You’ll find rocking chairs waiting on porches, but don’t let them tempt you — there are also hundreds of miles of hiking, trekking and mountain biking trails to keep you busy.
The village of East Burke is home to Kingdom Trails (www.kingdomtrails.com), a world-class network of off-road bike trails. Established in 1994, it aims to encourage recreation among the natural beauty of the Northeast Kingdom, while also working to conserve the area’s natural resources. For $10 a day, you get access to all of it.
Aside from safety precautions, the only rules are that dogs stay on leashes (though they’d prefer your pooch stayed home) and that you don’t change in the parking lot — they’ve gotten a few complaints from the locals about half-naked bikers.
If you don’t have a mountain bike, a few local shops, including East Burke Sports (on Rte. 114 in town, www.eastburkesports.com), rent them out for full or half days, for $20-$50 depending on the bike.
The trails at Kingdom are friendly to all ability levels and riding styles, and this year there are several new downhill and freeride trails for people packing body armor and a full suspension bike.
If even that’s not enough to get your adrenaline going – or if you pop a tire – try sailing on Crystal Lake, hang gliding off Burke Mountain or scuba diving in the deep waters of Lake Willoughby.
For the softer of core, there’s also fishing, horseback riding and a handful of country clubs, as well as the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury. Modeled on Victorian collecting and exhibiting, the museum has natural and cultural history collections and a planetarium.
When you’re done adventuring, refuel at Juniper’s (www.junipersrestaurant.com), home of the best burgers in the Kingdom (and the largest selection of Vermont beers). If you’re more impressed by a long wine list, try the Tamarack Grill (www.skiburke.com), an American bistro serving up regional cuisine.
And then, finally, find those rocking chairs. Try the Wildflower Inn (2059 Darling Hill Rd. in nearby Lyndonville, home of Juniper’s Restaurant), where queen rooms run from $118-$180 a night. They also have family suites and cottages.
— Sarah Trent