Hubs and I love weekend getaways. They are short and sweet. Our favourite spot is in Lower Waterford, Vermont.
Do you watch Scandal? If so... Although I hate the idea of Fitz and Olivia together (I'm #teamjake), I totally think that they'd make it if they moved to Vermont. This place is simply magical. We've been coming to Vermont for the past 8 years, and it never disappoints. Covered bridges. Quaint shops. Small towns. Great food. And the landscape is fabulous all year long. Plus, there are tons of things to do.
Hubs scored on this one
Hubs gets all the credit for finding our spot. We were planning our 4th anniversary celebrations and I only had 2 requests: it had to be romantic (this was back when we thought we could turn ourselves into a lovey-dovey couple) and no further than Vermont and New Hampshire, two states we hadn't step foot in yet and which are driving distance from our home (Ottawa). He typed all the right keywords into Google, and voilà: we discovered the perfect bed and breakfast (Rabbit Hill Inn).
It's not our usual "travel on a budget" way of travelling. But it's worth every penny. The service is excellent and the breakfast is scrumptious.
We've never been there with friends. It's sort of our own little retreat. The location isn't a secret. I've recommended it to friends (and one of them was really satisfied). We just haven't shared the experience with anyone else.
Do your googles
There's a lot to do in that part of the world. The myriad of small towns offers the best of small-town America: quaint shops, quiet streets, genuinely nice people. If you're an outdoors person, there are lots of trails (including the Appalachian Trail), lakes, ski stations and camping grounds.
Throughout the years, we've:
Taken the aerial tramway to the top of Cannon Mountain. The view is magnificent.
Visited the Bassin and picknicked by the stream. No, we didn't dip our toes in the water. That's water is icy cold.
Visited Hildene, the Lincoln Family Estate. We spent 1.5 hours there. If you're a history buff, this will be right up your alley. There's even a Pullman (train car) on site!
Tasted ice-cream at the Ben & Jerry's factory. The 30-minute tour is loaded with dairy humour (their words, not mine) and social consciousness.
Jumped over the border to New Hampshire and visited Littleton, the perfect small town. Complete with a covered bridge and the world's longest candy line.
Now you know why we keep on going back to Vermont, and it's not only about romance... *wink*