We know this isn’t quite how weddings are supposed to work…
If we haven’t stressed it enough yet, we don’t want this to be your typical run of the mill wedding weekend. Nothing against traditional weddings (ok… don’t get Jon started), but its just not our thing. We really want this to be a fun weekend vacation for some of the people we love most in the world. We’ll tie it all together with a group dinner on Saturday night, but we want you to come to Vermont and enjoy Vermont! Its a lovely place that, at least for both of the Washers at this event, is incredibly near & dear to our hearts (we’re just a few miles away from the dairy farm Jon’s dad grew up on that goes back an additional generation or two from him).
Below you will find a loose itinerary of the things you’ll want to know are happening at specific times (its a very brief list), as well as some suggestions for things to check out Friday & Saturday (and Sunday if you are staying a bit longer!)
If you want to just hang out at the Mansfield House & drink, and play some games - you’re in the right company. If you want to get up super early and climb the tallest mountain in Vermont with Jon, we’ll give you some details on that, too! The bigger point is. Do what you’ll enjoy the most. Get some groups out adventuring and have a blast! We’ll be planning the things we want to get done, and some folks should definitely join us if they want to also do those things.
Scheduled Events You Should Probably Show Up For
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Check In & Check Out
Your rooms will be available on Friday, Oct 29th at 2pm.
Checkout on Sunday, the 31st, is 11am.
More details on logistics of the site are available here. -
Friday Night BBQ & Hangouts - 7pm to Whenever
We’ll be firing up the grill on Friday night to hang out around the Mansfield House too cook up a standard issue BBQ dinner - burgers, sausages, beers, etc. We’ll have a stockpile of the truest basics, but encourage everyone to find themselves something to contribute to the pile for anyone who wants to hang out with us Friday night.
Bonus points for every Heady Topper that gets brought to Jon at the grill.
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Saturday Dinner & Celebration - 5:30pm to Whenever
This is as close to mandatory is it gets for this weekend. Please be at the Mansfield House at 5:30pm as we’ll be getting started at 6pm.
Other Suggested Activities (a very incomplete list of things to do)
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Mt. Mansfield Hike - Saturday (7am to Appx. 1pm) (weather permitting)
Mt. Mansfield is the tallest mountain in Vermont (4,393’). Jon has a lot of (mostly) fond memories of skiing the mountain, and is excited to hike to the summit on Saturday morning. This hike is do-able for a lot of fitness levels, but please note that this is a relatively difficult physical ascent, and is along a very exposed (ie: very cold) ridgeline for a lot of the hike. There could be snow. You should have proper clothing and equipment (its only hiking, not climbing, however) to safely make it to the top & back. Please contact Jon directly about joining him on this hike. This hike will easily take 4+ hours.
More details forthcoming. -
Tour the Area With Tree
Tree will be putting together her own morning/afternoon itinerary for checking out some various spots in the area and generally doing things for folks who don’t want to (probably not) die on the side of a mountain with Jon. Get in touch with her for more details!
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Smuggler's Notch (Drive & Explore)
While we’re going to be several weeks too late for the epic fall foliage you’ll see if you google Smuggler’s Notch, the drive through the pass is really wonderful in all seasons (except winter, when it is closed). If there is snow, we would not suggest doing this drive (and the pass may get closed by that). But if its a crisp, nice day - its a LOVELY drive to explore as you skip the long way to get to Stowe.
More details here -
Sunday Brunch - Noon
For anyone who doesn’t need to head home first thing on Sunday, we’d love to invite you to join us at 158 Main in Jeffersonville for brunch.
We will need to get a reservation in for this ASAP (and the venue may have to change if we have a lot of people joining).So please let us know if you’d like to attend this brunch. CLICK HERE to do so.
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The Current (A Center for Contemporary Art) - Stowe, VT.
Add a touch of culture to your weekend at this art gallery. In general, you will find a lot of fun things to do in Stowe, Vermont and could easily just spend your day in this lovely little ski town.
The Current’s website -
Ben & Jerry's Factory - Waterbury, VT
There’s going to be a big meal waiting for you on Saturday night… HOWEVER. Its Vermont. And you are only a few minutes away from the Ben & Jerry’s original factory. Go treat yourself to some ice cream on a cold fall day in Vermont.
Factory tour & Scoop Shop Information -
Alchemist Brewery - Stowe VT.
They make Heady Topper. Widely considered the best beer on the planet (ASSUMING YOU LIKE IPAS). This is very likely to be a post-hike stopoff for Jon after finishing on Mt. Mansfield.
Brewery Website -
Cold Hollow Cider Mill
A perfect destination for Saturday breakfast/brunch if you’re not out on the hike. Has pretty much everything you could ever want from the world of fresh pressed cider. Including donuts.
Cold Hollow Website -
Hang Out and Play Some Games!
Not everyone wants to be driving around from site to site to explore, and that’s completely ok! Kick back and relax at the Mansfield House and enjoy a quiet afternoon. There will be music available, and we encourage all guests to bring their favorite board games and leisure activities. The chefs have taken it upon themselves to just make a plate of incredible grilled cheese sandwiches at their leisure, so you could be in for an afternoon treat, too.