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 our dog 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 pond gives 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
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