Best of the Best, Vergennes

Vergennes, Vermont

No LL

From time to time we enthuse about our alltime favorite anchorages. For example, LaTrappe Creek, Maryland, or Valcour Island, New York, or Isle La Haut, Maine. All things considered though, this place in Vergennes Vermont is the best of the best.

We're sitting near the base of beautiful waterfalls. At night we're lulled to sleep by the thunder of the falls. I can think of no other place we've ever visited while cruising quite like it.

At the top of the falls, and immediately behind us are historic buildings from revolutionary times. In fact, we're sitting right on the site of MacDonough's Boat Yard where warships for the War of 1812 were built.

Around us are parks and a big lagoon at the foot of the falls. Scholl kids come here one by one to fish and in groups to practice rowing replica boats. Around that are very steep hills that form a basin that shelters us from even the worst storm winds.

The city also kindly provides free docks, with water and electric. Within walking distance we find grocery and hardware stores and a laundromat -- all the things that a cruiser needs are here. Skipper Bob books would have no doubt rated this place the best of the best. We concur.

But that's not the end of the special features of Vermont's smallest City. I'm sitting now in the Bixby Library. It is named after William G Bixby who bequeathed a very substantial sum to build an exquisitely beautiful library. Its beauty rivals the best we saw in Washington DC last year.

There is an opera house which we've yet to visit.

Even getting here is a pleasure. Libby and I love the passage up or down Otter Creek. I'll blog more on that later.

Wow, what a great place.