Twice a day balloons rise from the Village
Green near Quechee's Simon Pierce Glass
Works and float off towards the Ottauquechee
River and the chasm called the Quechee
Gorge.
The pilots know the winds as they ascend and
descend to catch the air currents that course
through the valley. Moving silently, the balloon
settles down on the river's surface and hovers
as you gasp to see water creep into the wicker
basket towards your shoes.
Suddenly a throaty howl with a tongue of blue
flame ends your baptism as the expanding air
lifts the balloon from the water and takes you
soaring over the treetops only to settle down
again between vermilion hillsides and into the
Quechee Gorge.
You lift again and soar high above the farms of
Woodstock and then into a field rimmed by
sugar maples to meet the balloon chase team
as it arrives for the traditional Champaign toast.
Green near Quechee's Simon Pierce Glass
Works and float off towards the Ottauquechee
River and the chasm called the Quechee
Gorge.
The pilots know the winds as they ascend and
descend to catch the air currents that course
through the valley. Moving silently, the balloon
settles down on the river's surface and hovers
as you gasp to see water creep into the wicker
basket towards your shoes.
Suddenly a throaty howl with a tongue of blue
flame ends your baptism as the expanding air
lifts the balloon from the water and takes you
soaring over the treetops only to settle down
again between vermilion hillsides and into the
Quechee Gorge.
You lift again and soar high above the farms of
Woodstock and then into a field rimmed by
sugar maples to meet the balloon chase team
as it arrives for the traditional Champaign toast.
October brings the changing of the leaves to
Woodstock. From the Village Green beside the
river, balloons fly passengers all season down the
river and into the Quechee Gorge.
Morning flights usually follow the river southeast then
fly up over route 4 and descend into the mile-long
water-cut canyon billed locally as Vermont's Grand
Canyon. Morning flights fly above the Gorge giving
passengers a great view. Afternoon flights will follow
the river through farm country and over the ski
mountain to the northwest.
Colonial Woodstock with a population of 3,500
spends fall decked out in harvest time splendor with
pumpkins and chrysanthemums lining the sidewalks
in a village center that anchors farm country of rolling
hills. Still supplying milk, cheese, and Maple syrup to
nearby cities, the region will as often host crafts
artists, equine eventing, fox hunts, (simulated) and
elegant shops.
Antique covered bridges and postcard-like farms
attract artists and photographers, others come for the
golf, tennis, and museums
Equestrian events attract horse owners to
Woodstock. May and July see the Green Mountain
Horse Association's Hunter Jumper shows in
South Woodstock and weekends bring equestrian
events.
The end of August brings the Annual Scottish
Festival with bagpipe music, Scottish fiddles, Celtic
harp, and Scottish dancing along with sheep
herding dogs and a road race that requires kilts.
The villagers have preserved the old houses and
three covered bridges, two date to the mid 1800s.
Woodstock. From the Village Green beside the
river, balloons fly passengers all season down the
river and into the Quechee Gorge.
Morning flights usually follow the river southeast then
fly up over route 4 and descend into the mile-long
water-cut canyon billed locally as Vermont's Grand
Canyon. Morning flights fly above the Gorge giving
passengers a great view. Afternoon flights will follow
the river through farm country and over the ski
mountain to the northwest.
Colonial Woodstock with a population of 3,500
spends fall decked out in harvest time splendor with
pumpkins and chrysanthemums lining the sidewalks
in a village center that anchors farm country of rolling
hills. Still supplying milk, cheese, and Maple syrup to
nearby cities, the region will as often host crafts
artists, equine eventing, fox hunts, (simulated) and
elegant shops.
Antique covered bridges and postcard-like farms
attract artists and photographers, others come for the
golf, tennis, and museums
Equestrian events attract horse owners to
Woodstock. May and July see the Green Mountain
Horse Association's Hunter Jumper shows in
South Woodstock and weekends bring equestrian
events.
The end of August brings the Annual Scottish
Festival with bagpipe music, Scottish fiddles, Celtic
harp, and Scottish dancing along with sheep
herding dogs and a road race that requires kilts.
The villagers have preserved the old houses and
three covered bridges, two date to the mid 1800s.
The Billings Farm Museum built in 1878 still
operates as a dairy while celebrating the farm life
once so integral to Vermont life.
The Raptor Center of the Vermont Institute of
Natural Science rescues and rehabilitates birds,
particularly hawks and eagles. They have two Bald
Eagles, two Golden Eagles and many hawks and
owls that came to them too damaged for release to
the wild.
In Quechee Gorge Village an old diner is one of
only three of its type left in the country and shares
space with the Vermont Toy and Train Museum
displaying toys, dolls, and lunch boxes dating
from the 40s
The Simon Pierce Glassworks gives you a
close-up look at the skills of glass artisans and
potters creating artworks for sale in the
showrooms. The building was once a
water-powered mill with an electric generator
within a sluice channel which architects saved for
viewing when they remodeled the old building in
the 70s.
While dining at the Glassworks you overlook a
waterfall and a covered bridge and might just see
a balloon lift off from the green and glide by as it
follows the river.
The rolling hills and cleared fields make for such
great hot air balloon country that Woodstock hosts
the annual Quechee Balloon Festival in mid June
bringing live music to the green, craft shows and a
host of micro-brews strutting their wares. Vermont
farm country presents few wires, no tall buildings,
and lots of room to land. Morning flights are the
best but during the summer the riders will have to
be ready by 6 am.
Although the changing of the leaves is as fickle as
the winds that push balloons through the valley,
usually the foliage season ends by the fourth week
in October. Balloons fly year-round but the rush of
visitors tapers in November as Vermont settles in
for a long snowy winter.
Oh the classic Autumn Vermont farm scene: golden maples framing
the road to the red barn, Jersey cows munching lush grass in the
meadow, smoke twisting skyward from the farmhouse chimney, and
pumpkins strewn along the fence line. Classic, yes but this one is
different; you are soaring 200 feet above it, gliding in a wicker basket
hung from a multi-colored balloon full of heated air.
You are ballooning Vermont's foliage and bringing excitement to an old
theme as you sail over Woodstock's crimson hills and covered bridges
making autumn in Vermont something special.
the road to the red barn, Jersey cows munching lush grass in the
meadow, smoke twisting skyward from the farmhouse chimney, and
pumpkins strewn along the fence line. Classic, yes but this one is
different; you are soaring 200 feet above it, gliding in a wicker basket
hung from a multi-colored balloon full of heated air.
You are ballooning Vermont's foliage and bringing excitement to an old
theme as you sail over Woodstock's crimson hills and covered bridges
making autumn in Vermont something special.
Woodstock Vermont, October
Woodstock Vermont Balloons
Jeanne McKenna Photo
Jeanne McKenna Photo
Balloons of Vermont
Pilot Darrek Daoust
secures the balloon
after a flight
secures the balloon
after a flight
Woodstock Vermont Balloons, Hot Air Balloons of Woodstock, Vermont
In Woodstock Vermont, Balloons fly twice a day from the
Village Green near Quechee Vermont's Simon Pierce Glass
Works.
The balloons catch the wind and float off towards the
Ottauquechee River and the chasm called the Quechee Gorge.
Village Green near Quechee Vermont's Simon Pierce Glass
Works.
The balloons catch the wind and float off towards the
Ottauquechee River and the chasm called the Quechee Gorge.
Woodstock Vermont,
Hot Air Balloons of Vermont
Hot Air Balloons of Vermont
Quechee Gorge Village
| Quechee Gorge Village |
Quechee Gorge
Village
Village
Vermont Toy and
Train Museum
Train Museum
Simon
Pierce
Glassworks
Pierce
Glassworks
Getting to Woodstock: Traveling by air, the nearest international airport is Boston's Logan Airport (BOS)
where you can rent a car for the trip north. Follow Route 93 North as it goes through the city of Boston
towards Manchester, NH. North of Manchester pick up Route 89 north to Lebanon NH and White River
Junction Vermont. Then take Rout 4 to Woodstock, VT
where you can rent a car for the trip north. Follow Route 93 North as it goes through the city of Boston
towards Manchester, NH. North of Manchester pick up Route 89 north to Lebanon NH and White River
Junction Vermont. Then take Rout 4 to Woodstock, VT
Auto Europe offers selection, price, and ease of booking on the web. Shop online well ahead of your trip
to get the best price on Air Fare, Hotel or Auto Rental in the US.
to get the best price on Air Fare, Hotel or Auto Rental in the US.
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| Quechee Annual Hot air Balloon Festival and Crafts Fair, June, |
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When traveling by air you can start saving on your air fare by Parking your Car for Two Weeks Free after one
night Lodging in Airport Hotels near your home city and in 60 US cities and hundreds of others worldwide.
The early shuttle from the hotel to the airline terminal will allow you to book an early flight and save money
on the airfare. Two weeks of free parking offsets the cost of the hotel room and you do not need to arrange
for a limo from your home to the airport. Some of the hotels in the program offer Free, 24 hour shuttles to
the airport.
Most hotels offer two weeks free parking with one night stay, some three weeks or a reasonable day rate
for extra days. Cruise passengers can take advantage of these deals also at some hotels. See more info
at link below with detailed information and photos of included hotels with reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and
enhance your experience. Save on transportation to the airport and save money on less expensive early
flight tickets with a hotel stay near the airport
When traveling by air you can start saving on your air fare by Parking your Car for Two Weeks Free after one
night Lodging in Airport Hotels near your home city and in 60 US cities and hundreds of others worldwide.
The early shuttle from the hotel to the airline terminal will allow you to book an early flight and save money
on the airfare. Two weeks of free parking offsets the cost of the hotel room and you do not need to arrange
for a limo from your home to the airport. Some of the hotels in the program offer Free, 24 hour shuttles to
the airport.
Most hotels offer two weeks free parking with one night stay, some three weeks or a reasonable day rate
for extra days. Cruise passengers can take advantage of these deals also at some hotels. See more info
at link below with detailed information and photos of included hotels with reviews.
Convenient Two Week Free Airport Parking with a one night hotel stay could save you money and
enhance your experience. Save on transportation to the airport and save money on less expensive early
flight tickets with a hotel stay near the airport