Page 96 - WINE DINE AND TRAVEL SPRING 2023 SPECIAL CRUISE EDTION

decipher and study this extraordinary mural.
The three of us had the best dining
experience at Sante’, a small-plate, tapas place
in central Woodstock. We shared small plates
of Marcona almonds, sweet potato fritters,
Maplebrook Farm Burrata with cherry
tomatoes and sourdough, roasted cauliflower
with tahini, and roasted beets with whipped
feta and hazelnuts, all paired with a delicious
Chardonnay.

And they also introduced me to a
quintessential Vermont treat: a Maple
Creemee. “This is found only in Vermont,” Pat
told me. It’s a soft-serve ice cream flavored
with maple and served with crunchy maple
sprinkles at Woodstock Scoops, also in center
of town. Yum.
My last day took me to Quechee, just a few
miles east of Woodstock. Quechee Gorge is
the deepest gorge in Vermont at 165 feet,
sometimes called “Vermont’s Little Grand
Canyon.” A hiking trail reaches the
Ottauquechee River and follows it to its dam.
Walking along the riverbank can be difficult
across the undulating granite slabs, but the
views are well worth it.
I stopped for lunch at Simon Pearce in
Quechee, right next to a covered bridge and a
waterfall. This is the flagship for the famed
Vermont-based glass blowing shop, which also
includes a fine restaurant. The Vermont
Cheese Soup with salad and tiny biscuits was
one of my favorite meals during my trip.
My expectations for Vermont in October
were high. Its painted forests, pastoral
landscapes and historic sights exceeded them all.

.Lots of Halloween spirit in Woodstock
in October. Warren Falls is a dramatic
waterfall off Scenic Route 100 in
Vermont. Right: The fall colors of
Vermont are worthy of their reputation.

96 WINE DINE & TRAVEL MAGAZINE SPRING 2023