SilverKelpie t1_j8ljky7 wrote on February 15, 2023 at 4:42 AM

Hey! I lived in CA for a couple years as a teen (Alameda County). Really enjoyed my time there.

I‘m fairly new to VT, but my answers:

The nature is the draw. Old Appalachian mountains covered in trees and springs and ponds. Few people to wreck it. First time I ever went hiking here I couldn’t shut up about how I didn’t see any litter, even in the creek.
Lake Willoughby is my favorite „unique nature thing.“. I recommend looking up some photos.
Maple cremees (soft serve), sugar on snow (you heat up the maple syrup to 235° and then drizzle it on snow and it becomes taffy-like in consistency), apple cider donuts…. People seem to come up with any excuse to put maple syrup in anything. It’s all amazing.
Sepoctemober.
Walk in the woods. Ride in the woods. Look at the stars.
Not many cities here. I enjoy Montpelier the most.
Tidbits…. The snowmobilers have a trail system (the VAST trail) that goes all over the state. I only wish horse people were that organized. There is also the Long Trail for hiking that goes up through the center-ish of the state. The state has a day called Green Up Day in May for which you get trash bags to go pick up litter. The state motto is „Freedom and Unity.“

himalayancaucasin OP t1_j8mwn4w wrote on February 15, 2023 at 2:16 PM

Congrats on your new venture. Sounds like you are really soaking it in, and enjoying your time! The maple syrup and snow thing is super interesting, as someone who cooks a lot that fascinates me. I imagine kids go crazy making that type of thing

Really cool about the snowmobile trails too

SilverKelpie t1_j8my2zk wrote on February 15, 2023 at 2:27 PM

Ah, then as someone who appreciates food, another thing on that front about Vermont is that dairy and apples have figured prominently in Vermont‘s history. The dairy industry is struggling, but Cabot products are still prominent around the state. I get their butter, sour cream, and Vermont-style cheddar cheese (it’s a white cheddar) a lot. Apple trees grow wild all over the place. Apple pie is the state pie and there is the hilarious pie law.

cedit_crazy t1_j8nrlri wrote on February 15, 2023 at 5:46 PM

Funny story I thought green up day was a national holiday until i met a flat lander for the first time during green up day