Get Away Weekend UPDATE 2011
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- Published: 11 July 2011 11 July 2011
- Last Updated: 23 August 2017 23 August 2017
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Fall 2011 Getaway Weekend UPDATE Oct 3rd "New Route INFO"
Was in VT this weekend. Yes there is a lot of road damage/closed roads. I have mapped out some changes for the Sat tour so we will still have good roads and good stops. We will encounter 4-5 sections that may still not be repaved. Longest is about 200 feet, most are less than 30 feet. I will note them on the route maps so just take it easy there. Also see comments in yellow below.
Where: Stratton Mountain Inn, Stratton Mountain Road, Bondville VT. (www.stratton.com) The Inn is located in the heart of the Stratton Mountain complex and was one of the earliest facilities built on the mountain overlooking the valley. There is plenty of paved parking along with a bar, lounge and restaurant area, plus an on-site sauna and hot tub on the lower level.
Other amenities: The health club is approximately one mile away and includes a 75 ft. indoor heated pool, steam room, exercise equipment, message and fitness classes. There is a small fee per guest for use of the club, which is optional and payable by each guest. There is also a tennis facility with indoor and outdoor courts available, where guests can book court time individually. The championship golf course may or may not be open, weather permitting. There are other public courses in Manchester VT.
When: Friday October 21st through Sunday October 23rd 2011
(1 night, Saturday 10-22-11 minimum; with a second night on Friday 10-21-11 optional) Check in is 5:00PM. Early arrivals will be checked in based on room availability. Check-out is 11:00AM. Late check-out may incur a fee.
Price: $79 per night single or double occupancy plus applicable taxes and resort fee. (Approx. 20% total) Each room has 2 beds. Extra adult (up to two, in a room) is $20 each per night. Children up to 17 years old are no additional charge.
How to reserve a room: Each NCRer attending the weekend is
responsible for booking their room using their own credit card. Contact Stratton directly at 1-800-Stratton and identify yourself as attending the North Country Region Porsche Club of America Fall Event. At the time you book your room, also send an email to Social@ncr-pca.org identifying who will be attending and for how many nights so the Social chairperson can reconcile attendance with the Inn manager. This is critical to ensure everyone is booked properly and to get a headcount for meals.
responsible for booking their room using their own credit card. Contact Stratton directly at 1-800-Stratton and identify yourself as attending the North Country Region Porsche Club of America Fall Event. At the time you book your room, also send an email to Social@ncr-pca.org identifying who will be attending and for how many nights so the Social chairperson can reconcile attendance with the Inn manager. This is critical to ensure everyone is booked properly and to get a headcount for meals.
Any reservation made now will be on an “as available” basis.
Meals: We plan to have a group dinner Saturday night Oct 22nd at Morgan's Bane Steakhouse, in the Stone's Lodge Inn. It is located on Rt 30 almost directly across from the Stratton Mtn access road, in Bondville, 10 minutes from the Stratton Mtn Inn. Dinner will be at 7:30 and you can choose from the menu and pay individually. There is also the funky Fat Spy Tavern adjacent to the steakhouse, with pool tables, big screen TV, and so on.
There is a continental breakfast included with your room which will be our "group" breakfast. If you wish to have a hot breakfast there are several places in Manchester Vt. (about 30 mins from Stratton.) Upstairs for Breakfast on Rt 7A in the center of Manchester. The Little Rooster on Rt 11 and 30 between Stratton and Manchester, and the Lawyer and Baker on Bonnet St (Rt 30 just west of Rt 7A in Manchester.) There is also supposed to be a new breakfast place opening in Oct on Rt 30 just west of the Stratton Mtn access road.
For those arriving Friday and who want fine dining (pricey) either as a small group or individually consider the following . If as a group let me know and I will attempt to get an early reservation. In any case you will need to reserve a table well in advance of Friday. Bistro Henry on Rt 30 just north of the intersection with Rt 7, The Perfect Wife also on Rt 30 near Bistro Henry, Mistral on Tollgate Rd off of Rt 30 between Stratton and Manchester, Chantecleer on Rt 7A north of Manchester in East Dorset, The Reluctant Panther Inn on West Rd off of Rt 7A about a mile south on Manchester center. For those willing to travel about 50 minutes north from Stratton to Wallingford, the Victorian Inn on Rt 7 has great food and a big wine cellar. For less pricy fare there is the Manchester Bar and Grill on Rt 30 just north of Rt 7, The Sirloin Saloon at the intersection of RT 30 and 7A in Manchester, Gringo Jacks southwestern grille, on 7A just north of Manchster center. You will need to call any of these for a reservation well in advance.
Things to do: The Stratton site www.stratton.com mentions a number of Summer activities in the area including: outlet shopping in Manchester VT., which is approximately 20 minutes south of Stratton, gondola rides,
hiking and biking, motor cycle rentals, golf and tennis, fly fishing instruction (Orvis is in Manchester, VT.!!!). Any of these can be booked directly with the Stratton Inn management or by going to the associated websites. Each activity is at the discretion of each attendee and any fee will be paid directly by the attendee. Bennington VT is approx. 20-30 minutes away, Clark Art Museum in Williamstown MA is approx 50 min away and MASS MOCA in North Adams MA is approx. 1 hr and 15mins away.
hiking and biking, motor cycle rentals, golf and tennis, fly fishing instruction (Orvis is in Manchester, VT.!!!). Any of these can be booked directly with the Stratton Inn management or by going to the associated websites. Each activity is at the discretion of each attendee and any fee will be paid directly by the attendee. Bennington VT is approx. 20-30 minutes away, Clark Art Museum in Williamstown MA is approx 50 min away and MASS MOCA in North Adams MA is approx. 1 hr and 15mins away.
How to get there: Your GPS or Google Maps are your best friend. For those wishing to travel together and want a fun route, consider meeting at Applebee's in Keene NH at the traffic circle of Rt 101 and Rt 10/12. If you are traveling on Saturday and want to meet up with the tour see the directions below.
If you want to explore from Keene on Fri or Sat, consider Rt 12 north to Walpole NH and find the Boggy Meadow Cheese Plant, 13 Boggy Meadow Lane, or the Walpole Mtn View Winery at Barnett Hill Vineyard, 114 Barnet Hill Rd. Then cross the CT river to Rt 5 north to Rt 121 west, to Grafton VT and stop at the Grafton Village Cheese shop on Townshend Rd just south of Grafton. (some of the roads in Grafton area have been repaired, but may still have dirt sections. see my comment at the begining of this post. I will note them on mileage instructions I send later in Oct. Keep going south to Townshend Vt where you take Rt 30 west all the way to Bondville and the Stratton Mtn access Rd. I will likely take this route Friday PM so hope to see you at Applebees around 1PM. I will send email addresses of attendees to all attendees so you can pair up and travel together if you wish, taking whatever route you want.
Saturday 10-22-11 Tour #1: I am creating a fun, scenic drive through Southern VT and Eastern NY. Still working out the details but I've driven most of the roads and will have a "short" route and a "long route" mapped. The intent is to include a Winery visit and tasting, plus a visit to a cheese and country store and perhaps a bakery. (I know how NCRers like to eat and drink.) Plus the Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington VT History Museum and Hemmings museum and store are on route. Maps will be provided and you can travel at your own pace.
We will be stopping for lunch at the Anchor restaurant on South Main St in Wilmington VT on Saturday about 12:30. If you are driving in on Saturday from the Brattleboro VT area west on Rt 9, and want to meet us for the rest of the tour, take a left at the red light at the intersection of Rt 9 west and Rt 100 north. The Anchor is one block down on the left, with parking in the back or a public lot one block further down S. Main St. This is approx. 50-60 minutes (36 miles) west of the Rt 101/10 traffic circle in Keene NH or 18 miles west of the Brattleboro Vt interchange of Rt 91 and Rt9.
Saturday 10/22/11 Tour #2 Some folks may travel to the Saratoga Automobile Museum, 110 Avenue of the Pines, Saratoga Springs, NY to see the Porsche exhibit. It is open 10AM to 5PM. It is about 2 hrs west of Manchester Vt in a fairly straight drive according to Mapquest. Details on the exhibit can be found at www.saratogaautomuseum.org and there is a separate article elsewhere on the NCR website. The museum is offering a discount rate to PCA members. Perhaps lunch at the Gideon Putnam Resort just down the street?? Those taking this trip should plan on taking the most major roads you can as those scenic back roads may not be passable.
Sunday 10/23/11: We are planning to drive to the top of Mt Equinox after breakfast, weather permitting for a final group event. Will leave for the drive from Stratton about 10:00 AM Sunday. It is approx 30 mins to get to the entrance to Skyline Drive on Rt 7A about 5 miles south of the center of Manchester. Toll is $12. Hopefully the weather, (no black ice) will cooperate. It is a spectacular drive and is the venue for a VSCCA hillclimb each summer.
Final thoughts. If you did not stop at Hemmings or the Bennington Monument on Saturday they are worth the trip south on Rt 7 or Rt 7A to Bennington. They are on Rt 9 West from the center of Bennington. After you can take Rt 9 East all the way to RT 91 or to Keene NH, or you can continue south on Rt 7 to Williamstown, MA then south on Rte 7 to the Mass Turnpike in Lee MA. If you want to travel home east on Rte 2 you need to access Rte 2 in Greenfield MA as sections in Charlemont and Florida MA which is between North Adams and Greenfield have been washed away.
For those traveling north, take Rt 11 out of Manchester east to Rt 100 which is an excellent, sometimes bumpy ride, up to Rt 4 east to White River Junction. I understand that Rte 100 in Lowell-Killington area is now open, but I do not know if it is repaved.