Driving through Vermont in Autumn : Artisan Cheese + Apple Butter

November 7, 2016

After leaving the Woodstock area, we headed off toward Manchester, Vermont where we were staying for the night. About a 2 hour drive straight, we instead chose to take the scenic routes and pull off where we wanted to. One of those stops included the Plymouth Cheese Company to stock up on local Vermont cheddar cheese, apple butter and snacks for the car. Not only was the location cute and charming, the views of scenery in the area were simply stunning. From old barns, to old country roads leading into seemingly painted hills – the colors at this stop were breathtaking!

6 Reasons To Travel With Your Partner

November 4, 2016

Nick and I will have been married 6 years this weekend and while in some ways it seems like our wedding day was just yesterday, other times it feels like a lifetime ago! Over the past 6 years, we’ve traveled frequently, seen 6 continents together, visited and explored countless countries and cities and driven through countrysides all over the world. Sometimes when I really think about it, I’m truly amazed at how much of the world we’ve seen together. And while it’s taken a lot of hard work and time, it’s been more than worth it!

We’re in an age where anyone can travel independently. Anyone, man or woman, can choose to go anywhere they really want to, and I’ve done my fair share of solo travel as well over the years. But in truth, my favorite is always traveling with Nick, having that person you love by your side as you explore the far corners of the world. So in honor of our anniversary this weekend, here are the best 6 reason to travel with your partner and see the world together!

1. You have a support system.

Travel is hard; it’s exhausting, things often go wrong and you’re often making decisions on the fly. Having someone there with you truly helps and offers a support system in those difficult moments. Especially having someone you love and know well can be helpful when making those tough decisions and your partner is the perfect person for that!

2. You don’t have to lug your stuff everywhere alone.

One of the things that I love about traveling with Nick (among others) is that with two of us, I don’t have to lug my stuff everywhere on my own. Whether it’s being able to run to the restroom in the airport and leaving my luggage with him or having help pulling suitcases down cobblestone streets in Europe – having that extra person there is so helpful when traveling!

3. It enriches your relationship.

I truly believe that traveling with your partner enriches your entire relationship. Once you have these experiences that bond you, when you’ve been through it all while traveling with your partner, those memories completely enrich the relationship you have and you’ll never be the same after that in the best possible way.

4. Someone to laugh and cry with.

There are some travel days when you either can laugh or cry, when things so wrong or you’re so tired it literally hurts. Those are the days when it’s so nice to have that person you love by your side to laugh and cry with – even in the worst circumstances that makes everything better.

5. It teaches you understanding and patience.

Travel with Nick has taught me more lessons than perhaps I’ve learned in our everyday lives together. Understanding and patience are much more important when traveling with a partner and there are things that come up that you’ll just have to practice those qualities more than perhaps you would at home.

6. You’ll learn more about your partner in a quick period of time.

Traveling brings different things out in different people and you’ll learn so much about your partner in a very quick period, whether good or bad. The lessons we’ve learned about each other while traveling have carried over into our daily lives and as in #5, practicing understanding and patience while traveling are perhaps two of the most important qualities! But the feeling of falling in love with travel with your partner is one of the best in the world – so head on our there with the person you love and see the world!

The Most Beautiful Town in New England : Woodstock, Vermont

November 3, 2016

We arrived in Woodstock, Vermont around mid-day on a Saturday, after having just driven down the hill from the gorgeous Sleepy Hollow Farm and while I had seen some pretty cute photos of the town, nothing could have prepared me for how much I loved it. We drove in down the main street, found a parking space at the far end of town and then wandered back the way we came in, heading back to a small stream we had noticed and then meandering through the amazing colonial houses lining the main street and finally through the little town itself, complete with a village butcher and tiny little market, as well as shops and restaurants scattered throughout the few blocks of the main town area.

The leaves were falling, covering the front stoops of colonial houses, the foliage changing colors almost in front of our eyes and the rain falling lightly, as we wandered through Woodstock, the most beautiful town in New England. I remarked to Nick as we walked the beautiful streets, “maybe we should retire here, buy a little colonial, fix it up and wander into town on beautiful days.” I meant it honestly – Woodstock stole my heart and it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. If in Vermont, don’t miss this beauty of a town!

Off the Beaten Path in Vermont : Sleepy Hollow Farm

November 2, 2016

One place I was extra excited about on our New England roadtrip this Fall was Woodstock, Vermont, but more specifically the outskirts of the town. I had found in my research this gorgeous farm just about 10 minutes out of Woodstock called the Sleepy Hollow Farm. The photos looked amazing and we love a good adventure off the beaten path, so as we left New Hampshire, we crossed into Vermont and headed straight there!

In short, this spot did not disappoint and was even more beautiful in person (and on second note, when I saw Nick’s photos of this area (below), I was even more in love). The windy one lane road that takes you up into the hills above Woodstock is beauty enough, with Fall foliage galore. But once at the top, the views look down over this beautiful farm and the surrounding hills, painting the whole scene like an oil painting. The colors in Vermont in the Fall are so stunning: deep rusts, olive-y greens and glistening golds – together they create a color palette that doesn’t even look real. Vermont and its towns are gorgeous, but the true beauty of the New England Fall lies in the country, off the beaten path at places like the Sleepy Hollow Farm off of Cloudland Road. Now if that doesn’t sound dreamy, I’m not sure what will!

*For your reference, if you are looking to see this area and Sleepy Hollow Farm in particular, we found that Google Maps showed the address really easily while it didn’t show on Apple Maps.

Forest Canopies in the Quechee Gorge and Ivy in Hanover, NH

November 1, 2016

I had been looking forward to our New England Autumn road trip for months and the colors and leaves surely didn’t disappoint once there! From Boston to Hanover, New Hampshire, our first stop on our road trip through the North Eastern US, we drove in awe of the colors of the trees around us. When we finally stopped and got out of the car in Hanover, I couldn’t help but smile at all the Fall colors in this tiny cute little town and the leaves falling all around me.

Home to famous Dartmouth College, Hanover is a true North Eastern college town to be sure. With cute little restaurants and shops, the main street is charming, made even more charming by the brick buildings covered in ivy and the Autumn colors lining the area. If in the area, Hanover is definitely worth a quick stop for sure!

After lunch and a quick stroll, we jumped back in the car en route to Woodstock, Vermont when we came across a pull out for the Quechee Forest and Gorge. So we pulled over, parked the car and ventured down the forest trail into the dense forest of changing colors. With leaves falling around us and the rain starting to fall, we took it all in and then headed back to the car. If you’re driving this route, this was a great stop and an easy pull off of the highway!

The Best Autumn Weekend Roadtrip from Boston

October 31, 2016

The New England Autumn is world-renowned, and well worth it. A couple weeks ago we decided to check out this famed part of the US during the Fall and I can’t stop raving about it. The colors were incredible, the scenery stunning and the small towns to die for. So if you’re thinking of doing you’re own Fall road trip in the North East of the US, here is the best Autumn weekend road trip from Boston, a great city to base out of in order to see the most of this part of the country. You’ll roam through the college towns of New Hampshire, the rolling hills of Vermont and the scenic byways of Massachusetts on this feast for the eyes journey! And if you only have a weekend to see it, that’s ok! While you could drive this part of the country for weeks seeing all there is to see, here’s the best way to see the most in a weekend!

Day 1 – Leave Boston bright and early!

Drive from Boston to Hanover, New Hampshire, the home of the famous Dartmouth University and lovely little North Eastern town, complete with grassy lawns and falling leaves.

Stop for Lunch at Molly’s Restaurant and Bar for clam chowder and wood fired pizzas in a cozy pub-like atmosphere.

Jump back in the car and head to the outskirts of Woodstock, Vermont – specifically headed toward the Sleepy Hollow Farm in the rolling foliage covered hills of Vermont.

This breathtaking off-the-beaten-path farm is magnificent in the Autumn, with leaves all around and the colors of the rolling hills looking like an oil painting. Stop for a while and take in the scenery here in the backroads of Vermont, an area that will for sure keep your eyes fixed on all the beauty around you!

When you’re ready to head on, drive the 10 minutes down the hills into Woodstock itself, the most beautiful little town you might ever see. Woodstock, Vermont is quite literally out of a story book, with colonial houses lining the main street, blocks from the town butcher and market. Spend some time here just admiring the best of small town USA, amidst the falling leaves and the Autumn colors.

Once you’re done admiring one of the most beautiful places in the US, jump back in the car and drive over the mountains to Manchester, Vermont. Along the way though, be sure to stop at Plymouth Artisan Cheeses along Vermont Route 4. Pick up maple syrup, Vermont cheddar cheese and homemade apple butter!

After your quick stop to pick up Vermont’s finest artisan products, head back out on the road towards Manchester, Vermont where you’ll stay for the night. On the road you’ll climb in elevation, crossing the Green Mountains and take in the gorgeous scenery of the drive.

Once in Manchester, Vermont, make your way to the gorgeous Taconic Hotel, a Kimpton property in this cute little New England town. Here you’ll stay for the night, cozy in the hotel and eating dinner next to a roaring fire at the hotel restaurant, the Copper Grouse.

Day 2 – Sleep in, then get back on the road bound for Massachusetts!

In the morning on Day 2, take your time getting up and around and enjoy the coziness of the Taconic Hotel, especially on chilly Fall days! When ready, head out of Manchester, Vermont towards Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Stop and wander this cute little town and grab a bit to eat at the Spring Street Market and Cafe, then get back on the road for a scenic drive back to Boston along scenic Route 2.

Along the way, stop and admire the foliage in the hilly windy roads and Windsor Lake outside of North Adams and the views over the Connecticut River outside of Gill. Take your time on the drive back to Boston, admiring the foliage and tiny towns along the way!

While you could spend weeks exploring the Autumn colors of New England, start with an introduction weekend and this is a great itinerary to see as much as you can in a weekend of these beautiful States!

Favorite Moments : Fall in Vermont

October 27, 2016

We got back earlier this week from a long weekend in New England to see the Fall colors in this famed part of the country. And while we spent most of our time in Vermont, we also made stops in New Hampshire and Massachusetts that were beautiful as well. So as we get all our photos edited and sorted from our trip, I can’t wait to start sharing how to take your own Fall road trip through New England as well! Starting today though, some of my very favorite moments from our Autumn road trip through the North East United States!

First Glimpses of Fall Color

As we left Boston early Saturday morning and headed North, within about 45 minutes of leaving the city we started seeing the famed New England Fall colors. Nick and I both kept remarking how different the colors are in this part of the country than we get in the Pacific North West. The New England Autumn is more muted but deeper in color, more jewel toned than the bright reds and yellows we get here in Oregon. We drove in awe of our surroundings the whole trip!

Sleepy Hollow Farm

Just outside of Woodstock, Vermont is a place called the Sleepy Hollow Farm on Cloudland Road. It’s totally off the beaten path and completely breathtaking in the landscape surrounding the farm. We headed off on the one lane road up the hill to get here and stopped every few minutes as the drive up there is so beautiful in itself. And once you’re at the top of the hill, overlooking this beautiful farm, it’s hard not to just stay there for hours admiring the beauty!

Woodstock, Vermont

Of all the little towns we drove through, Woodstock, Vermont was by far my favorite! The houses, the town, the foliage – it’s literally the most beautiful little town I’ve ever seen and I’d love to go back and stay in the town next time!

Our stay at The Taconic Hotel

One of the reasons we made Vermont a priority trip this year was due to the fact that Kimpton just opened a beautiful new hotel in Manchester, Vermont and I really wanted to check it out. In the end, it ended up being an amazing hotel in person!

Travel Tips : How to Book Award Travel

October 26, 2016

I book a lot of award travel, using points and mileage to purchase travel all around the world for insanely low personal cost to me. But I find, when talking to people in my life, they are always unsure in this arena of travel and always remark that they don’t really know how to properly take advantage of this system in order to travel at low costs. So I thought that a video actually showing you how I book award travel would be most beneficial to this discussion so that you can actually see how I do it and how you can too take advantage of some pretty amazing travel benefits right at your fingertips! So, for a video walkthrough of how to book award travel – here is everything I know on the subject to help you book your very own award travel bookings!

And for early access to these types of videos – be sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel for content like this!

The Truth About Traveling : Why You Shouldn’t Just Travel in the Summer

October 25, 2016

Ever notice that during the Summer our social media feeds are filled with people on vacation? It’s really no secret that Summer travel is peak season travel, when everyone heads somewhere for a break. It’s the hot weather, the kids are out of school and it just seems like the time everyone thinks is the best time to travel somewhere and get away. And while I’ve said many times here on Land of Marvels, that’s not my favorite time to travel, today I’ll tell you exactly why you shouldn’t just travel in the Summer and explain why you might want to start going against the Summer travel trend.

Personally, my reasons for not traveling in the Summer and peak season range from not liking the heat, trying to save money and traveling in off season at off season prices, and not loving huge crowds at tourist spots. But perhaps the most important reason in my opinion, why you shouldn’t just travel in the Summer is this – destinations are more real in the off season.

I really believe that travel opens you up to all sorts of things you would never learn had you stayed at home and that travel has the ability to really change you, to see the world in a different light and to expand our horizons, opening us up to new ideas and interesting people. And a lot of that gets severed when you travel in peak season, when there are so many people there, everything becomes a tourist attraction. When you are distracted by the insane traffic or the loud tourists yelling or the locals are agitated because of the Summer craziness. When you travel in the off seasons, when you see places quieter, you can really take it all in, you can really see the locals for who they are, you can explore without the hordes of people and you can really understand a destination.

A perfect example of this is Paris. I’ve been to Paris in all the seasons and the one year I went in July, I was blown away by what a different experience it was to all my other experiences in the City of Light. The crowds took away from exploring my favorite city, the loudness of the traffic and people everywhere was overwhelming. And while I am not discouraging people by any means of traveling in any way – it’s always amazing to travel no matter when you can. But if you’re looking for something more genuine, if you want to see a place for what it really is when the crowds are gone, if you want quiet and introspection, if you’re looking for authenticity when you travel – my best advice to you is this: don’t just travel in the Summer!

The off season can be a time to travel that will evoke all sorts of new emotions in you as a traveler. And instead of looking forward to things you do with Summer travel like the weather and availability, start relishing in things like snowy weekends in the dead of Winter or falling leaves in the rain or early Spring blooms. Those things are beautiful too and well worth the experiences, and on top of that, you may just find that everything about off season travel appeals to you!

10 Reasons You Should See More of the USA

October 24, 2016

Right off the bat, I should mention that this post is mostly geared toward my American followers, but if you’re not, that’s ok too. As an American, I’m learning more and more as I travel that while the rest of the world is amazing, we have some pretty incredible places right here at home in the USA as well. Just this year Nick and I have explored the gorgeous Antelope Canyon, taken in the vast Grand Canyon, watched the sunrise over the beaches of Hawaii, stared in awe at the landscapes of Alaska, and chased Fall foliage in Vermont. And while those were the highlights, next year we’re hoping to explore even more of the USA. So if you had any doubts on how amazing America is, here are 10 reasons you should see more of the USA!

1. The USA has some of the most unique landscapes in the world.

From the evergreen forest of the Pacific North West to the prairies of Middle America to the swamps of Florida to the deserts of Nevada and the fjords of Alaska, the USA is home to some of most unique and incredible landscapes in the world.

2. It’s close to home.

If you’re an American, it can often times be easier to just travel within your own country.

3. It can be cheaper than traveling overseas.

Without having to go long distances, you can find great deals exploring your own backyard!

4. You can see more in shorter distances.

Wherever you head in the USA, there is a lot around every area. It’s easy to base yourself in one section of the country and see a lot in short distances in your surrounding area.

5. There are so many diverse cultures within one country.

The USA is really like many smaller countries all in one. By exploring the USA, you’re opening yourself up to seeing so many different diverse cultures but all within the borders of one country.

6. For whatever type of trip you want, you can find somewhere in the USA that has it.

If you want beaches, we’ve got it. If you want desert, we’ve got it. If you want evergreen forests, we’ve got it. If you want to party, we’ve got it. If you want to escape, we’ve got it. If you want huge sprawling cities or wide open country, we’ve got it. We pretty much have a place for whatever you want in any sort of trip.

7. No need to get the passports out.

While I love traveling abroad, sometimes it really is just easier to not deal with getting out passports, dealing with visas or making sure your cell phone has a foreign data plan.

8. There is no need to take so many vacation days.

While you might need a full travel day on each end of a trip abroad, if you stay closer to home you won’t need to burn so many vacation days!

9. It’s fairly easy to get around.

The USA is pretty easy to get around, whether by car, train or plane so a trip to any place in the US is going to be decently accessible.

10. It’s important to know and see your own country.

While it seems so fun and exotic to travel abroad, it’s so important to see more of our own country and see how amazing it really is!

Driving through Vermont in Autumn : Artisan Cheese + Apple Butter