Saturday, November 10, 2012

Quechee Gorge


Before visiting the Quechee Gorge, I read that it was the "Grand Canyon of the East".  This is an extreme overstatement if there ever was one.  However, if is still quite a nice sight to see.  Getting here, depending on where you're coming from, can be a bit of a challenge currently as some bridges are under construction that lead to it.  However, once you arrive, plenty of parking is available at the gift shop next to the gorge.  It's an easy 1 minute walk from here to a bridge where you can view the gorge from the top.  There is also a hiking trail to get to the bottom of the gorge if you'd like.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Vermont Toy & Train Museum



The Vermont Toy & Train Museum is located in the Quechee Gorge Village.  This museum on the 2nd floor will send you down memory lane remembering all the toys you used to play with in your childhood (or maybe still do play with!).  From Nintendo to lunchboxes to McDonald's toys, it's all here!  The toys range from the early 1900's to today's toys with donations from numerous people.  Just spending 20-30 minutes here is well worth it to see toys and evoke the memories of your childhood.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

New England Maple Museum


Do you like maple syrup?  Ever wonder about its history and how it's made?  Then you definitely want to take a trip to the New England Maple Museum.  While not very large (you'll go through the exhibits in about 10-15 minutes), it is a bit entertaining, especially with some of the cheesy effects (you'll have to see to actually understand).  At the end you'll also see a video of how the syrup is made, which is quite interesting.  At the end, you'll have the opportunity to sample different types of maple syrup so you can see which "grade" you like best.  And of course, in the main shop (which seems to be half the building), you can purchase any type of Maple Syrup related product.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Norman Rockwell Museum

If you lived through the era of Norman Rockwell and his famous Saturday Evening Post drawings, then the Norman Rockwell Museum in Rutland, VT is definitely a place for you to visit, as a good number of his drawings are on display, in chronological order.  Outside of that, there really isn't much.  Hence, this is a place for Norman Rockwell fans to visit and not really others, although people who don't know his work may gain an appreciation for it through this museum.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Simon Pearce Restaurant




In Quechee, VT, at the Simon Pearce Gallery, there is also a lovely restaurant that serves lunch and dinner, as well as weekend brunch. At lunch time, no reservations are needed, but reservations are recommended for the restaurant.

At lunchtime, we ordered the soup and salad combo, with the Vermont Cheddar Soup, which was the special for the day. We also ordered the chicken pot pie, which was the special for lunch.

The soup was creamy, cheesy and delicious. The salads with both entrees were incredibly fresh, and typically served with the house vinaigrette, however, you can ask for a different dressing if you choose.

When you're being seated or making a reservation, ask for a table near the window to overlook the waterfall. You can also see the construction of a covered bridge (or the covered bridge, once construction is complete).

Monday, November 5, 2012

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que





Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, overlooking the Hudson River, and across the street from the Best Western Plus Albany Franklin Square Inn Troy/Albany hotel, is a great place for travelers and locals. We stopped in for dinner on a Monday night and the restaurant was crowded.

However, even though all the tables were full, our waiter was still very professional, quick, efficient, and helpful.

We ordered wings, with the Wango Tango sauce, which was a great combination of spicy and sweet. The wings are also smoked, then grilled, to give them this beautiful, smokey flavor while keeping a nice crispy crunch on the outside.

We also ordered the Tres Hombres combination plate to split, and believe me, there was plenty of food to go around! The plate included ribs, BBQ pulled pork, and sliced brisket. It also came with two sides and corn bread. Phew!

In addition, we had the Caramel Cheesecake, which was absolutely delectable!

Everything was delicious! The meat on the ribs was fall of the bone good, and the bar-be-que sauce was fantastic, and added flavor without overpowering the taste of the smoked meats.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant




In the same parking lot as the Residence Inn Hanover Lebanon, is Margaritas Mexican Restaurant. With locations in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, Connecticut, and a new location in Pennsylvania, Margaritas is what you would expect from a chain Mexican restaurant.

We ordered the The Mexican Flag and Tios Mexican Combo. Both were good, but nothing to write home about. I found the Mexican Flag to be good but got to be overwhelming with cheese and onions quickly. The combo was nice because the three offerings were more varied than in the Mexican Flag.

We also ordered the white wine peach sangria, which was very good, but included a lot of ice compared to sangria itself. The carafe is the better deal, which has about three glasses in it.