Mad River Valley Archives - Happy Vermont

Mad River Valley

  • 7 Festive Vermont Towns to Visit This Winter
    7 Festive Vermont Towns to Visit This Winter

    "The snow is sparkling like a million little suns." - Lama Willa White-capped mountains, icy ponds and snow-covered valleys make winter in Vermont hard to beat. In Vermont towns, you’ll find ski areas, festive events, sledding hills, skating rinks, general stores and restaurants. Here are seven of...

  • Woodchuck Golf in Waitsfield is a Backyard Labor of Love
    Woodchuck Golf in Waitsfield is a Backyard Labor of Love

    On a clear spring day, you can see the top of Jay Peak from Spencer Potter's backyard in Waitsfield. Just steps away from his house on Palmer Lane are a patio, a pond, a burn pile, and a six-hole golf course named Woodchuck Golf that...

  • Podcast: Turnpikes, Toll Roads and Historic Routes
    Podcast: Turnpikes, Toll Roads and Historic Routes

    Driving west on Route 17, the road’s pitch starts to noticeably change as it rounds past Mad River Glen and climbs to an elevation of 2,375 feet in Buel’s Gore. The area, known as the “App Gap,” is also referred to as the McCullough Turnpike—a...

  • The Joys and Challenges of Running a Country Store
    The Joys and Challenges of Running a Country Store

    At the Warren Store in Vermont's Mad River Valley, you can find everything from fine wine, hot cider, and deli sandwiches to silver earrings, leather bags, and CBD products. Running a general store means juggling many tasks at once—tracking inventory, running a cash register, posting on...

  • 6 Vermont Swimming Holes to Explore This Summer
    6 Vermont Swimming Holes to Explore This Summer

    Vermont swimming holes hold a special place in the hearts of locals and visitors. If you’re looking for a place to jump off rocks or wade in shallow waters, you'll find dozens of scenic swimming holes in Vermont. For centuries, Vermont swimming holes have drawn visitors...

  • Celebrate Spring at Pond Skimming Competitions at Vermont Ski Areas
    Celebrate Spring at Pond Skimming Competitions at Vermont Ski Areas

    Pond skimming competitions are a rite of spring in ski culture. Between March and May, ski areas across the world celebrate the end of the season by having skiers and snowboarders gliding across a man-made pond in wild costumes. Vermont pond skimming events have been around...

  • A Quirky Spirit of Independence at the Warren July 4th Parade
    A Quirky Spirit of Independence at the Warren July 4th Parade

    The Warren July 4th parade along Main Street celebrates independence with a twist. Now in its 67th year, this small-town parade has achieved legendary status in Vermont. This is by far my favorite Independence Day celebration in Vermont. In addition to the classic cars, lively performers...

  • A Year After Irene: Bridge Street in Waitsfield
    A Year After Irene: Bridge Street in Waitsfield

    [caption id="attachment_799" align="aligncenter" width="720"] The Mad River and the Village Bridge in Waitsfield.[/caption] When Tropical Storm Irene tore through Vermont last August, some of the towns hardest hit included communities along Route 100. From Wilmington to Waterbury, the damage was devastating – rain and flooding washed...

  • Leaf-Peeping as a Local in the Mad River Valley
    Leaf-Peeping as a Local in the Mad River Valley

    Dave, Phoebe and I took a ride to Vermont's Mad River Valley on Saturday. We hadn't done much leaf-peeping this fall, so we were looking forward to enjoying some foliage over the weekend. We traveled south on Route 100 and meandered along some back roads in...

  • Fall Foliage in the Mad River Valley
    Fall Foliage in the Mad River Valley

    The Mad River Valley is always a perfect place to enjoy fall foliage. During the fall, the hillsides in this scenic area of central Vermont are particularly bright with shades of red, orange and gold. I typically drive along the back roads of Waitsfield, Warren and...