Things To Do

Just up the road about a mile, even within hiking distance, Nichols Pond is a beautiful gem. There are no motorized boats allowed so take the kayaks down.  Launch the kayak from the dam parking area for a relaxing float and great fishing, or cross over the dam and follow the path along the edge of the lake to find a quiet private place to swim.  Keep an eye open for loons! 

To get there, take a right out of the driveway, in about 1/8 mile, go right where the road splits. Then continue for about a half-mile and go right onto Nichols Dam road. This road looks like a private road, but it’s not. Go down to the end and there’s parking.  Be aware, sometimes the road can be very rough and sometimes it’s hard to find parking and the dam area can be a bit of a party spot.

Here is a map of the walk! – the round-trip hike is 2.6 miles and is about 20-25 minutes each way.

The Nichols Ledge Trail is closed from Mid-March until August 1st to protect the nesting Peregrine Falcons. Do not hike this trail outside of this timeframe. Thank you! 

In the winter you cannot drive directly from the treehouse to the Nichols Ledge parking area because the road becomes a VAST snowmobile trail (definitely don’t drive on it – you will likely get stuck and will need to find a tractor to pull you out). If you decide to drive all the way around in the winter to park at the bottom of the trail, rather than hiking from the treehouse, check out this map on how to get there!

To get to Nichols Ledge, go past Nichols Dam road and go all the way to the top of the hill.  There’s a small parking area on your right at the top and the trail is right there. 

It’s a relatively short, but steep hike – if you’re in decent shape it will take you about 15 minutes. A truly beautiful spot!

The VAST Snowmobile trails also run right through our property, and we’ve been cross-country skiing to Nichols Pond on them! Here’s our track! If you do this, just really keep a close ear open for snowmobiles and move to the side of the trail when they go by.

Barr Hill, Greensboro, VT – a Nature Conservancy property about 20 minutes away, and the namesake of Barr Hill Gin, there are easy, short hikes with beautiful views. 

Hardwick Trails, Hardwick, VT – Access is behind Hazen Union High School, there are trails of varying lengths for hiking and biking, periodic guided hikes, and the trails are groomed for cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Cheever’s Falls, Walden, VT – beautiful, local waterfall you reach with a short hike.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail goes right through Hardwick and is great for walking, skiing, horseback riding, and snowmobiling!

If you’d like to go fishing, you can get supplies and a fishing license at either the Willey’s Store in Greensboro or Riteway Sports in Hardwick.

Great coffee and baked goods. A cafe hot spot in town!

My friend Mark owns this restaurant. Great food, beverage, and atmosphere!

Great tacos and Master Finn’s Axe Throwing venue next door!

Great pizza and beer in a nice atmosphere right in Hardwick.

This is where my family and I get our everyday pizza (well, maybe not Every day) Yummy and affordable!

My favorite pizza ever – get the Green Mountain Special!

My friend Lee’s place in Craftsbury: great cocktails and local dishes.

Classic Vermont Lodge with a wonderful restaurant and bar!

Barr Hill started out as Caledonia Spirits in Hardwick (I worked there!).  While we miss them in Hardwick, their new distillery in Montpelier is stunning, with great cocktails!  They have the best gin.

Brand new beautiful space in Hardwick featuring Cabot cheeses and other products

Great breakfast and lunch place in Hardwick – my favorites are the Jasper Hill Eggs Benedict and Finn’s BLT!

Every Friday from May to October, from 3-6 – lots of great vendors and a fun, festive atmosphere!

Lots of great natural and organic foods with a big emphasis on local.  Lots of great people here too!

A lot of people come here to go to the world-famous Hill Farmstead Brewery!

Classic Vermont Country Store that has everything you need!

Open seasonally, they have a great selection of fresh produce and local products.

This is a favorite for our family and is wonderful for special occasions: a traditional English Tea Room located among beautiful gardens!  It’s only open from early May to mid-September.  They also have a wonderful gift shop!

A great little gift shop right in town with lots of fun and special items!  Whenever I go in there, I need to walk out with a special treat for the treehouse!

Our neighbor down the street who has beautiful weavings!  She is open by appointment or during Open Studio weekends

Another neighbor about two miles away, and we have some of his work in the treehouse!  

Also open by appointment or during Open Studio weekends.

And, another neighbor with beautiful glass art and functional wares that we also have in the treehouse!  

The Willey's Store in Greensboro has everything you need: hardware, housewares, gifts, food/beverage, as well as clothing and outdoor gear!

A beautiful gallery in Greensboro with lots of local art!

A working Sugarhouse in Montpelier with a great gift shop!

Gallery and Crafts Shop on your way to St. Johnsbury)

They not only have great flowers, but also lots of great gifts!  The flowers in the treehouse come from them!

A great local bookstore that’s a town staple!

Yoga, therapy, and treatments and will do private yoga at Stone City!  Book through the Add-on’s section.

My massage therapist, she’s wonderful!  And she will set up a table by the stream at Stone City in the warmer months :)

Bikes, gear, service, & Rentals

World-class mountain bike trails, only 45 minutes away

This is where we ski, fun and affordable!

Rail Trail Shuttle and guided tours.

From St. Johnsbury to Swanton, New England’s longest rail trail, following the beautiful Lamoille River.

World-class cross-country skiing, sculling, running, biathlon, and cycling.

Great cross country skiing, a bit closer than Craftsbury

They have some wonderful events here!

Some homegrown community talent and community-building

Politically radical puppet theater, active since the 1960’s.

It is an independently run museum whose mission is to capture a “...slow-motion cataloguing of the quotidian–a detailed, theatrical expression of gratitude and love for the minuscule and unglamorous experience of daily life in all its forms.

Film, visual arts, and performance.

The Hardwick Town House is a community run venue in downtown Hardwick in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

Dance, concerts & theatrical performances in a spacious & modern barn-like facility.

Such a cool and unique spot, sitting at at table, drinking a beer and listening to live music among the aisles of the old-school hardware store :) 

I hate to admit that I haven’t been here yet, but it has a great reputation for great local music!

A beautiful space to get your faster wifi, photocopies, etc!  There are books and events, and a great mix of the old and the new, with the amazing new addition!

A stunning view, facing West, high on a hill.  You can park on the side of the road and enjoy the New England beauty!  I’d suggest stopping at Burtt’s Apple Orchard to pick up some cider donuts on your way there!

If you head to the beautiful Lake Willoughby, be sure to check out the views from here!

A great view of Caspian Lake, and some sweet and easy walking trails.  A classic place for a picnic!

Not for stargazing, but great sunsets!

Caspian Beach is a great place to swim, put your boat in the water, and see beautiful sunsets.