Stay Vermont Rentals, Vacation Rentals in Vermont

Vermont is a New England state bordered by Canada to the north, New Hampshire to the east, Massachusetts to the south, and New York to the west. The Connecticut River flows along the state's border with New Hampshire. It is the only New England state not bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The state shares Lake Champlain with New York and Canada. The lake was named after Samuel de Champlain, who, in 1609, was the first European to explore the region. Vermont became the first state added to the original 13 colonies when it joined the Union in 1791 as the 14th state. The abbreviation for Vermont is VT. The tree-covered Green Mountains occupy most of Vermont's land. In fact, the state is nicknamed the "Green Mountain State," and its name comes from the French words "Vert Mont," meaning "Green Mountain." The state's landscape includes the Northeast Highlands, the Taconic Mountains, rivers, river valleys and thin soil. Forests cover about three-quarters of Vermont's land. The state has a very rocky terrain and not much farmable land. Originally called New Connecticut, Vermont created one of North America's first constitutions and was the first region to officially abolish slavery and support public schools. Ethan Allen, leading his Green Mountain Boys, helped capture Fort Ticonderoga at the start of the Revolutionary War, a victory that helped inspire American forces. It remained an independent republic for years after the war, finally becoming the 14th state admitted to the Union in 1791.

Artists and writers numbered among the early settlers of Vermont during the latter half of the 19th century. Itinerant portrait painters traveled from town to town, seeking commissions from the wealthy, while engravers were busy illustrating the proliferation of journals and newspapers put out by Vermont's early printing presses. Folk songs were written to both new and familiar tunes, while the early history of Vermont was chronicled in poetry and prose. It is safe to say that art has been a part of Vermont's culture for a long time.

Burlington's normal daily mean temperature is 7°C, ranging from –9°C in January to 22°C in July. Winters are generally colder and summer night’s cooler in the higher elevations of the Green Mountains. The record high temperature for the state is 41°C, registered at Vernon on 4 July 1911; the record low, –46°C, at Bloomfield, 30 December 1933. Burlington's average annual precipitation (1971–2000) of 36 inches was less than the statewide average of 40 inches. Annual snowfall in Burlington is 79 inches elsewhere in the state snowfall ranges from 55 to 65 inches in the lower regions, and from 100 to 125 inches in the mountain areas.

Killington: Killington calls itself the "Heart of the Green Mountains" and for many, it is. This a year-round place, like most of Vermont, with plenty to do in every season.

Stowe: Stowe, VT, located in Lamoille County, is a resort town, with a standing population of about 4500. There is plenty to see and do here, year round.

Burlington: Burlington is Vermont's "Queen City". The eclectic mix of students, business professionals, artistic types, families, and musicians make the entire downtown a lively place.

South Burlington: South Burlington, while it is its own city, it could easily consider the southern suburb of the larger city of Burlington.

Rutland: Rutland is the third largest city in Vermont. It lies in the central region, and is a great jumping off point for places like Killington, Woodstock and Ludlow and is also within easy driving distance of Manchester, Waitsfield and Warren.

Montpelier: Montpelier is the capital of Vermont and is known to be the least populous state capital in the United States with only about 10,000 inhabitants.

Saint Johnsbury: Saint Johnsbury is the largest town (about 7600), and county seat (squire town) of Caledonia County, VT. It is also the largest city in Northeast Kingdom of VT.

Tourism is also an important part of Vermont's economy. The state attracts tourists from the United States and Canada because of its scenic beauty and rural charm. Visit Vermont's numerous small villages and maybe you'll find a valuable antique in one of the local shops. Enjoy the beauty of the Green Mountains, or join the thousands of tourists who ski down the mountain slopes every winter.

Vermont's main mode of travel is by automobile. 5.7 percent of Vermont households did not own a car in 2008. On average, 20–25 people die each year from drunk driving incidents; as well as 70–80 people in fatal car crashes in the state. Motorists have the highest rate of insurance in the country, 93%, tied with Pennsylvania. In 2010 Vermont owned 2,840 miles of highway. This was the third smallest quantity among the 50 states. 2.5 percent of the highways were listed as "congested," the 5th lowest in the country. The highway fatality rate was 1 per 100,000,000 miles, tenth lowest in the nation. The highways cost $28,669 per 1 mile to maintain, the 17th highest in the states. 34.4 percent of its bridges were rated deficient or obsolete, the 8th worst in the nation.

Individual communities and counties have public transit, but their breadth of coverage is frequently limited. Greyhound Lines services a number of small towns. Two Amtrak trains serve Vermont, the Vermonter and the Ethan Allen Express. In 2011, Amtrak evaluated the track used by the Ethan Allen Express between Rutland and Whitehall, as the worst in the nation. Trucks weighing less than 80,000 pounds can use Vermont's interstate highways. The limit for state roads is 99,000 pounds. This means that vehicles too heavy for the turnpikes can legally only use secondary roads. In 2011, the American Society for Public Administration rated Vermont among the top ten best states for overall litter/debris removals from public spaces/properties (roadways, streams, trails).