Latest news with #VermontAssociationofSnowTravelers
Boston Globe
09-04-2025
- Boston Globe
Where to buy a New England vacation home for $400,000 or less
The view from Mount Katahdin's summit. Miles Howard East Longmeadow, Mass. When it comes to vacation in the Bay State, there are areas less crowded and less expensive than the Cape, the North Shore, and the Berkshires, but that still have scenic areas near recreation. One of these is East Longmeadow, situated in the Pioneer Valley between Springfield and the towns of northern Connecticut. East Longmeadow was once a center of red and brown sandstone quarrying: the stone making up the original building of Washington's Smithsonian Institution museum is from here. The Center Barnstead, N.H. Advertisement New Hampshire real estate prices have been rising, but the occasional quality home for under $400,000 still exists. An area to search is Center Barnstead, a community in the town of Barnstead and the largest of several villages in the town. It is close to the Lakes Region, which has convenient access to the hundreds of lakes south of the White Mountains. There you will find ski areas, art galleries, beaches, restaurants, ice cream shops, and all the other destinations vacationers seek, but with rural tranquility and scenic beauty. Advertisement A resort in New Hampshire's White Mountains region. Julia Tilton Eastport, Maine For good reason, the coast of Maine is a magnet for vacationers. With its countless harbors, coves, headlands, beaches, and islands, it is unparalleled for scenic beauty, fresh air, and fresh lobster. But, as with any desirable area, it is pricey, with houses in coastal towns fetching far more than inland real estate. This changes as you leave behind the crowds of the mid-coast and head Down East to Washington County. At the end of the road, at the Canadian border, is Eastport. With just a little over 1,000 people, it is the least-populous city in Maine, but also one of its most historic: Eastport celebrated its bicentennial in 1998. It is one of the most festival-minded communities in Maine. Navy ships have docked here during the Fourth of July celebration for many years. Every September, the city hosts the annual Maine Salmon Festival in the historic downtown district, and, for 20 years, there has been a Pirate Festival the weekend after Labor Day. Wardsboro, Vt. Vermont has maple syrup, great cheese, legendary ski mountains, picture-perfect villages, and cows grazing on hillsides unspoiled by billboards or strip malls. In the southern part of the state, between Mount Snow and Stratton Mountain in the This small town encompasses five villages, one of which literally has the name Podunk. Wardsboro has scenic beauty and recreational opportunities — Somerset Reservoir and Grout Pond are minutes from Main Street, and the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers Snowmobile trails run through the town — but none of the crowds and condos of nearby ski areas. Advertisement Eustis, Maine Hunters, hikers, nature lovers, and those who simply want to get away from it all head to the pine-scented peace of Maine's western mountains. Eustis, which includes the village of Stratton, is located about halfway between which provided transportation for Benedict Arnold and his troops in 1775, when they made their way to fight in the ill-fated Battle of Quebec. Later, the river was known for log drives, which involved floating wood down the river to mills, a deadly practice that was banned in 1976. Now the Dead River is a popular destination for white-water rafting.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Snowmobiling season is in full swing, bringing business booms to VT
HOLLAND Vt. (ABC22 FOX44) – For snowmobilers, the inches of snow has made for an economic boom. Snowmobiling is a massive contributor to Vermont's economy, second only to skiing, bringing in over $500 million to the state according to the President of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Patty Companik. The past two winters, she says, were more challenging due to warmer weather cutting the season short. But this year, VAST trail pass purchases have jumped from last year's 18,000 to 19,000 and counting. 'Our volunteers put in tens of thousands of hours preparing for the season every year, not knowing what the weather is going to deliver. But this year the weather has delivered,' Companik chuckled. The groomers and managers of trail 105-A, which runs directly parallel to the Canadian border, say they've seen hundreds of visitors this winter. And with a newly built warming hut, built by snowmobile club volunteers, they've been able to connect with the many snowmobilers who leave their names, and sometimes the humorous note or two, in their guest book. 'For us it's huge to get the membership out here, numbers are way up, and I think local businesses are getting a big impact which is huge,' said Mike Koehler, the President of Drift Dusters Snowmobile Club. Roger Gosselin, a part-time snow groomer, says has been staying out as late as midnight maintaining the trails— packing and clearing snow and trimming nearby tree branches. 'We haven't had grooming like this in probably four to five years, mother nature has really done well dropping a lot of snow in our area,' he said. Being on the border, Gosselin says, snowmobilers often get to know border patrol agents on a personal level. He says members of the club are hoping to honor fellow snowmobiler and Border Patrol Agent, Chris Maland, who died in a deadly shooting exchange last month. They will dedicate the 'Border Hut' in his memory at an official ribbon cutting ceremony on March 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
