Notes from the host
19th-Century Farmhouse with Views On a lake
WELCOME!
Our quiet, pet-friendly 1830s farmhouse offers the classic Vermont experience. Surrounded by pastures and open woods it features expansive views of nearby mountains and beautiful skies (no light pollution at night guaranties stunning views of the Milky Way and numerous constellations.)
The immediate area offers all kinds of activities that will please families with young children as well as dog owners and sports fanatics.
Swimming, biking and hiking during the summer, and long walks in autumn during foliage season.
In winter, the Craftsbury Outdoor Center for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is 20 minutes away and several other ski resorts are under an hour away (Burke is 40 min., Jay Peak and Stowe close to an hour.)
Our 1.5 acre property is a mix of wild meadow and carefully managed lawn and paths for children (and dogs) to play and run around (there are barely any ticks, we've seen only one in 4 years.)
A sitting area allows for dining and grilling outside (with our vegetable garden always providing something for a nice salad.) The WIFI reaches all the way there and this is also a great spot to work surrounded by nature, including Zoom calls.
Wild flowers are progressively reclaiming the land and we’ve added many pollinator-friendly plants and as a result hummingbirds, monarchs and other butterflies and bees pay us frequent visits. We’ve also planted blueberries, raspberries, red and black currants and we have tons of sunflowers every August.
In 2024 we added two solar trackers in the far back of the property which follow the course of the sun for better efficiency.
- THE HOUSE -
Our house is comfortable for a large family, or for two couples or two families with children. And pets are more than welcome!
The first floor has two bedrooms, one with a queen bed, the other with a full bed and an additional twin bed. These rooms are independent but can communicate with each other as well as with a full bathroom.
The second floor has two bedrooms, with one room only accessible through the other, so this is better suited for parents and their children. The main room has a king bed, the second one is smaller with a full bed. There is also a convenient small bathroom with a sink and a toilet on this floor.
On the first floor we have a smaller more formal living-room with a television, DVD player and video games station, and a spacious open kitchen connected to a large dining / living space with a high efficiency, low particle emission wood stove (made in nearby Morrisville).
This living space is really the center of the house with lots of windows and access to the garden and a small porch in the summer. In the fall and winter the wood stove is an excellent source of heat and coziness for reading a book or preparing an elaborate meal. Most of the furniture in this room is made in nearby Newport.
Finally, a spacious mud room leads to the shed and the back of the house. The mud room connects with the living area but also leads to another bathroom with shower, toilet and sink, and our brand new Energy Star laundry machines.
WIFI internet allows for working from home (including Zoom meetings or classes) but the bandwidth is limited in this area of Vermont. It allows for streaming media on one device at a time (possibly two), like the living room TV but we also have a small collection of DVDs including Disney and Pixar. Cellphone service is extremely limited except over WIFI. We have books and toys for young children and a PS4 with games for older kids, as well as puzzles and board games.
- ACTIVITIES -
Our farm is on a quiet dirt road that allows for walks in all seasons through woods and pastures and absolutely stunning views (see pictures all taken on our property or nearby). You can either walk back to the house after a while or continue on other roads that allow you to get back through several itineraries of various length and levels of elevation, depending on the type of workout you prefer.
In the summer, we like to bike or drive to nearby Shadow Lake for swimming or kayaking The water is pristine and the lake association is very careful about preventing invasive species from contaminating the local ecosystem. There is a small but very nice public beach.
Caspian Lake is 20 minutes away by car and much bigger. It has a large public beach and is perfect for sailing or longer kayaking expeditions. You can also access Caspian lake for a fee through the private beach of the Highland Lodge.
Not far from the house is also the Craftsbury Outdoor Center, with its vast network of trails for mountain biking or cross-country skiing (it was featured in the New York Times in 2021 as one of the top destinations in the country for cross-country skiing.) It is a busy and welcoming space for beginners as well as professional athletes.
Various hiking trails in the area provide opportunities for wonderful explorations of nature: the Barr Hill Natural Area and the Mossy Trail in Greensboro are extremely easy and perfect for children whereas other trails are more challenging, such as the Mount Elmore trail that will take you up to an Alpine ecosystem overlooking the lake and a vast panorama.
Local roads are great for biking but less experienced or younger bikers will love the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and its gentle slope. You can catch the trail near Greensboro and bike to the very interesting towns of Hardwick or Morrisville - we highly recommend it!
- CULTURE -
The villages of Glover, Greensboro and Craftsbury form a very welcoming and diverse corner of Vermont where farmers, tourists, local artisans, artists and athletes cross paths at the busy general stores of Willey’s in Greensboro and the Genny in Craftsbury.
You will find the same friendly crowds again in the evening at one of the vibrant restaurants and bars of the area, such as the Highland Lodge in Greensboro, the Black Bird Bistro in Crafstbury, and Parker Pie in West Glover, which often offers live music.
We are also at the center of a true culinary paradise, with local organic produce from Pete’s Green, exceptional cheeses from Jasper Hill as well as outstanding beer from Hill Farmstead, all grown / made within 15 minutes from the house. You can also buy excellent and sustainably raised meat (beef, pork, chicken), maple syrup and other produce from neighboring and local farms. Willey's and The Genny carry excellent wines and our kitchen is fully equipped for the most ambitious cooks!
As for feeding the mind and the soul, extraordinary cultural institutions are also just a 20 minute car ride from the house:
In Greensboro, the magnificent Highland Center for the Arts features concerts, shows and exhibits.
In Glover, the world famous Bread and Puppet Theater organizes weekly outdoor summer shows with giant puppets and a strong political message (young children may be scared / not interested). Their museum is open until late fall and is definitely worth a visit.
Also not far, the intriguing Museum of Everyday Life is housed in an open barn and was featured in the New York Times in 2019. The current exhibition is about notes and to-do lists, previous ones have been about matches, locks and keys, or safety pins!
Finally, Circus Smirkus in Greensboro, the only tented traveling youth circus in the United States, offers two amazing shows in June and late August that will astonish and inspire the whole family.
- FURTHER AWAY -
If you are willing to drive a bit further (35 minutes away), the town of Hardwick offers several shopping opportunities, including an amazing bookstore and an organic co-op, and several excellent places to eat lunch or dinner. It has a small but wonderful downtown area with the Lamoille river going through it.
A bit further away in the other direction (45 min), you will be able to enjoy the town of Saint Johnsbury, with shopping and dining opportunities as well as the fascinating Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. For dog lovers, Dog Mountain and the Dog Chapel are a must.
Stowe and Jay Peak are 1 hour away - Burke and its vast network of ski and bike trails is 40 minutes away.
Finally, if you are feeling really adventurous, Montreal is less than 2.5 hour away by car and easy to get to via nearby I-91. Perfect for a day trip or a weekend!
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Hosted byEric and Joanna
