It's pouring rain. it's pouring And it's pouring. The sky empties buckets of water on us. Not exactly the best weather for outdoor attractions, so we're very glad that a glass factory in Vermont is on our agenda today. As it turns out, that's exactly the right occupation for such a day. We're on the road in Vermont, driving through the pretty villages in the Green Mountains. They are also pretty in the rain, but exploring them isn't much fun when we get our feet wet.
That's why we only take a short walk to the Covered Bridge in beautiful Woodstock, and then drive on to nearby Quechee. At the Simon Pearce Glassworks in Quechee, a glass factory in Vermont, we only have to walk a few steps from the parking lot to the restaurant, where we're also invited to lunch. And what a meal it is! I was initially surprised that we could get food at a glass factory and had expected one of the typical cafeterias that are usually found at tourist attractions. But we were in for a surprise, and how!
Great food is included in this glass factory in Vermont
The lunch menu at Simon Pearce offers amazing options: grilled sesame chicken, Rock & Jonah crab cakes, a shepherd's pie, a crispy and spicy calamari salad, grilled teriyaki salmon from the Faroe Islands, or a Mediterranean lamb burger. And the dishes served to us are just as interesting—and invitingly presented—as they sound. Even the appetizer—a cheese selection with salad and crispy flatbread—surprises us. And the crab cakes and calamari salad that Petar eats also win us over.
Unlike in the usual coffee shops, where you usually serve yourself, we are served here by extremely friendly and courteous waiters who know their trade. But it's not until we're joined by Meghan Mahoney, who shows us around the showrooms and glass factory after dinner, that we learn why. The owners are Irish who immigrated to the US a few years ago and have found great success with their concept of an artisanal manufacturing facility combined with a restaurant serving good food.
Glass blower in the glass factory
Meghan tells us that the owners train their employees and craftspeople in the glassblowing workshop themselves. They're primarily young people from the area who want to familiarize themselves with the craft of glassmaking. They learn through hands-on experience and are obviously passionate about their work. The workshop is open to the public. There, they create the glass bowls, glasses, vases, and art objects that can be seen in the exhibition rooms and on the tables in the restaurant. We're allowed to watch the works of art being created in the blazing-hot kilns. "Not an easy job in the summer," I think to myself. And Meghan laughs: "But it's cozy and warm in here in the winter."
Waterfall in front of the glass factory in Vermont
She leads us out onto the terrace above the river, which plunges furiously over a waterfall next to the glassblowing workshop and foams beneath a covered bridge that's currently being repaired. The force of the water powers the glass factory's machinery. And Meghan explains: "Everything where we're standing right now was underwater a few years ago when Hurricane Irene swept through here. The entire workshop was flooded, and we subsequently found some of our machines and tools on the riverbank where the water had washed them away."
When I asked how she was able to rebuild everything, she replied: "With a lot of commitment and the help of our employees, who were willing to help with the reconstruction." Impressed, I watch the young people who are fully concentrated on the production of pretty Glass drinking glasses and small sailing ships, which are one of the most popular souvenirs at the shop above the workshop, Meghan tells us.
Glass handmade at this glass factory in Vermont
Anyway, the shop! Here we see how diverse the products created in this glass factory in Vermont are. There are bowls in all sorts of shapes - curved, round, square or with a serrated surface -, vases of similar shapes - wide, narrow, high or low, thick or thin -, glasses, plates and much more. Everything made of glass. A wonderful place to combine a good lunch with an afternoon talking to a creative team. And the subsequent browsing in the store may bring one or the other souvenirs or souvenirs from the trip to light. In any case, we spend a very pleasant afternoon at the Simon Pearce glass factory in Quechee, Vermont.
Here you can find this glass factory in Vermont:
Simon Pearce The Mill
1760 Quechee Main Street
Quechee VT 05059
Opening hours and further information
We also discovered a glass region in Sweden: the Kingdom of Crystal in Smaland in southern Sweden.
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Source: Vermont Glass Factory: On-site research. We thank Discover New England and the Simon Pearce Glass Factory in Vermont for their kind research support. However, our opinions remain, as always, our own.
Text Glass Manufactory in Vermont: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Oh yes, we've been there before. We liked the glass blowing with the opportunity to look over the shoulder of the craftsmen. And there was the Covered Bridge as an encore. Definitely worth a detour even in better weather.
#write again!
In any case, Ulrike. In good weather, a stay there is even better! But we enjoyed the food in the restaurant extensively :)