Welcome to the Northeast Kingdom
The five counties located in the northeast corner of Vermont are known as the Northeast Kingdom. This area is the most rural and rugged part of the Green Mountain State. The scenery is beautiful and you'll find all sorts of wildlife.
The area got its name in 1949 after George Aiken, one of Vermont's U.S. Senators, came to the area while campaigning. He said “You know, this is such beautiful country up here — it should be called the Northeast Kingdom.” The name stuck. And, Aiken was reelected.
The Northeast Kingdom has more trees than anywhere else in Vermont. There are over 93,000 acres of state forest and parks. And, over 40,000 acres of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.
St. Johnsbury is the largest town in the Northeast Kingdom. There you'll find the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, built by the Fairbanks family, that are open to the public. Maple Grove Maple Museum and Factory, the world's oldest and largest maple sugar factory also gives tours.
There's even a little Hollywood in St. Johnsbury. Alfred Hitchcock filmed "The Trouble With Harry" in Craftsbury Common, just outsidet of St. Jay.
Finally, you find all sorts of animals in the Northeast Kingdom. Moose have returned to Vermont. The Fish & Game department estimates there are about 2,500 moose loose in Vermont. And most all of them live in the Northeast Kingdom. If you're looking to see a moose, there's a pretty good chance of spotting at least one along Route 114 from Norton, through Averill to Canaan.
If you're willing to go over to New Hampshire, the locals call route 3 north of Beecher Falls "Moose Alley." Just follow Route 3 up through Pittsburg, NH to the Canadian border. Just remember when you find a moose, he's bigger than you are. They're pretty mild mannered, but like to be left alone and don't mind trampling you to get their point across. When you're driving, you have to be extra careful at night, moose eyes don't glow in your headlights like deer's eyes.
So, if you're looking for adventure and beautiful scenery, come up to Vermont's Northeast Kingdom.
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