Staytripper, December 2020
Stay in Norman Rockwell’s Studio; Holiday Shopping in Burlington; Finding Hope in the Starry Night
Ripton’s Rikert Nordic Center Welcomes Wintertime Athletes
It’s no secret that Vermont is a hot spot for cold-weather sports. According to a National Ski Areas Association report, 23 of the 470 ski areas operating in the United States during the 2019-20 season were in the Green Mountain State. This winter, open-air activities are likely to be even more popular as Americans practice…
Head Down the Mountain for Ski-Town Snacks
Sitting down for a steamy mug of hot chocolate or a cold beer in the base lodge is a ski-season tradition. But with resorts limiting their indoor capacities this year, skiers and riders will be looking down the mountain for their sips and snacks. Thankfully, mountain towns around Vermont have the après-ski vibe down to…
New Owners Honor and Refresh Norman Rockwell’s Southern Vermont Home
Some historic buildings, including Vermont inns, come with ghosts. But the new owners of a colonial-era inn in Arlington inherited a different set of visitors from the past: corporeal and always friendly. “The place itself had really strong bones. It just needed a lot of love.” Kevin Harter In late fall 2019, Kevin and Sue…
Winter Stargazing Tips From a Meteorologist and an Astrologer
Many of us have spent too much of this frenetic, soul-searching year looking down and feeling down. As a new season approaches, perhaps we should all take a tip from meteorologist Mark Breen, who has been teaching people how to look up and find wonder since Ronald Reagan was president. A host of the “Eye…
Gift Shopping in Burlington With an Eye for Vintage
One of the best gifts I’ve ever received was a floral fascinator from a vintage shop in Ottawa, a pile of dried flowers atop a headband that made me feel like a fairy. It was an absurd thing for a 13-year-old to own, and I had neither the occasion nor the confidence to wear it.…
Finding Glimmers of Hope in a Pandemic Winter
Welcome to a winter like no other. Admittedly, as we planned this issue of Staytripper, Seven Days’ road map to safely rediscovering Vermont during the pandemic, we struggled to predict what the month ahead would hold. With the unknown course of the coronavirus in our state, the practical limitations of Vermont’s famously cold weather and…
Seasonal Must-Sees, From Icy Art to Virtual Fests
Vermont International Festival Held virtually December 4-6 at vermontinternationalfestival.com, with international takeout dinners available for pickup at the O’Brien Community Center in Winooski. At a time when travel opportunities have become limited, the Vermont International Festival offers a welcome taste of the world. For 27 years, it has invited locals to experience the many cultures…
