwhile cause.

This year’s entertainment is Conniption Fits, a high-energy modern rock trio known for getting the crowd up and dancing. They maintain a highly booked schedule touring New England, and are familiar to – and popular with – many who have heard them locally in Hartford and Lebanon.… Read More

Nordic adventures — on snowshoes or cross country skis — are a wonderful, invigorating way to explore and fully appreciate the great outdoors during winter in Quechee.

In the words of one smiling skier, “It is so picturesque with the water flowing and only the sounds of nature can be heard. The setting is spectacular: the connection to nature, the quality of trails, the experience of fueling your soul and heart with great Vermont fresh air.”

The Quechee Club manages miles of trails on the dormant golf course, groomed for both skate and classic skiing; a couple of trails meander along the shores of Lake Pinneo.… Read More

Prior to my excursion with Braeburn Siberians of Windsor, the only dog-sledding experience I had was when my brothers and I would hitch up our Collie to a plastic sled and attempt to entice him to ‘mush’ down the driveway. This ‘mushing’ would only occur if one of us ran in front of the dog with half a bologna sandwich. If the dog caught you, the sandwich was quickly gone and the ride was over. We always used our younger brother as a pseudo ‘lead dog’ since he was very fast and often wouldn’t be caught for a whole minute. When my wife, Kim, informed me that she had booked a two-hour sled trip for the family I thought, “I’m not really in that kind of shape anymore.”… Read More