July 27th, 2010
Foliage at West Hill House
Mid September to mid October is THE time to be in Vermont. The colors are amazing. Browse our photo album from Fall 2009 and from Fall in prior years to glean some idea what the fall leaves look like around West Hill House.
We have also shared a slide show set to music to let you appreciate even more of the foliage colors … but you need to be here to really soak in the experience!
This year we have a photo contest. We will award a $100 gift certificate for another stay within the coming year to the guest who sends us by October 31st the best hi-res photo of 2010 foliage taken within one mile of the B&B.
To learn even more about the Foliage season, this Foliage Tracking page will give you an approximation of when the peak color will appear in various places around the State of Vermont.
To enjoy the leaves in a different way, why not come and help us rake them up? Check out our Leak Raving Special to save you up to 50% of the price your stay.
Tags: Fall foliage
Posted in Fall foliage, Green Mountains, Vermont B&B | No Comments »
July 24th, 2010
Mountain Biking at Sugarbush
Sugarbush Resort has added to its network of legendary mountain bike trails! Whether you prefer high-speed downhill runs, North Shore-style free ride features in the park, long technical descents on your cross-county bike, or leisurely loop rides, Sugarbush Resort has it all. Check out the Mountain Bike
Trail Map.
The trails are open every day from 10 till 4, and till 6 on Fridays and Saturdays. You can bring your own mountain bike or rent one here. And the good news is that you can ride the ski lift up the mountain with your bike and it’s all downhill from there – almost 1600ft of descent!
Also check out a selection of other Summer Activities that you can enjoy when you stay at West Hill House.
Tags: Mountain Biking, Sugarbush
Posted in Cycling, Summer activities | No Comments »
July 14th, 2010
2009 Green Mountain Stage Race
The 2010 Green Mountain Stage Race takes place from 3rd to 6th September 2010. It offers 4 days of exciting and challenging racing in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Race HQ is in Warren, very close to our B&B.
West Hill House is pleased to offer special arangements for racers:
Breakfast at the time you need it for your race schedule
Inside storage for your machines and accessories in our barn. You can also use the barn for assembly and adjustments.
A 25% discount for stays of 3 or more nights
In 2009 we were honored to have James Mattis, the 2008 US Pro National Champion, stay at West Hill House while he was competing in the stage race. Check out our Cycling page for more details.
The photo is from the 2009 event, and is from the race website.
Tags: Cycling, Green Mountains
Posted in Cycling, Green Mountain Stage Race, Green Mountains | No Comments »
July 7th, 2010
Build & decorate your kite
Remember when you were a kid and you made and flew your first kites? Why not relive that fun or share it with a youngster. From July 9 -18 the Mad River Valley is home to the
Vermont Festival of the Great Outdoors where we shall be celebrating with all kinds of outdoor activities.
Here at West Hill House we are going to have two afternoons of kite building:
- Dates: July 14 & 15. 1pm – 3pm
- Fun for ages 8 and up. Under 16 requires an adult partner.
- Reservations required: price $18.
- Workshop limited to 15 participants. Join us for fun and then… Go Fly a Kite!
- Kite building for beginners is what we are focusing on.
Participants will be making two small paper kites and putting together and decorating a larger sled kite made out of Tyvek, a non-tearing, waterproof plastic paper which can be decorated with markers and crayons. We are reeeeeeally hoping for a nice gentle wind that afternoon so that we can test our kites.
Many other events are happening during these 10 days so there is fun for everyone… hiking, kayaking, bird watching, tennis, cycling, a family day with swimming and a scavenger hunt – all sorts of great things to do outdoors.
Call us to register for the kite building event (802) 496-7162 and check out www.vtoutdoorsfest.com for more festival activities.
Tags: Kite flying, relaxing
Posted in Summer activities | No Comments »
July 3rd, 2010
Today is stunningly beautiful. Blue sky, a few wispy clouds, a nice gentle breeze and about 79′F. This morning before I started breakfast for our guests I took a few minutes to sit on the front porch with a cup of tea. I gazed over the beautiful orange lilies and enjoyed the song birds, the sound of the busy woodpecker, the wind through the leaves and the antics of a couple of chipmunks chasing each other up and down one of the huge sugar maples in the front yard.
What a great way to start the day and what better place to relax and spend summer days than right here. The hammock is waiting for you…
Ahhh...
Tags: B&B, birding, Gardens, relaxing, Trees
Posted in Gardens, Summer activities, Vermont B&B | No Comments »
June 28th, 2010
Xmenu application and file launcher
You still miss the old Apple Menu from the pre OS X days? Me too! Well there’s good news – there is something even better now available…
For a number of years I used Fruit Menu which worked well, but it initially had problems with OS X 10.6 so I went looking for something else. And discovered XMenu.
This program brings back the old-style Apple Menu to Mac OS X. It is separate from the OS X Apple Menu. It also sits in the menu bar and it is a complete hierarchal application launcher and direct file launcher: you customize it exactly as you want it to work, and it is REALLY easy to set up and use.
In addition “Snippets”, its companion menu, allows you to save text clippings, Internet locations etc. that can be easily accessed and inserted into the current application. Great for “boiler plate” text, and for userIDs for those awkward websites that don’t follow standards so you can’t use the default ID “memory” built into Safari and Firefox.
And more.
The price? FREE. Download and enjoy.
Tags: Mac computers
Posted in Mac Computer Blog | No Comments »
June 27th, 2010
We are now featuring 3 wines from Vermont’s East Shore Vineyard in our honor bar at West Hill House.
East Shore Vineyard is located in Grand Isle, Vermont on East Shore North overlooking Lake Champlain. In addition to creating a breathtaking backdrop to their vineyard, Lake Champlain helps make ESV an excellent place for growing grapes.
Grapes at East Shore Vineyard
The deep lake waters provide them with a micro climate favorable for growing winter hardy cultivars capable of producing world class wines.
The wines:
- Frontenac Rosé features deep mahogany hues and cherry aromas. On the palate, this wine is lively, flavorful, and balances a crisp acidity with just a touch of sweetness – making it semi-dry. Notable are its dark cherry and spice flavors followed by its balanced and refreshing finish.
- Traminette is quickly becoming a favorite for all those lucky enough to have discovered it. A slightly spicy, off-dry white wine that harkens back to its Gewürztraminer and Seyval Blanc roots; very floral on the nose, slightly fruity on the palette finishing with a brisk, very clean acidity.
- Cabernet Franc is a staple for wine bars and bistros throughout France, symbolizes a signature varietal from France’s Loire Valley. Our Cab is a medium-bodied, highly aromatic red, with a plum cherry start, and smooth tobacco finish that has a distinctive, tangy “old world” feel.
Their Traminette won a double gold medal in 2009 Tasters Guild International Wine Judging Event and the Cabernet Franc won a bronze medal.
For more information on Vermont Wines check out the VermontWine.com website.
Tags: Vermont, Wine
Posted in Vermont B&B, Wine | 1 Comment »
June 16th, 2010
We have two great events over the July 4th weekend for our guests to enjoy.
Stars & Stripes Airshow
On Saturday July 3rd enjoy the Stars and Stripes Charity Airshow featuring bi-plane aerobatics and other great stunts. All proceeds to benefit the Vermont National Guard Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit organization which serves to meet the emergency financial needs of the men and women of the Vermont National Guard and their families. Tickets are complimentary for our guests – advance booking is highly recommended. Starts at 1PM – don’t be late!
Warren 4th of July Parade
Then on Sunday July 4th we have the famous Warren July 4th parade. For the 62nd consecutive year, Warren will celebrate its independence with a wild, wacky, and wickedly fun parade, street dance, and family festivities! Parade starts at 10 AM.
These events are always unique, with little deference to political correctness. This year’s theme is “Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit of Healthiness”. The parade typically proceeds down Main Street, then takes the right on Brook Road – floats pull off the road, or continue up to Brooks Field parking lot…where, after the parade, fun & festivities abound on the field until mid-afternoon. Included in the afternoon fun will be a Scottish Highland Games demonstration at Brooks Field. Now THAT is fun!
Tags: 4th of July, Green Mountains, Scottish Highland Games, Vermont, West Hill House
Posted in 4th of July, Mad River Valley, Scotland | No Comments »
June 13th, 2010
Stirring it up! We had a BBQ on the long weekend in May, a day I always think of as the first day of summer. In my books, watermelon is the quintessential summer fruit so of course it had to be included in the menu, but watermelon with a twist.
A cool and crisp summer salad.
Watermelon & English Cucumber Salad
- 1T apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 c. olive oil
- 1 sm clove garlic, minced
- 1/2 large watermelon
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 cup feta cheese
- 5-6 sprigs of mint, save some whole leaves for garnish and finely chop the remainder
- 1/4t. salt
- a few grinds of fresh pepper
Mix the first three ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside to allow the flavors to blend.
Cut the watermelon in half width-wise then cut slices about 1″ thick. Remove rind and cut into bite-sized chunks. (If you wish to serve the salad in a melon bowl, cut the melon either width-wise or length-wise and remove melon flesh with a melon baller. Scrape out remainder of the flesh with a large spoon then turn over the “bowl” and trim a small piece off the underside of the rind so the “bowl” sits flat.)
The skin on an English cucumber is edible so wash the cuke and trim the ends off. Cut the cuke into bite- sized chunks.
Place the melon, cuke, feta cheese, and chopped mint in the serving vessel, sprinkle with salt and a few grinds of fresh pepper. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently toss.
Place whole mint leaves on top and either serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving. It is not a good idea to make this too far in advance of serving as watermelon tends to loose a lot of juice as it sits.
Dishing it out! Many, many years ago we lived two doors down from a family with 5 boys roughly the ages of the four of us. Often on hot summer weekends the two families would pack up food and kiddos and go off to the mountains for a picnic. Watermelon was always for dessert and cooled in a nearby stream while we all enjoyed our lunch. Upon arriving at the picnic ground we would park the cars and the 7 younger kids would race off to find the perfect picnic table leaving the oldest offspring and adults to lug the food. On one memorable occasion I guess my dad was carrying a bit too much as the watermelon slipped from his grasp and landed with a resounding kerthump on the ground splitting open and laying the juicy fruit at our feet. Needless to say lunch started with dessert that day!!
Tags: West Hill House Recipes
Posted in Food, Summer Picnic Treat, Summer activities, West Hill House Recipes | No Comments »
June 5th, 2010
Sugarbush Golf Course
We’re right beside one of the fairways and less than a mile from the club house of the Sugarbush Resort Robert Trent Jones, Sr. championship golf course. Mr. Jones is one of history’s great masters of golf course architecture and his legendary talent is apparent in every one of the 18 holes of the Sugarbush Golf Club. Designed with remarkable respect for the natural surroundings, this par-72 course is as beautiful as the game itself. You will experience a golf journey through the hilltops of the Mad River Valley, featuring inspiring views at every tee, making each hole a story unto itself.
We can arrange your tee times and provide discounted green fees including tax and a golf cart. Golf club rentals are available. Rates vary by date so when you book please select the dates of your planned stay to see the price of a round. To take advantage of these rates please book at least two nights. The standard package is a round for two people – let us know if you need something different. The course is available through October 31st. You can book your Sugarbush golf package directly or call us to discuss.
Tags: Golf, Green Mountains, Summer
Posted in Golf, Green Mountains, Mad River Valley, Summer activities | No Comments »
