I’m an outdoor enthusiast but not a crazy extreme outdoor adventurer. Here’s what I would do if I had three days entirely to myself in the Northern NEK.
– Rick, NDD Executive Director
Day 1
Early morning run on the Waterfront Path: Start at the City Docks downtown and follow the Newport Waterfront Path along the lakefront, across the footbridge from Prouty Beach to Bluffside Farm, and as far as the Beebe Spur Rail Trail. Out and back is about 4 miles. If you want to go further, the Rail Trail adds another five miles (1 way) up to the Canadian Border, almost all of which is along the lake.
Breakfast at Roasters Cafe & Deli: homemade baked goods in the neighboring community of Derby that are to die for!
Morning Activity: Mountain Bike the outer perimeter of Memphremagog Trails (don’t miss Brown’s Sap Run)
Afternoon Activity: Grab a sandwich from Green Mountain Natural Café and rent a sailboat from Newport Community Sailing Center for the afternoon!
Dinner and Drinks: at Lago Trattoria on Main St
Day 2
Early Morning: Kayak the South Bay and head up the Barton River from the far south end. Put in at the City Docks or Gardner Park and head south under the Veterans and Railroad bridges. Straight down the lake, you find the inlet from the Barton – calm, easy paddling, and I almost always see hawks or eagles. The best time is early in the morning before the wind comes up on the South Bay.
Leisurely mid-morning breakfast at The Brown Cow: Enjoy a diner-style restaurant where the locals hang out. They have good food at reasonable prices.
Afternoon: Hike the last few miles of the Long Trail – leave from route 105 on the North Side of Jay Peak to hike into Journey’s End and the U.S./Canada Boundary Marker. It is a beautiful hike that will take a couple of hours because you have to come back out the way you go in. If you’re feeling less energetic, you might take the tram to the top of Jay.
Dinner on the Deck at The East Side Restaurant: Locals like my grandparents and parents have been taking their kids and grandchildren to this restaurant for special events for generations. If you linger, you won’t find a finer place to watch the sun go down over the lake.
Day 3
Early Morning: If you want to try another run, one of my favorites is to drive to the end of the I-91 access road on the east end of town. Park your car along the road and head south on Hinman Settler Road. Much of it is dirt and lots of hills, and you can go all the way to Brownington if you want.
Breakfast: There’s talk of a new craft coffee shop coming to Newport soon. In the meantime, try any of the breakfast burritos at Green Mountain Natural Foods Café on Main St.
Keep an eye on the calendar at Kingdomgames.co: You might be able to join one of their long-distance training swims or competitive events in the Kingdom. Or, if you’re like me, consider volunteering as a “Yakker” – providing kayak support for the long-distance swimmers on Memphremagog.
A slow afternoon: Consider a cruise on the Northern Star, which runs from mid-May to mid-October. There is no better way to see the lake or to experience fall foliage! Final Dinner: Don’t leave Newport without checking out Dusit Thai on Main Street. I’ve lived all over the U.S. and traveled worldwide, and I’ve never had better Thai food – full stop!