Vermont State Parks|Travel

7/8/2010 Continued north on scenic roads, passing through some heavy rain and stopping at the Granville Reservation (State Park) to walk to a nice waterfall.

Me photoing ...

... the waterfall

4/22/2022 ... we continued to Strafford, VT and the Justin S. Morrill Homestead NHL and SHS. This is the Gothic Revival home of the Vermont representative and senator known for the 1862 and 1890 Morrill Land-Grant Colleges Acts. The site is a nice little complex of home and outbuildings on a pretty property, and while we could have enjoyed a bit more of a stroll around here, the chilly rain decided to start up, so we got back on the road.

The park sign

An overview of the place

Ken photoing ...

... the NHL plaque

The main house ...

... with interpretive signage

A little closer ...

... and with Ken and me

Some details

A wider shot with us

Outbuildings ...

... and a nice stream

8/1971 Drove to Maidstone Lake [State Park], VT to campsite with Pomerenks. Had huge woodpile, kept a fire going most of the day while at camp. … Lots of boating on the lake, including putting Sportyak motor on rented rowboat, towing Sportyak out to little island in the lake.

The park (forest) sign

Nice view of the lake

We need a bigger island

8/1976 Drove to Maidstone Lake, Vermont with the Pomerenks. Camping, and boating on the lake.

Our campsite

Me sailing the Skamper ...

... and then Ken

Me in the Sportyak

Both of us rowing/paddling

10/17/2020 we continued northwest to Orwell and Mount Independence NHL, also an SHS and in the Champlain Valley NHA/NHP. Note: The “NHA” status sparked a vigorous discussion. The overall type of these sites is National Heritage Area. Most of the sites are “XYZ NHA”. A small handful have National Heritage Something in their name, and this National Heritage Area name is Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. So, Ken called it CVNHP (correct) and I called it an NHA (correct). Constructed in July 1776 on Lake Champlain, it is the site of extensive Revolutionary War fortifications built by the American army to stop a British invasion. Here the excitement roller coaster headed back down. We walked one loop path which was just a stroll in the woods with a brief view of Lake Champlain. We tried part of the longer interpretive trail, hoping to see a soldier hut, but although there was nice signage, it was just the site of the hut. Apparently, most of this area is back to the natural woods setting.

The park sign

A view of Lake Champlain

The VC

Cool tree

Ken reading some of ...

... the trail signage

7/8/10 Continued west on small roads to Plymouth Notch, home of Calvin Coolidge (now President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site). Took a tour through the little village [Calvin Coolidge Historic District] starting with original and reconstructed barns. Across the street is the original birth home of CC, where we could go inside and see the nicely restored old house. From there, diagonally across that street to the family homestead house where CC took the oath of office from his father after the death of Warren Harding. Also went to the church and to the Plymouth Cheese Factory, a working cheese manufacturer.

The park sign

A look down the main street

Coolidge birthplace

Coolidge homestead

The cheese factory

The church

Mom and me at the store

10/18/2020 We continued to Fairfield for two more stops for our buddy CAA. There is some historical confusion here. There was a large monument established at his birthplace, and later on a group had added a reproduction version of his birth home. However, it was later determined that the “birthplace” was in fact a childhood home. So, on our tour, we stopped first at a state sign noting his true birthplace a few miles away. We then went to the nice little park (the President Chester A. Arthur SHS) to see the original stone monument and home.

The park sign ...

... and interpretive signage

A 180 of the park

Monument and home

Kan and me

7/8/2010 From there not too far west to the VC for the Quechee Gorge in Quechee State Park. Took a short trail down to the base and then up onto the Gorge Bridge for good views into the gorge with nice whitewater although there was a lot of haze.

The park sign

The bridge

A closer view

Mom on the bridge

A view down the gorge