Wildlife, Walking & Hiking in the Green Mountain State

One lives one's life forward looking but sometimes we look back and see resonances that we could never have predicted. For example, I learned to ski in college in the 1970's when I was 20 and here I am in my 70's in the 2020's revisiting many of the same locations in VT that afforded me those early ski experiences! On this trekking trip instead of skiing down Stratton Mt., Mt. Snow or Haystack Mt., as I did 50 years ago, I was led on treks up these same beautiful edifices only now using my poles to navigate roots and rocks instead of circling moguls and other snow covered obstructions. Life can be interesting and new adventures provide us with knowledge of areas we might have experienced previously in a different fashion.

Don't miss this chance to understand why it is called a Beaver Pond.

This was a casually paced program with a nice balance of active and educational experiences. The guides, hosts, educator, and bus driver all worked well together and conveyed a happy commitment to providing a good experience. Of course, it did not hurt that our weather was perfect and the fall colors were at peak! The food was very good and plentiful and the accommodations comfortable. Cari and Eamon and their beautiful young children were wonderful and accommodating hosts of the Inn. Was hard to leave!

This is a marvelous time of year to be in Vermont, and the program staff, both at the Grey Ghost and on the trail, were wonderful.

Carina, Michael, Cary and Eamon were all very welcoming and made us feel right at home. Our hike leader Michael did an excellent job pointing out plants and animals. The finishing touch was the evening music with the "Vermont's Easy Street Duo". The inn keeper, Cary also went on hikes with us, and Carina made sure we had maps pointing out the location of our hiking trails. Carina made sure everything went together "without a hitch". They made a GREAT team!

This program is great! From the gorgeous hikes to the fabulous food to the interesting staff, I had a great time!

This trip was exactly as advertised: a combination of walking and hiking, not too strenuous, but good exercise each day. The Grey Ghost Inn was a delight--Cary and Eamon and their children are welcoming and cheerful hosts. The improvements that they have made--new beds and bedding and some new flooring are signs of their investment in the key aspects of a comfortable stay. The Inn is sparkling clean and offered delicious meals throughout our stay. Michael is a knowledgeable, interesting, easy-going instructor. His ability to engage an audience with a wide variety of backgrounds is impressive. He was a critical part of the program and delivered a consistently high level of programming each day. Bob, the bus driver was another key contributor to the program's success. His cheerful willingness to participate added to our enjoyment of the time on the bus. The teamwork on the part of the Innkeepers, instructors and support workers was exceptional.

Wonderful trip. Well organized, great group of people, the hikes were beautiful, food was good (especially the lunches and desserts!) and the leaders were excellent. I especially enjoyed meeting the “animal ambassadors” from the VT Museum of Natural History.

fun and interesting getaway. good food and clean comfortable accommodations

You can't ask for anything better than the Gray Ghost Inn with food from a first-class restaurant and in beautiful southern Vermont. The teacher/hike leader was top-notch full of knowledge and made everyone feal comfortable. I fell on a hike (I take full responsibility) and the leaders were quick to help me down the mountain and get medical attention.

This was my least favorite Road Scholar trip of the7 I have now taken. Some was out of the host's control; massive flooding in the state and power outages. The rooms were extremely rustic - kind of like staying in a hostel or girl scout camp - very small, one small window. The commons areas were cozy and nice. Our itinerary was shot (obviously, due to nature's furies,) and they tried to entertain us as best they could, with most of the hiking trails washed away. My biggest problem was that I am the gluten-free problem child. Road Scholar KNOWS that. RS has accommodated my dietary restrictions well in Cornwall and Italy, but here, for the first two days, they had almost nothing I could eat. They apologetically made me a lettuce and tomato salad. The third day, they proudly bought some gluten-free crackers and a package of Tate's GF cookies, and thenthey started modifying some meals so that I could eat. By then I was SO hungry! (Fortunately, I had brought my own granola and almond milk for breakfast, and had protein bars in my cell.) Also, getting to West Dover, VT from Albany was very expensive and stressful. The tour leader Mike was knowledgeable and entertaining. The hosts were personable. I would give this trip a grade of C-.

This was a great trip. It rained a lot the week I was there, but the overall collaboration between the Inn Keeper Carina, the group leader Mike and the driver Bob made the experience worth it. The alternatives that they offered saved what could have been a bad trip and made it great!

If you want to experience the flora, fauna and history of Southern Vermont with expert guides then try this program. Black Labrador dogs are an added benefit!

It was a great experience and the activity level was what you made it. You could be more challenged if you desired or take it as easy as your want to.

I liked this program because the scenery was beautiful. We hiked in unusual locations--a dam, a fire tower, along a babbling creek, a beaver pond. Most of the hikes were in the shade. You could opt for a challenging hike or a walk in the town on the last day. The Inn keeper/guide was charming and accommodating. There was a short bus ride of about 30 minutes to our hiking locations. We boarded the bus at 9:00 a.m. We returned about 3:00 or 4:00, which gave us some rest time before a 6:00 dinner We had lunch at the Inn every day. A naturalist brought 7 animals to the inn one night and we had a close look at each one. We had musicians one evening that used an instrument I have never seen. We toured a natural history museum that had live animals. A cool wind blew every day. Some people swam in the pool.

Made the absolute right decision to hike the Green Mountains. walking shoes and trekking poles a necessity. Fantastic, Rustic Inn and awesome hostess Carina. Get away from tv for a few days and take in all the splendor this part of our great country has to offer. Trail guides and bus driver the best. Moderately challenging but 'do-able'

An excellent introduction to Vermont with opportunities to learn about wildlife and flora. The Gray Ghost Inn is a cozy venue which comfortably accommodates the group. The group leaders are excellent and work very hard to share their love of Vermont. For those who like a challenge, there are opportunities to go well beyond “no sweat” and explore the beautiful area. Highly recommend.

Vermont fall color at its best! The program title says it all. There were easy walks, moderate hikes and challenging climbs. And with each, there were options for individual participation. Staying at the Gray Ghost Inn B&B allowed program participants to get to know one another quickly. Carina & Michael were wonderful trip leaders. Add this one to your fall bucket list!

Great experience! Staff were knowledgeable and friendly! Beautiful scenery, good hikes and excellent food!

This was my first Road Scholar, I normally walk 3 to 4 miles on a walk but this was a little more challenging than walking urban areas, Loved it found it challenging but doable.

This is a beautiful part of our country and it was so wonderful to experience it on this hiking trip - the guide was so much fun and interesting and the inn was so warming and unique.. I'll remember this trip for a long time!

Just today met gal on hotel shuttle who is very excited to look into doing Road Scholar herself. She asked many questions. Plus…. The driver was very interested & she is African American. I hope to see more mixed nationalities in the program.

A lovely way to experience the green hills of Vermont in a lovely Inn and learn some new facts about the natural world.