The Old First Church in Bennington

On a recent morning I visited The Old First Church in Bennington, the first church in Vermont to reflect the separation of church and state. The church, built in the early 1800s, includes a beautiful cemetery where Robert Frost is buried.

My favorite detail about this lovely, peaceful place are the words engraved on Frost's gravestone: "I had a lover's quarrel with the world."

**If you go: The Old First Church
Map

A Vermont Cheese Festival

On Sunday Dave and I spent the day at the Vermont Cheesemakers' Festival at Shelburne Farms. The event showcased dozens of Vermont cheesemakers, wineries, breweries and food producers.

We ate loads of delicious cheese and sampled plenty of local wine and beer. It was a really nice time and the setting was perfect. I just think I'll need to hit the gym later today.

A cheese display at the Vermont Cheesemakers Festival.

Host Shelburne Farms offered samples of cheese at the event.

Twig Farm was one of my favorites.

Outside the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms.

Scenes from Lake Champlain

Basin Harbor in Vergennes.

A view from Isle La Motte in the Champlain Islands.

Sunset along the Burlington Waterfront.

Curtis Pond in Calais

Several years ago I came across Curtis Pond while driving aimlessly along the back roads of central Vermont. The pond, located in the tiny town of Calais, includes a public swimming area and access for kayaks and canoes.

This week I stopped by the pond to see if anything had changed since my last visit more than a decade ago. Like most places in Vermont, it was exactly as I remembered.

If you go: Map

A Bird's Eye View from Mt. Philo

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.

Missing the Mountains

The heat wave that hit the Northeast this week has been brutal. The air is sticky, hot and uncomfortable, and everyone seems pretty cranky (including me).

Thanks to the humidity, views of the mountains are faint at best as Vermont's peaks are surrounded by a thick layer of haze. Last week I took this photo of Camel's Hump on a clear, sunny day. On Wednesday, from the same vantage point, I couldn't see the mountain at all.

Forecasters are saying the worst of the heat wave is almost over. Thank goodness. I want my mountains back.

**Related posts: Winter Glow on Camel's Hump
November Frost and Sun

Biking the Island Line Trail

Over the weekend Dave and I biked from Burlington to the Champlain Islands on the Island Line Trail. Built in 1900 by the Rutland Railroad, the former rail bed is now a popular Vermont bike path.

One of the best parts of the trail is the Colchester-South Hero Causeway, a narrow stretch that crosses Lake Champlain. While biking (or walking) the 2.5-mile Causeway, you'll see panoramic views of the Green Mountains and Adirondacks and be surrounded by a wide expanse of open water. You'll also spot people fishing, swimming and snorkeling on both sides of the Causeway as you peddle by.

Another reason to bike the Island Line Trail is the Bike Ferry, which transports passengers and their bikes across a 200-foot gap in the Causeway near the southern tip of South Hero. The ferry offers service on weekends from July 3 to Labor Day.

Dave and I ended up biking 30 miles round-trip on the Island Line Trail and beyond, which was a record trek for us. Even though we were a bit sore and exhausted afterward, it was one of the best days we've had all year.

**If you go: Bike Rentals at Local Motion
The Bike Ferry
Champlain Bikeways
Map

The Causeway Bike Ferry on Lake Champlain.

A view of the Colchester-South Hero Causeway facing south.

A sailboat near the Causeway.

Taking a break in South Hero.

A Quirky Spirit of Independence

The Fourth of July parade along Main Street in Warren celebrates independence with a twist. Now in its 62nd year, this small-town parade has achieved legendary status in Vermont.

In addition to the classic cars, lively performers and creative floats, the parade always includes a healthy dose of political satire addressing everything from climate change to health care.

These July 4th photos were taken in Warren in 2007, when the parade's theme was "Fueling the Future." The 2010 parade theme will be "Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Healthiness."

As always, I'm sure it will be a memorable day on Main Street.

**If you go: Warren Fourth of July Parade
Map