Rutland, Vermont

MJ5150 · #1 12-12-2008, 09:51 AM

Oh, you gotta love the last minute business trips. I am flying into Albany, New York Sunday morning and then driving up to Rutland, Vermont for a couple days.

Anything I just have to try while I am in the area? Local beer? Local food unique to the area, or something they specialize in? Is it a good time of year to get some Vermont syrup?

I found a sports bar to watch the Steelers game and the Monday night game, so I am good there.

-Mike

jwbassman · #2 12-12-2008, 10:07 AM

Bring some skis. Rutland isn't far from Killington. Rutland it self is pretty much in the middle of nowhere. Take a swing to Woodstock, VT. It's a nice little town. Also check out Quechee Gorge. Stop on the bridge and take a look down, it's pretty cool. But seriously if you ski or board, that's the way to go.

MJ5150 · #3 12-12-2008, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwbassman

....if you ski or board, that's the way to go.

Hmmmm......I may have to try this. I will have Tuesday from about 10AM on as free time. I may have to hit the slopes for a few runs.

Thank you for the tips.

-Mike

jwbassman · #4 12-12-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Hmmmm......I may have to try this. I will have Tuesday from about 10AM on as free time. I may have to hit the slopes for a few runs.

Thank you for the tips.

-Mike

Have you ever skied or snowboarded? If so you'll have a blast, Killington is a pretty cool mountain. Tons of terrain.

Passinwind · #5 12-12-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Anything I just have to try while I am in the area? Local beer? Local food unique to the area, or something they specialize in? Is it a good time of year to get some Vermont syrup?

There are some great Vermont cheddars. I like Grafton and the higher end Cabot extra sharp myself. Sugaring is done in the late winter/early spring, but you can buy canned syrup any time. If you're going to cook with it, Grade B has a lot more taste and is a little cheaper than A or Fancy Grade. I actually prefer B on pancakes as well.

MJ5150 · #6 12-12-2008, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwbassman

Have you ever skied or snowboarded?

Yes sir, done both. I'm going to take my snowboard, it is easier to travel with.

-Mike

MJ5150 · #7 12-12-2008, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Passinwind

There are some great Vermont cheddars. I like Grafton and the higher end Cabot extra sharp myself. Sugaring is done in the late winter/early spring, but you can buy canned syrup any time. If you're going to cook with it, Grade B has a lot more taste and is a little cheaper than A or Fancy Grade. I actually prefer B on pancakes as well.

That's right, I forgot about the cheddar in Vermont. I am definitely going to get some. I can put that in my carry on as well. Want me to get you some also?

The syrup.....bummer, I was hoping for fresh. When I was in New Hampshire back in August, I noticed how it was all graded differently. It is much simpler out here, expensive or cheap.

I am only going to use it for pancakes, french toast, and waffles.

-Mike

Bob Lee (QSC) · #8 12-12-2008, 10:22 AM

I like Rutland and love Killington (I don't remember what hot spots are there, though. It's been too long.). If you land on Runway 1 at ALB, your approach probably went more or less over the house I grew up in.

MJ5150 · #9 12-14-2008, 09:28 PM

Wow, it's cold up here. Lot's of snow on the ground too. I had to buy a UV Catamount beanie just so I can go to and from my car. It was colder in Pittsburgh last week though.

So I had the best pancakes that I have ever eaten in my life today, and the real Vermont syrup was even better. I ate at a place called Sugar & Spice. It's a really old "sugarhouse". Real cool ambiance to the place and the food was so awesome. I'm going to go back even though my hotel has free breakfast in the AM. This is a company trip, so no money out of my pocket.

But dang.....this is Patriot country up here. Everyone is sporting Pat gear. I was wearing a Steelers polo as I went out and about today, and I must have had four or five people say something to me about the whippin' we gave these guys a couple weeks ago.

-Mike

Deluge Of Sound · #10 12-14-2008, 09:33 PM

Don't bother hitting up Killington--make the trip up to Stowe, if at all possible.

Also, if you've got the time, swing by the Magic Hat brewery in South Burlington. Magic Hat is fantastic--make sure you try their #9.

And, yeah, it's real cold up here (Burlington in my case).

EDIT: If you were up here for a little longer, I'd say come up to Burlington and check out the live music scene, but its looking pretty dead this week.

MJ5150 · #11 12-14-2008, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluge Of Sound

Magic Hat is fantastic--make sure you try their #9.

I tried a couple tonight, and I was not impressed. The #9 tasted kind of fruity, and another one I had had a strong apricot flavor. Not really my thing.

I was told by the front desk person at my hotel to try something from Trout River, particularly the Rainbow Red Ale. I'll have to go find it tomorrow.

I also want to go to Castleton to get a shirt or hat from the college.

-Mike

jmarcus2 · #12 12-14-2008, 10:15 PM

Had my first real audition with a working cover band there way back when. Nice drive from Boston. (Nailed "Baby Come Back..." Ugh!) Didn't get the gig, but got the bug.
<<<<flashback>>>>

**NOLA Bass** · #13 12-15-2008, 07:58 AM

Only been to Burlington area, but really liked it. Magic Hat is a great brewery fopr sure.

MJ5150 · #14 12-16-2008, 10:08 PM

Alrighty. The trip to Vermont is over. I am sitting in a hotel just outside of Albany, New York right now. My flight leaves out from ALB Wednesday morning at 6AM EST. I am going to miss the east coast. I really like it here.

I went out and did some driving around today to check out this area. It's really not all that bad up around here. I just pictured all of New York as being like NYC. When I left Rutland, I took highway 7 all the way down through Bennington and then through Troy. What an awesome drive. I love American history, so seeing the battlefield monument in Bennington was awe inspiring to me. It is the tallest structure in Vermont.

Rutland was alright I guess. It's small town America in my eyes. The people were all super nice and helpful with all my questions they've probably heard a million times. I am totally coming back during "sugaring" season at the end of winter/early spring to get me some really fresh maple syrup.

So it's back to Seattle to wait for my next trip out, probably San Antonio or Washington DC.

-Mike

jwbassman · #15 12-17-2008, 04:58 AM

Glad you had a good time in VT, it's a very nice area. If you come back during Sugaring season be sure to sample some local brews. These a a lot of seasonal maple beers. mmmm...Maple Porter from the Woodstock Inn in Lincoln, NH.

Passinwind · #16 12-17-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Alrighty. The trip to Vermont is over. I am sitting in a hotel just outside of Albany, New York right now. My flight leaves out from ALB Wednesday morning at 6AM EST. I am going to miss the east coast. I really like it here.

I went out and did some driving around today to check out this area. It's really not all that bad up around here. I just pictured all of New York as being like NYC. When I left Rutland, I took highway 7 all the way down through Bennington and then through Troy. What an awesome drive. I love American history, so seeing the battlefield monument in Bennington was awe inspiring to me. It is the tallest structure in Vermont.

That is a pretty nice drive. If you followed 7 through Mass and Connecticut you might've been impressed with how different those parts of the states are from what many people expect as well. Anyhow, nowhere else in NY is like NYC -- probably nowhere else in the world is really.

Glad you has a good time Mike. I miss Vermont a lot sometimes. I lived around Stowe for about 10 winters and many of the other seasons as well.