Wells, Vermont • 802.325.2829 |
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357 Five Star Reviews • 100% Guest-Focused • 72% Repeat Guests Last Year
Don't Just Read the Story, Become the Story!
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Happy New Year Everyone!
Wall Street Journal columnist, Rob LaZebnik, wrote last month… “When I recently turned 60, I realized with alarm that I was starting to see unmistakable signs from friends and colleagues that I was becoming—there’s no easy way to put this—boring. It was almost as if the same stories I had told a hundred times were no longer interesting to them. But what else was I supposed to talk about? It wasn’t like I had anything new and exciting to tell them…” Rob went on to say, “…not doing, anything too simple, like eat a kind of pork dumpling I’ve never had or anything too complex, like raise a pig, fall in love with it, then force myself to kill it to make a new kind of pork dumpling.” This article absolutely resonated with us… the pig thing, yes, that’s exactly what we did, except for falling in love with it—chickens too, and Black Angus, but that’s another story. The point that both Rob and I are making is get out there—seek out those life-changing experiences, and Don’t Just Read the Story, Become the Story! This is exactly what we do at Pond Mountain Inn…
All our best – Kay & Glenn
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When’s the last time you witnessed a total solar eclipse? Northern Vermont will experience a total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024. For the better part of two and a half hours, beginning at 2:14 p.m., we will be within the eclipse’s 70 to 80 mile-wide path of totality. Vermont is the ideal location to observe this nature phenomenon. The last time Vermont had a front row seat was in 1932!
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Magical winter experiences are everywhere in New England—especially Vermont. There’s more to winter than simply watching flurries falling to the ground from your favorite après-ski spot… Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition in February, ice fishing on the lake, experience dog sledding, gourmet lobster fondue, harvesting ice or just treat yourself to a good fireside read…
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Lori Maloy, the previous inn owner, recently retired from a successful counselling career now concentrates her efforts on her next life’s chapter—writing. A voracious reader, Lori has turned reading into writing where she focuses on her favorite genres—thriller, mystery, and psychological suspense. Please consider joining Lori’s book club, and receive her free short story thriller!
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The Classic Soup & Sandwich
Wells, Vermont
This time-honored lunch combination is exactly what you need on those snowy cold Vermont days… Timeless Creamy Campbell's Tomato Soup and a Grilled Cheese Sandwich, on white bread, which should go without saying. Somehow, this was always in the weekend lunch rotation in those early years… an absolute lunch favorite in the 60s & 70s—I’m not so sure about today. And, remember that famous “M’m! M’m Good!” jingle—Campbell’s began radio advertising with that tune in 1931…
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Taco Fresco • Rutland, Vermont
A great new find, thanks to our neighbor... absolutely authentic Mexican cuisine—we were first-timers last month... If you love to try new foods, don’t mind traveling to Rutland, there’s a cuisine that goes beyond the taco truck… I don’t mind creating a buzz—everything about this place is impressive… the ambiance is lovely, the food is delicious with delightful service. And, the two owners, both Vermonters, have a great story…
Mexico has the seventh best cuisine in the world, according to a 50-nation ranking compiled by the international food guide website TasteAtlas… The best ranked cuisines are: Italy, Greece, Spain, Romania, France and Japan—arguably.
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The Joys of Winter Birding
Vermont
Some winters we have been graced by snowy owls…enormously inconsistent visitors from the north make seeing one worth the bone-chilling commitment—but, I'm not so sure about that! Winter, however, brings a completely different set of birds… my nephew, Marc Parnell, ornithologist, author, and wildlife photographer is the second-most published ornithologist in the world make identifying Birds of Vermont a little easier! And, the little guy in the photo is over at VINS (Vermont Institute of Natural Science). We just discovered this new museum below!
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Vermont... The Gateway to Montréal... |
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Another Spectacular Experience… Curling |
This photograph best exemplifies our day on the ice, and our slogan, Don’t Just Read the Story, Become the Story! Twelve of us journeyed to Montréal for the New Year. First, though, most of the group began the weekend skiing on Mont-Tremblant, just eighty miles northwest of Montréal, and a few others went dog sledding. But the hilarity began at The Royal Montréal Curling Club—learning about the sport. Center in the photo, throwing the stone, is Arianna—doctoral student and former professional ballet dancer. To her right is Claude, our instructor and retired attorney, then Kay, just behind in white holding her curling broom, and finally, Eric, Arianna’s husband and formidable stone thrower himself! Just hilarious… throwing 45 lb. stones up and down the ice for nearly two hours while pretending our directional sweeping could influence the stone in any meaningful way. The photos below are a must see!
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Vermont... Also, The Gateway to Québec City... |
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Christmas in Québec City... |
Rather than extolling the elegance of this fabulous cobblestone French-speaking province, the towering Château Frontenac Hotel and imposing Citadelle dating back to 1608, it’s preferable to discuss the friendly warmth of our Canadian hosts and fellow travelers. The German Christmas Market transforms Old Québec into a truly magical Christmas village… from the young man dishing out fondue from his Christmas kiosk to the traditional toboggan slide—one of the oldest attractions in town is all for the taking… Excited French children running through the streets calling out “mama, papa”—just adorable… so much happiness and friendly smiles made distant travel seem much closer to home... See our favorite photo of a young man dishing out fondue from his Christmas kiosk just below!
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Stifel Killington Cup Woman’s FIC Ski World Cup (2023/2024) |
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We miss this event every year—however, this year we’re going (November 2024). We aren’t going to miss Mikaela Shiffrin's seventh Killington slalom victory. Mikaela is the greatest skier of all time, named one of TIME's 100 Most Influential People in 2023, in the 'Pioneer' category, and won her first ESPY for “Best Athlete – Women’s Sports” 2023! Join us later in the year to cheer on Mikaela!
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New to our menu... Traditional French Laundry crêpe and seasonal garden chives filled with Farmer Cheese, Cottage Cheese, and one farm-fresh egg, then folded into a rectangular shape. Pan fried in butter until the outside becomes a crisp golden-brown with a warm creamy filling. It is said, two fried blintzes set side-by-side bear a remarkable resemblance the Ten Commandments Tablets, and are a delicacy to be eaten on many Jewish holidays—a match made in heaven. See our blog for a brief history with a hint of family… |
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Russ & Daughters in Vermont |
Kay has been buying pickled herring, Irish smoked salmon, whitefish croquettes, latkes, babka and bagels from Russ & Daughters in New York City for years—always an easy train ride from New Jersey, and now from Vermont! And, with their new location (502 W 34th St. at 10th Ave.), it’s a five-minute walk from Moynihan Train Hall. With semi-regular visits to the city, we can offer their Sesame Seed Bagels, Organic Irish Smoked Salmon, Temp Tee Whipped Cream Cheese, Red Onion, Capers, and Avocado on our menu. |
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Upcoming Events & Insightful Features |
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English Christmas Pudding
We should have shared this last month, but now you'll be prepared for next Christmas—make a note. “The Cake” looks more like a holiday fruit cake—I don’t know anyone that actually eats fruit cake. Thankfully, this Christmas Pudding is fabulous! “The Pudding” has its origins in medieval England, and is sometimes known as plum pudding, though there’s no actual plums inside. In pre-Victorian days, the term “plums” was also a term for raisins. That said, this pudding contains a number of dried fruits— dates, dried apricots, currants, raisins, cranberries, and other spices that sets this apart from other festive holiday desserts.
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Clearing the Tracks...
What’s our fascination with trains? “It’s something that happens to pretty much every boy on earth, usually when they’re about 3-years-old: They’ll wake up one morning and decide that trains are, officially, the coolest thing in the world.” What about trains captivate us more than, say, a winding Vermont road? The answer is in the rarity of seeing a train, as well as the sense of adventure they invoke within us… whatever it is, Vermont has its share of trains traversing the state from Amtrak to freight trains to seasonal foliage rides…
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Belmont Stakes at Saratoga... 2024!
Huge News! The Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course in 2024 to allow for the uninterrupted construction of a new and re-imagined Belmont Park, the Long Island home of the third leg of the Triple Crown. This is a huge win for horseracing and for the Capital Region to have the excitement and the ability to host the four-day Festival in June at America’s most historic track. We’re Going, and we're beginning to plan now...
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We Liken Our Instagram & Facebook Photographs to sampling the finest champagnes and caviars in the most decadent Champagne Lounge… How's that for an exaggeration?!?! Please click on either link just above.
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Check Availability
802.325.2829
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Pond Mountain Inn Bed and Breakfast
1955 Saw Mill Hill Road, Wells, Vermont 05774
802.325.2829
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