In September, we went up to Vermont for a weekend to attend a wedding.  On our way to the airport in Charlotte the night before, we stopped to have dinner at Bean, a vegan restaurant we hadn’t been to yet.  Their queso dip was especially yummy!  They served my tea in a Disney mug, and the location itself looks like it was recently converted from an old diner.  Everything we ate was great!

We flew into Burlington, to visit the town for a bit since Anthony used to live there.  Our first stop was Stone Soup, which was perfect, since I was nursing a cold and the warm soup was soothing and comforting.  They serve great salads, sandwiches, and soups, and were super busy the entire time we were there.  We walked around Burlington for a bit, then began to make our way to Marsh Billings Rockefeller National Historical Park.  We stopped first at Billings Farm and Museum, where you can walk through the barns and fields while visiting with the animals.  Of course, we had to go there!  Lots of cows, horses, and other farm animals to pet and photograph.  There is also a museum with great exhibits and artwork on display.  At the actual NPS site, we were able to wander through the gardens, visitor center, and around the mansion.  There are mansion tours, but we arrived too late to take the tour.  Instead, we enjoyed our time in the sun, admiring the gardens and grounds.  It is an incredibly extensive property, and there are many miles of trails on which to walk.  In the winter, they are popular for snowshoeing and cross country skiing.  The coolest part of this park site, for me, is the conservation aspect.  There is a lot of research and land stewardship here, and Vermont seems especially keen on preserving and protecting the landscape at their only National Park Site.

We made our way to Manchester and East Dorset, to spend time with family before the wedding.  Our lodging for the weekend was the Marbledge Inn, which was quaint and curiously decorated, but perfectly fine.  Our room had an interesting gold theme to its decor.  We spent the next day wandering around Manchester, especially spending time at one of my favorite bookstores – Northshire Bookstore.  Everyone enjoyed meandering through the aisles and perusing the book selection.  The store is thoughtfully laid out, with lots of fun nooks and crannies to explore.  They also print books for local authors and have a cafe.

The wedding we attended was at Southern Vermont Arts Center.  The ceremony took place on the lawn outside, with the mountains creating a gorgeous backdrop to their vows.  A fun reception followed, in which much dancing commenced – though neither Anthony nor I took part in that aspect!  We’re not dancers – to the fact that we refused to dance with each other at our own wedding!  Everyone else enjoyed the dancing, while we mostly enjoyed the food, and the great company.  Lots of family and great conversation.

On our way back to the airport the following morning, we had to stop at a Vermont staple – Vermont Country Store.  They always have such interesting things for sale and I grew up reading their catalogs.  We bought a lot of candy and other treats, like maple syrup.  Nothing like true Vermont maple syrup!