Woodstock

Woodstock, Vermont is nicknamed the prettiest small town in America, and well, it’s an absolutely fitting name. It’s a town with a population of about 3,000 full of charm, eclectic people and the warmth that comes with being in a small town. It probably would not have been on our radar unless we had had welcoming, generous hosts.

Our original plan of travel had been to go up the coast, including the coast of Maine, then come back through New Hampshire, Vermont and upstate New York. Several factors contributed to us changing plans and zigzagging a bit. First off, everything is really fairly close here, so a little zigzagging is just a few hours more. Second, Acadia had incredibly few campsites with availability for more than one night. Third, timing for the friends we wanted to see worked out better with a bit of a detour. 

I am so very fortunate to teach at such an amazing school where I am fortunate to be surrounded by a supportive community and involved parents. It’s a small community and everyone seems to truly put the kids first and foremost. Two years ago, I taught a student who’s family had just purchased a home in Woodstock. When I mentioned to the family that my friend and I were headed that direction this summer, they graciously offered to host us for a few days. Tabby, Adam and Grady were incredible hosts! Their home is not only beautiful, but it has some incredible history behind it. The original part of the house is from 1796, with an addition coming in the 1930s. At one point, it was used as a schoolhouse, so in the 1950s, a bombshelter was added for the safety of the pupils. I climbed in their one day, and it was pretty fascinating! We ducked in two large pipes to enter, and then it opened up into a large room with toilets, sinks and old pieces of wood, probably left from furniture that had been part of the shelter.

Arriving on the 4th of July, we jumped right into celebrations and festivities. Another former student, Caroline, and her parents, Jeremy and Christie, were visiting as well, so it was so fun to get to be reunited with kiddos and spend time with friends on the 4th. Tabby and Adam have made lots of friends in this small community where everybody seems to know everybody, so we were all invited to a celebration at someone’s house. The food, friendly people and lightening bugs were all perfect. And the fireworks show from town that we could see from our hilltop view was patriotic and a perfect way to enjoy the birthday of our country!

Over the next couple of days, we explored the beauty and charms of the small town. We went to the swimming hole with the kids. It’s basically a pond that is open for the public to enjoy during the summer, and especially during this heat wave. The Quechee Gorge was, as Grady said, “GORGEous.” A stunning drop down to a river that traveled over and through rocks. At the end, a large swimming area was created where the river widened. Lots of people were swimming, escaping the heat, so we waded amongst the rocks and in the refreshing water for a bit.

Wanting to see quintessential Vermont, we were seeking maple syrup and cheese. Sugarbush Farm has both! The small family farm has friendly animals for you to visit, fifteen cheeses to sample, and lots of information about syrup! Vermont is perfect for syrup, not only because many sugar maples grow here, but because the syrup comes out as the trees thaw after several months of winter. We in Alabama don’t have several months of winter for that to occur! As the trees thaw, the syrup comes out for several weeks, coming out of a tap on a tree much faster than I assumed. Most farmers have a system of tubes amongst the thousands of trees so they aren’t hauling buckets back and forth. What comes out is boiled down into syrup. Nothing is added, just the water is boiled off so the deliciousness is left behind. It takes a lot to boil down to syrup: 

There are four different grades of syrup. It has nothing to do with the tree or the boiling process, but rather at what time the syrup comes out of the tree. The earliest in the season is the lightest and it grows darker as the season continues. Syrup is a natural sweetener, and as such is fairly healthy. Of course, the syrup that most of us buy in our local store is corn starch. Be on the lookout and buy just the pure syrup instead - not only is it incredibly delicious, but it’s better for you, too!

We visited Simon Pearce, a well-known glass studio where we watched artists in blistering heat create incredible works of glass. Here we also had a delicious lunch while we watched people swim in the river. It was also nice to get to use the Simon Pearce glassware at lunch since our pocketbooks would not allow us to bring any of it home.

Billings Farm was another visit for us where we got to meet some Jersey cows and precious sheep. A working farm for a very long time, and one of the first in the area to focus on butter and cheese rather than milk, the farm offers an insight into history and farm life. It is attached to a National Park property with a mansion once owned by the Rockefeller family and land with lots of walking trails. We did not go in the mansion, but we wandered some of the well-kept trails through the woods.

Woodstock, first established in 1761, has all the charm of a town settled so long ago. The center of town is a park called “the green” with a one-way circle around it. Just off the green are homes dating back to the early 1800s, an old library, a beautiful church, the Inn and a handful of little shops. The shops range from galleries to bookstore to restaurants and a Vermont flannel store. The general store in town has everything one could ever need. There’s milk and apples along with lots of syrup, winter clothes, puzzles, kitchen gadgets and gardening tools. In town there is also a large chalkboard labeled “the Town Crier.” Apparently at one time, it was where people could post complaints and greviances about neighbors, but it is now where events are advertised.

One night, we went to the Inn for dinner. It is truly lovely! A huge fireplace with logs the size of tree trunks greets you. There’s a pool outback by the spa and a Paul Revere bell in the courtyard. There’s even a game room where games like pinball, Pac-Man and foosball can be played without a coin. We left Alabama spelled out on the giant magnetic scrabble board.

Tabby and Adam love to entertain, and they wanted a good reason to bring all of their friends in Woodstock together. They also wanted to show them how southerners had a good time. So, why not a proper crawfish boil? And man did they do it right! There was crawfish, potatoes, corn, onions, and Jeremy and Christie brought conecuh sausage to add to the pot as well. A huge crowd showed up and everybody had fun digging in! The food was delicious, but I think what I enjoyed most was the people we met. It was an incredibly eclectic group of people with a wide variety of skills and talents.

There was the movie producer who was incredibly humble, but loved talking about great films. He told us a bit about some of his latest, including one that sounds powerful and heartbreaking, but is a story that needs to be told. It’s about a school shooting. He told us of the emotions behind the scenes, especially of the big burly crew members wiping their eyes throughout the process. I look forward to sitting down with a box of tissues soon and watching And Then I Go, currently on Amazon.

We also thoroughly enjoyed talking to his well-spoken eleven-year-old daughter who just recently starred in a short film that should be coming out soon called Somewhere in July. She eloquently told us about her character, July, who was a typical kid in junior high dealing with bullying while her father became a transgender woman.

An older woman we spoke to at length had lived in the area her whole life as had many generations before her. She and her family had a maple farm as many do in the area. She is also the board president of a building known as the Academy. From 1848 - 1898 the academy was a private, liberal school where both boys and girls could go to school. One of the first private schools in the area to not be affiliated with a religious organization, the school drew a crowd from all over. The building was closed for a long time so even much of the same furniture remains and is set up as the classrooms once appeared.

There was a young couple we spent much of the evening with who also had a fascinating background. For years, he had taught fly-fishing in Wyoming, but recently decided to attend law school. So, he was in the area going to school and teaching fly-fishing on the side. She had been a stylist in New York City and was now doing her best to bring the spa at the Inn from a four star to a five star rating. The minute details it takes to make that change were intriguing.

As teachers, we really enjoyed a long conversation with a man who loved math. He loved math so much and wanted to make sure all students did that he has created an app that gives kids a combination of practice and tutoring. He’s working with states across the country, and said he had even been in Montgomery talking to law makers about getting the program in our public schools.

There was the lovely couple who started a pottery company a few years ago, and their beautiful work has become well-known around the country. Look for the creamy-white glaze that is the signature of Farmhouse Pottery.

And there was one man at the party whom I sadly did not get to meet before he left, but he had an incredible claim to fame. He was an older British gentleman with poise and charm who was the carriage driver for Prince Charles and Diana on their wedding day! 

Woodstock, Vermont was truly one of the prettiest small towns I’ve ever been to, but it was the people that made it so truly special! Not only spending time with the people I already know and love, but getting to meet new people and learn about careers and lifestyles outside of the one I feel so comfortable in. Woodstock was wonderful!