Lake Champlain | Travels With Alison

When I dip my chicken into Cold Hollow Cider Mill’s honey mustard, a mustard with a sweet and spicy tang to it, or take a shower with my Ancient Mysteries Artisan Soap from Chasworth Farm, I am transported to a warm September Saturday at Burlington’s Farmers Market.

Band playing at Burlington Vermont Farmer's Market — Band playing at Burlington Vermont Farmer’s Market.

I think about the homemade root beer I drank that day while watching a musician duo play on the edge of the market. I casually wandered Burlington, exploring an abundance of fresh produce, homemade cosmetics, local food, and artwork at the farmer’s market.

It was the best farmer’s market I have been to because it had it all: live music, food, and local ingredients straight off the farm. The farmer who sold me beeswax lip balm didn’t even bother to label or brand the product as if to say “it is was what it is, and if you don’t like it don’t buy it!”

The farmer's market is located at City Hall Park and St. Paul Street. — The farmer’s market is located at City Hall Park and St. Paul Street.

Earlier that weekend, I had met my friend who is originally from Vermont. She showed me her hometown which also happens to be the capital of Vermont, Montpelier. We went out for breakfast to a place that had just opened its doors to the public. I would highly recommend Down Home Kitchen if you’re in the area.

The owner greeted us. She had been working hard for several months to gut the interior. She bought the space in a decrepit state. I would have never guessed because the place was sparkling clean and in great condition. The interior gives off a bright, open, and airy feel. It had a bar you could sit at or wooden tables with fresh flowers.

Each table at Down Home Kitchen had fresh flowers.

We sat in the front corner booth, which had comfy pillows and a view of downtown Montpelier. We were able to enjoy the unique décor from our table. I admired the exposed bricks, retro memorabilia, such as an old telephone, record player, and old-fashioned black and white photos. Perhaps, the owner’s great-great grand parents’?

Have mercy! Part retro/ part country kitchen interior design.

The owner showed us a pie that came fresh out of the oven, which smelled amazing. The food is southern comfort style. For example, you can get biscuits and gravy with grits. Alcohol is served too. They have a great bloody mary. I ended out getting the “make your own omlette” option. Overall, I really enjoyed the food, décor, and friendly atmosphere.

After breakfast, we tried to find a particular hiking spot, but were unsuccessful. It didn’t help that our phones had no service and we were following word of mouth directions. However, being in Vermont, you can pretty much find hiking trails down any road so we took a turn, saw a hiking sign, and decided to go for it. We hiked for a bit, but the trail was not marked well. We had already planned to go to Stowe so we bailed on the rest of the hike.

We stopped off for cider donuts at Cold Hollow Cider. The store is fun to walk around because they have free samples you can taste.

After fueling up, we drove to Bingham Falls in Stowe. I had never been to Stowe and found the area extremely beautiful. If you do not have much time, it is worth it to just to drive through Route 108/Upper Mountain Road, which winds through a mountain.

Bingham Falls was one of my favorite spots. There was a short walk to get to the waterfall, which runs along a gorge. The 30-foot waterfall plummets into a clear blue pool and continues cascading down rocks. I had no bathing suit, but how could I resist? I jumped in the ice-cold watering hole with my workout clothes on.

Bingham Falls: the water looks so amazing, yet it was very chilly! — Bingham Falls; the water looks so amazing, yet it was very chilly!

Stepping from rock to rock to cross the waterfall's pathway. — Stepping from rock to rock to cross the waterfall’s pathway.

After the invigorating swim, we drove though the mountains and ended out at Boyden Valley Winery. We had a wine tasting with chocolate and crackers. We really packed a lot into one day!

To think of it, we didn’t end there. We ventured off to my friends family’s summerhouse on Grand Isle, which was right on Lake Champlain. This time around we opted for bathing suits and went for a sunset swim in the lake.

What's a sunset without a bonfire? — What’s a sunset without a bonfire?

Somehow we mustered up the energy to go to Burlington and have dinner at The Farm House Tap & Grill, a farm to table gastro pub. The food was fantastic. There was an hour-long wait to get a table, but it was worth it. There is a large patio with a bar out back so the wait seemed to fly by.

Before the long ride home, I stopped off for lunch on Church Street at the Red Onion. They have amazing sandwiches that are made with thick slices of homemade bread.

Until next time!

Sitting outside on a Saturday morning at a table in Burlington, Vermont, I was enjoying a cup of coffee, greek yogurt and fresh fruit with granola at the Skinny Pancake. Three friends and I sat around the table for a relaxing morning of good conversation.

We walked a short distance from the restaurant to the waterfront docks and looked out toward the Adirondack Mountains, located on the New York side of Lake Champlain.

View of Lake Champlain, looking toward New York

Lake Champlain, named after explorer Samuel de Champlain, is a fresh water lake, bordered by Vermont, New York, and a portion in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu in the province of Quebec, Canada. Legend has it, Champy, a lake monster, lives in the depths of Lake Champlain. Also known as Champ, the lake monster has been assigned names by the local American Indian Iroquois and Abenaki tribes, such as “Tatoskok”. Reputed sightings state the giant serpent creature is 25 to 30 feet long.

Church Street Marketplace, Downtown Burlington, Vermont

The city of Burlington is known for it’s historic downtown, beautiful lake views, proximity to great skiing and hiking areas, and its prominent locally grown produce scene. The ice creamery, Ben & Jerry’s, well-known for it’s unique flavors, was first started in a renovated gas station in Burlington.

The pedestrian-only Church Street Marketplace is in the heart of the city and is lined with restaurants and retail shops. The city has a large student population as it is home to the University of Vermont. In addition, one of Vermont’s largest and oldest year-round farmers markets is held in Burlington. Overall, it is a great city for outdoor activities and enjoying locally grown cuisine.

Burlington's Waterfront — Burlington’s Waterfront

After our walk along the waterfront, we departed from my Burlington-based friend, who was gearing up for a day in her garden, and we set out for Montréal.

Montréal is the second largest city in Canada and home to an abundance of festivals. Some of the most well known festivals include the Montréal International Jazz Festival and the largest comedy festival in the world, Just For Laughs. Headlining comedians performing in Montréal this year are Dave Chappelle and Mike Myers.

Our accommodations were right in downtown Montréal at Hotel Bonaventure.The hotel is in a great location. The metro is right across the street and only a short ride to Old Montréal, where we spent most of our time walking around the historic district.

Another notable feature of the hotel is the roof top heated pool.

We met up with two of my Montreal-based friends who I first met during a trip to the British Virgin Islands. We went to several excellent restaurants, all of which I would recommend.

Monsieur had a modern retro feel, evident from the décor to the waiter’s attire. One wall was decorated with white and black striped wallpaper. Art on the non-wallpapered walls was modern. There was live music playing. The waiters were dressed in white buttoned up dress shirts, suspenders, and bow ties, reminiscent of a previous era.

Across the street from Monsieur was, Notkins, a trendy fresh seafood restaurant. Go to Notkins if you love seafood and have money to burn! Reservations are a must.

The next place we went to for dinner was Furco, an industrially designed wine bar which received it’s name from it’s location in the old fur district. Together, the futuristic lighting and the copper bar gave off a warm modern feel, instead of a cool sterile industrial feel. The seating played with levels so that some tables and chairs were higher than others, making it easy to see and be seen. One could easily spot a friend or catch a stranger’s eye. The food and drink were fantastic, as well as the service (our friend’s sister!).

Changing pace, we also went to McLean’s Pub, an Irish bar where a friend of ours tends bar. If you go here, get ready for comedy night upstairs, and if you’re with a group, take advantage of the enormous beer towers.

Sunday was hot and sunny. We decided to explore the mountain that gave Montréal it’s name, Mount Royal. The hike was intense on such a hot day because it is a continuous climb uphill. At the peak, a group of people were practicing Tai Chi. We took in a great view of the city and then walked down a winding path, filled with runners and dog walkers.

We arrived at Tam-Tams, a gathering of drummers, dancers, and vendors at Mount Royal Park by Sir George-Étienne Cartier monument. Tam-Tams is not an officially sanctioned event or sponsored, but rather a gathering that has become a regular city event and commonplace over time. It takes place in the warmer months from noon until sunset on Sundays. This is a nice spot to hang out, listen to the beat of drums, and enjoy a picnic.

Walking toward the city in Mount Royal Park

With a road trip only 4.5 hours from Boston, I will definitely be going back to take in more of the city and all the great summer festivals. If you are interested in more information on things to do in Montréal this summer, check out the MTL blog.