Southern Vermont
A weekend of mountain adventures and craft breweries awaits in the Green Mountains , now turned golden for fall . BY JAMIE COELHO
A fall escape to the green mountains delivers a kaleidoscopic landscape with rivers , lakes and hidden swimming holes , plus hiking trails and craft breweries . We ’ re headed to Peru and Manchester in southern Vermont for a family getaway geared toward kiddo-friendly adventures that adults will love , too .
FRIDAY AFTERNOON : We drive directly to the Seesaw ’ s Lodge ( see sawslodge . com ) in Peru , which is more like a resort with three private cabins and a lodge with seven tree-themed private suites ( Birch , Maple , Cherry , Beech , Oak , Black Walnut and Maple ). The destination has an onsite restaurant , Johnny Seesaw ’ s , and a Warming Hut that serves casual wood-fired pizzas alongside a full bar set up next to a tranquil pond . The spot earned a scandalous reputation a hundred years ago when Russian logger Ivan Sesow built it as a roadside dancehall called Wonder View Log Pavilion . It was known for its “ sin cabins ” and bootleg liquor , but the future owners straightened
things out when they bought the property in 1938 and dubbed it Johnny Seesaw ’ s in homage to its hard-partying founder .
We stay inside a luxurious , well-appointed three-bedroom cabin ( one of three ) called the “ Butterfly ” cabin . It has a den with a kitchenette and a king bedroom with bathroom downstairs , and there are two more bedrooms with their own bathrooms and a sitting room with a fireplace upstairs . The views overlook the mountains and wildflower-covered hills . We don ’ t want to leave , but hunger calls , so we answer it in the form of tacos .
FRIDAY EVENING : Turns out , some of the best Mexican-inspired food in New England can be found in the wilds of Vermont . Dinner at El Banditos Grill ( elbanditosgrillvt . com ) involves building our own crunchy and soft tacos and burritos with base meats of slowcooked carnitas , chicken , steak and pork or veggies with a mix of toppings and hot sauces . Washed down with a salty margarita after
54 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023