Vermont's Northeast Kingdom

The Northeast Kingdom is a region apart from the rest of the modern day world. The reasons to come to this region really have nothing to do with “attractions”. The attractions here are the natural landscape, the old inns and people who will take time to talk with you.

The BIG towns are St Johnsbury, Lyndonville and Newport. “St J,” a Victorian town, was prosperous in the last century thanks to Thadeous Fairbanks, the inventor of the scale mechanism for weighing produce. The railroad supplied the rest of the world with these scales.

The railroad also brought fresh produce from the local farms to New York hotels.

St J is known for the Maple Grove Sugar Candy Factory and the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. The Cabot Creamery Cheese factory is in the town of Cabot.

At the northern extreme is Newport, on the shore of Lake Memphremagog, which is famous for the smuggling that occurred during prohibition. Canadian whiskey is still a popular commodity. The nearby Haskel Opera house in Derby Line was purposely constructed on the boarder between the two countries, which the town spans. Today the regions cultural center is Lyndonville State College; the major seasonal event is the Lyndonville State Fair. This region is home of a multitude of craftspeople and artists.

The terrain that we ride on is rolling hills. We are on a tour, there is no time schedule, and no need to rush. The hills will most likely be longer than you are used to but they are not killers. The descents are great! There are many lakes and streams for swimming or cooling your feet.

The Links Page lists links to the Northeast Kingdom Travel & Tourism Association. The region has long embraced the ideals that comprise National Geographic's geotourism programs. Geotourism incorporates the concept of sustainable tourism—that destinations should remain unspoiled for future generations. What could be more compatible with bicycle touring?