by 
Green Mountains. White Mountains.
The two-state region of Vermont & New Hampshire offer scenic wonders for outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds.
New England Summer
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
New England Summer
It was mid-July when we moved the rig from Hermon, Maine to Randolph Center, Vermont. Right around 300 miles, we made the short drive through some spectacular New England landscapes and made camp at the gorgeous Lake Champagne Resort.
The Randolph communities are situated near the geographic center of Vermont, south of Montpelier. In the heart of Green Mountain country, this is a scenic wonderland offering outdoor enthusiasts a treasure trove of natural beauty. Stunning scenic drives, serene lakes and rivers, picturesque mountain views, lush forests, and majestic waterfalls fill the senses.
We chose this central location as a launching point for day trips around the state, including the neighboring state of New Hampshire.
Across both states east-to-west is less than 200 miles, so exploring as much of the two-state region as we could was the plan.
New England Summer
We started with the Randolph area, exploring the community and its unique charms. Comprised of three sections, including the town of Randolph, Randolph Center village, and South Randolph, the agricultural town of less than 5,000 has a distinctive small-town vibe. An interesting photo spot lies near the intersection of Interstate 89 and State Route 66, called the Whale Dance. Sculpted by Jim Sardonis, a pair of whale tails emerge from a grassy hillside overlooking the lovely valley and the Green Mountain horizon.
Our first road trip was a drive to the White Mountains of New Hampshire to see Mount Washington, the highest peak in the northeastern USA. Standing at 6,288 feet, the mountain is well-known for extreme and erratic weather. On April 12, 1934 scientists witnessed history on the summit, recording a wind speed of 231 miles per hour! A world record that stands to this day (non-cyclonic).
We were blessed with picture perfect weather for our visit, enjoying clear skies and moderate temperatures all the way to the top. We wandered all over the summit and explored the observatory and visitor center. There were dozens of interesting displays showing vintage meteorological devices and equipment. Of course, the view from the top was incredible!
New England Summer
For our next day trip, we set-out to find the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. Connecting the towns of Lincoln and Conway in the heart of New Hampshire, this 34-mile stretch winds through the White Mountain National Forest. We enjoyed stunning views of the White Mountains, the Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls, Rocky Gorge, and the 3,000-foot Kancamagus Pass.
We ventured northward for our next outing all the way to the Canadian border. At the town of Newport, VT is the curiously named Lake Memphremagog, a body of water that spans the two nations. The deep and clear glacial waters set against the Canadian horizon present a lovely panoramic landscape. We wandered along the shore and found a tranquil sitting bench where we sat for quite some time simply gazing at the beautiful distance.
Cheri took a day for herself to explore a road less traveled. Pun intended, because her target attraction that day was the summer home of the well-known author and poet, Robert Frost. Called the Homer Noble Farm, near Ripton, Vermont, this 150-acre Green Mountain farm property is where he lived and wrote during the summer and fall months from 1939 until he passed in 1963. Cheri toured the property and enjoyed a leisurely stroll along the Wayside Trail, where many of his poems are mounted on posts along the walking path, including The Road Not Taken.
New England Summer
Another scenic drive took us to the Franconia Notch State Park. In the heart of the White Mountain National Forest, Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass extending from the Flume Gorge to Echo Lake in-between the tall peaks of the Kinsman and Franconia mountains.
Franconia Notch was once home to the famous Old Man of the Mountain rock formation. Called Stone Face by the native Abenaki people, it was a landmark well-known to the Mohawk as well. In 1850, a publication by Nathaniel Hawthorne titled Great Stone Face, immortalized the spot.
Sadly, erosion and gravity reclaimed the rock face in 2003 when it collapsed.
Read about the indigenous legend of Stone Face and the happy ending for the ancient fallen rock … Nis Kizos
New England Summer
Our stay in the area would be incomplete without a visit to the capitol city. Just 25 miles north from our Lake Champagne campground is Montpelier, a surprisingly small town of about 8,000. We parked downtown and walked around the Capitol Grounds, the Historic District, and viewed various government buildings along State Street.
Montpelier’s quaint and quirky vibe was rather unique as we wandered in and out of old-town shops, stopping to view various street displays of sculpted art. An interesting array of colorfully adorned cats, dogs, and model cars decorated the sidewalk. We enjoyed a nice lunch at a local pub called Ladder 1 Grill. A former firehouse, this place pays homage to first responders with wonderful displays and décor. The food was great too!
We concluded our Vermont/New Hampshire tour with a final day trip to the southwest corner of Vermont to see the Bennington Battle Monument. We caught a glimpse of this towering 300-foot spire on a previous scenic drive and knew we had to return to check it out.
On the way to the monument, we passed through Rutland, Vermont.
Our scenic drives had brought us to the Rutland area a few times already.
Every time we encountered the amazing view of the Rutland valley coming down the mountains on US Highway 4 we were stunned by the beautiful distance.
This was our morning to experience some classic Vermont flavors at the Maple Sugar & Vermont Spice shack in the village of Mendon. More than a restaurant, this is a working Sugar House producing maple products of all kinds straight from the Vermont woodlands. We enjoyed a wonderful stack of pancakes drizzled with scrumptious Vermont maple syrup and then bought a bag of sweet treats to go.
At the monument, I learned a great deal about the Bennington battle and its relative importance to the American victory at Saratoga. Historians believe that Saratoga was the decisive battle of the war, ultimately giving America the win over the British Empire.
It was General John Burgoyne and his army of Redcoats who attacked Bennington in August of 1777, hoping to capture weapons and food. But General John Stark and his battalion of Colonials resisted. With the help of Colonel Seth Warner and the Green Mountain Boys they defeated Burgoyne, who retreated to New York. Two months later Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga.
As we packed-up the rig for the next leg of our New England summer, our hearts were full. I can’t say enough about the beauty and history of these two states, but maybe I’ve shared enough to encourage you to plan your own visit to Vermont and New Hampshire.
You should definitely go!
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