Above the Trees, But Under the Radar

Choosing and planning an activity that Cade, Liberty, and I will enjoy is not always the easiest thing in the world. As a parent, I am often faced with wondering if an activity is a good one to do with my children.  As they get older, Cade and Liberty’s tastes have changed, but one thing that always works for us is heading north in search of beautiful views, bookstores, and great moments that turn into memories.  

As I was looking ahead to our trip in the Summer of 2024, a friend sent me information on a place where Cade, Liberty, and I could do a canopy walk up in the trees. Looking at the photos, I was getting an Ewok village vibe. But, I wondered if it would appeal to my teenage children.

After a solo trip to Woodstock for a poetry festival in June 2024, I returned in August with Cade and Liberty to share the picturesque town with them. In Woodstock, we enjoyed the bookstore, got a maple creemee, and walked across the covered bridge in the middle of town over the Ottauquechee River.

Mill Pond Falls in Quechee, VT

Located a short drive from Woodstock, Quechee is known for its Mill Pond Falls and the Simon Pearce glass factory.  Cade, Liberty, and I had to get out of the van to get some photos of the falls, including photos from the covered bridge with an overhead view of the falls.

We then went to the Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) Nature Center, which is a private non-profit less than ten miles from the Vermont-New Hampshire border. The facility has almost 50 acres of forest and meadows that include trails as well as the canopy walk. It also has a wild bird rehabilitation center.  We got to see a number of birds of prey up close, many of which could not be returned to the wild and had a safe home there.

A raven at the VINS. "Quoth the raven, 'Nevermore'."

When I go somewhere, I am trying to find places that are unique and unknown gems. One of the ways I judge this is by the license plates in the parking area. After we parked the van, I was glad to see that most of the vehicles parked there had Vermont and New Hampshire license plates. I do not want to go to the same places where all the other tourists are located mainly because I feel less like a wanderer.

We soon found our way to the canopy walk. We continued to go up in elevation and walk through the trees. It was on a slope, so as we walked on a relatively level path, we were going higher in the canopy. They did a great job providing info-graphics communicating our height off the ground, as well as the types of trees and animals living there. It was beautiful.

The Forest Canopy Walk at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science

To be honest, Cade, Liberty, and I were choosing our route around the canopy based on where the school-aged camp groups were not. There was a lookout tower so that we could climb higher above the trees, reminiscent of a fire tower. There we go some great views up there and we got a few photographs. I am not a fan of heights, but this Center had done it well.  I was never fearful or concerned.

Sculpture by Wendy Klemperer

The Center also had a number of art sculptures, many of which were sculpted metal birds made of rebar by Wendy Klemperer of Brooklyn, NY. There were turkeys greeting us on the ground and raptors suspended along the canopy walk.

Any concerns I had over the kids being too old to have a meaningful experience at the Nature Center were put to rest. The canopy walk gave us fresh air, beautiful views from just the right height, public art displays, and time together.