A Summer Weekend Camping in Vermont

My friend and I had been craving a weekend getaway, a little escape from the routine of daily life, somewhere not too far away so we could make the most of our limited time. The catch? We were super last minute in our planning, and as a result, our options were pretty slim. We had a few places fall through before we stumbled upon Abel Mountain Campground in central Vermont. From the moment we arrived, we knew we had struck gold.

Abel Mountain Campground was a gem of a place – cute, cozy, and brimming with amenities. Despite being close to our fellow campers, we found that everyone, including the owners, was a joy to be around. We quickly made friends with our neighbors who graciously invited us to their campfire and shared their deliciou s'mores with us. And thanks to the kindness of another couple, our tent was up and ready to go, even in the dark (oops).

Though we spent most of our time exploring the surrounding areas, we couldn't help but appreciate every part of our stay at the campground itself. The bathrooms and showers were impeccably clean – a rarity in many camping spots. Each night brought a themed party under the pavilion, adding a fun and lively atmosphere to the evenings. Plus, the campground offered several hiking trails, and the highlight for me was the beautiful river running alongside it. Despite the weather affecting the river's water levels, we managed to enjoy some leisurely floating on our river floats!

Our first morning at the campground, we woke up early, ready to kick-start our day with a hearty breakfast before heading out for a hike. I had prepared some delicious banana bread overnight oats at home, and they turned out to be the perfect fuel for our adventure. The GPS led us on a picturesque detour for about forty-five minutes, but honestly, we didn't mind at all – the scenic route was worth it.

After the slight GPS mishap, we eventually found our way to the parking lot of the Great Cliff trail, which is a small part of the famous Long Trail. Despite the sweltering 95-degree weather and the humidity, we didn't let it dampen our spirits. We packed light for the 1.6-mile loop, and though it was quiet on the trail – probably due to the extreme weather – we had the fortune of spotting a Peregrine Falcon, an unexpected highlight of our Vermont adventure!

After the hike, we were desperate to cool off, so we headed back to the campground to enjoy a refreshing dip in the river. We had a quick lunch and inflated our trusty river floats for some more fun. The river's gentle flow allowed us to walk through the water, surrounded by lovely wildflowers and the perfect rocks for skipping (though I still need to work on my technique, as I can't seem to get more than three skips).

As the sun began to set, we returned to our campsite to prepare dinner. My personal favorite was the cucumber and dill-tzatziki sandwiches, a delightful and refreshing treat after a hot day. We then headed to the Reverence sculptures, two whale tales, to witness the magical sunset, taking plenty of photos to remember the moment. After that, we rushed back to the pavilion to catch the end of the Rock'n' Roll themed party – we couldn't resist joining in on the fun!

Of course, we couldn't leave without making s'mores over the campfire. Our friendly neighbors graciously invited us to their gathering, where we had a blast, swapping stories and sharing laughs with the locals. It was a warm and inviting way to cap off our night.

Sunday morning came, and it was time to pack up and say goodbye to our wonderful campground experience. We realized that hiking in the scorching heat wasn't the best idea, so we decided to enjoy a leisurely lunch and visit a waterfall before heading back home.

On the way back, we planned to pass through Killington, and it seemed like the perfect spot for lunch. Avoiding the highways, we took the back roads to savor the beauty of Vermont for as long as we could. Surprisingly, my GPS led us up the mountain once again, but this time, we decided to embrace the unexpected detour.

Reaching the top of Killington Mountain amidst the fog and approaching storms was an exhilarating experience. We spotted many mountain bikers and decided to join in the adventure, riding the Gondola to the summit. Despite the fog enveloping us most of the time, the brief moments when it cleared provided breathtaking views. We treated ourselves to a summit beer at the lodge while admiring the scenery, and the awning on the patio offered the perfect backdrop for some memorable photos. Before leaving, we enjoyed a delicious meal at Charity's 1887 Saloon, relishing some fresh summer salads.

Our luck continued as Buttermilk Falls happened to be on our route back home. This was our first visit to the spot, and to our delight, we spotted an adorable, curious mink – a unique sighting indeed! The falls were still bustling with visitors, but we managed to find some peaceful spots for swimming, with different areas for jumping into swimming holes or relaxing in a pool at the bottom of the falls.

After some exciting jumps and swimming around, we bid farewell to the falls and decided to stop for some local ice cream before concluding our trip. The ice cream spot we stumbled upon had a charming view of cute cows across the street – a fitting finale to our weekend adventure in Vermont.

This camping trip exploring Vermont turned out to be a delightful mix of unexpected detours, warm encounters with friendly people, mesmerizing natural wonders, and delicious treats. We left with fond memories and a desire to return to this enchanting corner of the world whenever we could.