The following notes were left the past
couple of years by folks who stayed in the Cole Cabin and House.
I have grouped them by day of the month, though the years may be
different. In most cases, I took the liberty of removing last names
and have trimmed them a bit, but by and large they are as they were
written.
June 12th:
Our stay was wonderful. We brought two of our kids, Sidney, our five pound
doggie and Mickie our meow-meow. The puppies from across the street visited
often, Tyler and Katie (who is twelve). They came for breakfast, lunch
and dinner, so Adam prepared them some yum yum. Their mother (Laura) said
if they were any problem to let her know, but being animal lovers we welcomed
their visits. Pikes Falls was lovely. Try hiking down rather than taking
the “stairs” Its fun. … Shopping in Manchester was great – bring $$$. The
alpine slide at Bromley is a must. Small towns, Grafton, Weston, Wilmington,
Londonderry were quite charming. My favorite was the trail rides at the
Sun Bowl Ranch. Its beautiful and they love their horses. (I went twice)
We found the Coles to be extremely nice and the atmosphere very homey and
comfortable. Do enjoy your stay!
……..
Adam, Deborah, Sidney and Mickey
June 19th:
Our vacation was wonderful. We don’t want to leave ever! In the beginning we
though it would turn out to be a take off on America’s funniest home
videos. Here’s why…
Day 1: Dad
buys cook it yourself pizza. In a matter of minutes, sets off both
smoke alarms. All ok. Tyler and Katie (Choc labs from next door)
visit. Let themselves in by the way. They can open the doors, but
we don’t mind, we loved them. They became good friends with our
7 year old.
Day 2: Fathers Day. Dad relaxes with Sunday paper on porch. Leg of chair slips
off deck, dad falls backward., paper flies up in air – all ok.
Day 3: Mom and 8 mo old twin sons Jebb and Gunnair set off to join the family
at the pond. Mom packs both babies in front packs, straps them on, goes to
walk off porch, leg buckles, mom and babies crash to ground. Mom regroups fast
so neighbors don’t see. Very embarrassed. All ok.
Day 4: Hike to pikes Falls. Mom gets daring, dives off rocks, experiences mild
hypothermia. All ok.
Day5: Dad wants to start fie, but fears he will burn cabin down based on week’s
prior events.
Even with our minor mishaps we had the best time. I
could use another 30 or 40 years of this laid back Vermont country life. We
are all sad we must leave. We loved the cabin, the pond, the gazebo, the boat
and the area in general. We did not find it as buggy as we had expected. The
cabin was the perfect combination of Daniel Boone crossed with Martha Stewart.
I hope it never changes. Jeremy and wife Sheila and son Sam are blessed to
have this property. We are all blessed that they’ve shared it.
…..Laurie,
Kevin and the kids, Pocasset,
MA
June 25:
Had a relaxing vacation at the cabin. The mosquitoes are very bad this time
of Year ( June 25). We saw a moose on the way to the cabin standing in
the marsh on Rte7. Went to LL Bean in Freeport, Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury,
Queeche Gorge, The Vermont Teddy Bear Company and lots of shopping. Also
went on a lot of trails and to the top of Equinox mountain. Our two dogs
(Toby & Sadie) also enjoyed the trip. Vermont is truly a beautiful
State.
. Carol, Turnersville, NJ
June 26th:
Our week at the Cole cabin was fun and relaxing. Sunny days were spent hiking,
horseback riding and swimming. The falls were good but the quarry was
great! … Our evenings were full, a night at a play in Weston, a visit
to hear the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, fireworks, a memorable night
hike up a mountain to see the sunset and the moon rise. We look forward
to our next Vermont visit.
….. Greg,
Sher, Zack and Katie
July 3rd:
Have had a great time here. … We spent the first few days here relaxing close
to home, rowing the boat, catching tadpoles and frogs and just sitting
on the bench in the peace and quiet. We went several times to Pikes Falls.
My oldest jumped off the rock
cliffs several times ( with my heat in my mouth) and we swam and drank
in the scenery. We went to Manchester and took the Vermont Valley Flyer
train ride back and forth to Arlington. We also went to the Vermont Country
Store in Weston. Jeremy and Sheila are warm and friendly hosts
and would make wonderful neighbors. … Thanks to the Coles.
…… Filomena & Co,
Rochester, NY
July 6th:
We (6) had a great time in the Cabin. Back to Maryland!!
….. Robby,
Sarah, Grant, Henry, Rob & Sue
What a delight! I found Jeremy's website during months
of searching for that very perfect place to celebrate our 25th Wedding
Anniversary. His website and communications were both charming, informative
and comforting. Every step in planning and preparing was thoughtfully
tailored to making us feel right at home!
And so...here we are. The moment we arrived, we knew
we were in for a genuine treat, The cabin and grounds are simply
magical...I can feel the aura of good Karma and good living here.
The cabin is a cornucopia of old wood, rough surface, smooth patina,
creatively placed mirrors and stunning use of space! I feel like
Alice in Wonderland! We have enjoyed every minute:rowing the boat,
watching the wildlife, which so far have included fish in the pond,
salamanders, tadpoles, frogs in the pond, a deer outside our bedroom,
pilated woodpecker, lots of robins, a waxwing, two fawns up the road,
the neighbor's friendly dog; we're watching for moose or bear (none
yet) as well as squirrels and chipmunks. We also saw gorgeous horses
at the Sun Bowl Ranch and robust chickens and roosters on the loose
at the Jamaica Cottage shop! Fun! How could I forget our visit to
the French Hollow Alpaca farm! We called ahead and they welcomed
us for a visit and tour of their farm! Cutest was little "Larry" an
orphaned Alpaca, tiny as a little lamb! They have nearly 30 Alpaca
and a few guard llamas, too! Quite a place and gracious hosts too.
They have a little shop in the barn also, but call ahead, they have
guard dogs as well. I should also add our adventures from our final
day, worth recommending. We took the "back road" (left
at the base lodge over Mountain Road) towards Arlington. It's rough
and unpaved (closed in the winter) but quiet, beautiful and offroad
away from the highway, it follows a river bed about 15 miles. Along
the route is a grassy knoll where there's a Daniel Webster historic
site (watch carefully for it!) Returning to pavement in East Arlington
we landed on the doorstep of the Equinox Antique Mart, a very nice
reasonable pleasant environment of 35 dealers under one roof. Then
went North through a real covered bridge to Basketville (what a thrill)
and yes a second Antiques Mart across the highway. And adjacent,
the challenging skyline Drive up Equinox Mountain. Do it only if
your vehicle has a solid reliable engine and brakes!! Stopped at
the BEST DINER on rte 30 YUM (good value, good food) and back to
the Cole Cabin to rest & pack.
A most memorable vacation that was so much moor than
we could have imagined. The Cole's are gracious, friendly, gentle
people. Thank you. May Cole Cabin always exist.
......Patty and Jeff, Wellfleet, MA
This was our first Vermont summer vacation with the
kids, John age 4 1/2 and Abigail, age 22 months. Right away the pond
and the rowboat were a big hit. The kids really enjoyed "fishing" with
their nets from the boat and the shore. Lots of nice walks and bike
rides on the road, up to Ilse's and back. John got to camp out in
the yard with his dad a couple of nights and we enjoyed lots of good
cookouts on the grill. Our favorite kid friendly activities were
days spent at Emerald Lake State Park and Hapgood Pond in the green
Mountain National Forest. Both had nice beaches, shallow swimming,
shade, facilities, the kids loved both. Adams Farm was also a big
hit, but go early in the day because they have a lot to do and see.
I really recommend this for families with small kids (but go the
back roads thorough the town of Stratton, it is much faster. For
rainy days, Manchester has a nice library with a great children's
room. We also stopped for Penny candy at the General Store. You can
skip Santa's land in Putney. it has seen much better days. Thank
you to the Cole's for an immaculate house and a lovely two weeks
in the piece and quiet of Vermont.
....Norman and Kathryn, John and Abigail, Bethany,
CT
July 8th:
We had a wonderful week. Nice place for kids and dog.
We saw a bald eagle at the top of the mountain.
….. Linda
and Jeff, Tracey and Neil, Charlton MA
July 9th:
The weather was just great! We took our two dogs, Nevada
and George on the ski lift up the mountain. They were shaking the
entire time. Many folks thought we were crazy. Quechee Gorge has
a spectacular view. Thanks Sheila for the tip. The art gallerys are
very nice too. The marble quarry is an interesting swimming hole
in Dorset. Hope to be back in the fall. It must be a sight to behold.
….. Zoraida,
Vito, and Nevada and George, Paulsboro, NJ
July 10th:
Greetings!
We are the renters of the Cole Family Cabin
we wanted to let everyone
know what a wonderful vacation spot this is and to thank the Cole Family.
.We
really had a great time this week and we're already talking about returning
next year. The boys, Matt & Nick (11 & 9) caught bullfrogs on small
red flies (they let them go!) and Amy's husband Tim is very proud to have caught
the big large mouth bass that lives in the pond. He also let him go for someone
else to catch. We also enjoyed hikes in the woods.. Pikes Falls was great but
the water is COLD!! I' m sure we won't forget this vacation.
July 11:
We had a great time … We spent the days swimming in the pond, exploring the
brook, fishing here and at Hapgood pond and just soaking up the sun. It
rained twice, so on those days we went to Stratton Mountain. A really nice
thing to do is to take gondolas up to the top of the mountain. There is
a breath taking view from up there and you never know what you are going
to see
….. Mike, Joanne, Katie, Mikey and Michael, East Longmeadow,
MA
July 12th:
We, Dan & Carol, Todd (age 18) and friend Heather (also age 18) and our
family dog , Ginger Shared the Cole Cabin with Nancy. Yes, the Cole Cabin is
a wonderful place both inside and outside. We found it comfortable and relaxing.
Ginger had a great time chasing after fish and tadpoles in the pond. She also
did lots of swimming in the pond. She loves country living and I don't think
she wants to go back to Connecticut. We saw a deer, a garter snake and a hawk
.
My special favorites are going to Jamaica Country Store and Jamaica State park,
Pike Falls, horseback riding at Horses for Hire in Peru, Edna's wildflowers,
herbs and Medicinals in the small village of Peru and going to the Von Trapp
Lodge. I stifled myself from singing " The hills are alive with the Sound
of Music" on the ride back. Dan enjoyed going to Orvis. In fact he went
twice. He also went to the fly fishing museum in Manchester. All in all, it
was a relaxing week. Thank you Jeremy for having a neat country cabin for us " city
slickers" .. to come to/
. Carole, Meriden, CT
House:
No major changes since 1976, our own first year at the Cole House
when we arrived with Grandma, Dad, Mom, Children, Macrina, Gasspar
and Christopher. Frisky, our beagle came along too. Our first week
here (July 4, 1976) saw the opening of the Bromley Alpine slide.
We returned many times, but haven't been back since 1984. This
year we are celebrating 25 years of spending some time in the wonderfu
scenic mountains of Vermont. We arrived with the entire family
... Pickles the dog loves the Cole "estate" as much as
anyone. We've shopped in Manchester, rode the Bromley slide and
we are happy to see much has stayed the same. It's so nice that
some things can be relied upon. Looking forward to many more years
sharing both Cole Houses now since we've expanded to such a degree.
Cabin: After many years being away from the Cole Cabin,
we've finally returned to paradise in the woods. Minor changes for
the better in the cabin and thank God, it still has the same smell.
Memories relived and new ones are found; a timeless place that will
always be special in our hearts,
... the Arbisi's and Erato's, Flushing, NY & Bayside
Hills, NY
July 13th:
We have had a wonderful time in Vermont. The Cole
Cabin is comfortable and well furnished with all the comforts of
home. We enjoyed both days and nights in the cabin/ We saw two deer
and one moose but never a bear. Our daughter took turns sleeping
on every bed in the cabin. They especially liked Jeremy's childhood
bedroom and all the toys he left for the children to use. I've never
seen them happier. My husband and I loved the gardens, the peacefulness
and going for walks along the backyard paths. The girls found the
clearing that leads to a rocky spring probably leading down from
Pikes Falls. They enjoyed climbing the rocks and swinging from the
rope attached to a very large tree. We did a lot of hiking, biking
and swimming. We found Pikes Falls beautiful. The water was cold
but the girls swam for about two hours anyway. Jamaica State Park
is also a great place to swim, bike and hike. We enjoyed horseback
riding at the Sun bowl on Stratton Mountain. The owner is one of
the nicest people. He and his wife have a new baby girl. She's beautiful
(we saw pictures!) The ride was a definite adventure. It was no small
feat maneuvering the horses through their challenging trails. The
horses know what they are doing (Praise God!)...We will always remember
this vacation. There is something here for everyone to enjoy. Thanks
for introducing us to Ilse, she's great. I enjoyed her stories of
the older Stratton Mountain life and what life is like living here
now...We love Vermont! Thanks Jeremy and Sheila, you were both very
warm and welcoming to all our family including Timmy (our family
dog-Pomeranian) What a great place to grow up in. Hope to see you
both again soon on our next vacation in Vermont
....Husband Anthony, wife, Sheila and Daughters, Lauren,
age 10 and Jennifer, age 8, Willingboro, NJ
July 14th:
A
wonderful relaxing week was had by all. We enjoyed the rowboat, catching
frogs, etc. Did a few bike rides and swam at Townsend lake. Some sightseeing
and shopping in Manchester, Grafton and Weston. The cabin is a great
funky old place. Enjoy!
I'll always remember the Cole Cabin. I loved the "Alice
in Wonderland" room even though I couldn't stand up. Had lots
of fun on the pond with "Drano", "Little Bit", "Swampie", "Sausage" , "Frog-pole", "Tigerflegs",
and the rest of the pond creatures including "Lizzy" the
newt. PS, expect friendly visits fromTyler and maybe Katie. Tyler
loves to play fetch with rocks.
...Nick, Robin, Elizabeth (13) and Audrey (11),
Southbridge, MA
July 15th:
Thank you Jeremy, Sheila and Sam! We had a wonderful
time. What an idyllic place you have. We caught 16 rainbow trout,
2 smallmouth bass, 4 white silvea sides on fly (all catch and release)
Thanks for the great fishing - 5 lb largemouth bass still lives under
the rowboat unmolested. Enjoyed fishing the battenkill. Jamaica State
Park is an easy and beautiful hike and fly fishing trip.
. Jim, Karen and Carly, Maitland, FL
Having
a great time- Alexis had great luck catching fish and frogs! Alex
loved boat rides with Daddy and Jessie loved playing with Tyler.
Alexis also loved playing house upstairs in the loft area. What
great rooms for kids! We are all enjoying our stay here. Hope to
return again.
…..
the Lane’s
… All in
all and in spite of the hurricane, we very much enjoyed our first
stay at the Cole House.
….
Tina, Cris and Maggie too, New Jersey
July 18:
The surroundings are beautiful as well as relaxing. Spent a lot of time by
the pond. A red fox ran right by me one evening as I sat on the bench by
the pond. Paddled around in the row boat a few times and also hiked in
the path behind the pond.
We also drove up Route 100 to Ben & Jerry's
and to Stowe. Went on the walking path in Stowe, shopped and also visited
the Van Trapp lodge. What a view from there.
Went to Peru to go
trail riding at "Horses for Hire" Nice horses and nice area.
We've had absolutely beautiful weather for our whole week here.
Other
animal sightings, saw beavers in Jamaica. A big black bear ran across the
road as we were heading into Manchester. The car in front of us almost
hit it. Also saw a humming bird in the back yard and a grouse. And of course
two friendly dogs across the way.
Thank you.
. Nancy, Meriden, CT
July 20th:
Our first summer vacation
as a family with our daughter Sarah, 11 months old. We had a great
time hikinh lye brrok Falls, Pikes falls, Grout Pond and more. We enjoyed
a couple of meals out and would highly recommend Zoeys Double Hex.
George sought the elusive trout in the pond to no avail. All in all
a great time was had by all.
.... Louise, George and Sarah, Bayonne, NJ
July 21st:
Out of all the previous Vermont visits, I would say that this cabin is the
best out of all the other houses we’ve stayed at. My room was the one
Mr. Cole had as a little boy. I loved it, because you could see the pond
from it, and sometimes you could hear the frogs. It is also very cozy
and I loved the smell of the wood when I went to sleep. My favorite places,
in Vermont are the pond and Pikes Falls. … My most memorable time was
on the second night when my sister and I were in the middle of the pond
and bats were coming out to feed on insects. Some flew over our head.
It was cool!
…..Lauren,
age 13
July
21st - July 28th:
Our 2nd trip to Stratton and our 1st stay at the Cole
House (aren't the washer and dryer great- no wet towels to drag home).
We found something different to do everyday. Vermont Country Store
in Weston, Miss Bellows Falls Diner in Bellows Falls (went to ride
then train, closed on Sundays in the summer - figure that out) Hildene
in Manchester, its beauty is breath taking (can I get a job as a gardener?)
Benningtron Pottery and Blue Ben Diner in Bennington (didn't quite
get to the diner this trip, ate next door, but wanted to) Manchester
Outlet shopping (finally - hooray) and up to the Vermont Country Store
in Rockingham, not as large as Weston, but fun. Stratton Mountain for
gondola ride (only on weekends in the summer). Wilson Castle in Proctor,
a beautiful home being restored. We were encouraged to touch everything,
the wooden carvings on the fireplace, the silk rug, an invitation to
play the organ and wall chimes and to take pictures of everyone and
the 74 stained glass windows. The guide was very informed and we couldn't
stump her with our questions. Marble Company Exhibit and Museum in
Proctor, an interesting display of the history of marble and it's uses
in today's world (girls suffered through it without too many complaints). Pikes
Falls, what a treat to walk barefooted in the freezing brook water.
The scenery is spectacular ... We were greeted each morning by the
neighbor's dog knocking on the door. (Don't feed if you want him to
leave - we learned the hard way.) Spent time with Sheila, Jeremy's
wife, this trip, what a lovely woman. I wish she was a permanent neighbor
of mine.
…..Tim &,
Kathy, Jenny (almost 19) & Liz
(15)
We've
very much enjoyed having a peaceful and relaxing spot as home
base while we have exploed the beauty of southern Vermont. Starting
the days with breakfast on the deck as we listened to the chicadees,
coming back in the hot afternoons to catch the cool mountain
breezes or fishing for trout in the pond (yes, they are really
there), all contributed to a memorable vacation. And thanks for
a very well stocked mountain cabin retreat.
…..Norm
and Chris, Rochester, NY
July
25:
We had a great two weeks. The kids learned how to row the boat and went fishing
every day. Even our four year old caught as fee small sun fish
We hiked
parts of the Long trail, shopped and went sightseeing all the way to Burlington.
Other days we just relaxed by the pond. Thanks!
. Tess, Scott, Megan & Stephen, Pasadena,
Maryland
August
1st:
We truly have enjoyed our visit here. It is peaceful and quiet. We enjoyed
eating breakfast outside of the house and having cookouts for dinner. We spent
Sunday hiking and picnicking at Jamaica State Park. Dad especially liked hopping
from rock to rock in the river. … Monday began with a splinter group doing
an early morning hike up Bromley
mountain on the Long Trail. The view from the fire tower was breathtaking.
… Four hardy souls hiked up Stratton Mountain on Tuesday morning. It was a
bear! … Mom took the lazy way on the gondola….We journeyed to Woodstock … Woodstock
has a lot of great shops and the homes are beautiful. … The girls, Dana and
Erin, started Thursday off with a horseback ride at Sunbowl ranch. … We all
had lunch at the Dam Diner in Townsend.
We all endorsed it Thumbs up!!! We spent the afternoon nosing around Grafton.
It was a beautiful town. … We had an excellent stay and enjoyed our
accommodations in the Cole House. Thanks so much.
… Pete,
Carolyn, Dana, Erin, Brent and Stephanie
August 3:
One good hiking spot is to go up the creek. It is fun to go on the boat which
we did a lot. It is fun to catch the bullfrogs, but bring a net. This is
really a great place to go swimming. It is called Pikes Falls. It is a
great place to play hide and seek (try it, its fun)
. Anonymous
August 4-18th:
Time to leave the mountains and return to the flatlands of SE Pennsylvania.
It was great to have our son and daughter in-law and two grand kids with
us for a week of our stay, but we enjoyed the peace and quiet when they
left. Enjoyed the pond and lovely plantings and the butterflies.
. Pauline & John
August 4-11th:
We've enjoyed our week despite the heat wave. It's been 90 degrees plus every
day and very humid. We were grateful for the pond, which is a great place
to swim even if it looks a bit mucky. I especially enjoyed sitting on the
big rock and watching the schools of little fish investigate my feet. We
have two 13-year olds with us and they have terrorized the frogs. ... John
..., our wonderful godson ... invited his classmate ...Andrew ... along.
Both are students at Church Farm School in Paoli, Pennsylvania... . The
boys had read Agatha Christie's, And Then There were None as part
of their summer reading, so we were delighted to find a production of Ten
Little Indians at the Dorset Play House. The theater is newly rebuilt
and the play was excellent. Dorset is an adorable town, too. ... Mostly,
though we stuck close to our cabin. We did lots of reading, played lots
of board games and spotted some blue herons, many woodpeckers and chipmunks
and red squirrels. Thursday night, a big thunderstorm lingered, knocking
out the power. The boys rapidly produced lights for their Game Boys; it
was rather comical. The lightning was so frequent and bright that we hardly
missed the electricity. We found the cabin thoughtfully equipped and quite
charming and the surrounding area full of possibilities.
. Jerry & Maura, Washington, DC
August 7:
It was a great vacation!
We shot air rifles, caught fish, newts, tadpoles and
frogs. There is a cool place to swim called Pikes Falls. The water
is freezing. This is definitely the kind of place you want to come
back to.
. Grace
Staying
at the Cole House. …Got pizza at Manchester Pizza: one of the four
best pizza places in Vermont. … We went to Bromley to the Alpine
slide. Lots of fun but don’t get carried away. A couple of accidents
where the sleds tipped over on the track. Went to Candeleros for
dinner (Mexican). The service was okay and so was the food. Went
to Stratton to the skate park and dad and I went to the top for
a nature hike and to see the view. … Dad and my brother went fishing
while mom and I went shopping. We had dinner at the “Sirloin Saloon”.
The food was good, great salad bar and good service.
….
Pete, Karen, Kimberly, Jason, Middletown, NY
August 8:
We are having a wonderful time! We have visited Bennington Museum and the Big
Ben Diner (great Food), Newfane, Weston and the Vermont Country Store,
Stratton Mountain, the train from Manchester to Arlington..
The
girls ( ages 12 & 15) love the pond with its frogs, salamanders, tadpoles
and especially the boat. They plat badminton most nights and weve
taken walks up the hill. Met Sheila (our landlady) and she is lovely; very
helpful and a true pleasure. Our neighbors in the cabin are pleasant company.
The husband and I graduated from the same high school, (different decades)
and have shared ideas on how to keep the kids busy. We still have a few
days to explore. Bromley offers alpine slide, Arlington has a Rockwell
museum and Manchester Center has a few unexplored stores. The girls are
already asking when we can come back!
. Kathy & Tim, Rochester, NY
August
10th:
We have hit many of the beautiful shops in Manchester. The art museums are
great. Tomorrow we plan to go to Bennington to see the works of Grandma Moses.
Nevada., our dog thinks this is his next home. He loves the pond. Now Jeremy,
about your big fish, I think you told us a little fish story. … (Jeremy’s
note: Really folks this trout does exist!) We couldn’t have had a better time.
Thank you and if God permits it, we will be back in the Spring or Summer.
…. Zoraida,
Vito & Nevada, Paulsboro, NJ
August
17th:
We had a fun time here at the Cole Cabin. I (Jeremy)
celebrated my 13th birthday on Sunday. The only thing that went wrong
was the water pressure died so we needed to have a plumber come. Steve,
my dad, caught only sunfish while two years ago he caught five trout
and one bass. Me and my brother, Ben (9) swam a lot at the pond and
at pikes Falls. We also went on outings. We went to Bromley and rode
the alpine slides. We went to Mt Washington and rode a cog wheel train
to the summit. The sausage and maple syrup in Vermont is the best!!!
We bought some maple syrup for all of our French toast. Playing board
games was a common occurrence. Thank you Cole's for a great vacation!
......Teresa, Steve, Jeremy and Ben
August 22:
We had a pretty good week, with pretty good weather, occasional rain had made
us appreciate the DSS TV. The cabin is quite hospitable and much roomier
than it looks at first sight. We are two parents and two kids. We had two
very tall friends come for several nights with their two boys and we all
fit, reasonably well. All four boys (5-8 years of age) loved the pond.
They learned to row and bait their own hooks. I hope the frogs and newts
aren't too traumatized. We've spent a lot of time biking, hiking and swimming
at Jamaica State park. Many times we've had the farthest swimming hole
to ourselves, a truly appreciated luxury. We've climbed to the top of Hamilton
falls, swum in Pikes Falls, explored Grout pond( also a gorgeous spot,
especially with a canoe). Checked out Grafton, Woodstock . The raptor center
at VINS is very interesting, we were fortunate to look into their
25th anniversary celebration, Quechee and penny candy at the
Vermont Country Store in Weston. On rainy days the Dam Diner in Townsend
is a good place to eat. Today it was chilly, so we explored Stratton. We
especially enjoyed the climbing wall. We hope to come back every other
year, so many places, too little time.
Many Thanks.
. Louise, Jim, Ethan & Dylan, Kuhnhenn, Takoma
Park, Maryland
August
25th:
Two weeks without a computer. We did it and enjoyed
everything! Everyone fished and read!! Neal (6) and Emma (9) went
nuts catching frogs and salamanders, naming them and then letting
them go. Steve (38) and Allison (11) hiked the Appalachian trail
with Noah (3 year old dog) and Maggie (38) knitted an entire cable
knit sweater. We all enjoyed Mt Equinox and Pikes Falls. We saw a
fabulous show at the Weston Theater, visited Woodstock and Manchester
( got back to school shoes for everyone) and spent evenings playing
card games in front of the fire. Thanks for the lovely hospitality!!
…. Steve,
Maggie, Allison, Emma, Neal and Noah (silly puppy), Bel Air, Maryland
Vermont and the cabin
were more than we expected. Our kids loved the pond, the rowing
boat, the frogs, chipmunks and the dogs next door. The immediate
area and surrounding countryside had loads to offer.
….
Thanks from the McCartney-Sprighams,
the Scottish family from Luxembourg
We always enjoy our September trips to
Vermont. The mountains, the blur skies and the fantastic scenery
are unforgettable. We like to visit all the neat
little stores. Number one on our list is the Vermont Country Store in Weston,
also the Big Black Bear Shop ( Mary Meyers) in Townsend and of course all
the shops in Manchester. When visiting you must go out to dinner at Laneys
on the way to Manchester and also fantastic is the River Café right here
in Bondville at the bottom of the mountain. We truly look forward to visiting
the Cole House in Sept. Everything is great!
. Rob & Joanne,
NJ
Sept
2th:
Wow!
What a week! Within an hour of our arrival, both boys, Jeremy,
11 and Ben, 7 were paddling around on their inflatable rafts
and Steve (Dad) had caught two trout (catch and release), That
pretty much sums up our week free of technology, lots of swimming,
boating, fishing and catching critters. Our list of wildlife
included, a blue heron, tadpoles, frogs and a graddaddy frog.
Our catch included trout, sunny, bluegill and yes, Dad did hook
the huge large-mouth bass, but couldn't land him (his pole even
broke and the fish was pulling the boat). Two things to remember-
bug spray and look up at the stars. Its awesome. Go up the lane
to the field. Enjoy your stay, I know we did. it went from, "I
wish we could stay two weeks" to "I wish we could stay
all summer" to "I wish we could stay forever and ever" Thanks!
…. Teresa,
Steve, jeremy and Ben, Red Hook, NY
We’ve
enjoyed our 2nd stay in Cole-ville; liked the house
better than the cabin-lots more room. …. Of course, we cooked out,
hung out, read books, let ourdog swim in the pond with the cabin
renters’ dogs, took our baby for his 1st rowboat ride.
As always, there’s not enough time! Never made it to Bennington,
Townsend Dam Diner, Bromley or Stratton, well there’s always next
year! Thanks for helping to make Max’s 1st vacation
a good one. We look forward to returning!
….
Mike, Vicki, Max (8 months) & Bailey (woof), Hamburg, NY
Sept 9:
|
John,
Naomi, Michael and Sarah along with Norton, the Brooklyn dog, spent
a wonderful week here. We have very little advice for those who come
after
us as we perfected the art of doing nothing, but here, in no particular
order are various memories we will take with us.
Norton leaping into the pond for stick
after stick, whining and chasing the badminton birdie from side to
side and then
being unable to move from exhaustion at night. The walk up the hill,
sometimes became Sarah's ferry service collecting apples and flowers
and berries for vases not for eating along the way. The apple pies
made from memory and Michael and Sam Cole's unending appetite for
it. The pleasure of being with the Cole's and our Mexican dinner
at
Candalarios in Manchester The peace of the morning, of reading
by the lake, of doing nothing more than the jigsaw puzzle or reading
a book. The leaves just starting to turn a little more each day.
We very much want to come back and do more of the same again
.
John, Naomi, Michael and Sarah, Brooklyn, NY
Sept 10:
Careful, Apples falling! Our first encounter with them was when having breakfast
on the deck. They would bounce off the roof and then fly in every direction.
They would also make us smile as we sat in the livingroom (or as we slept)
inside. The combination of the Cole Cabin and the treed acreage plus
the pondgives new meaning to the feeling of peace and serenity....God
Bless!
......Patricia, Jean and Amy, Torrington, CT
Sept 19:
We
came from New Jersey to spend our week of vacation in the Coles
cabin. It was one of the best vacations we ever had. The cabin is
great. It has everything
you need, very clean and cozy! Mother nature gifted us with the weather you
just have to dream about. The landscape, the woods, the food and especially
the people are wonderful! Thank you very much Cole family for a great time
you gave us. "From Russia with love ( we are Russians).
.
Vadim, Zhanna, Jacob, New York, NY
Sept
21st:
Thanks Jeremy for this quiet and peaceful place to be in this time of turmoil
in America. It gave us a chance to reflect upon the great spirit of our American
people and how we all stick together in emotional times like this. "God
Bless America"
(note: Joe and Sharon left a small American flag in
the guest book with their note, so I thought it fitting to add the
flag icon)
. Joe and Sharon, Wantage, NJ
Sept 22th:
We had a wonderfully
relaxing week. The cabin is so cozy. Its roughly hewn, but with
all those lovely modern conveniences. And the neighbors are so
friendly and the surrounding countryside and mountains just beautiful.
Our two hound dogs loved the trail at the back of the pond that
leads to the creek. It will
be sad to leave, but we love Vermont
and will definitely be back.
.
Donna and Paul with Charley and Betsey our Basset Hounds
Sept.
24th:
AAAAHHH! What
a relaxing week in the Cole House. Love this country living. We had
a great time. Mt Equinox had to be the best sight, 3,800 feet high.
A must see. Manchester has great shopping all over. Mulligans up at
Stratton was a great place to eat. … A great place. Thanks Jeremy.
……
Charles, Stephanie and 6 year old daughter, Bethel, CT
Sept. 27th:
What
a wonderful week we had at the cabin. A great way to spend our
30th anniversary. Every day we headed in another direction. So
many places to visit
and shop. We loved the Vermont Country Store,
found an iron works factory outlet, got a great hanging candle
lamp for the kitchen. ... We hate to leave but we will be back.
It's great.
. Joe
and Sharon, Wantage, NJ
Sept.
28th:
Vermont Cheese Fest 2002 was such a success we hope to make it
an annual Family event in Bondville! Our holiday began with the arrival
of friends Steve and Sharon along with 1.5 lbs of Grafton's finest
4 Star cheese! We christened the cabin with wine, cheese, song and
a trivial pursuit marathon. The fun lasted all week despite the weather
-hurricane Isadora rained on our parade a bit. But we managed to dodge
the rain with cozy nights indoors. My only wish for this cabin is a
screen porch. The deck is great for sunshine, but we would've enjoyed
dining Al Fresco if there was shelter from the storm. Other than that
our week at the Cole Compound was great-being the only visitors at
the property made for a quiet vacation... A good time had by all!
.....Jennifer,
Stephen and Saffron
October
2nd:
We spent our honeymoon
here and had a really wonderful time. It has been so peaceful. Just
what we needed. And our dog Sam needed it. He made himself right at
home. First thing he did was jump in the pond. If you like Mexican
food, go to Candeleros in Manchester. Excellent. We want to thank the
Coles. The
cabin is great and we can’t wait to return..
……
Billie Jo and Jerry, Hainsport, N.J.
October 7:
We loved our week here. It went by so fast. The weather was perfect hot
in the beginning of the week and then cooler days with brilliant sunshine.
We picked the perfect week for foliage. It was so gorgeous! We mostly hiked
and relaxed, but we did go horseback riding at the Stratton Sunbowl. It was
so much fun. Our guides were the best and the horses were wonderful. We forgot
our camera but they had a Polaroid for a low cost of $2.50. John (the owner)
took our picture and he was great about setting up the shot. Itll be
sad leaving tomorrow but we have some good photos for remembering. This cabin
is so cozy!
. Betty & Glenn with Buster (our dog), Wareham,
MA
October 12th:
Finding the Cole Cabin via
the internet is nothing less than a gift from the Universe! Last summer
we decided on "a fishing and a serene mountainside, staying in
a remote cabin" type of vacation. ...My god, what a beautiful
woodsy atmosphere and the cabin is spectacular! Thank you Jeremy and
family for sharing this wonderful place with others!! We hope to see
you in the spring or summer season.
October 23:
This is our tenth year vacationing here at Cole House! Every year is different
and theres still new and enjoyable things to discover. Some of our
favorites:
#1- Visiting with our dear friend up on Dini Lane,
Ilse!
Hiking: Grout Pond, Somerset Reservoir and all of
the trails (Appalachian) off the Kelly Stand road. Little Rock pond
on Mt. Tabor; the Ice bed Trail by Wallingford, Gale meadows pond,
Merck Forest and Farm Preserve near Rupert, Mt Equinox Nature Preserve
by Mt. Equinox Hotel in Manchester.
-
the Peru Fair, Hildene Crafts Show,
Mt. Shaw Crafts Show
-
the Northshire Book store in Manchester
-
In Chester: lunch at Raspberry and Tyme, Misty book
store
-
Putney Pasta Outlet, Green Mt Flyer to Bellows Falls
from Chester
-
The Dorset Playhouse is so cute
-
Food: Candelaros for above average Mexican); Sirloin
Saloon for Steak, Grafton Inn for breakfast, Christos for Pizza
And, of course, taking the time to just relax around
the pond, read, row and soak up the sun!! Were looking forward
to next year!
. Caryn, Danny & Golden Retriever Sedona,
PA
November 4:
It's amazing that something so close can look and feel
so totally different. The mountains are so gorgeous and so breathtaking.
The first few days were snowy and with the fireplace, it seemed so
peaceful and so...well, New England! It was nice to get away from
all the stresses of life for a little while. We came with the intention
of fishing more but soon realized it was much more fun to throw a
ball in the pond and watch Tyler or Katey go jumping and diving for
it. ... We love Vermont,,as the bumper sticker says.
. Donnie and Marie and family, Chicopee, MA