The Northeast Kingdom - a Landscape Fit for Royalty

The Northeast Kingdom is a grand name for a very grand area of Vermont, including the counties of Caledonia, Essex and Orleans. Though the kingdom covers a wide geographic area, it is sparsely populated with just over 62,000 residents. There are fifty-five towns and just the one city - Newport. This is a stunning area to please all the senses - made up of rural landscape and mountains, forests and rivers and has been included in Patricia Schultz's book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die. It has received similar accolades from National Geographic magazine, being hailed the most desireable place to go and see in the whole of the USA.

New England is a spectacular destination in the Fall, when the forest and woodland colours paint an unforgettable portrait of nature at its best. That's just one reason why tourists have been coming here for over a century. The name and the honour of being a kingdom was coined for the region in 1949 when Senator Aitken declared “this is such beautiful country up here, it should be called the Northeast Kingdom”. The name stuck, and it certainly fits.

The list of towns in which you will find great vacation rentals is almost too long to repeat. But look for your cottage anywhere from Albany in the northwest to the Connecticut River and you will find a whole host of friendly, beautiful little towns with a whole host of cottage and houses to suit your needs. There are four main types of destination to explore: the northern lakes and mountains, forest frontier, town and country and mountain trails. You're unlikely to see everything on just one trip, so plan on returning again and again %u2026

Of particular interest and growth in the region is sustainable or eco tourism. This faming community is no stranger to creating a way of life that lasts through generations and so embraced the concept when in was launched in 2006. Another term for it is geotourism: it simply means that the impact of tourism should be positive on the landscape and its people, enhancing rather than damaging both. As a visitor you can join in, contributing to the positive development of the communities, limiting your impact and enjoying local produce. The farms here produce maple syrup, all kinds of soft fruits, pumpkins and more. The climate is kind, with fewer frost days than on average allowing for superb agriculture. You'll find many farmers' markets and festivals celebrating the harvest of this fertile land.

Nature is well protected here and the Northeast Kingdom is regarded as Vermont's true wilderness. As you hike, bike, canoe or kayak through the glorious landscape you may be lucky to spot some of the indigenous and rare species: catamounts (a type of cougar), black bear, moose, quail, bobcats and wildcats. Birdwatchers and anglers will find so much to delight them here, with trout in the rivers and streams and falcons soaring through the air. You can explore on your own or hire one of the highly qualified local guides to help you discover the amazing wildlife of this region.

Many people see Vermont as a winter destination and it does not disappoint, with pristine snows making for superb winter sporting conditions. However Fall and the glorious foliage should not be missed and there is much to enjoy in spring and summer, when the area may be emptier of tourists. During the spring, the temperatures are in the mild mid-sixties and everything is coming to life. Summer is hot but not unbearable, averaging in the mid-eighty degrees fahrenheit. Now, there are fruits to gather at pick your own farms, parades and festivals to enjoy and walks galore through the shady forests.