There were so many odds stacked against this trip. First, I was supposed to have two big tests this week. Second, because school was closed for President’s Day on Monday, they rescheduled class for Wednesday and it was a little tricky trying to switch around my work schedule. Third, Ari was out of town, and because of the various snow storms around the country, all possible flights were canceled! So instead of leaving Sunday afternoon, we left really early Monday morning.
Ari’s flight got in at 6, and we were packed up and in the car by 7:15. The first hour of our drive was pretty treacherous because of the snow and sleet flying into our windshield, but we did it!
Careful research weeks in advance brought us to Bennington, Vermont, located only 4 hours outside of New York City. In fact, this part of Vermont is so close to upstate New York that we were only about 15 minutes from the border! More research landed us at the Governor’s Rock Motel, a really nice motel in Shaftsbury (about 5 miles from Bennington). The couple who run it were really nice and welcoming, and we were pleasantly surprised to find our room impeccably clean and quite spacious! (Even though it’s been 10+ years since I’ve seen Psycho, I still think of Norman Bates when I think of motels.)
It was really cold, but really beautiful.
We wanted to be out in nature, and our wish was granted!
I was also happily to find that Bennington is really vegetarian friendly. The main area may be small, but almost all of the eateries had some kind of “veggie corner” on their menu!
Madison Brewing Co. menu
Madison Brewing Co. beer flight
The Publyk House, a converted horse barn with a Bennington view
Fettuccine with spinach, roasted tomatoes, mushrooms.
Dessert to go: chocolate lava cake, vanilla bean ice cream, raspberry sauce.
The Blue Benn Diner
California Poached Eggs at the Blue Benn: English muffin topped with tomatoes, sprouts, avocado, poached eggs, and served with black beans
We picked Bennington arbitrarily, but it’s a place with so much history and a really interesting culture.
Bennington Battle Monument
I love the idea of taking a lot of small trips whenever possible. You can see so many places that way!
We came home with souvenirs from the Amish country store, The Market Wagon.
Raw honey, maple cream, gingersnap peanut butter, butterscotch peanut butter
And to some goodies waiting on our doorstep from Gina.
Macaroons with a touch of cinnamon, incan berries, white chocolate tea, Larabars
The next two days are going to be kind of insane- I have class from 9 AM- 4 PM (math quiz), then work 5:30-11:30; Thursday I have class 9 AM-4 PM (psychology exam), work 5:30-11:30- and there won’t be a whole lot of extra time built in. So apologies in advance if I disappear for a bit! I knew this school-work-life thing wasn’t going to be easy, but I’m trying my hardest, staying positive, and not setting impossible standards for myself. And this trip was so worth it!
oh, what a lovely getaway!! i love vermont and am actually headed there this weekend to ski! i’ve never been to bennington, though – i always find myself in the ski towns
good for you for finding a way to run away for even just a bit despite your crrrrazy schedule. hang in there this week!
So glad you had a chance to get a well-deserved mini vacation!!
Hang in there with your schedule!!
P.S. – love the Psycho/Norman Bates reference
What a great little escape for the two of you! I hear Vermont is gorgeous!
So glad you were able to get some nice down time before your killer week ahead.
Looks like you had a great time! I love vacays no matter how long or short! Good luck with all your exam!=)
Sounds like a lovely mini-break. Good luck with all of your school work!
Looks like a fab little holiday! Good luck with your exam x
Yay! I love Vermont, and Bennington’s such a cute town. We’ve often gone on day trips up through Williamstown, MA in the Berkshires, and then into Bennington. I’ll have to try out those two eateries sometime.
Good luck with school this week!
Glad you were able to get away! I think mini-vacays are key to surviving winter (or any season, really).
This post made me so homesick! I’m from a little further up north in the state (just south of Burlington), but those rolling hills, salt-covered roads, and vegetable-filled dinners are a constant all over the state. I’m so glad you enjoyed your time in the Green Mountain State!
ah the scenery looks so peaceful!!
What a great trip
Glad you guys made it work! The food looks yummy. Especially the lava cake!! And butterscotch peanut butter? I’d be all over that. Good luck with your busy days….hope you have a relaxing weekend ahead!
I love road trips!
Those nut butters sound so awesome…gingersnap peanut butter?? Sounds delicious!
What a fabulous vacation! I was just telling my husband how badly I want to visit Vermont – it’s so beautiful.
Congrats on beating the odds and making your vacay work – it definitely lookx like it was worth it. it’s so much fun exploring unexpected places.
Good luck with your crazy week!
Oh, how fun! I could really use a break, even a mini-version!
Hooray for little getaways! I wish I could get my husband behind the idea…
Good luck this week, and on your exams! You’ll do great, I am sure. Looks like you’ve got some awesome goodies to keep you fueled
Interested to see what you do with the maple cream!
So glad you had a great trip before a crazy week! It’s gorgeous up there. Hope you’re getting through the week and staying positive – at least it’s Wednesday already!
just another wonderful trip recap from the lovely katie
looks like fun! i wish i got out more often. haha.
xo.
How nice! I’m so glad you had a nice little escape with Ari. My dad actually went to Bennington College and one of my friends is from there and lives on a farm. It is definitely a vegetarian friendly community!
Good luck with all the school work!
smile girl! blogging is just for fun and school is for sewious
do your school thang and don’t worry about the bloggie! it’s not going anywhere haha and neither are we 
what a ROMANTIC trip!!!! i love it and it looked like such a blast! and to come home to fitnessista macaroons? yes puhlease!
looks like an awesome getaway, snow and all
And stay sane with your busy next few days!
Beautiful! Glad you got to get away…love the diner!! I have always wanted to eat a place like that, I know weird.
Good luck with your schedule. We have been crazy busy here too, running on very little sleep and lots of coffee, haha
your motel looks so adorable – i love when places live up to (or even exceed) expectations. i’m so glad you were able to get away despite the weather. i’m totally with you on the need for little weekend trips, and i’m hoping to make a lot more happen this year (trip out to southampton perhaps?
). sometimes those 36 or 48 hours in a new place make the crazy schedule the rest of the time so worth it. good luck getting through the week – i’m sure it was more than worth it!
You have such a lovely attitude about your work/school life. You are right, it won’t be easy, but you will be rewarded with a glorious degree, glorious pay and a profession you adore! As my high school cross country coach always said, “If it were easy, everyone would do it!”
Your trip looks so nice. Winter can feel so long sometimes, but trips like that really break up a long season, and as you pointed out, show you hidden corners of our country!
holy nutbutter heaven! yum. and im pretty jealous of your gina swag too!
trip always can make daily life more happier. I LOVE your positive attitude to rich daily life.
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