We take life seriously in Vermont: snowboarding, safe winter driving, creemee season, apple picking, and direct democracy is serious business. It’s fun and delicious too!
We would definitely argue that winter sports, winter tires, dirt roads, sweet treats, fresh fruit, and having a voice in local government are essential to living in Central Vermont. If you don’t agree, you can introduce an article on Town Meeting Day: you’ll just need a petition signed by five percent of the registered voters or a majority vote of the Selectboard to have it placed on the warning. We don’t mind a lively discussion. We love it. We’ve been meeting new neighbors and solving community problems on Town Meeting Day since the 1700s.
We look forward to helping you find your perfect home and having you join us in what President Calvin Coolidge described as the “brave little state of Vermont” many, many years ago. Below you will find some things to plan for, consider and include as you put together your very own essential guide to living in Central Vermont.
Enjoy the Seasons
Winter Season: The winters are cold and long. Vermont receives its fair share of snow. The best way to enjoy the winter season is to pick a winter sport you and your family will enjoy. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice hockey, sledding, and snowmobiling are all popular choices. You and your entire family will be anxiously waiting for a big snowfall and enjoy the winter season when you are looking forward to your favorite winter sport. The ski resorts are often open for skiing and riding through March and sometimes for a week or two in April. Vermont is a winter wonderland.
Mud Season: Mud season is real. It is recognized by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources as the 6-week period between snowmelt and Memorial Day. How do we enjoy mud season? Very carefully. Many hiking trails will be closed during mud season, so they can dry out properly and hikers can enjoy them properly afterward. Many would argue the best way to enjoy mud season is to enjoy a good book indoors. Helping out stranded neighbors with your ATV is also a worthwhile pursuit during mud season (this is a great reason to buy an ATV).
We like our dirt roads in Central Vermont. Every county of Vermont has dirt roads and paved roads. There are more dirt roads than paved roads in Washington County (approximately 789 miles of dirt roads and 504 miles of paved roads). Navigating them can be a little tricky during mud season. Be aware of gravel/dirt roads you will need to travel on in and around your Central Vermont home and plan accordingly.
Creemee Season: Winter is followed by fool’s spring, which is followed by the second winter, which is followed by mud season, which is followed by spring, and then it’s creemee season!!! A creemee looks like a soft serve ice cream, but they are better (and creamier, thanks to their higher fat content). And while the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources doesn’t specify the time frame for this delicious season, the folks that work at the agency will be standing in line with you at the local creemee stand as soon as it opens.
To lighten the mood during weekly Covid-19 press conferences in 2020, a reporter asked the Governor of Vermont if creemees were made with real dairy. The Governor handed the inquiry over to the Agricultural Secretary. The ingredients of Vermont Creemees were researched, verified, and reported: “Our extensive modeling shows Vermont creemees are made with milk, sugar, (and) cream from Vermont cows. Creemees run in Vermonters’ veins.”
Winter Driving
Snow Tires: Winter driving requires caution and preparation. You will need two sets of tires for your vehicles. A set of all-season tires and a set of snow tires.
The Vermont State Police Department of Public Safety posted guidelines for winter driving on their site. They remind drivers to install snow tires on all four wheels. They also remind drivers that while 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles (Subaru is the unofficial state car) offer better traction in snow, they do not offer better traction on ice. They caution to “be wary of over-confidence” and “increase following distance to more than four seconds.”
An Apple a Day
Apple Orchards: We take our apples in Vermont seriously. We grow over 150 varieties. Vermont growers produce about 40 million pounds of apples every year. Apple picking is one of the quintessential New England family activities to enjoy at your local orchard. There are plenty of varieties to choose from. We eat them fresh, bake them into pies, press them into cider, and ferment cider to create hard cider. We love apples!
Local Government
Town Meeting Day: Vermont Town Meeting Day is held on the first Tuesday in March. It is the day when community members gather and vote on articles from the floor or by private ballot. It is a holiday for state employees, employees of private businesses and students of voting age are protected by law to attend if they choose to do so. This is direct democracy working at the root level.
When articles are voted on from the floor it is usually obvious if the “ayes” have it or the “nays” have it (by the collective volume of voices). Sometimes a show of hands is necessary, to count and determine the outcome when the vote is close. Town meeting day is a great way to meet your neighbors, get a sense of the community and have a vote on how some of your local tax dollars are spent (the town budget and school budget are presented and voted on during town meeting day).
Coldwell Banker Classic Properties is Central Vermont’s oldest Coldwell Banker franchise. We look forward to helping you find the perfect home…the good life is here! Contact us today.