Cumulative Official Town Count | Cumulative Unofficial Town Count |
34 | 18 |
Dirt roads are the best (only?) ways to explore the towns of Danville, Cabot, Calais (pronounced: callous), and Worcester, in Vermont. And, while mud season (yes, it's a thing here) hasn't officially arrived, it sure felt like it had on March 1st; the dirt roads connecting these towns were often rutted and slippery. Some of those ruts were deep enough that my car behaved as if it were in the car wash grooves... One of the locals said that these roads were still firm and nothing to be concerned about -- I'd hate to drive them when things really start to thaw! So, beware: driving on dirt roads during the thaw of winter in Vermont can be iffy... I wish I could share a picture, but I was thinking only about getting to the end of the road without issue and forgot to stop for a photo. Won't happen again.
DANVILLE
Danville, VT hugs the western border of The North East Kingdom (NEK) of Vermont, and is a charming town of roughly 2300. It has a nice covered bridge, beautiful farm-laden rolling hills, some shops and eateries, and is home to the national headquarters of the American Society of Dowsers! (Who knew?!). Should you find yourself in town and peckish, be sure to stop at Bentley's Bakery for a treat, coffee, breakfast, or lunch.
CABOT, VT
Cabot, VT is a very small town best known for its namesake cheese (Cabot Creamery) and the AM Foster Covered Bridge. The population was about 1400 in 2020, and while the country side is scenic, there's not a lot to see in town. Like many small towns, there is a town green, historical society (the sign maker didn't plan well and the full name doesn't fit over the door), and post office. Sadly, visitors are no longer able to visit the cheese facility (which is utterly non-descript), BUT there is an awesome hardware store (with bar and Cabot cheese in stock) called Harry's Hardware that is well worth a visit (and makes for a good drink/ rest stop if necessary). The covered bridge is beautiful. Oh, and if maple is your thing, be sure to stop at Goodrich's Maple Farm for a free tour and some goodies.
CALAIS, VT
Calais is a town/ community with a population of 1,661 (in 2020), and is comprised of the unincorporated communities of Adamant, East Calais, North Calais, Kent's Corner, Maple Corner and Pekin. The post office shares a building with the Maple Corner Community Store where you can also pick up the necessities -- like wine, goat soap, tempeh, tofu, freshly made soups and chips. The Whammy Bar is in the back, but is only worth a visit when a band is playing there. Kent's Corner is (apparently) home to a museum which had no signage and is closed in winter; it originally served as a stagecoach stop between Montpelier and Canada. Pretty much just across the (dirt) road from the building is the site of the Robinson Sawmill, much destroyed by the floods of 2023. The Calais town hall was built in 1866 as the Christian Church and has been used for town gatherings since 1868. East Calais has a beautiful and hip general store (opened in 2023) which is well worth a stop should you be driving through; they sell the must-haves, as well as local arts and gourmet local foods/ confections.
WORCESTER, VT
Worcester is a very small town, with a population of 964 (in 2020). While it has the basics not found in all very small Vermont towns (like a church, town hall, post office, and historical society), it is really known for the epic hikes which can be reached in the town. Specifically, Mount Hunger, Mt. Worcester, and CC Putnam State Forest are all in Worcester, and for serious hikers and those seeking great views, that is what is special about Worcester. As I was there in March, I did not try any of those hikes, but at some point may well return to do so; like in summer or Fall. I loved that the town hall had its wifi password (1234567) posted on the door in case folks needed internet access. And, while it may feel like Worcester is in the middle of nowhere, it is actually pretty near to Montpelier!
Please know that I am still WAY behind in my 251 blog posts. I have actually now visited 150 out of the 251 towns. So stay tuned for (much, much) more!
Comments