Vermonter.com

It’s getting close to fall foliage season in Vermont. With all the rain we had this summer, I have to wonder how that will affect the fall colors this year. As most of us already know, backyard gardens didn’t do all that well. With the county fairs in progress and a couple of them already come and gone, the mornings are becoming much cooler. It won’t be long before the leaves start turning and fall foliage abounds throughout northern Vermont. Fall foliage season starts first in the hills of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. It’s also a great time of year for craft shows and harvest festivals.

With gas prices declining a bit, visitors to Vermont should have a more affordable view of the fall colors. Shelburne Museum has already reverted back to earlier closing times on Thursday nights. During the summer, the museum would stay open until around 7:30pm on Thursday evenings. Yes, the nip of autumn is already in the air and it won’t be long before we find out if Vermont fall foliage season 2008 is boom or bust. Keep your fingers crossed!

With a soggy summer coming to a somewhat brighter conclusion, the colors of autumn are just around the corner. Two things that signal the upcoming Vermont foliage season are country fairs and corn fields with 7-ft cornstalks almost ready for harvest.

I received an e-mail a few weeks ago from someone suggesting that I write an article about the declining amount of fun to be had at the Vermont county fairs. In his words, “none of the fairs have been worth a tinker’s damn ever since the hoot shows went away”. He may be right. I was in my teens when the last of the girly shows took place at the Orleans County Fair. I was always too young to get in and from what I heard later on, that’s one experience I’m probably better off for missing out on. I did notice that since those infamous “hoot shows” disappeared, the amount of fun things to do at the fairs have also declined.

The “freak shows” are no longer part of the fairs and probably fell victim to the politically correct, “holier than thou” folks who successfully ended the era of the girly shows. Ironic, how these days you can find much more hardcore perversion, indecency and deviant lifestyles every day, just about anywhere in America. Who knows? Maybe all the sensationalism at the fair just became obsolete because it couldn’t keep up with the dose of what we get everyday on TV and in real life, for free. We get Jerry Springer on TV every day so I guess no “freak show” at a Vermont county fair could compete with that.

A recent letter in the Barton Chronicle brings up a question about the lack of amusement rides such as a ferris wheel and other young adult/adult rides at the Orleans County Fair (aka Barton Fair), which was recently held. The writer has a point. It does seem a bit unusual to have a fair or carnival without the typical ferris wheel. Is this a sign that the Vermont fairs we all grew up with are on a slow decline towards becoming obsolete? Maybe so. In this economy where costs are skyrocketing and wages are flat or declining, it’s tough for any business or event to stay afloat.

The Champlain Valley Fair is coming up soon and is Vermont’s biggest fair. Over the years, people gripe that this fair is also “not what it used to be” compared to days gone by. I have noticed that some of the displays that used to take place have dwindled down a bit during the past 10 years but for the most part, the rides, games and of course the food all remain about the same. No “freak shows” anymore though and definitely no “girly show” tents.

I hope this article satisfies the fellow who requested it! Please feel free to add your own comments and thoughts.

Newport, VT is located on scenic Lake Memphremagog and is the only “city” in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. It is a sleepy town with a bit slower way of life and more authentic Vermont feel than it’s neighbors in Chittenden County. In it’s glory days, Newport City was a bustling railroad town with many large hotels along the waterfront and a paddle wheel excursion boat called the Lady of the Lake.

These days, Newport, VT is home to an imaginary lake monster and a real but infamous local celebrity nicknamed ‘Bigfoot’ who won a contest on the Howard Stern radio show. The Newport City Motel recently added a gorgeous new building with conference rooms to accommodate guests. And yes, the legendary ‘Bigfoot’ also slept there, though that’s probably not a claim to fame for the motel.

It’s funny how you can live in Vermont all your life and discover new places just about any day. As annual members of Shelburne Museum, you are entitled to a free tour of the Webb family’s “Brick House” at Shelburne Farms. The grounds are spectacular and so is the view of Lake Champlain. The tree lined driveway is wonderful, as you would expect from a family where money was not an issue. The house itself is a brick colonial with a large addition to the back. This is the kind of place where you could really kick back and live in grand style.

The tour guide was a nice guy who really seemed to enjoy his work. However, there were two ladies who seemed a bit uptight whenever my wife or I took photos and video. One of them asked me when I was taking a short video if I had “permission to be doing that”. Not seeing any signs or notification to the contrary, we weren’t sure. If they have a problem with photos, they should probably say so at or during the tour. Also, the tour was VERY regimented. I was also given the impression that you are expected to follow the group closely and not veer off on your own (for photos without other tour people in them), etc. If you like to explore on your own and take photos, etc. this may not be a tour you will enjoy.

If you’re the kind of person who would rather explore on your own, take photos and video, etc., Robert Lincoln’s (the son of Abraham Lincoln) Hildene Mansion in Manchester would be a better choice. The caretaker there was very hospitable and much more “tourist friendly” so you have much more freedom to roam the grounds at Hildene at your own leisure. Photos and videos of the Hildene Mansion are coming soon.