I thought the weekend was going to be a total washout, so I was thrilled to wake up to sunshine on Sunday morning. The haze from the recent heat wave was finally gone, so Dave and I took a ride to Mt. Philo State Park to soak up the views.
The state park - Vermont's oldest - is located at the top of Mt. Philo, a small mountain in Charlotte with an elevation of 968 feet. Established in 1924, Mt. Philo State Park overlooks the Lake Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains of New York.
From the late 1800s to 1924, Mt. Philo was an excursion destination for guests at the Mt. Philo Inn. Guests would trek to the summit and enjoy views of the Champlain Valley from the deck of a wooden observation tower that has since been removed.
In 1924, Frances Humphreys of Brookline, Mass., donated 150 acres of land on Mt. Philo to the State of Vermont to be managed for recreational purposes. With her gift, Vermont's first state park was established.
Mt. Philo State Park offers camping, a picnic area, hiking trails and a perfect view to watch gorgeous sunsets over Lake Champlain.
**If you go: Mt. Philo State Park
Map
Dave takes in the view of the Champlain Valley. 
A picnic shelter at the summit. 
What a view!
ReplyDeleteI've been up there! Yes, it was the last place that I saw Trillium. The wildflowers up there are spectacular in the spring.
ReplyDeleteI used to visit Mt. Philo when I lived in the area...always thought it would be a great place to get married.
ReplyDeleteHow thoughtful of Frances to donate this patch of paradise, beautiful place to visit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Erin!
ReplyDeleteHi Steve -- Spring up there must be gorgeous! I'm thinking about a return visit in the fall.
Hi Margs -- I was thinking about you when we were up there.
Hi Mandy -- Yes, she was definitely ahead of her time in terms of thinking about conservation.
Wow.. what a gorgeous view!! I'll definitely have to get there at some point even though I'm on the southern end of the state.
ReplyDeleteWhole Lotta Love -- You should definitely visit Mt. Philo! A gorgeous spot, and easy to get to from Route 7. Hope you're enjoying your summer!
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