Guide for Tourists Visiting Lake Champlain in New York

The year was 2005 and our life was in a true turmoil. We just needed to get away, far far away but not so far it would take a plane to get there. Being a history buff and being interested in the legend of the Lake Champlain monster I brought the idea of a trip around Lake Champlain to my family. There was something in it for everyone so my family readily agreed. I made the reservations at one cheap, hotel after another along the entire east coast of the lake. A call came in the day before we left. A storm had wiped our first hotel off of the map!! I told my husband we would call the vacation off but he insisted we go and just wing it. I have to say I am so glad I listened to my husband. Now I am going to share with you every amazing, mind blowing moment along with every less then wonderful moment so you will know what to put on your list and what not to. I will also give you driving instructions from the New Hampton and Bristol New Hampshire region. So sit back and enjoy the trip!! We did!!

We packed the Beetle to overflowing with coolers, luggage and toys, mind boggling all who know how tiny these cars are. We left late following route 104 to its end in Danbury NH. We then took a right onto rte 4. We followed rte 4 until the I89 N entrance ramp appeared on our right. Taking rte 189N we found ourselves in Burlington VT about 2 ½ hours later. We found a hotel with a vacancy sign but it was midnight so the owner thought we were trying to break into the hotel when we knocked on the door!! "Some start to a perfect vacation!!", was the thought in my head. My husband assured me it would get better in the morning and it did. I would like to note here that had we started earlier we could have visited Shelburne Farms just South of Burlington VT in Shelburne VT. I have visited this real, working farm in the past and I must tell you it is well worth a look for adults and kids alike. Don't forget to buy the bread. It is yummy and will be a great treat for the rest of the trip. I would also like to mention that you don't stay at the Super 8 Burlington. I stayed there on one occasion and ended up sleeping in the car. The floors were un-vacuumed, the pillows were brown with dirt and the pool had dirty, murky water in it.

The next day we followed I89 up to exit 17 and then onto route 2. Stopping on Grand Isle we took a tour of Hyde Cabin, the oldest log cabin in VT and possibly the US!! I had read about this cabin in a haunted house book and it sounded exciting. However, I found it to be a bit boring other then the one spirit photo I captured by the massive fireplace. A bit deflated, we headed our little green bug back to route 2 north to North Hero VT and stopped for lunch at the Lipizzan Park located right on Lake Champlain. The view was incredible and the show put on by Hermann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions was mind boggling. The heat frying our brains didn't even matter any more and the trouble we had getting here seemed miles away but it was time to pack up our bug and hit the road so we could get to the Ausable Chasm Motel in Keeseville NY before we missed check in time. I pictured in my head an amazing little hotel overlooking a panoramic view of some kind or another. I had booked the hotel, sight unseen and boy was I in for a shocker!!

We headed the Beetle towards the Grand Isle Ferry docking and made our way to Plattsburg NY 12 minutes later. From Plattsburg NY we disembarked the ferry and got onto route 9 south. Twenty minutes later, on route 9 we found a fairly nice looking and very rambling hotel. Had we followed the road instead of getting a ferry this trip would take almost two hours!! Sorry to say but we didn't see the fabled lake monster, Champ. I couldn't see the chasm either as we entered the hotel but I presumed it was back there somewhere. Getting our keys we followed the attendant's directions. We found ourselves hidden at the back of the hotel in a dirty parking lot. Dust spewed up over my little VW turning its cyber green paint a muddy color. We pried our luggage from the trunk and wherever else we had crowbarred it into and went inside. I was extremely stunned. It was old, outdated and just plain huge!! I could get lost going from the bed to the door!! Being a design major, I was appalled at the wood paneling and distasteful bedspreads but at least it was extremely clean. I looked out the back window to find my Ausable view and found instead a lovely view of woodpiles and all sorts of cast offs from the hotel!! Oddly enough this turned out to be the same hotel I had stayed at as a child and it hadn't change a bit!! By the time we got unpacked it was diner time so we walked to the local diner up the street, where I remember the amazing cake from my childhood. One of my fond childhood memories was driving down rte 9 in the pouring rain, snug and warm in the back of the Dodge Charger eating a piece of that awesome chocolate cake. These were my thoughts as I drifted away to sleep that night.

The next day we pried our luggage and ourselves into the bug and headed just down the street to Ausable Chasms. This had to be my favorite part of the trip. I would not recommend missing this natural water park for the world!! Our trip started with a fun hike through mind blowing gorges and up awe inspiring cliffs. Waterfalls and cascades were around every single corner. However, the owners had saved the best for last. At the end of the hike they had three options. Option one was to simply hike out of the gorge (I wouldn't recommend this option for all the tea in China!!). Option two was to ride an inner tube through the class one rapids (This is the option my brave little girl took!!). Option three was to ride a rubber raft down the rapids (Being adventurous but not brave, I took this option.). Three years later and my daughter is still telling her friends of her wild ride that day!! Like I said, I wouldn't skip Ausable Chasms for anything but be prepared to get very wet!! At this point the day was winding down so it was time to head onto our next destination, Fort Ticonderoga NY.

This part of the trip was a bit long and confusing so I am going to give you the Map Quest instructions from Ausable to Fort Ticonderoga. Start out going west on NY-22 toward Ausable St and then turned left onto NY-9N. Merging onto I-87 S via the ramp on the left take the RT-9N exit (exit 31 towards Elizabethtown/Westport). Turn LEFT onto NY-9N. Turn LEFT onto NY-22/ NY-9N/ MAIN ST. Continue to follow NY-22/ NY-9N. Turn LEFT onto SHORE-AIRPORT RD/ CR-43. Continue to follow CR-43. turn LEFT onto NY-22/ NY-74. Turn LEFT onto NY-74. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto SANDY REDOUBT (Gate access required). Turn SLIGHT RIGHT. End at Fort Ticonderoga, NY. This should take you a little over an hour to do and will get you into Ticonderoga in time for dinner. When you get there make sure you stay at the Stone House Motel & Motor Lodge Ticonderoga. This motel is reminiscent of long ago days with its fun stone exterior and antique, period interior. I felt more like I was at home here then at a motel!! They also have a pool for some fun before dinner splashing about!! Make sure you try out the local pizza place and bakery. Both have excellent food guaranteed to comfort the road weary traveler.

The next day we explored Fort Ticonderoga and all the amazing mysteries it held. Here too we were able to get some fun spiritual photos in the dungeons. After a full day of exploring we sadly headed the Beetle for home. This part of the trip is also a bit rough so once again I will guide you to Map Quest to get you to Waterbury VT where I have another surprise in store. This leg of the trip is around 1 hour and 45 minutes long. Start out going WEST on SANDY REDOUBT. Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto NY-74. Turn RIGHT onto NY-22/ NY-74. Turn RIGHT onto CR-43/ SHORE AIRPORT RD. Continue to follow CR-43. Turn RIGHT onto NY-9N/ NY-22. Turn RIGHT to stay on NY-22/ NY-9N. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto LAKE RD/ CR-48. Turn RIGHT to stay on LAKE RD/ CR-48. Turn RIGHT onto NY-903/ BRIDGE RD (Crossing into VERMONT). NY-903/ BRIDGE RD becomes VT-125/ VT-17. Keep LEFT at the fork to go on VT-17. Turn LEFT onto VT-22A. Turn LEFT onto US-7 N. Merge onto I-189 N. Merge onto I-89 S toward WILLISTON/ MONTPELIER. Take the VT-100 S exit, EXIT 10, toward US-2. Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto VT-100. Turn LEFT onto US-2/ VT-100/ N MAIN ST/ THEODORE ROOSEVELT HWY. In Waterbury I have your one last treat before heading home, the Ben and Jerry's factory tour!! After you get a good look at the behind the scenes of the factory you will be served free samples of whatever ice cream they happen to be producing that day. Now, to get back home you will need to simply reverse the directions you took to get to Burlington VT. Take I89S to rte 4e to rte 104. This will take about 2 more hours to get home. As usual, if you have any comments or would like to share your thoughts, don't forget to tell Doc.