We have a special guest post from friend of the blog April Bielefeldt. April runs travel tours for phtographers in the North East United States. To learn more about what she does visit her website YourPhotoTravelGuide.com. She is stopping by to tell us about some great sites in Vermont which are also very bike-able! Without further ado, here’s April!
Thank you David for inviting me to guest blog for blaze adventure tours.
5 Favorite Stops between Burlington Vermont and Middlebury Vermont
Shelburne Farms
Beautiful grounds which were designed by Landscape designer Frederick Olmstead the same man who designed New York City’s Central Park. Park your bike and walk the Walking trails Sunrise to Sunset. Admire the beautiful views of Lake Champlain and make time to visit the magnificent Farm barn which is amazing. You will be in awe of its size and the amount of community you feel inside. The Farm barn houses a wonderful Organic Bakery, some of the freshest croissants and baked goods, the Cheese making facility, a Childrens Farmyard, (adults can pet baby animals too) and a Artisan Furniture maker. The Barn and Bakery are generally open at 7am.
**** Go early and chain your bike to the rack near the ticket booth and
head to the bakery and grab some early morning landscape photos!
Shelburne Museum
Not your typical museum! Electra Havemeyer Webb saw the uniqueness of early America and by the 1940’s also saw the very things she loved disappearing! So she decided to start collecting a covered bridge, a lighthouse and even a real Steamship that plied Lake Champlain. A great place to park your bike and at least run around and view this unique collection- take some selfies and think about all the items we use that will be obsolete too!
***Favorite spots- The Circus building and carousel with all of its wooden animals, The Ticonderoga Steamship which you can board and the beautiful round red barn, nothing says Vermont like a beautiful barn!
Shelburne Orchards – 216 Orchard Road, Shelburne Vermont- 802.985.2753 A must stop for all the variety of Apples, baked goods and the farm stand where on a Saturday they may be pouring some Brandy from their new distillery. Call if you visit during Summer
Rustic Roots- https://www.rusticrootsvt.com/- 9am to 3pm Wed thru
Sunday but call 802.985-9511. Farm to table eats if you can make the time or take some items to go!
***My picks to go The Maple Bourbon Turkey or the Pastrami—and find
a spot later to stop and enjoy!
Middlebury College Campus- What a great place to ride a bike in any season and enjoy the beautiful architecture. Starr Hall, old Stone row and the chapel I would make a point to see and what better way than on a bicycle. Two beautiful Chapels adorn the campus- Old Chapel Road and Stone Hill are where the oldest buildings and some of the original trees still stand.
Bixby Memorial Library – 258 Main Street Vergennes, Vermont. Libraries like these are few and far between, stained glass and beautiful woods used inside. Pop in, these are great places to also make use of the Public restroom.
Craft Beer and Wine:
Middlebury Vermont has quite a collection of places to sample ciders, ales, and other liquid refreshments. Ottercreek Brewing- 793 Exchange Street- have heard nothing but good stuff from this place – a peanut butter concoction, ales and porters, plus a tasty menu of sandwiches and more.
Drop In Brewing- 610 Route 7- South Middlebury -Ales. Porters and IPAs and you can take Brewing classes here as well.
Lincoln Peak Vineyard- 142 River Road, Middlebury, Vermont – Nice porch and lake to take a break and sample some fine Vermont Wine. Call for hours: 802.388.7368
Middlebury Vermont has its own Tasting Trail so spending a couple days
here would be easy! https://www.experiencemiddlebury.com/taste/tasting-rooms/
Many of the New England states make great bicycle destinations. But I must say Vermont has a lot to offer. Whether you want to rent bikes for the day and hit the 14 Mile trail along Lake Champlain from Burlington, or take a longer bike journey in Vermont you have many options. Honestly I’m not a long distance biker myself but I do have favorite places in Vermont and really all of New England as I have been visiting Vermont almost every October since 2003.
The distance between Burlington and Middlebury Vermont is about 55 miles which checking a biking site estimates about a four and a half hour ride. You probably could easily spend a full day making this trip factoring in stops for picnics or taking photos or enjoying some of the views.
Thanks Blaze Adventure Tours and if you want more tips on where to go reach out!
~April Bielefeldt
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