As the third day in a row of single digit temperatures progresses, I wonder if the heat from the simmering pot of beans and ham hock on the stove is enough to take the chill out of the kitchen. I consider lighting a fire in the wood stove, but decide what might be nicer is a cup of golden spring time sunshine to warm me up. If you are a regular reader of the Lake Champlain Region blog, you know we have many fine spots to enjoy a cocktail...

For me, one of the most valuable experiences in traveling is getting to support the local makers of a region. By local makers, I mean farmers, artisans, and other craftspeople. The Adirondacks has a thriving scene of local makers, especially an abundance of innovative farmers. The mountainous landscape may be rough, but these farmers make it work. I recently spent an afternoon at the Hub on the Hill, which is not only the hub for this local food...

Submitted by guest blogger, Tim Rowland When America’s first landowners were parceling out property to colonists, it came with an unusual condition: When taking residence, the new homesteader was required to plant a substantial orchard of 90 to 100 fruit trees. The reason was straightforward enough. Survival on these new plantations was sketchy at best; what became the town of Frederick, Maryland, was originally given the not-so-...

The Adirondacks is one of the most spectacular places in the world to see the leaves change. People from all over the world travel to set foot where the mountain peaks touch the sky, to absorb the vibrant splashes of color painted across the vast Adirondack mountainscape.   It was early October and the leaves were just starting to change; I was heading out the door on a foggy fall morning for a long bike ride. The plan: bike to...

Ticonderoga Area Chamber of Commerce Blog – Written by Katherine Rasmus There is so much we can learn when we take a moment to step back and contemplate mother nature. There is such beauty when the trees begin their annual transition to dormancy, it is amazing what hidden beauty can emerge when we let go. Sometimes it seems in this life we think we have it all planned out, then suddenly there is the change that we never see...

The Lake Champlain Region offers wonderful ways to enjoy fall foliage. Each of these ways offers delightful variations. The differences in microclimate between sea level and the tops of the mountains mean enough scenery to fill a day, a weekend, or a week. With the time it takes to drive from the coast to inland, or to hike from the bottom of the mountain to the top, you can experience different time frames of the leaves...