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Hello Summer!

Snow is gone, grass is green, lakes have thawed.  Welcome back, Summer!  Head on over to Burke this month and get a head start on the season. Kingdom Trails will be open just as soon as the trails dry out and become rideable.  The Burke Bike Park opens May 25th.  Of course, the trails are for more than just two wheels.  The Shoefly Trail Explore Series starts later this month and features monthly ventures to Burke and Parker Mountain.  Walk, run, hike...just explore and have fun in a non-competitive way.

Of course, safety is important on the trails for yourself and fellow explorers.  Check out Kingdom Adventures Mountain Guides for Wilderness First Aid and CPR courses and new this summer, courses specifically for hikers and bikers.  

Other events happening this month include....


May 4th -  H.O.P.E. Color Run


May 5th -  Burke Bike Swap








May 19th - Burke Music Jam


May 25th - ATV Poker Run


Ongoing Events...
In This Issue

 


     


 

 

    

 

     

 

 

   

Unpack & Unwind

It's time to make those summer vacation plans or better yet, make a few of them.  There are lots of choices in the area whether you want to rent a house in the woods, book a lakeside cottage, pitch a tent, stay in a biker friendly barn or enjoy the comforts of a country inn.

New on the vacation rental market is Bean Brook Trail House located not far from the East Haven mountain bike trails.  This thoughtfully decorated home has 4 bedrooms and sleeps up to twelve people.  Located on a quiet rural road, the home offers the peace & quiet of the woods where you can relax around the fire pit after a day on the trails.

Located along Crystal Lake in nearby Barton, Lakeview Cabins offers one and two bedroom cabins with full kitchens.  There's a private sandy beach for guests as well as plenty of on-site fun including volleyball, a playground, picnic areas and boats to borrow.

It's camping season!  Check out  Lakeside Camping  in Island Pond, located right on the lake and featuring 200 campsites for tents or RV's with full hook-ups.  The campground has something for all ages including a playground, game room, WiFi, laundry facilities, a convenience store, boat and kayak rentals and much more!

The Burke Bike Barn is the perfect spot for bikers on a budget and offers two rental units, each with their own kitchen, dining and living areas. You can head out on trails right behind the barn and upon return make use of the bike wash and storage.

Over on Darling Hill Road, the Inn at Mountain View Farm offers 14 beautiful rooms on a 440 acre historic farm estate.  Stay midweek and save with rates of just $130 per night for a stay in a classic room.  This great deal is valid all summer!  The Inn is also home to an animal sanctuary so you can visit with donkeys, goats and other critters during your stay.

Deal of the Month

In GREAT news...7 Mountain bike areas including Kingdom Trails have joined together to create The Borderlands Cycling Destination!  

From Northern Forest Center . ...  "Mountain bike areas spanning 2 countries, 3 states and 7 locations have joined together as The Borderlands to promote the Northeast's most exciting and diverse mountain biking terrain. They offer eye-popping scenery and laid-back host communities that offer plenty of craft breweries, farm stands, good food and local flavor.  The seven mountain bike organizations are committed to creating and promoting high-quality riding experiences for both residents and visitors."

For a GREAT deal...Visit one or more of the Borderlands bike towns and t ake photos of yourself on the trails and visiting at least one local business and share them with folks from The Borderlands.  Borderlands riders will vote on the best photo of the season and the winner gets a weekend getaway to their Borderlands town of choice.  Visit the events page on the Borderlands website for details.
Summer Fun!

Summer fun starts now!   Around here, the season starts as soon as the skis are put away and the tires on the bikes get a little less fat.  Another official sign that Summer has turned around the open sign - Mike's Tiki Bar will be open soon and in West Burke, Next Trick Brewing opens May 17th!

You definitely need to plan some multiple visits to enjoy all that Burke has to offer and the many events coming up including, of course, NEMBAfest!  The 3 day mountain biking celebration happens June 28th -30th and there's still time to get registered and ready to enjoy camping, music, bike demos and lots of riding.  

Other favorite events to plan for include Lyndonville's Stars & Stripes Festival in July, the MAXXIS Eastern States CupBike n' Brew at Burke Mountain in August, performances by local kids at the Vermont Children's Theater, free Sunday afternoon concerts at Dog Mountain and so much more.  Of course, it's not summer in Vermont without ferris wheels, fried dough and 4H shows.  The Caledonia County Fair is August 21st - 25th.

This year, we also say Happy 100th Birthday to the Burke Mountain Club which houses the East Burke Community Library and is your source for all things related to Burke history.  Mark your calendar for the Centennial Celebration on June 22nd.  The event honors founder Elmer A. Darling who built the Club as both a library and social gathering place for his beloved community.   The celebration is a free event featuring live music, square dancing, old fashioned games, kids' activities, craft demonstrations, a display of Darling's personal belongings and cake & ice cream. The White Schoolhouse Museum on the grounds will provide a glimpse into life in the community 200 years ago.  

If you're looking for ways to keep the kids busy, we've got you more than covered with a range of camps in the area.  Burke Mountain and Northwoods Stewardship Center team up for  Mountain Biking and Adventure Camps  that teach a variety of skills on and off the bike including nature exploration, swimming, canoeing, fishing, camp cooking and shelter building.  Kingdom Cycling & Experiences are once again offering the Momentum Mountain Bike Camps for kids with both multi-day and sleep-away options.  Camps are for ages 5-14 and are designed to help kids build biking skills, learn bike safety, improve confidence, encourage independence and, of course, have fun!

Summer Adventures Await!
 
    Burke Area Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 347
East Burke, VT  05832
802-626-4124