Orange County Archives - Happy Vermont

Orange County

  • Vermont Holiday Events to Celebrate the Season
    Vermont Holiday Events to Celebrate the Season

    Looking for Vermont holiday events in 2023? Small-town parades, stunning light displays and holiday markets are just a few of the ways to celebrate the holiday season in the Green Mountain State. Here are just a few Vermont holiday events that are sure to bring plenty...

  • Making Friends in Vershire with Coffee and Beer
    Making Friends in Vershire with Coffee and Beer

    Justin Willeau was eager to find ways to meet people and contribute to the community when he moved to Vershire in 2020. He attended town meetings, volunteered, and helped his neighbors with odd jobs like baling hay. Vershire, named after the first syllable of Vermont and the...

  • Vermont Town Halls Showcase History, Community & Civic Life
    Vermont Town Halls Showcase History, Community & Civic Life

    Meander through the center of just about any small Vermont town and you'll likely come across a town hall. Not every Vermont town hall is the go-to place on Town Meeting Day—the first Tuesday in March—but many are gathering places for democracy in action that...

  • Snowsville to Lost Nation: Vermont Place Names Offer a Glimpse into Local History
    Snowsville to Lost Nation: Vermont Place Names Offer a Glimpse into Local History

    If you spend enough time in any Vermont town, you'll likely come across Vermont place names like Maple Corner in Calais, Snowsville in Braintree, and Hortonville in Mount Holly. These places are not official villages but rather unincorporated areas that are deeply rooted in the...

  • Small Vermont Ski Hills Offer Affordable Winter Fun
    Small Vermont Ski Hills Offer Affordable Winter Fun

    In the early days of New England skiing, winter enthusiasts flocked to small Vermont ski hills like Northeast Slopes in East Corinth, Gilbert’s Hill in Woodstock (home of the first rope tow in the United States), and Prospect Mountain in Woodford. Vermont skiing has come a...

  • Where are the Most Maple Trees in Vermont?
    Where are the Most Maple Trees in Vermont?

    If you're wondering if there's an epicenter of Vermont maple trees, look no further than rural Orange County. The county, home to the most maple trees in Vermont, is located east of the Green Mountains. The region includes Newbury, West Topsham, Vershire, Strafford, Thetford, Brookfield, Chelsea, Randolph,...

  • Braintree Couple Stays Connected Walking Vermont Dirt Roads
    Braintree Couple Stays Connected Walking Vermont Dirt Roads

    More than 8,500-hundred miles of dirt roads zig-zag across Vermont, and that’s a lot of ground to cover by car, foot, or bike.  Paulette Staats and her husband, Paul Shriver, take it one road and one step at a time. The retired couple, married for 43...

  • 5 Vermont Public Gardens to Visit in 2023
    5 Vermont Public Gardens to Visit in 2023

    It's nearly time to stop and smell the flowers in Vermont public gardens. Five Vermont public gardens worth visiting this spring and summer showcase peonies, roses, hydrangeas, sunflowers, lavender, fruit trees, and more. Some gardens require admission, while others are open for free. Hildene in Manchester -courtesy of...

  • 6 Winter Outdoor Alternatives to Alpine Skiing
    6 Winter Outdoor Alternatives to Alpine Skiing

    Getting outside in winter feels more important than ever as the outdoors can boost our mood and create mindfulness. In Vermont, skiing is often the go-to for outdoor winter activities. But there’s more to Vermont winters than skiing. From wooded snowshoe trails to outdoor ice skating...

  • Beautiful and Unusual Places in Vermont
    Beautiful and Unusual Places in Vermont

    When you think of Vermont, what comes to mind? People will say Vermont reminds them of Ben & Jerry’s, fall foliage, maple syrup, or even Bernie Sanders. I love all those things, but Vermont is so much more. In fact, it's the unusual places in Vermont...