Wells, Vermont • 802.325.2829
You Don't Need More Vacation Days – You Just Need Better Ones!
The Magic is in the Unfamiliar... 
January 2020
Sometimes it's about the journey, sometimes the destination. But with our unique Vermont day trips, it's decidedly both! 

It’s winter in Vermont and there’s tons of both indoorsy and outdoorsy stuff to do! Prepare yourself for unforgettable mind and body experiences – from guided wilderness hikes to a Nobel-laureate discussing his new book; and we’re visiting Middlebury College next week to hear David Sanger, national security correspondent and senior writer for the New York Times discuss his new book!
Green Mountain Academy Nuclear Energy – Friend or Foe?
James W. Bray, Chief Scientist, General Electric Global Research, discusses the often controversial topic of Nuclear Energy. Join us next Tuesday or this winter for many diverse lecture offerings...
Northshire Bookstore Welcomes... Paul Krugman
Join us March 7 th when Nobel-laureate Paul Krugman discusses his latest – a guide to today’s major policy issues and 20 years' of political and economic discourse. W e got our tickets last week!
Merck Forest
Owl Presentation & Hike
The evening begins with a presentation about the owls found in our region and then the group will hike out to find some of these magnificent raptors. Saturday, February 22 @ 4:00 - 6:00 pm ($5.00)
Perspective comes from encountering something completely new...
We're Going Ice Fishing – Wait Until You Read This!
The cold isn’t keeping us indoors! We’re joining Lucus, our ice fishing angler friend in the photo, for a day on the ice . We’re also taking an Introduction to Ice Fishing Course Wednesday, February 12 on Lake Bomoseen. And, if that’s not enough, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department offers a free Ice Fishing Day Festival on Saturday, January 25 a day when anyone, resident or nonresident, may go fishing in Vermont without a fishing license – we’re doing that too. You must join us – it's going to be wild!
We Serve Delicious Coffee, But It's Not The Most Expensive Coffee in the World...
One of the defining characteristics of an excellent bed & breakfast is the emphasis on serving the finest cup of coffee available. We serve five non-flavored mostly dark roast coffees, and our signature blend combines the best flavor characteristics of our Viennese & French roast coffees that truly offer an exceptional cup of coffee. And now there's more...  We just spoke with one of the companies on the list below... That's all we're saying!
When's The Last Time You Had Yak Sausages?
That’s Rob, our yak meat supplier – Princeton graduate, Ph.D., professor, speaker, consultant, author of two books, food`repreneur, and musician… or more briefly, simply a Vermonter (a Vermonter exemplifies doing more than just one thing). I’m not sure if our intended story is about yak meat or about Rob – of course, it’s both! We served yak sausages to our guests over the holidays – the flavor was rich, different and wild-tasting. Delicious!
Connecting Our Guests to New Experiences… 
We're Now Serving Vermont Wagyu Meat from Spring-Rock Farm
Just look at the marbling in this 100% full-blood W agyu Ribeye Steak . Pasture-raised, primarily grass fed with a grain finish, GMO-free diet, and no hormones or steroids. Spring-Rock Farm offers some of the best beef in the world!

Next time you’re visiting we’ll take you to Spring-Rock Farm and introduce you to the owner. Sheila has over 450 head of cattle and welcomes your visit. And, her story is compelling! We’re visiting next week... And, classic steak tartare that evening!
Cross Country or Down Hill Skiing... We're One Hour Away From Everything!
Skiing Distances from Pond Mountain Inn
 
Bromley Mountain Ski Resort • 48 Minutes / 29 Miles (Southeast)
Stratton Mountain • 1 Hour / 38 Miles (Southeast)
Okemo Mountain Resort • 1 Hour / 40 Miles (East)
Pico Mountain • 1 Hour / 42 Miles (Northeast)
Killington Resort • 1.1 Hours / 48 Miles (Northeast)

Cross Country Skiing Southern Vermont
 
Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home • 35 Minutes / 25 Miles (South)
Wild Wing's Ski Touring Center • 50 Minutes / 34 Miles (Southeast)
There's Something Special About This Beaver Pond & Lodge... Look Closely
During our recent trip to Waitsfield for yak meat we discovered this beaver lodge standing nearly seven feet tall! But, that’s not the entire story… the most interesting part of our discovery was the shallow beaver-engineered pond – just look at the lower left corner of the photo. This large family of beavers constructed an entire ecosystem to live and raise their pups! We're always stumbling upon something fascinating!
Ice Sailing or Ice Yachting 
Only a few times each year have we seen these ice sailors out on the lakes, and some years not at all. It’s exhilarating to watch them sail across the ice at speeds that may exceed 35 mph. Organized ice yachting is popular in North America, and as close as Lake Champlain.

In the 1850s, ice yacht clubs were popular on the Hudson River in Newburg, New Hamburg, Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park, New York. The founder of the Hudson Ice Yacht Club recorded a speed of over 100 mph in 1869. They also raced against trains that began running along the Hudson River.

The only activity on the lakes right now are ice fishermen and skaters – some with hockey sticks, but not me... not yet!
Birdseye Diner • Main Street Castleton, Vermont
The Birdseye Diner is a 1940’s Silk City Dining Car manufactured in Patterson, New Jersey. Just had to get in the New Jersey reference... Jersey is everywhere in Vermont – it’s hilarious! There are a few other interesting spots in Castleton… the Kinder Way Coffeehouse at the Depot (Amtrak), the Village Store has a very good wine selection, and the B lue Cat Bistro has a good menu. All of which are less than thirty minutes away. 
We Celebrated New Year's Eve at Dancing Ewe Farm!
Not an especially great photo, therefore imagine an exquisitely decorated holiday table for fifty with a spectacular dinner menu – Sparkling Wine & Antipasti Grazing Table, Luisa’s Signature Lasagna* made with homemade ragu and besciamella sauce, Chicken Cacciatore slow cooked to perfection served over a bed of polenta followed with an extraordinary dessert table...

Conversation about this incredible meal spilled out into every corner – then there was the bartender – h e was no bartender… Mike Smith, the region’s leading cocktail historian served cocktails one can only read about in Hemmingway’s Cuba! And, the music… Saratoga’s Leah Woods was on fire! What an extraordinary evening! *And, we're still talking about the lasagna!
Stargazing in January.... A Wolf Full Moon Eclipse This Friday!
We’re thinking about a full moon wolf hike at Merck Forest this Saturday from 4 to 5:50 p.m.
 
There’s a lot going on in the night sky in January, and skies are the darkest, clearest and longest of the entire year. On either side of January 24 the New Moon is ideal for stargazing. And, the next day begins the Chinese Lunar New Year – “Year of the Gold Rat”.

Kay & I love bundling up, hauling out the folding chairs and making a night of it… with a thermos of old-fashioned hot chocolate and binoculars the winter evenings in Vermont are magical!
Pond Mountain Inn Thanks You...
Kay joins me in thanking each one of our guests for making our home your home. You have all contributed to making this place collectively ours. Our guiding principle continues to make each visit different from the one before by improving upon something small or something large or by connecting you with new experiences that we continue to discover. Thank you for continuing to make Pond Mountain Inn your home away from home.
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