Drive-In Movie Theaters in Vermont and Nearby

Nothing offers up more built-in social distancing, more nostalgia or just a pure slice of Americana than the once pervasive drive-in movie theater that’s gaining a resurgence in today’s social distancing climate as America begins opening up again.

There are hundreds of theaters nationwide, more precisely there are perhaps only 305 theaters in the United States with a total of 549 screens, according to the United Drive-in Theater Owner Association.

CNN and The Washington Post have written about this resurgence, and even Food & Wine reports that “Restaurants Are Turning Their Parking Lots into Drive-In Movie Theaters… It’s the perfect socially-distanced outing.”

A Brief History of the Drive-In Movie Theater

In 1933 that Richard Hollingshead opened the first theater Camden, New Jersey. A year passed when Shankweiler built a second in Orefields, Pennsylvania (and, it’s still open today), but it wasn’t until the 1950s that the idea really resonated with rural America.  By 1958, the number of drive-ins peaked at 4,063.

Six Drive-In Movie Theaters Nearby Pond Mountain Inn 

Glen Drive-In Theatre: (since 1958) Queensbury, New York, 518.792.0023

Malta Drive-In Theatre: (since1949) Malta, New York, 518.587.6077

Hathaway’s Twin Drive-In Theater: (since 1948) North Hoosick, New York, 318.374.8346

Bethel Drive-In: Bethel, Vermont, 802.728.3740

Sunset Drive-In: (since 1948) Colchester, Vermont, 802.862.1800

Fairlee Drive-in Theatre: (since 1950) Fairlee, Vermont, 802.333.9192

The Fairlee Drive-In is only 1 of 2 drive-ins in the United States that also runs a motel on the same premises. All 12 motel rooms have a view of the drive-in with a large picture window and a speaker allowing motel guests to watch the movies from their rooms. 

Take a look at the full List of Drive-In Movie Theaters in the United States

https://www.familyvacationcritic.com/drive-in-movie-theaters-for-families/art/

Photo Courtesy of familyvacationcritic.com

 

 

 

 

Hiking Along Geyser Creek Trail In Saratoga Spa State Park

 

Another Social Distancing Activity… There are so many outdoor activities found in Saratoga!

Kay and I have spent time in Saratoga previously for the races but the highlight of this day trip was hiking along Geyser Creek Trail located in Saratoga Spa State Park – an easy walk featuring two signature springs; Island Spouter and Orenda Spring. An hour from Pond Mountain inn, Saratoga offers many interesting and fun places to experience!

Learn about our last visit to Saratoga that includes more about the Saratoga Racetrack!

Take a day trip to Saratoga! See our Saratoga Springs, New York • Day Trip: Itinerary

Breathtaking Views Fishing and Hiking at Lake Dunmore Vermont

Hiking is a wonderful Social Distancing Activity, and like the spring blooms, Vermont is opening up again…

Lake Dunmore is a freshwater lake about an hour from Pond Mountain Inn and spans the towns of Salisbury and Leicester, Vermont. With a surface area of 985 acres, it is over 3 miles long and up to 1 mile wide. Moosalamoo National Recreation Area is part of the Green Mountain National Forest has excellent hiking trails with breathtaking views of the lake.

Fishing has been enjoyed at Lake Dunmore for many years and the lake provides cold and warm water varieties, lake trout, salmon, pike, rock bass and more. More information about  fishing Lake Dunmore Here

Let Us Plan Your Next Adventure! Check out our Inspiring Day Trips & Unique Itineraries

 

 

 

 

The Fascinating First Protestant Church in Vermont

The Old First Church • Photo Credit: Carol M. Highsmith

The Old First Church • Gathered in 1762 • First Protestant Church in Vermont

Our Fascination with New England Churches; from the perspective of architectural simplicity that’s on display at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in our tiny village of Wells, Vermont; to the grand New England simplicity seen inside The Old First Church in Bennington to the more majestic simplicity of the Old North Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

Overview & Perspective

These remarkable small-town, white buildings and church structures were largely erected by local builders without the benefit of architects. Their designs and inspiration largely came from traditional designs and pattern books, which may have contributed the essence of plainness so common in early church construction. Revered for their beauty, simplicity and elegance – early churches of New England hold a special place in our hearts as we’re all drawn to these remarkable New England towns and villages to experience this unique sense of place that broadly defines our New England character.

More About The Old First Church

The Old First Church was “gathered” on December 3, 1762, the first Protestant congregation in the New Hampshire Grants. The organizers were “Separatists,” influenced by the Great Awakening, from Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, and were proprietors of the new town of Bennington.

The present church, built in 1805 and dedicated January 1, 1806. As a result, the Vermont Legislature, in 1935, designated the church as “Vermont’s Colonial Shrine”.

Robert Frost’s remains are buried in the cemetery adjacent to the church. Although he was not a member of the church, he read his poem, The Black Cottage, at the rededication in 1937. Robert Frost and the house where he lived in Shaftsbury is located just north of Bennington, see the Robert Frost Stone House Museum.

Lavius Fillmore, cousin of the nation’s thirtieth president, and the church architect, built three more churches including the Congregational Church of Middlebury that’s considered Fillmore’s masterpiece, was completed in 1809. See Pond Mountain Inn’s Fort Ticonderoga / Middlebury Day Trip Itinerary for more things to do in the area.

Most of the abbreviated content taken directly The Old First Church website.

Thank you for reading our Pond Mountain Inn blog!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast Al Fresco at Pond Mountain Inn

Will you join us for breakfast outside at Pond Mountain Inn?  At day break, organic breakfasts are served al fresco under our traditional rough-sawn timber framed pergola overlooking pastural gardens and lush undisturbed mountains… Today, we served… Farm-Fresh Poached Eggs, Avocado Rose, Ice House Farm Chèvre, our 21-Hour No-Knead Homemade Bread with Ploughgate Creamery Cultured Butter and finished with a drizzling of Dancing Ewe Farm Olive Oil… even the King Arthur Flour comes from Vermont! In-Season, we’ll locally pick the strawberries and blueberries.

https://www.pondmountaininn.com/

 

 

 

 

Elegantly Fishing Lake St Catherine Vermont

Adventure Wellness • Experience the Unfamiliar

Some of the finest trout lakes and rivers are here in Vermont – so what, right! It’s difficult to understand the joy of sitting precariously on some wooden boat plank, struggling to convince a huge nightcrawler of the benefits of the hook in my other hand, then sending both into the lake at whatever depth that assures an unsuccessful day… So far, this is my portrayal of fishing.

I really don’t know how to fish, and I don’t want to spend the time learning—but I want to going fishing with someone that takes care of it all. Problem solved! We’ve taken the drudgery out of recreational lake fishing and made it into a relaxing, meditative wellness practice capable of delivering peace and tranquility to those determined to go somewhere beautiful and experience the health benefits of spending time outside and the exhilaration of reeling in big fish!

We’re catching Brown Trout (in the photo), Rainbow Trout, Bass, Perch, Northern Pike or any of the other 90-plus species of fish that are abundant throughout the state…. And it’s exciting!

Read more about what we’ve done to create the most amazing day fishing!

Adventure Wellness at Pond Mountain Inn

Pond Mountain Inn

 

 

 

 

 

The Best Lobster Rolls In Vermont

A beautiful Sunday afternoon was the perfect excuse to deliver ourselves from quarantine. We stumbled upon a nameless lobster shack with only a tiny nondescript lobster street-sign below Mountain Man Sterling Silver—still though, it caught our attention!

We met Joe—a gifted lobster roll practitioner that spent a decade or two perfecting his trade in York, Maine. We had a choice; either the Traditional Maine Lobster Roll for $14.50 or the Big Daddy for $21.00—we both went with the Big Daddy. The Cornmeal Dusted Kaiser Roll was generously buttered to perfection, and Joe’s generosity didn’t end there… it was difficult to contain all the lobster meat within the confines of the roll. Joe’s Lobster Rolls were magnificent and are found on Route 11E in Chester, Vermont.

We’ve just added Joe to our Short List of Lobster Roll Favorites…

The Oyster Bar • Grand Central Station • New York City | Anthony’s Seafood • Middletown, Rhode Island (Newport) | Vermont Mountain Man • Chester, Vermont.

Read More In Our Pond Mountain Inn May Newsletter: https://conta.cc/2YDXZ2z