The Battenkill Valley – A Primer

The next time you’re looking for something fun to do and your thoughts steer you eastward, toward Vermont, by all means follow them.

Just be sure to hit the brakes before you cross the State line.

It’s time you discovered the Battenkill Valley, a remarkably UNdiscovered region that’s so close it’s easy for folks in the Capital Region to miss on their way to Vermont or the Adirondacks.  Even if you have passed through, there is a lot you’ve passed by that you are not aware of.  Trust me.

So…we’re going to explore it together, starting with this article and continuing week after week with the events, the happenings, the fun-to-do and the never-would-have-thought-of-that.

First, what it’s not:  There is no Interstate in the Battenkill Valley; the only traffic tie-up you’ll encounter is occasionally getting stuck behind a slow-moving tractor, but they’re fun to see and don’t stay on the main road very long.  Nobody is in much of a hurry here; the fastest things I’ve seen here are Pintails racing down the Battenkill, less than a foot above the water, and all those professional bicycle racers when they reach a straight-away.  There is an abundance of rich soil here, but the air and water is never dirty.  There are no nightclubs or strip joints, although there are a vast number of “seedy” areas – the kind that grow things. 

Second, what it is: In this space you’ll get the inside scoop on the out-of-the-way antique shops, quirky boutiques, art galleries, village festivals, theater, pick-your-own’s and biking and driving tours that are off (sometimes way off) the beaten paths.  Check with this blog before you make a date or plan a weekend or whenever you need a new idea for something fun to do.  You can even check in anytime you just want to take a mind trip away from the busyness of your daily business. 
You’ve come this far…now buckle-up, slow down and enjoy the ride through the Valley known as “The Tuscany Of The East.”