I know I’ve written before about the Common Road in Waitsfield, Vermont on several previous occasions and in several different seasons, but I hope you’ll indulge me for returning their again today. That’s because this morning I’m dreaming of one of my family’s most cherished holiday traditions, which is to get up on Thanksgiving morning and work up an appetite by taking a long stroll.
We begin under the cathedral canopy of branches:
And then pass the abandoned farm equipment, a sculptural pile of rust and metal that wouldn’t be out of place installed in a Soho art gallery:
If we’re lucky, the farm’s pretty spotted cows greet us:
And maybe we’ll find one of late autumn’s treasures like the husk of a milkweed pod:
This is followed by a walk/run/gallop down the hill:
At the bottom of which we arrive at the Skinner Barn. Then there’s always some poking to do around the brook:
By now we’re usually chilly, so we return to the warm car and a drive back to my parents’ home for homemade pancakes.
We’re lucky to have this very special spot for our holiday walk, but of course it is also the kind of family travel tradition I love, because it is transferrable. No matter where you spend your holiday, you can find a place to get outdoors for an hour or two. If you’re in the city, find a neighborhood of lovely historic houses. Stuck in the suburbs? Maybe there is a park with a walking trail. Little ones can get their wiggles out and grownups get a break from sitting around visiting. You might collect leaves or pine cones for your holiday table or use the time away from the hustle and bustle to talk about what you’re thankful for.
If you’re fantasizing about a traditional New England Thanksgiving, I would point out one kind of funny thing to you about Thanksgiving in Vermont. The holiday pretty much always falls during deer hunting season. This means that unless there is enough snow for downhill skiing, outdoor activities are necessarily restricted to well-inhabited (by Vermont standards anyway) roads and byways. Long hikes in the woods are not advisable. And you’ve got a blaze orange vest, by all means, pack it!
And if the very thought of Thanksgiving with its travel hassles and family togetherness has your undies in a bundle, please check out the post I wrote last year about why holiday travel is worth it.
Today I again offer a chance for you bloggers out there participate in not one but two memes. You can enter your Monday Dreaming link below or you can visit Best Family Travel Advice and list your post about your favorite family holiday travel traditions. Or share links in both places – I’m all about spreading the family travel love.
I couldn’t agree more with your sentiment that getting outside during the Thanksgiving “togetherness” is a welcome retreat. In the very suburban locale where we spend the holiday, we make a point of walking to a nearby park for a game of football and time at the playground.
Having just spent 4 days with my in-laws in a small condo, I echo the benefits of a nice walk in the great outdoors (with or without the rest of the family!) Fresh air does everyone good. And thanks for linking back to your post about family holiday travel. It brought tears to my eyes. Traveling with kids IS so worth it and I love to be reminded of that.
Our family tradition is taking a New Year’s day walk. It’s California so we can do that ;).
I love the photos of your walk! I too love our family walk on dirt roads on Thanksgiving…It’s a tradition I cherish and hope my kids will too.
Lovely post, Mara. I love family traditions. My husband and I have been chatting quite a lot about them recently because this will be our first Christmas as parents. We’re looking forward to introducing our son to family traditions which have already been established and creating our own new ones.
Thanks all – I’m glad to know that you each have your own traditions, and that they involve getting outside! Anna, I know you are going to love this first holiday season – I still cherish the first one I spent with my son. And of course we weren’t at home, but drove all the way to Wisconsin. With, as I recall, a box on top of our car because we thought we needed that much gear to travel with our nine-month-old. Oh, how much I’ve learned since then!
Oh, I miss fall! I’m still not used to this Texas endless-summer!