You’d never know from looking at the pretty pages of Vermont Life magazine that some ugly accusations were leveled at the state-owned publication last week. The group of citizens charged by the legislature with guiding and protecting the quarterly magazine presented a letter to the state agency that oversees it, listing a number of concerns they believe threaten Vermont Life’s existence. Their worries range from inadequate financial oversight to a new editorial vision they say could alienate the core base of subscribers.... Read more

The “Flynn Block” on Burlington’s Main Street was all lit up last Saturday night. Two illuminated marquees announced the night’s performing arts offerings: On the MainStage, the area’s most successful theater company, Vermont Stage, was celebrating its 10-year residence at the Flynn — a dramatic departure, since VSC usually operates out of the more intimate FlynnSpace.... Read more

There are 46 famous “High Peaks” in Adirondack Park, and the trails to their summits, are well trodden — when they have trails, that is. Less congested are the roads that wind between the mountains, through dense forests and along pristine rivers and lakes. Towns? Few and far between. Two-lane highways penetrate New York’s 6.1-million-acre wild side, but they don’t come close to taming it. Which is precisely why it’s a great place to bicycle.... Read more

There’s nothing tropical about Vermont’s “islands,” but they’ve got plenty of other enticements to lure visitors northwest. The windswept causeway at the southern end is one of several public engineering marvels between South Hero and Alburgh, including the fully functioning North Hero drawbridge. And the Missisquoi bridge, at the northern end of the island chain, is also a source of public-works pride.... Read more

In winter, the road between Stowe and Sugarbush sees a lot of slope-seeking Saabs and Subarus. The summer crowd tends to be driven by ice cream: The Ben and Jerry's Factory in Waterbury is one of the top tourist destinations in Vermont. If your visitors have heard of one thing in the Green Mountain State, sadly, this is probably it.... Read more

Stowe rhymes with snow, and for good reason. It’s a classic ski town, with all the requisite restaurants, shops and hotels. That said, the general ambiance is more Zermatt than Park City. The downtown is charming and walkable — there’s a covered bridge right in the middle of it. And happily, a bike path has humanized the sprawling Mountain Road that leads to Stowe Mountain Resort.... Read more

You can’t miss the gold dome of the Vermont Statehouse. Montpelier’s “bling,” as a couple of local teen rappers described the building, doubles as the seat of the Vermont General Assembly. The building is open to the public all summer, with weekday tours every half hour from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. On Saturday, it’s 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If all the old portraits pique your interest, follow up at the Vermont History Museum in the Pavilion Building.... Read more

The museums keep on coming as you roll down Route 7: In Ferrisburgh the Rokeby Museum, once an official stop on the Underground Railroad, preserves the history of four generations of remarkable Robinsons. Ahead of its time in every way, the family was made up of Quakers, abolitionists and artists.... Read more

Vermont’s most populous county is also its most “destination-diverse.” The state’s highest peak is here; so, many would argue, is its greatest cultural treasure. Electra Havemeyer Webb’s vast collection of fine and folk art at the Shelburne Museum is one of the best in the world. But the “gallery” experience could not be less intimidating.... Read more

Vermont’s largest city is inseparable from the state’s crown jewel: Lake Champlain. In fact, the best way to approach the Queen City is by water. Arriving by ferry lets you imagine how the bustling burg looked centuries ago to incoming Indians, soldiers, merchants — and tourists?... Read more