Madumok

Mt Tom Vermont or the day that the Precipice Trail seemed like a great option for kids and baby When I went to talk to the Ranger about climbing Mount Tom, he took one look at our merry band of pirates and decided that wide paths and gentle upgrades were the way to go. As he highlighted a route to the summit, he specifically told me to stay away from the Precipice Trail. Thats a real trail, he said. Real narrow and steep. Youre best off sticking to the carriage roads. Like a good mom, I listened to the advice of experts and we climbed the two-plus miles up to the summit, sticking to the wide carriage roads. The trail did not disappoint, and offered continually changing landscapes with lots of interest and stunning views. It was not an easy climb for the boys, but it kept their attention and it was nice that they could run ahead a bit, or fall behind to collect pinecones. The payoff at the top was worth it. While we were catching our breath and enjoying a snack, a family appeared off of...

We Looked At The Swim And We Jumped Right In West Dummerston Covered Bridge Southern Vermont We went to Vermont in search of family friendly hiking and swimming, and we found them both.  On our last morning at the  Brattleboro North KOA   I walked into the cozy camp store and asked Beverly to recommend a good swim. She pulled out a list culled from swimming holes.org/vt and highlighted two of them.  Then she grabbed a photocopied map and highlighted the exact route to both locations.  If you ever find yourself in the Brattleboro area on a warm summer day and you want to go for a swim, go see Beverly.  She will get you there.  I promise. We decided to spend our morning at the West Dummerston Covered Bridge, which was just a short drive from the campground.  This classic New England bridge crosses the West River and, according to swimming holes.org, has "deep swimming places" and "a pretty strong current" but is "apparently safe as families swim the...