It's time to celebrate Vermont's sweetest season! The Vermont Maple Sugar Makers' Association is hosting the 2023 Maple Open House across two weekends, March 25 & 26 and April 1 & 2 . During this annual event, local Vermont Maple Sugar Makers invite you into their sugarhouses to celebrate the 2023 crop. The maple experts will teach you about the cherished Vermont tradition. This event includes maple education, guided tours, and delicious sweet maple samples. Keep reading for the inside scoop on the top 10 Vermont sugar houses you simply can't miss.

1. Snow Farm Vineyard

Head to Snow Farm Vineyard in South Hero, Vermont, for their Maple Open House at Fox Hill Maple. They have many activities, such as a guided tour, live music, games, and a pancake dinner! 

Open House Information

2. Palmers Sugar House

Palmer’s Sugar House invites the community to their Maple Open House in Shelburne, Vermont. You can expect to enjoy tours, barnyard animals, and maple breakfast and lunch! Plus, this is only 10 minutes away from Burlington, Vermont. 

Open House Information

3. Shelburne Farms  

Visit Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont, to see the sugarhouse and take an interactive tour to learn about the sugaring process. Then enjoy activities such as a scavenger hunt and sugar on snow! They will have a variety of samples and guided tours, plus a stroll through the woods full of maple trees. 

Open House Information

4. Gange Maple 

Gange Maple in Swanton, Vermont, has cultivated maple syrup in northern Vermont for five generations! Their open house festivities include delicious maple creemees, educational information, and a walk in the sugaring woods. 

Maple Open House Information

5. SugarTree Maple Farm

In Williston, Vermont, Sugartree Maple Farm will have a tour of their sugarhouse, maple hotdogs, and even maple adult beverages by Bevo Catering company. 

Open House Information

6. Mountainview Mapleworks at the Giroux Family Farm

Visit Mountainview Mapleworks, in Richmond, Vermont, to see their family-run operation that includes a solar-powered sugarhouse! They will have trails to see the running sap, excellent maple samples, and even maple coffee and doughnuts! There is ample parking, and they will also have Vermont maple syrup for sale.

Open House Information

7. Palmer Lane Maple

Palmer Lane Maple in Jericho, Vermont, will have many sweet treats such as maple cream donuts, maple hot dogs, creemees and much more! They are also collecting items for their local food shelf. If you bring two small food items, you get a small bag of maple cotton candy for free!

Open House Information

8. End-O-Road Maple

End-O-Road Maple’s open house in Jericho, Vermont, will have maple goodies, an opportunity to feed their sheep. Voted one of the top sugarhouses in Chittenden county, this is a must-see spot! 

Open House Information

9. Browns River Maple 

This local family-owned and operated sugar house in Essex Junction, Vermont, will have tours, samples, and snacks. Browns River Maple will also have a fundraiser going on for Dragonheart Vermont.

Open House Information

10. Mcbride’s Family Maple

Head to Westford, Vermont, to check out Mcbride’s family maple’s small but highly efficient solar-powered operation!  They will have sugar-making demonstrations, samples, and lots of information for visitors.

Open House information

Read the entire guide of all Vermont sugarhouses participating in the 2023 Maple Open House weekends here. 

 

The Lake Champlain Islands have been producing apples for generations. Fall apple picking is a must-try activity when visiting or living in Vermont. These popular Grand Isle County apple orchards have been family owned for generations. Learn more about them below! 

Allenholm Farm 

Allenholm Farm is located on South Street in South Hero, Vermont. Allenholm Farm has been around since 1870; the Allen family has run the farm for seven generations. According to the South Hero Land Trust, it is the oldest commercial apple orchard still operating in Vermont. They offer pick-your-own apples, desserts such as Papa Ray’s Pies, and the best maple creemees. 

Hackett's Orchard 

Family-owned since 1967, the 50-acre farm and market offer apples, fresh cider doughnuts, apple cider, cider slush, and even apple crisp! Hackett's Orchard has a total of 47 different varieties of apples. In September, they offer pick-your-own apples. Head to South Street to get your Vermont apples, pumpkins, and sweet treats.

Hall’s Orchard

Hall’s Orchard is a family-owned apple orchard located in Isle La Motte. The property in Isle La Motte has been in the Hall family since the late 1700s and the orchard has been family owned since 1828. The farmhouse is a historic structure made with stone quarried on the island and shows the famous ancient coral reef fossils. 

Owner-operator Allen Hall grows and harvests apples and pears on Main Street in the town of Isle La Motte, Vermont. The orchard has pick your own and fresh cider in season as well as pears, maple syrup, pumpkins, and honey!

The beautiful landscape, close-knit community, history, and countless places to explore are why so many are grateful to call the Champlain Islands home.

Thinking of making a move? Learn more about Life In The Champlain Islands or to begin your property search browse available homes in the Champlain Islands.

Are you curious about Vermont’s largest lake, Lake Champlain? At Coldwell Banker Islands Realty, we breathe the Lake Champlain lifestyle and are here to share more information about the beautiful Lake Champlain region. Discover how the lake got its name, its battles, how many islands it contains, and other interesting facts.

• Lake Champlain History

Home to the oldest reef in the world, Lake Champlain is full of history. The Chazy Reef, a fossil reef in Isle La Motte, Vermont, spans over 1,567 acres and is over 480 million years old. This National Natural Landmark is viewable to the public at the Goodsell Ridge Fossil Preserve and the Fisk Quarry Reserve.

Lake Champlain was first discovered in 1609 by French explorer Samuel De Champlain, hence the name. Still, there are records of multiple names given by indigenous tribes, such as the Iroquois and Abenaki. 

The lake was a vital part of many battles and wars throughout the next couple of hundred years. During the Revolutionary War, Lake Champlain played a crucial role in shipbuilding, colony movement, and naval battles. The Battle of Lake Champlain, also known as the Battle of Plattsburgh, took place during the War of 1812 and prevented the British from invading New York. This battle was quite significant as it stopped the last invasion of the northern states by the British.

Shipwrecks dating back to the 18th century can be found in Lake Champlain. You can even go diving to see some of them through the Vermont Underwater Historic Preserves. 

• Lake Champlain Facts

Lake Champlain is about 120 miles long and 12 miles wide at its widest point. Even though the average depth is 64ft, the deepest point reaches down to 400 feet. There are 71 islands throughout Lake Champlain. These range from tiny remote islands to larger islands with towns and full-time residents. Three are state parks: Knight, Woods, and Burton Island. There are also vacation rental opportunities out on Butler Island. The three largest islands are towns that include: South Hero/Grand Isle, North Hero, and Isle La Motte. Approximately 200,000 people use Lake Champlain as their home’s water source.

• Fish and Wildlife

Over 90 species of fish live in the waters of Lake Champlain. It’s considered a frontline fishery for two species: salmonid species (lake trout and salmon) and bass. Bassmaster magazine even named Lake Champlain the fourth-best lake in the region for fishing in 2021!

There are over 318 bird species that live near or around Lake Champlain! The state's second most productive waterfowl site is located right in the marshes around The Sandbar Causeway. 

Another form of life is believed to live beneath the surface of Lake Champlain. The mythical lake monster, Champ, is a creature similar to the Loch Ness Monster that some believe is living in the depths of the waters. There are reports of Champ sightings as early as the 17th century.

• Travel

Lake Champlain plays an essential role in travel for everyone. Two ferries travel year-round between New York and Vermont, making it easy to commute for recreational or work purposes.

In 2022, Burlington welcomed back a commuter rail service between Burlington and New York City. The Burlington Union Station is located right on Main Street. The Rutland-Canadian Railroad ended its use in 1962 and was developed into a public trail for bicyclists and pedestrians. The trail runs along the shores of Lake Champlain, offering a unique recreational experience.

You can easily travel to the Lake Champlain Islands by the causeway that connects the Vermont mainland to the island of South Hero. Multiple bridges connect the different island towns and to the mainland of Swanton and New York State.

• Fun Facts

You've heard of the five Great Lakes of North America, but did you know there used to be a sixth? On March 6th, 1998, President Clinton declared Lake Champlain the sixth Great Lake. Despite the bill being signed, the title for Lake Champlain didn’t last long. Many countries ended up disagreeing with the decision and wanted the status rescinded. So, only a couple weeks later, on March 24th, 1998, President Clinton did as the public wished, and Lake Champlain was no longer a Great Lake. Even though it’s not official anymore, the “Sixth Great Lake” nickname has stuck with the lake.

Lake Champlain is full of history, life, and adventure. If you want to learn more about life on Lake Champlain, our Realtors are here to help.