Tour de Northeast Part 3 Burlington and New York

After spending our first day in Burlington celebrating the wedding of my college friend, and the evening reminiscing with a group of my friends and their spouses, we spent a quiet evening at the Hartwell House B and B.  My college roommate found the place and when she told me it had 2 guest rooms and the other was still available, I figured it would be fun to so relive our college days "living together."  This time, however, we had our own rooms and didn't have to share a bathroom with 20 other girls!!  

Between the heat, traveling, and being up and about all day, my cold was worse and I finally broke down and got a night-time sleep aid so I could rest.  I did feel more rested in the morning, but unfortunately, my cold didn't feel better.

After a delicious breakfast made and served by our host at the B and B, and enjoyed with my friend and her husband, Colin and I packed up the car and spent the rest of the morning and middle part of the day checking out our favorite places in Burlington and looking for new spots.  Here are a few of our old favorites:

Late night pizza and wings at Manhattan Pizza and 

one of Colin's favorite food spots - Ali Kabob's - right next to it.

Our "first date" was at the Red Onion on March 14, 2001!

Church Street is always packed on the weekends in the summer - 

too bad college months are in the winter!

Promenading on the waterfront

After walking around downtown, we took a quick driving tour through UVM's campus. In 2008, we brought our bicycles up to Burlington from NYC (this was before I started blogging) and rode through most of campus, checking out many of the renovations that were done after we graduated.  At that time, there were some beautiful new dorms on East Campus, a brand new student center, and new athletic facilities.  As we rode around, Colin found a structure on campus that looked like a design he created for one of his classes. And I found my name on a plaque in the new student center. It was quite an adventure!!

During our drive this time, we were unimpressed with another new dorm building, the Redstone Lofts, located behind Simpson Hall. The image online doesn't make it look so bad, but in person the view was hideous and not consistent with the rest of UVM's brick and green color scheme. We also found ourselves very frustrated trying to navigate out of the dorm and gym area with the car. We were turned around in circles a few times with one-way streets. I can't imagine what it is like to get around when students are around, or worse, during a hockey game! Since our time was running short, we didn't get to walk, or drive, around main campus, though I would have loved to see the updates around the student center. The building was finished when we visited in 2008, but much of the area around the building (including my former nutrition building), were under construction.

A structure on campus that resembles one Colin drew for his class

The new student center on Main Street

The plaque in the student center with my name on it!

Heading to Colin's parent's house, located just north of Albany, NY, we decided to take the ferry across Lake Champlain at Charlotte, VT.  This was a common trip for us, especially during my junior year when Colin took a year between college and law school and lived at home.  During this trip, we enjoyed the view of the mountains to the west (New York) and the mountains we were leaving behind to the west (Vermont). A rain cloud passed north of us, looking like it was headed to Burlington, and thankfully, we remained dry.  

Ferry Crossing at Charlotte, VT - looking over to New York

Before leaving Burlington, we decided to order food "to-go" from the local, sustainable restaurant The Farmhouse Tap and Grill, a new restaurant.  Our order included the local, grass fed burger and the veggie burger (their menu changes often).  Both items were very good, but our dining experience was less than optimal.  On the ferry, I had to keep the food on my lap since we didn't have a table, and the wind kept catching pieces of my meal!  

The Farmhouse burger, enjoyed on the ferry

Once on the New York side of the lake, drove about 30 minutes north to Willsboro, New York, an area where Colin's family has spent years vacationing.  In the 11 years we have been together, I've spent a few long weekends with Colin and his family in Willsboro and it's always nice to see and hear about the joyous memories of Colin's youth and make memories of our own. One year, we water skied in Willsboro Bay.  It was my first time, and I actually got up.  It was a lot of fun, but I do remember the water being pretty cold!!

As we drove up to Willsboro, we noticed how deserted the downtown area looked with the small IGA (grocery store) closed up.  We made our way to one of our usual spots, known as "the point" and enjoyed a beautiful view of the bay, mountains, and Burlington across the lake.  

Photo taken on a trip to "the point" back in August 2008

From Willsboro, Colin drove the 2.5 hours south to his parent's house. There, we were greeted by the whole family and enjoyed a nice Italian dinner, a tradition Colin refers to as "Meatball Sunday."  We spent a quiet evening with the family and I was grateful to relax.  Unfortunately, my cold did not get better as the day progressed, but the worst appeared to remain behind me.  The opportunity to rest that evening and sleep in on Monday left me feeling better for the last day of the trip.

Stay tuned as we make our way to Boston for the final leg of our tour!

What do you do when you are feeling under the weather while traveling, but have a packed itinerary?


For the UVMers who read the blog, what campus updates must we see the next time we visit?

Tour de Northeast Part 1 - Rhode Island!

Growing up in Rhode Island, I frequently went to the beach during the summer.  As a young child, we'd go to the calm waters of Galilee or Sand Hill Cove Beach on Point Judith most weekends.  These beaches are known for very calm waters because of the breakwater formed by the rocks that lead out from the beach.  During many of these weekends, we'd find ourselves ordering clam cakes and red chowder chowda for lunch or dinner from George's and enjoying our meal while sitting on the rocks, watching the boats and ferries come in and out of Block Island Sound.

During our quick tour of the northeast, and with only 1 day in RI, I found myself excited to travel the 45 minutes to the coast from my parent's house to indulge in some childhood memories and create new ones.  Arriving just after noon, I knew we had to get some clam cakes and red chowda for lunch.  With the limited time we had before our next adventure, we made some time to sit on the rocks to enjoy the food and the view.  The crab cakes were just as I remembered them, but I felt the chowda was pretty weak. There was definitely too much broth and not enough potatoes or clams.  We decided to try some lobster lobsta bisque, which was not something I ever indulged in as a child. Since it didn't bring back any memories, it was not as memorable as my clam cakes or chowda.

 George's clam cakes, red chowda and lobsta bisque

Since Colin had never been to Block Island, and I have few memories of the place, we decided to spend the day exploring the Island.  

Our first adventure was the 55 minute ferry ride ($20.25 pp r/t). We could have spent $15 more per person for the high speed ferry that would have gotten us there in half the time, but decided we wanted to enjoy the ride.  Besides, I needed the time to read the Island brochure I picked up at the ticket window and plan our adventure!

Colin and I enjoying the view and planning what we wanted to do on the Island

Goodbye East Matunuk State Beach!

Once on the Island, we debated between mopeds and bicycles - a difference of about $48. We knew we would see more of the island with the faster mopeds, but opted to save some money and get a little exercise by renting the bikes.  I'll admit the first half hour of the trip was difficult with steep inclines as we made our approach to the lighthouse and the cliffs, but the views were worth the sweat!

The 2,000-ton Southeast Lighthouse with its gingerbread detail,
which was moved away from the water and to its current location in 1993

Payne Overlook, before our 150-foot descent down the steps of Mohegan Bluffs.
On a clear day you can see Montauk Point on Long Island, but we had a rather hazy day!

The beach at the base of Mohegan Bluffs, said to be where the 

local Manisses pinned down an attacking band of Mohegan Indians

Enjoying the cool water and wonderful views at the base of the Bluffs and debating a swim

After making the long trip back up the stairs, we were back on our bicycles and hoping for fewer hills. Thankfully, our wishes were granted and most of the journey along the southern and western part of the Island was flat. It was a beautiful, warm, summer day, with few clouds and a cool breeze off the water. Taking our time, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride and the views it had to offer. I was so happy we opted for bicycles instead of scooters once we were past the initial steep hills.

Cruising and relishing in our surroundings for most of the 2 hour ride.

Downtown/Old Harbor, returning our bikes and winding down before catching the ferry back to the mainland

Indulging in another RI favorite - Del's Lemonade!

I love Rhode Island in the summer!

What are some of your favorite memories of Rhode Island (if you've ever been)?

Camping on Ocracoke Island, NC (OBX) in June

Millers on the Road did not have a rest during the month of June!  First, we moved into our new house, then my dad and brother visited and we all went to DC, and the subsequent week had us camping on Ocracoke Island in the Outer Banks (OBX) of North Carolina.  Why would we do this to ourselves?  Well, an out of town friend had made travel plans back in March to visit the third weekend in June.  We had planned to camp on the beach during his visit.

As you probably already know, we Millers love the beach!  It's probably our favorite place to go.  We wish we could be closer to both swimming beaches and the mountains, but alas we are not fortunate enough to live in California.  Ocracoke Island is probably the farthest beach from our home, a 5.5 hour drive from Cary.  You have to go all the way out to Manteo, and follow route 12 south along the coast for 70 miles and take a ferry across the Hatteras Inlet.  We chose a second option, to drive 3 hours to Swan Quarter and allow the 2.5 hour ferry to transport us across Pamlico Sound to Ocracoke.

The weather was almost perfect for the trip.  Temperatures were in the 80's during the cloudless days and dipped into the upper 60's/low 70's at night.  The "almost perfect" was due to lightning storms the second night in the tent.  The flashes of light and humid air made it difficult to sleep.

Darwin did fantastic on the trip.  He was very nervous on the loud ferry, so his tail stayed wrapped under his legs most of the trip.  We are also having a difficult time breaking him of his fear of people who want to pet him.  It doesn't matter if it is an adult or child, his tail immediately goes under and he tries to get behind me or Colin.  When he meets other dogs, he has no problem going to greet them, but runs away the minute the owner tries to pet him.

Do you have suggestions to get him more comfortable around strangers and while in loud places? 

The national park service campground on Ocracoke is amazing!   There are a variety of campsites to choose from - grassy, wooded, or sandy areas and tents or RVs.  Our late arrival on Friday meant all the sites along the dunes were taken, so we chose a grassy site.  I would have liked to hear the rolling sounds of the waves, but I'm not sure anyone could hear waves over the strong winds that were prevalent.  In addition, it is so much nicer to lay on a grassy area than a wooded area!

 Darwin scoping out the campsite

Arriving late on Friday and leaving on an early ferry on Sunday meant we really had one full day at the beach.  Our morning started with a 3 mile trip to downtown Ocracoke.  We people rode bikes while Darwin trotted along with Colin.  By 11am it was really hot and the trip back for Darwin was difficult.  We had to make a few stops along the way.  Our little guy also gave us quite a scare when he tried to chase a bird out into the road and Colin lost his grip on the leash!  Thankfully, cars drive very slowly in this area and they stopped to let us get him out of the road.

The remainder of the day was spent on the beach - and oh how splendid it was!  I could have enjoyed calmer waters, but the air and water temperatures were perfect.  Darwin's first experience with the ocean was sub-optimal, but it was only his first time.  As much as he wanted to be in the water with us, the waves would always force him back out.  It was okay since he was so tired from the morning run! He spent most of the day napping beside us.

I love this adorable little face!

We love going to the beach and very much enjoyed Ocracoke.  It is a place we will definitely go back and visit when the air temperature cools back down to the 80s (and 60s overnight) late summer or early fall.

There were definitely some challenges as well.  Taking a visitor and a puppy camping for the first time means you have to plan ahead.

Here are some tips and lessons learned from our beach camping trip with a friend and a dog:
1. Secure a tent, sleeping bag, mattress pad for your out-of-town guest so they don't have to travel with these.  I am lucky to be able to rent these through the University.
2. Ask about your friend's dietary preferences.  Our friend is a vegetarian, so we included vegetarian friendly foods in our grilling options and stopped at a grocery store on the way to get any last minute choices.
3. Bring extra bug spray and sunscreen. North Carolina beaches have lots of people-eating insects.
4. If you plan to do something fun, be sure to include your friend in the planning process.  We wanted to ride our bikes so we brought a 3rd bike for our friend to use.  During the planning process, the main goal was to go camping on or near a beach and go to the beach, so that's what we did.
5. Decide how your dog will sleep when you are camping.   Darwin normally sleeps in his crate at home, so we tried to make a "den-like" area for him with a tarp.  He was not a fan of the strong winds that resulted in loud noises from the tarp.  He did sleep well in the tent with us, but we did not because it was too crowded.  We'll likely get him his own tent for next time.
6. Pack cool and refreshing things to eat during the heat of the day - lunchtime.  We tried grilling portabello mushroom/vegetable sandwiches on the grill and it just felt too hot to eat them. Take a cooler and ice to keep cold foods cold.
7. Don't plan to do work while enjoying vacation!  It never works for me.  I didn't get to enjoy this trip much because I had a final paper for my summer class due the Monday after the weekend.  With a 5 hour trip to and from the beach, I planned to get some done while driving and some down while hanging out at the campground. Needless to say, the work I did was minimal and not very good.  I should have just enjoyed my time at the beach and settled down to work when I got home instead of not enjoying myself and still working 12 hours when I got home!

Next time I go to the beach, I plan to enjoy the sun, sand and water without distractions!

Do you sometimes take work with you when you travel for fun? 
How do you manage to get your work done?

The final leg - Cumberland Island, GA - April 23-24

On Saturday morning we arrived at the Cumberland Island ferry terminal, unsure if we'd be able to camp overnight or not.  We had packed one bag with our necessary items for a day trip and filled a second backpack with camping and overnight gear - just in case. 

Imagine our excitement to find out they had room at the campground with showers!  We switched our $20 per person (roundtrip, pre-paid) return ferry ride, without problems, from the Saturday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and handed over the $8 to camp for the night.  While Sunday was a "free" entry day to the Island (normally $4), we decided to pay the $80 for the America the Beautiful Pass to motivate our journeys to visit more National Parks this year.

After shopping around town for last minute supplies - like food and bug spray - we were ready to go!

The ferry ride was an enjoyable and relaxing 45 minutes to the main dock.  Upon arrival, the National Park Service greeted us at the dock-side cabin. We could not help but notice hanging Spanish Moss Oak Trees and carts for transporting camping supplies.  These carts seemed necessary for the many passengers who were there for the "car-camping" experience.

While I enjoy the luxuries of car-camping, with all its inflatable queen sized mattresses, gazebos, grills, and chairs, there is nothing quite like the challenge of backpacking.  In true Miller fashion, we carried our gear on our backs the half-mile or so to our awesome campsite. 

If you cannot tell from the photos, the Island was pretty amazing and we had great weather to boot! Exploring by foot and bike each provided us bountiful opportunities to experience most of the Island's highlights.  On our nature walk, we came across this little fellow, Mr. Armadillo, who walked across our path:

By foot we also visited the Ruins called Dungeness, the name given to the modest home of Revolutionary War hero Gen. Nathanael Greene.  The highlight of the site, however, is what remains of Thomas Carnegie's former mansion, built 100 years later, in 1884.

While many people enjoy dinner at the kitchen table, followed by a few hours of relaxation in front of  TV, my preference is for an outdoor meal, and winding down watching this:

If you are like me, you don't really sleep well in a tent.  I don't know if my sleeping bags are too hot for the type of camping I do, if maybe I'm allergic to the feathers in the down sleeping bag, or if it is my type-A personality that keeps me from fully resting, but I spend most of the night awake instead of asleep!  So, when I saw the first glimmer of light, I was off to the beach with my camera.

On my way back to the campsite, I was almost trampled by three feral horses (dad, mom, and calf). It was definitely a scare to have the calf run towards you, knowing mom and dad would be close behind!  Once I regained my composure, I was able to catch a photo of them watching me walk away.

Horses are not native to Cumberland Island and there is a law that requires these horses to be left alone on the Island.  As a result, many have genetic defects, are malnourished, and are wreaking havoc on the natural habitat.  While horses are beautiful to look at, most of the ones we saw did appear sickly.  According to the park ranger, many other Parks control the population by selling these horses and helping to keep numbers of different breeds in check to prevent the genetic errors that occur with in-breeding. 

Renting ($16 each per day) and riding bikes on Sunday allowed us to venture farther from the campground.  The first 4 miles along the "main road" was so pretty, it almost made me forget how bumpy the unpaved road was.  Thankfully, our "cruisers" could handle it.

Once we ventured into the "wilderness area" of the central part of the Island, we saw more wildlife, including raccoons, alligators, and lots more feral horses.

Our bike ride brought us to Plum Orchard, the mansion built in 1898 for Thomas Carnegie's son, George (Andrew's nephew).  The mansion was donated to the National Park Foundation by Carnegie family members in 1971 and there are tours you can take into the building.  Colin was unimpressed with the structure - but he's much more critical than I am.

On a side note, the late JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessett were married on Cumberland Island.  The ceremony was held at Brack Chapel of the First African Baptist Church - an area of the Island called "The Settlement"- which we did not have time to explore.  Their reception was held at the Greyfield Inn, which is the only accommodation on the Island.  Our ride took us by the gates, but the "private property" sign kept us out.  If we were not budget travelers, perhaps we would have considered staying there for $500-$600 per night!

Rather than travel the easy way back the way we came, we Millers went "off-roading" on our cruisers and traveled the 2.25 miles on a difficult trail through the wilderness area to the beach.  Knowing the path would get me to the refreshing beach was the only thing that kept me going!

The reward was well worth it - especially when my creative husband designed a perfect lunch spot on the deserted beach.

I was so grateful to have brought canned sardines on the trip, which tasted delicious after the difficult ride.  I was more grateful to relax for a bit in the shade!

The ride back along the beach was exhilarating.  The sun was warm on my shoulders, but the air was slightly cool with the ocean breeze.  A deserted beach combined with perfect weather is my paradise.

Have you ever camped on/near the beach?
If so, tell me where and how you liked it!! We are always looking for a beach campground for our next trip!