Vermont 2016: Day 3

Our third day in Vermont was full! We started off bright and early with a trip down to Crown Point State Historic Site in New York, where we met Gramma and Grampa.

Last year, on our way to Fort Ticonderoga, we passed right through Crown Point and just didn't have the time or energy to stop for a visit. The boys love forts and ruins so I knew Crown Point would be a hit, and it was!

There are actually two forts at Crown Point. This one, the larger of the two, is the British fort. Construction began in 1759 and this became one of the largest forts built by the British in North America. It was captured by the Americans in 1775.  

Barracks

 

One of the tour guides was coming out to raise the British flag and asked if the boys would like to help her. They were up for the task, of course!

 

Gramma and Henry with the Lake Champlain Bridge in the background.

There is not much left of the first fort on the point, Fort St. Frederic, which was built by the French between 1734 and 1737. The white flag in the background is the French naval ensign and was flown over all forts under control of the royal authority in New France.

The Crown Point Lighthouse was constructed in 1858.

Views from the top

After a delicious lunch at the Addison Four Corners Store, we said goodbye to Gramma and Grampa and continued on to Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh. This was the home of the Robinson family, who were Quaker abolitionists and part of the Underground Railroad. 

The museum tells the story of two slaves, Simon and Jesse, who escaped from slavery in the South and found their way to Rokeby and freedom in the 1830s. The museum is beautifully done.

The property was a prosperous Merino ship and dairy cattle farm, and many of the farm buildings are still on site. We walked through many before hiking some of the trails.

After Rokeby, we had creemees (soft serve ice cream) at Vermont Cookie Love.

And I made the boys stop for a minute at Overlook Park in South Burlington.

That night, we met up with Amber's family at a Lake Monsters baseball game! It was our first Minor League game and we had a blast cheering the Lake Monsters to a 7-1 victory over the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Champ, the Lake Monster mascot, was a hoot!

From forts and lighthouses to ice cream and baseball, it was a very fun day!