Blogs from Manchester, Vermont, United States, North America

We arrived in Manchester Vermont for the week. There are really two Manchesters, Manchester and Manchester Village. Manchester Village is home to Equinox Resort, Ekwonak CC and the beautiful drive called River Rd. We are staying in a restored barn that reminds us of a smaller version of our place we had in Napa with its loft sleeping area and exposed beams. It is on 6 acres and with a visit of white tail deer each morning. Had two fantastic dinners at the Silver Fork and the Reluctant Panther. Leona's birthday at the Reluctant Panther included lobster claws poached in butter. Yummy! Played golf at Fox Run in Ludlow and at Equinox in Manchester. Both courses are much different from the courses in Florida. Bent grass and elevation changes are significantly different from the bermuda grass ... read more

This year for my birthday we decided to spend the weekend in Vermont, specifically Manchester VT. This city itself is nothing special but it is just close enough that it doesn’t take all day to get there and there is a Kimpton hotel, which means Tarragon gets to come along. To get here involves a commuter train and a zip car. We could have rented a car and drove from the city, but rental cars are very expenses in the city and the stress of driving in the city is not worth it. We started with a subway ride to Grand Central Station, luggage and cat in tow. From there it was 2 hours on Metro North to Poughkeepsie, where we picked up the car and had lunch before heading on our way to Vermont. No ... read more

I should probably blog on this before I forget. I had a rough week-10 days, needed to take pressure off. There are some times you just need to runaway. Clear your head, even if only for a short while. Several times I tried to get out to Groton. This time I succeeded. I know it's smart to travel with a buddy but there was none to be had. I've rarely been alone in my life so it was scary. Among other things, I'm remembering how much I need some kind of a pet. It was so neat quietly watching a toad or frog singing. I've been coming up against a number of roadblocks on finding a pet to the point of where I've just prayed about it and little things have started happening. In the past ... read more

One of the best kept secrets in New England is the Equinox Resort and Spa located in Manchester Village in Southern Vermont. The resort has a long history dating back to 1769. The original building on site was the Marsh Tavern which is still part of the existing building complex. The Council of Safety headed up by Ethan Allen’s brother met here to raise money for the “Green Mountain Boys” during the American Revolution. It has also hosted four presidents and Mary Todd Lincoln as some of its prestigious guests. The property has changed hands several times over the last two hundred plus years and is now part of the illustrious Starwood Luxury Collection managed by HEI Properties. A major renovation of the property was just completed in November 2011 and the results are spectacular. I ... read more

Another very short entry, but probably one of the prettiest entries we have made to date. LEAF-PEEPING ALONG ROUTE 100. Route 100 runs through the heart of Vermont. In the fall (around middle of October) the trees of New England gets ready for the winter and what follows is a color-spectacle like no other. Deep green turns to yellow, orange or a deep red. All around you it is just a color spectacle. Take your time. Drive slowly - very slowly. Don't be rushed. Take the occasional honk from the other motorists with a grain of salt. Living in Connecticut we just took the fast route up to NEWPORT. During the fall this part of the country gets pretty expensive with accommodation since there are not that many options in most places and it seems like ... read more