Contributing writer Chris Maron is the executive director of Champlain Area Trails. Winter is a great time to enjoy the Champlain Area Trails (CATS). They offer a range of outdoor experiences with easy to moderate routes good for cross-country skiing, some short climbs to beautiful views, and extended excursions through forests, fields, and along streams. The wide variety of CATS trails include wonderful excursions in the...

Whenever I set foot on the grounds of Fort Ticonderoga I feel a distinct sense of privilege. I am clearly aware I am treading on the same sacred soil as America’s first patriots and I know that, if not for their sacrifice, my life today may not be so blessed. I also feel indebted to the Pell family who began preservation of this American treasure over 100 years ago. With gratitude to their vision and effort I am permitted the unique...

The holiday season has a lot of heart-warming elements, but one of the most important is the feasting. Whether it is a couple's getaway for some rare us-time, or a large gathering of family and friends, the many wonderful farms and restaurants along the Adirondack Coast will provide some lovely touches to the festivities. At home Get some special ingredients for that upcoming gathering by visiting The Hub on the HIll. From produce to...

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...

“Heed this warning, gentle travelers: the depths of Lake Champlain shall not be plumbed after the sun has set over the Adirondack High Peaks.” It sounded like a request born of paranoia and 18th-century superstition, something to be scoffed at rather than followed. But there it was, and the old man who said it, a classic captain-looking gent with cracked skin, boney fingers, and a squint to his eyes, looked dead serious.  Rich and...

My favorite part of seeing a new town is often trying the food. The local restaurants always give an insider look at a town’s personality. Is it pretentious? Is it inviting? Recently I returned to one of my local favorites in Elizabethtown, otherwise known as the county seat of Essex. Elizabethtown is right next to Keene which is ensconced in the High Peaks. And, similar to Keene, Elizabethtown offers stretches of scenic driving and...