Crossing the causeway to South Hero has always felt to me like entering another world. Every time I hit the open stretch of road, surrounded by the water and the mountains, I’m reminded of how lucky I am to live in Vermont.
Last summer, to celebrate my 50th birthday, my wife and I rented a five-bedroom lake house in Grand Isle and invited family members and friends to share it with us. Growing up, our kids logged multiple weeks every summer in the islands — at Camp Hochelaga and Camp Abnaki — and I decided it was time we got a chance to try it, too.
We spent the whole week on island time, acting like tourists and enjoying the lake — swimming, kayaking, watching the Fourth of July fireworks. I’m so glad we did!
That trip inspired me to revisit some of the pre-pandemic summertime routes Kids VT published in a magazine called Daytripper. With help from some of my colleagues, I updated three of the itineraries we produced in 2017 and 2018, starting with the one for the Champlain Islands.
Creemees at Seb’s Snack Bar, beach time at Sand Bar State Park or Alburgh Dunes State Park, biking or walking the Island Line Trail, stopping to see Harry Barber’s miniature castles made of rocks and pebbles, complete with turrets and moats, scattered throughout the area. That last one was my addition. We took many of our guests to see them last summer.
You’ll also find updated versions of day trips from Shelburne to Middlebury, and another from Montpelier to Waterbury/Stowe.
Yet another blast from the past: I had lunch with my friend Megan James, who edited Kids VT from 2014 to 2016. She told me that she and her husband recently installed an old-fashioned home phone; their 9- and 12-year-old daughters use it to make and receive calls. She agreed to explain why in an article for this issue.
This summer’s edition of the Good Citizen Challenge goes even further back in the past — to 1776. On July 4, the country celebrates the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Challenge participants in grades K-8 who embark on this self-guided adventure can learn about life in Vermont in the 18th century and be entered to win prizes, including a free trip to Washington, D.C.
Reading is also a big part of the Challenge — whether that’s books, newspapers, historical markers or lessons on the Vermont Historical Society website. We’ll help kids read even more by giving away a $50 Phoenix Books gift card to one lucky participant every week starting June 11. The bookstore is just one of our many statewide partners. All of us want to remind Vermont’s young people that there are things we can all do to make a positive difference in our communities. The Challenge makes it easy and fun to explore them.
Find all of the activities at goodcitizenvt.com on Wednesday, May 20.
We hope this issue of Kids VT helps you enjoy Vermont’s oh-so-short-but-sweet summer season. Don’t forget to turn in your coloring contest entries by August 7!
The original print version of this article was headlined “Retro Summer”
This article appears in Kids VT Summer Fun • 2026.
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