The most magnificent property in Vermont—this New England village-like setting of historic buildings and landscapes hosts a world-class collection of over 100,000 American artifacts. Often referred to as “New England’s Smithsonian”, it comprises the finest collection of American art, history and design in the United States. The art collection includes Rembrandt, Degas, Monet, Manet and Cassatt. The “Round Barn” and foundational stonework is alone worth the visit. You’ll need 4-5 hours to see everything, and you’ll be fully engaged the entire time… thirty-nine distinct structures on forty-five acres, each filled with beautiful, fascinating, and whimsical objects.
The Museum’s eighty-foot-diameter Round Barn is one of only two dozen built in the state.
Shelburne Museum’s world-renowned collections of art and Americana span four centuries and include some of the most outstanding examples anywhere of fine and decorative arts, folk art, circus collections, textiles, toys, carriages, decoys, and more. From French Impressionism to American ingenuity, Shelburne Museum has something for everyone. The content above was largely taken from the the Shelburne Museum website…
Preparing for the 150th Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes…
With the Belmont Stakes coming to Saratoga in June, and the Kentucky Derby this Saturday— now, it’s all about finding perfect hat to top your stylish wardrobe. And, we have, at Hatsational, located on Broadway in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs. They have over one hundred thousand hats, and they also create “one of a kind” hats… I think we’re ready for racing season!
Hatsationals’ Haberdashery Storefront on Broadway…
Inside Hatsationals’ Haberdashery… Love the Mirror!
A Few Hats…
Lots of Hats…
Men’s Hats… I probably shouldn’t say this, but without looking… in the movie Caddyshack, there’s a remarkable resemblance to the hat that Ted Knight tried on in the Bushwood Country Club Pro Shop? I just looked… it’s not. However, that was my first thought—this one is much nicer!
That’s Joyce—she’s the owner, and she’s not only quite interesting, but she’s also lots of fun!
Kay had to try on at least one hat…
I hope that you enjoyed our little “fashion show” and our tour of Hatsationals’ Haberdashery. We found a number of exquisite “derby hats” for both women and men—be one of the best dressed with any one of the many choices in Joyce’s shop! We’re always doing something interesting at Pond Mountain Inn!
Another beautiful early spring day in Vermont—temperatures in the low 50s, blue skies, and sunshine with invigoratingly clean air. Nothing particularly well-planned, but we always stumble upon something fun and interesting along the way… and we did again today!
We began our day by splitting a turkey club at The Cluckin’ Cafe, just over the mountain…
Our first stop was the Hubbardton Battlefield—the drive on Monument Hill Road was spectacular, and well worth visiting!
The Orzell Family Sugar House was on the list of open sugar houses… they have 7,500 trees tapped! We purchased a ½ gallon of Grade B…
A desolate cabin in the woods… and, a great photo!
We stopped by Hired Hand Brewing Company in Vergennes—Kay recognized Jeremy Holm sitting next to us. He was in “House of Cards”, “Law & Order” and far too many things to list. A great guy, and his wife owns Daily Chocolate—literally, just around the corner!
Daily Chocolate is phonemical… Daily Chocolate chooses the finest ingredients for their recipes, and is committed to the wellbeing of our planet. Ask for Dawn, she’s Jeremy’s wife!
Another “stumble-upon-moment”… We have the entire list of Vermont’s historic roadside markers…
Now in Middlebury… The Pulp Mill Covered Bridge, also called The Paper Mill Covered Bridge, is a wooden covered bridge that crosses Otter Creek.
Behind Middlebury’s Main Street… the falls may be the most photographed spot in Middlebury!
The entrance to American Flatbread… in one of the mill buildings of the Marble Works…
American Flatbread Pizza—all-natural pizza baked in a primitive wood-fired earthen oven. Large pizza, two glasses of wine, under $45.00! Ask for Alia—she graduated from Middlebury College and spent ten years in the Foreign Service—fascinating! Make sure to ask for her!
The perfect day… We traveled 125 miles today—Hubbardton, Vergennes, Middlebury, and all points in-between. Always fun at Pond Mountain Inn!
Our guests are always looking for new opportunities to explore Vermont and beyond. Our unique itineraries take all the guesswork out of planning each day that offer extraordinary experiences.
One of our favorite museums to visit… The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is one of the world’s liveliest centers for making and enjoying today’s most evocative art. With vast galleries and a stunning collection of indoor and outdoor performing arts venues that embrace all forms of art: music, sculpture, dance, film, painting, photography, theater, and new, boundary-crossing works of art that defy easy classification.
They also have affordably priced cafés, a full-service restaurant, and an innovative microbrewery that spotlights locally malted grains and hops grown in the Berkshire valley. Another wonderful indoor winter activity! (Less than 90 minutes from Pond Mountain Inn)
Here’s What The Museum Says About This Exhibition…
Artist kelli rae adams will be on-site many weekends throughout the exhibition run, check below for the schedule.
Student loan debt in the US today totals over 1.7 trillion dollars and is collectively borne by more than 44 million Americans, including artist kelli rae adams. With her installation Forever in Your Debt, adams converts this abstract burden into a tangible volume. She has crafted hundreds of wheel-thrown vessels, sized to collectively hold the average individual student debt —$37,000—in the form of coins. Each unique bowl holds approximately a pint of mixed change, worth about $40; this is also the value she assigns to the labor embodied in each vessel.
Experiencing the country drive from Pond Mountain Inn on Routes 30, 7 &7A to southern Vermont and the Berkshires may be one of the prettiest drives in the northeast…
Pre-Dinner Cocktails at the Bar… And, That’s Tatiana (Top Right), Preparing Our Table!
From the New York State Farm Bounty Menu Section—The Benelux House Salad…
Another Sophisticated European Signature Entrée…
Brasserie Benelux Dinner for Nine…We All Look Pretty Good!
Viennese Apple Strudel—There is no better, perhaps somewhere Austria…
Brasserie Benelux, is conveniently located on Broadway in the heart of historic downtown Saratoga. Chef Armand Vanderstigchel, has a unique menu—blending traditional European-influenced cuisine with a contemporary flair brings perfection to each dish. Chef Armand’s precise and elegant selections promise a truly remarkable dining experience. Every dish served has been well thought out—a sophisticated European signature with subtle local twists, but certainly his flavor composition spans the globe.
On this night, there were nine of us—we had over twenty different dishes—from sharable plates to soups, entrées and premium sides, we had it all, and it was all exquisite! Our recommendation is to start with the French Onion Soup Gratinée, then ask the chef why this is the best you’ve ever had. And, from the New York State Farm Bounty section, the Benelux House Salad was fresh and crisp, the best “house salad” I’ve ever had—ask for the buttermilk blue cheese dressing—unbelievable. I almost forgot to mention the Belgian Mussel Pot—no need to travel to Belgium for these mussels! Rounding out the evening; the Viennese Veal Wiener Schnitzel, Pappardelle Wild Mushroom, and Leek Confit Crusted Faroe Salmon were clearly standouts, but each entrée deserves thoughtful consideration.
Save room for dessert, wife, Tatiana prepared an extraordinary traditional Viennese Apple Strudel—we were all awestruck after the first bite. There is no better, perhaps somewhere Austria. You can also expect a cozy atmosphere, well-appointed interior, a nicely accented wine list and attentive, friendly service with the chef making regular appearances throughout the evening—make sure to ask for Jackie, she and Tatiana made our evening not just special, but extraordinary.
This future Michelin-star restaurant could easily be found in Paris, London or Barcelona—thankfully, Brasserie Benelux is here in Saratoga.
See Our Pond Mountain Inn Saratoga Springs, New York Day Trip Itinerary:
The Silver Fork restaurant should be very proud of its exclusive steak tartare—an exquisite prelude to the main event. Steak tartare has to be one of my all-time favorite dishes, we have it every time we see it on the menu, and we had it again last night. However, steak tartare, like wine, is uniquely personal. Brasserie Lipp in Paris serves it differently with a stronger emphasis on Dijon mustard, Holder, in old Montreal is another excellent nearby choice for this classic French delicacy, and we are looking forward to experiencing the tartare at Le Train Bleu, an iconic restaurant at Gare de Lyon renowned for serving the best steak tartare in Paris. The short story here is that Silver Fork is in very good company with its steak tartare. Well done Silver Fork, well done!
Seven Springs Garden & Sculpture Park • Manchester, Vermont
This was the most impressive garden we’ve ever visited—”simply magnificent,” is an under-statement! Four of our recent guests returned and said the same thing…
The land on which Seven Springs Gardens (privately owned) now sits has a history dating back to the beginning of Vermont. The gardens have a rich history, and was part of a thirty-six square mile tract of land that dates back to 1761. Fast-forward to 1923, the property was purchased by the Doubleday publishing family as a summer retreat, two years later in March 1925, the property was featured on the cover of Country Life magazine (I tried to find the cover). You can read more about the property when you visit the gardens! The Gardens close for the season after this weekend, but I’ll try persuading the owner to allow our guests to visit through October. The distant views from the property of the Green Mountains in October will be spectacular!
That’s Kay preparing for winter on this Bombardier Ski-Doo MX Z-REV 800 snowmobile. It’s featured prominently in wintery Icelandic action scenes of Die Another Day at the Saratoga Automobile Museum… The James Bond exhibit includes this, and twenty or more on-screen used vehicles! The exhibition runs through the end of January 2024.
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Bombardier made a specially trimmed “007 Special Edition” variant of this sled available, on a one-per-dealer basis, at a suggested retail price of $11,249. Bombardier designers kept special agent James Bond in mind when developing the look of this special edition model.
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There’s always a great activity going on with Pond Mountain Inn…
The First Congregational Church of Bennington, also known as the Old First Church, is located in Old Bennington, Vermont. The Old First Church was gathered in 1762, the first Protestant church in Vermont. Much of the early history of Bennington and of Vermont took place in and around the original Meeting House, built in 1763… Enjoy our brief photo collage taken during our recent Southern Vermont & The Berkshires Day Trip. (Content taken from the church website.)
Sanctuary in The Old First Church
The Balcony Inside The Old First Church
Awe is “a feeling of overwhelming reverential respect mixed with wonder.” That’s Mary Lou & Scott… our guests from Ohio.
Outside The Old First Church
The Old First Church Cemetery with Distant Views…
The Grave of a Revolutionary Soldier
Gravesite on the Hill…
Robert Frost’s Grave Behind the Church…
Experiencing the country drive from Pond Mountain Inn on Routes 30, 7 &7A to southern Vermont and the Berkshires may be one of the prettiest drives in the northeast…
Off the beaten path… this neighborhood award-winning boutique restaurant offers authentic Italian specialties and arguably the Best Pizza in Saratoga! We had a delicious inexpensive bottle of white Sangiovese with outstanding house meatballs and two pizzas – the Americano & Vegetarian. We’re going back for the Saltimbocca!
Pond Mountain Inn 