Lake Bomaseen State Park

Vacation, you spend weeks, sometimes months planning it so when it arrives you hope that all your hard work has paid off.  I spend a lot of time planning ensuring there is enough to do to keep us entertained as well as get some relaxation time in, without spending a fortune.  I may be a little obsessive when planning, to make sure we get the most out of our trips. As we started our Vermont vacation I hoped I met my families expectations.  

We started out by driving through the beautiful Green Mountain State to Lake Bomaseen State Park just a few minutes west of Rutland. The drive was absolutely beautiful, through the rolling hills and fields of Vermont.  The State Park itself is well maintained, clean, nice facilities and spacious sites and lean-to's, some of them overlooking spectacular Lake Bomoseen.  Our site was a premium one meaning it is one of most popular and we could see why.  It was flat, spacious, semi private and had a small view of the lake.  There was also a short path down to the water.  

After setting up our site for the week we took a walk over to the beach.  The beach area is relaxing with a sandy beach and large grassy area.  

There is a new playground with a really cool jungle gym, which my daughter loved and would have stayed there all week if we let her. 

The water is clean with a sandy bottom.  We spent many hours swimming, laying in the grass and playing on the playground.  There is also a small snack bar and canoe and peddle boat rentals.  

After relexing at the beach we headed back to our site we set up for dinner.  Dinner can be a challenge as I don't like a lot of work or dishes while camping.  Chicken quesadillas are always a hit and super easy to make.  Using a large piece tinfoil I spray it with olive oil on it before putting the tortilla down.  Covering the tortilla with precooked shredded chicken and shredded cheese then placing another tortilla on top.  I wrap the tinfoil around the quesadilla place it on a grill over an open campfire for 3-5 minutes a side.  Pair with your favorite toppings and sliced veggies and you have a  perfect camping meal with little mess.  

After dinner we took a stroll around the campground.  The paved flat roads were perfect for my daughter to ride her bike on. Looking at all the sites we did not see a bad one.  Some had more space than other or more scenic views.

A reminder that Vermont State Parks has no electricity, water or sewer on the sites. The evening ended with a beautiful sunset over the lake and a campfire for roasting marshmallows.  

Crotched Mountain Hike

Distance: 1.2 Miles with options for more.

Difficulty: Moderate

As I am continuing to work on completing my 52 hikes in 2017 challenge, I'm always looking for new hiking trails.  A friend, who is also doing the challenge, recently hiked Crotched Mountain and posted beautiful pictures.  With the cooler weather rolling in this morning I thought it would be a perfect chance to take a hike.

There are a few different trails to get to the top.  My family and I chose the Bennington Trail. The trail starts at the end of Mountain Road in Bennington. The parking lot is small, with only room for a couple cars. It's about 1.2 miles to the top.  The trail is fairly easy to follow with orange dot trail markers.  About half of the trail is a steady incline and the other half is relatively flat.

 We did not see anyone else on the trail until we got up closer to the top where the various trails merge together.  I have heard that some of the other trails have been known for having a lot of ticks on it.  We did not see any major grassy areas on the Bennington Trail where we could get ticks on us.  We also did not come back with any on us. My daughter said we should have called it the mushroom trail as there were a variety of mushrooms along the way.  

As you get closer to the top there were an abundance of wild blueberries if anyone is up for some picking.  Close to the top is a beautiful lookout with views of Mt Monadnock, North Pack and Pack Monadnock.  There is a small picnic table if you want to bring your lunch or various ledges to stretch out on.  This is technically not the summit, but is the best view.  

About another .2miles up is the actual summit where there is a cell phone tower.  You are able to get some view's looking north, as well as looking down some of the ski trails.  I brought my lightweight backpacking hammock to test out.  We found a spot at the top to relax in the hammock before heading back down the trail. Can I tell you how nice it is to lay in a hammock after a hike, it's AMAZING.  

Overall, I'm glad we checked out the trail as we really enjoyed eating blueberries, looking for various mushrooms and checking out the spectacular views.   Now on to plan the next hike.

Mascoma Lake Campground

What is better than camping with friends? In my opinion, not much. When friends asked us to join them at their seasonal we could not pass up the offer. A couple years ago they found a seasonal at Mascoma Lake Campground on Mascoma Lake in Lebanon, NH.  They spend most summer weekends at their camper and are always talking about the memories they are making there.

Within the last five years the campground has come under new management and the new owners have been making many improvements.  The campground is situated on the side of a hill, providing many of their sites with beautiful views of the lake. Over half of the campers are seasonals, there are also adorable cabins and tent sites.  

The first thing we noticed upon arrival was the friendliness of the owners and the campers.  We have camped many places and the owners and staff are not always friendly.  I have to say this is the friendliest campground we have every been to. The owners were friendly and can tell they love what they do.  While we were driving to our site many people were waving and saying hello to us. As we walked around the campground many campers greeted us. 

Our site was situated in the woods providing some privacy and enough room for our small pop-up.  The sites are clean, level and you can get sites with some privacy or close with other campers, if you are camping with a group.  

For amenities there are bathrooms, showers, a playground, a small camp store, a small beach area, free canoe and kayak rentals and a recreation hall. The rec hall has various activities throughout the summer.  This weekend was Christmas in July.  We brought a small gift for our daughter and gave it to the owners, who had Santa hand out gifts to the children.  There was also a cute Christmas craft for the kids to do.  Later that night, they had a cookie and gift swap along with karaoke, which we did not participate in as we only stayed one night due to obligations at home.

The lake is the main feature of the campground. We spent a few hours on our friends boat and the lake is beautiful, perfect for all types of water recreation.  We saw people on the boats, tubing, water skiing, kayaking, paddling boarding, sailing small sailboats and swimming.  

The sunset over the lake was magnificent with colors of pink and purple.  My friend reports the sunrises are equally beautiful, but I just cannot get up that early. 

There are also many local attractions, such as a bike path that goes along the lake and many hiking trails that I saw on All Trails. This weekend we did get a hike in. There are site seeing attractions such as,  King Arthur Flour, Montshire Science Museum, Quechee Gorge and the Sunappe area.  These attractions are only about 20-30 minutes from the campground.   Mascoma Lake Campground is a great place to stay to to enjoy the lake and explore that area.  

When Vacation's Do Not Go As Planned

Planning a vacation is never easy.  You want to make sure you chose the right place to entertain the whole family.  With that being said, the summer of 2016, my family and I chose to spend part of our summer vacation camping on Grand Isle on Lake Champlain north of Burlington, Vermont. When we arrived the state park was beautiful.  Well maintained grounds, spacious and clean sites, a small playground, clean facilities, a nature center with walking paths, a boat ramp and a swimming area.  After setting up our campsite we walked to the lake for a much needed swim.  While walking towards the lake we could smell something foul.  Upon arriving at the swimming area we observed a large mud flat producing a strong odor.  When planning our vacation we never considered the drought most of New England has been in that summer and the impact the lack of rain would have on the lake.  The lake level was so low that parts of the lake had turned into mud flats producing a strong odor.  With much disappointment we decided to change campgrounds since we had planned our vacation around the lake.  The park ranger informed us that we could use any of the Vermont State Parks day use areas free of charge, but since we camp with our golden retriever that was not an option, as dogs are not allowed in most day use areas.  

We quickly chose another campground, ending up at Mountain View Campground north of Stowe, Vermont.  The campground staff was very accommodating providing us a site on such short notice.  We were given a spacious grass site along the river. For amenities there were two pools, an adult only hot tub, a clean river for fishing and playing around in, which our dog loved, a mini golf course that unfortunately did not look like it has been used in a long time, an older playground, a nice general store and clean facilities. The campground was very peaceful and quiet.  

Stowe provides a myriad of outdoor activities.  We hiked to two separate waterfalls during our stay.  The first one, Moss Glen Falls, was a short easy hike to a beautiful waterfall, which appeared to be popular due to the well worn trail.  Swimming may be difficult as the embankment is very steep into base of the falls. There are small pools to wade in up and down stream of the falls.   

The second waterfall, Bingham Falls located near Smuggler's Notch, is highly recommended as a swimming destination. It's a short steep walk down to the falls, with a deep pool to jump in and swim.  The day we visited it was fairly busy with hikers and swimmers. I would caution bringing young children to this spot as the trail can get slippery and it is not easy for little legs to get into the swimming hole.

Stowe is a great area for the outdoors enthusiast as there are many hiking trails, swimming holes, biking paths as well as activities in the summer and winter at Stowe Mountain Resort.   

Overall, we would visit both campgrounds again as their locations provide a great amount of outdoor activities and natural beauty. 

Loads of Fun at Kampersville Campground

“Is it time to go yet?” My six year old asked early one morning, excited for our annual end of school camping trip. Each June, my family and I pick a new area in New England to camp and explore. Last June we picked Kampersville Campground on Lake Dunmore, located on the western edge of the Green Mountains in Vermont. Kampersville is a beautiful privately owned campground with a general store, deli, ice cream, laundry, three pools, playground, game room, activities and  private beach with boat rentals. The campsites were in a wood area, well maintained and provided plenty of space for some privacy from our neighbors. 

We spent the first afternoon hanging out by the pools. There were plenty of kids my daughters age to play with, providing my husband and I some relaxing time. 

The next morning we checked out a local hike I had found in my “Outdoors with Kids” book by Ethan Hipple and Yemaya St. Clair. The Silver Lake Trail is located about five minutes from Kampersville. This is a great place to spend the day as there are various outdoor activities for all skill levels. We hiked to Silver Lake, about a two mile hike up a tote road. Once at the top there were a few campsites, if you chose to spend the night. There was an optional trail to walk around the pond. We chose to take a dip in the cool mountain lake. While enjoying the water, two loons swam close to us looking for their mid morning snack. My daughter enjoyed watching the numerous tadpoles sunning themselves in the shallow water.

On the way back down the trail, we saw an old sluice way draining into the lake as evidence of an old hotel that was there in the early 1900s. About halfway down the trail are side trails to other ridge lines, a picnic area, a mountain stream with pools to swim in, a large waterfall and a beautiful scenic overlook of Lake Dunmore and the Adirondack Mountains in New York. 

Across the street from the trailhead is Branbury State Park, also located on the shores of Lake Dunmore. A beautiful state park with camping, a long sandy beach, spacious fields, picnic area, canoe and kayak rentals, a new playground and more beautiful views of the area. 

The second day we explored Lake Dunmore, I rented a paddle board and my husband and daughter paddled our kayak. But of course my daughter had to try the paddle board.

We would have done this sooner, but the lake was closed when we arrived due to it being treated for aquatic vegetation. If you plan on visiting the area, I would recommend checking the Vermont Department of Conservation Website to make sure the lake is not closed for use. Once on the lake, the water was crystal clear with views of the fish swimming below. As we paddled we were surrounded by the beautiful Green Mountains.

Overall, my family and I agree that we would love to visit the area and camp at Kampersville again.  There were plenty of outdoor activities to keep our daughter entertained, while providing a relaxing atmosphere. A year later my daughter still talks about this campground.  Website 

Wales Preserve Hike in Sharon, NH

Distance 1.5 Miles Loop

Difficulty: Easy

No Dogs

As I was laying in bed early this morning looking out at the clear blue sky I thought to myself, "why am I laying in bed, it looks so beautiful out." Also I'm a little behind in 52 Hikes in 2017 Challenge so I need to get more hikes in.  As my family still slept, my dog and I snuck out to check out a new trail. I had recently heard about Wales Preserve Trail, located off Spring Hill Road in Sharon NH, and wanted to check is out.  I love when I can find trails close to home that I have yet to explore.  

Parking is along the roadside and there is a sign for the trailhead. The trail is well maintained and marked by The Nature Conservancy.  You walk down to the Gridley River then you follow the river listening to the flowing water and enjoying series of cascades. Allowing your mind to wander and enjoy the peacefulness of the woods and flowing water.  

Anyone who follows me knows my love of waterfalls, therefore I was very excited to have this option in the Monadnock area as there are not many waterfalls or cascades near by.  You follow The Brookside Trail to the end and then it turns right onto the Woodland Trail.

There are two access points to the Woodland Trail either halfway down the Brookside Trail or at the end.  I chose to walk to the end of the trail and then loop back around.  At the end of the Brookside Trail it looks like it goes further, but it is not part of the Nature Conservancy. The Woodland Trail loops through the woods up and down hill sides, providing a peaceful walk through the forrest.   

Update: Now that i have done the trail a few times I prefer to take the first junction up into the woods and loop around so then I can walk back up the river enjoying the views.

I recommend this trail for all ages and abilities.  It's a great trail for kids as there are areas to stop and splash around in the water, so make sure you wear appropriate foot wear. My daughter likes to wear her Keen Sandals are they are good in the water and short hikes.  In the winter it can be a winter wonderland of ice. Microspikes are recommended.

Update: I am not sure when this happened, but when my family and I hiked this in November 2019 it was posted that dogs are not allowed on this trail.

This post contains affiliate links for which I may receive a small amount of compensation at no cost to you.

SugarRidge Campground

Sugar Ridge Campground is an excellent campground.  I actually have no negative comments about the facility.  It appears that a lot of the sites are seasonal.  All the sites are very well maintained and spacious.  The campsite we stayed on was very private and the bathroom and free showers were clean.  The campground offers many amenities such as, two pools, two playgrounds, rec hall, mini golf course (small fee), daily activities, bike rentals, access to the Lamoille Bike Trail, hiking trails with beautiful views right on the grounds and a fishing pond, since it's on private land you do not need a fishing license. 

Two Pools

If you do not want to leave the campground you do not need to as there is plenty to keep everyone busy.  If you are looking to do some exploring St. Johnsbury VT is about 15 minutes away.  Cabot Cheese Factory is about 30 minutes away.  There are also numerous hiking trails and outdoor activities in the area.  If you are looking for a campground that offers a lot of amenities as well as close to other activities I highly recommend staying here.  Website

View from hiking trail looking toward the White Mountains in New Hampshire

Vacationing in the Katahdin Area

Growing up in the shadow of Mt. Katahdin, I had the opportunity to experience various outdoor activities, which contributes to my passion for the great outdoors.

In the summer of 2015, I took my family to Millinocket, Maine to relive some of my childhood memories. For one week we stayed at The Woodworth Family Homestead at Camp Rhodora located on Millinocket Lake. This is an off the grid working homestead with animals and a garden.

There is a great deal of history with this camp going back to the 1800's. This is a favorite spot for artists due to the fact this property was once own by the famous landscape artist, Frederic Church. Situated in a rustic setting with limited electricity from a generator, limited Wi-Fi, no indoor plumbing except a hand pump and a beautiful view of Mt. Katahdin. There are three cabins to rent, one large and two smaller ones. We stayed in the larger cabin. The owner's were welcoming and very accommodating, providing us with a wonderful vacation. 

Largest Camp on the Property

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, the Katahdin Region is for you. There are numerous outdoor activities from hiking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, camping, scenic float plane rides, swimming, fishing, moose tours, and just enjoying the beautiful scenery. In the winter, there is miles of snowmobile trails, cross country skiing, ice fishing and snow shoeing. 

During our vacation we enjoyed a few of the local attractions, such as Baxter State Park. My daughter is still too young to hike Mt. Katahdin, but there were plenty of other hiking opportunities for all levels. The first stop of the day was the Katahdin Stream Falls Trail, a childhood favorite hike of mine. The trail follows a mountain stream up to a spectacular waterfall, where you have the opportunity to dunk your head into the cold, clear mountain water.

Katahdin Stream Falls in Baxter State Park

The second hike was into Big and Little Niagara Falls with beautiful views and some swimming opportunities.

After the hike we stopped at a popular swimming hole, Ledge falls, which hosts a series of natural watersides providing entertainment to all ages. In my daughter's words “this was the best day ever” A perfect spot to have a picnic, sunbathe and cool off after a day of hiking.

Sliding Rock

New England Outdoors Center is another popular destination also located on Millinocket Lake. It is a beautiful facility with cabins, a restaurant, boat rentals and moose tours. A great way to unwind after a busy day is to enjoy a delicious meal and refreshing drink while sitting on their patio overlooking the spectacular views of Millinocket Lake and Mt. Katahdin.

Just like everyone else our lives can get hectic, therefore we spent much of the vacation relaxing around the cabin, swimming, kayaking, paddling boarding, playing on the beach, visiting with family and friends and enjoying the wildlife around our cabin. If you are visiting the area and want a book to read, I highly recommended picking up Lost on a Mountain in Maine, I read this several times as a teenager and again in my adult years with my daughter. It’s a great family vacation book.

Perfect little beach for young children and dogs.

If you are looking for a rustic vacation allowing you to escape all modern distractions, Woodworth Family Homestead is the place for you. 

For more information on Woodworth Family Homestead check out their Facebook page. To get more information on the Katahdin area, check out Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce website, www.katahdinmaine.com.