I haven’t been to New Hampshire and Vermont in a couple years, but the last time I swung through those cute little states I encountered an array of fascinating sights that seemed unique to the region.
Like a town that sponsored a big Sauerkraut Festival. How bizarre is that? Sadly, I just missed the fest by a few days, which is a crying shame, because I would have loved to experience an entire event dedicated to that delicious chunky pile of fermented cabbage.
Sauerkraut is the new bacon, and don’t let anyone tell you differently.
Apparently there are quite a few sauerkraut festivals in America, including a prominent one in Ohio and another in Oregon, which adds sausages into the mix.
Things I Did in Vermont and New Hampshire
I really wish I had made it to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury, Vermont, but alas, I wasn’t able. Next time for sure!
So what did I see instead? Let’s run down the sights.
My friend Robin and I drove through the Green Mountains. They’re quite appropriately named.
Despite being dead since 1814, Molly Stark leads the way through Vermont. She was the wife of a Revolutionary general. Her scenic byway travels 48 miles across the state through small towns, valleys, and mountains.
There’s so much history in the New England states that I found it shocking they would erect a historical marker for some random road that led to a random early settlement. When you’ve just come from Massachusetts and visited the site of the Boston Tea Party, seeing a sign for Old Landing Road is unimpressive.
I was really hoping see some wild moose in this area, but it was not meant to be. (In fact, I still haven’t seen any moose, a streak that will end when I go to Alaska in two weeks – no matter what it takes.)
The Painted Moose Statues of Bennington, Vermont
As if to tease and torture me, the town of Bennington, Vermont had moose statues all over the place. These were very flamboyant moose. Some were dressed like hippies. Others were outfitted like colonial soldiers. This one was decorated like a circus animal.
This one was a bit more stately, with a top hat and a necktie. Keep it classy, Mr. Moose!
If you’ve ever dreamed about living in a remote log cabin on a lake surrounded by a forest, this is probably pretty close to what you envisioned. What a cool sight. I’d love to seclude myself in a place like this for weeks at a time, enjoying the solitude and nature.
This was just a quick visit, as we had to get to Niagara Falls from Maine in a timely fashion. I’m hoping to go back to New Hampshire and Vermont soon to do a more than just a drive-through. Maybe I can schedule my return visit around the Sauerkraut Festival 🙂
