How To: On the Cheese Trail

Do you like cheese? Soft cheese, hard cheese, aged cheese, new cheese? Vermont is home to some of the nations finest cheeses and the best time to visit is during the fall when the leaves are popping with color and the air is fresh and crisp. A perfect weekend getaway to the Green Mountain State includes several visits to local dairy farms to sample a variety of cheeses from Blue Ledge’s creamy goat chevre to Cabot’s sharp cheddar. Vermont farmers pride themselves on producing all-natural products without using growth hormones, antibiotics, or other artificial additives. Their animals are treated with respect and love and fed a healthy diet of nutrient packed grass. Add a bit of hiking to your weekend getaway to take in the splendor of Vermont’s fall foliage and you have yourself a memorable holiday.

Begin your cheese trail in the alpine village of Stowe, nestled in the foothills of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. Stowe offers a wide range of romantic bed and breakfast retreats as well as five star resorts, such as Top Notch or the Stoweflake. Some great hiking trails just outside the village will reward you with superb views of Vermont’s northern territories as well as a chance to photograph the golden shades of changing leaves. A little to the north of Stowe is Lake Elmore, another great place to enjoy the last rays of summer sun. After a night of restoration and relaxation, head southeast to the Cabot Creamery in Montpelier where you can take a tour and learn about the history of Cabot and the art of cheesemaking. Try some samples of award-winning cheeses including their World’s Best Cheddar and Chipolte Cheddar.

Continue south to Woodstock and stop by Woodstock Water Buffalo dairy to taste fresh mozzarella from the only water buffalo milk creamery in the United States. Buffalo cheese differs from other cheeses because its life cycle is measured in days rather than months or years. After its three-week maturation, it has a firm, coarse texture. Visiting hours are from 10 to 2, Monday through Friday and you can watch the cheese and yogurt making process through an observation window. Just south of Woodstock, Ascutney State Park offers a nice climb to the summit at 2,800 feet. Take your time to enjoy the views in all directions a bring a picnic lunch of buffalo mozzarella, pesto, and tomatoes on fresh sourdough bread.

In Townshend Vermont, grab some cheese and fresh homemade bread from Peaked Mountain Farm, a dairy owned and operated by the same family since 1731. Fresh and aged cheeses from both cows and sheep can be sampled and gourmet sausages and pure Vermont maple syrup can be purchased. Don’t miss out on the Sheep Milk Feta!

Heading back north, Blue Ledge Farm is located in Salisbury, Vermont and produces some of the state’s best goat cheeses. The goats are well cared for and their contentment is apparent in the taste and texture of the cheese they produce. Try the La Luna or Lake’s Edge if you like dramatic flavors. Salisbury is also home to Branbury State Park, bordering the eastern shore of Lake Dunmore. Explore miles of hiking trails, waterfalls, and caves or walk along the shoreline and wiggle your toes in the chilly water.

If you’re not sick of cheese yet, finish your tour at Shelburne Farms in Shelburne, Vermont. A non-profit educational center, Shelburne Farms is a community within its own. Also named a historic landmark, their herd of Brown Swiss cows produce a fine array of award-winning aged cheddar’s. Spend several hours ambling around their expansive lawns taking in the majestic scenery or take a tour of their cheesemaking factory and watch as freshly squeezed milk is transformed into hard blocks of cheese curds. Spend the night in one of the Inn’s spacious and country-inspired rooms before heading back to the grind of daily life.

For more information, visit the Vermont Cheese Council website

http://www.vtcheese.com/