Parks Archives - Happy Vermont

Parks

  • Butterfly Watching in Vermont
    Butterfly Watching in Vermont

    Butterflies are a big part of Terri Armata's world. The Bennington resident, who moved to Vermont in the 1970s, has always loved exploring the outdoors. Two decades ago—somewhat on a whim—she volunteered for the Vermont Butterfly Atlas project to help document the status of butterflies in...

  • The Wonder of Old Trees at Gifford Woods State Park
    The Wonder of Old Trees at Gifford Woods State Park

    It’s hard to imagine, but most of Vermont’s forests and hillsides were clear-cut in the 19th-century. Still, while 80 percent of the state had been deforested, a handful of Vermont’s old forests miraculously survived. Some of those old trees—more than 300 years old—can be seen...

  • What Camping at Vermont State Parks Looks Like This Year
    What Camping at Vermont State Parks Looks Like This Year

    Vermont’s 55 state parks are open for the season, including 36 campgrounds ready to welcome overnight visitors. This year, Vermont State Parks are not offering boat rentals or opening its concession stands. The parks suspended rentals of cabins and cottages this year, and picnic tables have been...

  • 6 Vermont Fire Towers to Visit While Hiking
    6 Vermont Fire Towers to Visit While Hiking

    Vermont was once home to dozens of fire towers across the state. According to the Green Mountain Club’s 360 Degrees: A Guide to Vermont’s Fire and Observation Towers, 38 fire towers once stood in Vermont. Today, there are far fewer. The History of Vermont Fire Towers Many...

  • A Vermont Floating Bridge Spans Generations, Connects a Community
    A Vermont Floating Bridge Spans Generations, Connects a Community

    The famous Vermont floating bridge is making a buoyant comeback in Brookfield. Since reopening to vehicular traffic in May 2015—after being closed since 2008—the Floating Bridge is attracting visitors from near and far. The bridge, first built in 1820, spans 321-feet across scenic Sunset Lake. The newest...

  • In Groton State Forest, Seyon Lodge Offers Comforts of Home
    In Groton State Forest, Seyon Lodge Offers Comforts of Home

    In the remote Seyon Lodge in Groton, innkeepers Chris Brader and Tiff Soukup spend their days cooking meals, taking reservations, managing yardwork, grooming trails, and keeping guests comfortable and happy. But this is no ordinary lodge. Seyon Lodge is the only state-owned lodging destination of its...

  • Exploring Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park
    Exploring Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park

    We celebrated Dave's 35th birthday in Woodstock over the weekend and visited Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, a 550-acre park that opened to the public in 1998. The park is the only national park in Vermont, and it's the only national park to tell the story of...

  • Scenes from a Woodstock Road Trip
    Scenes from a Woodstock Road Trip

    Dave and I are due for another Woodstock road trip. Settled in 1768, Woodstock is repeatedly named one of the prettiest small towns in America. When you visit, you'll quickly understand why. Here you'll find historic homes and local businesses lining the streets, a covered bridge...

  • Hubbard Park in Montpelier
    Hubbard Park in Montpelier

     Montpelier is one of those cities with interesting bits of trivia. The Vermont state capital is the smallest in the nation and the only one without a McDonald's. But one notable fact about the city tends to get overlooked: Montpelier is home to one of the best...

  • Delta Park in Colchester

    Delta Park in Colchester is a 55-acre peninsula where the Winooski River empties into Lake Champlain. The park includes the Island Line Trail, a 12-foot wide elevated walkway and bike path that gives visitors access to this restricted wildlife area. In designated areas you can...