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Virtual and in-person Oktoberfests

For beer lovers around the world, fall doesn’t start until the Oktoberfest celebrations do. Munich’s centuries-old Oktoberfest is the standard bearer, but there are huge (sometimes surprisingly so) Oktoberfest parties as far away as Brazil, Hong Kong, Namibia, and the United States. At least, there are in a typical year.

Most breweries and event organizers canceled Oktoberfest celebrations near the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for the safety of both staff and potential festivalgoers. The decision marks one of the rare years with no main festival in Munich. Since the festival started in the early 1800s, it’s only been canceled a handful of times, most recently during World War II.

But just because mass gatherings are unsafe doesn’t mean Oktoberfest is entirely scuttled this year. A few breweries in the US are keeping the celebration alive with virtual activities, Oktoberfest beer releases, and traveling mini-events. Here’s how to still celebrate Oktoberfest in 2020.

1. Zümfest

Photo: Blue Point Brewing Co.

Blue Point Brewing Co. — based in Long Island, NY — is hosting an online Oktoberfest called Zümfest (as in Zoom, the video conferencing tool that took over so many lives the past few months) starting on September 19. Interactive live Zoom sessions are separated into five “tents” focused on arts, food, culture, business, and entertainment. There are cooking classes where you can learn how to make dishes like wiener schnitzel and spaetzle, beer and cheese pairings, and a Polka performance. Chopped champion Mini Melanie will teach a class on baking chocolate cake truffles using Blue Point’s Mother Pumpkin Ale. For those really trying to get into the spirit, there are Oktoberfest At Home food kits made by Blue Point’s brewpub and classic German delis in New York City.

Blue Point also created a German-style festbier called Zümfest beer in collaboration with Munich’s Spaten Brewery. Street artist Steven Harrington designed the can label, which features fall leaves, kegs of beer, crabs, and other signifiers of Oktoberfest on Long Island.

You can sign up for Zümfest on the official website starting September 17.

When: September 19

2. Droptoberfest

In June, Ben Penman, Jen Penman, KC Philippi, and Jenny Philippi set out to create a virtual beer festival that didn’t suck. They named it The Last Drop Beer Festival, which provided a number of live streaming virtual events from breweries in the US. Now, the team is back at it with a virtual Oktoberfest called Droptoberfest.

“We decided to produce Droptoberfest because the real Oktoberfest has been canceled and this is our version and way to help save Oktoberfest,” Jenny Philippi said via email.

This time around, there will be Oktoberfest trivia, magic, music, and beer. Nine breweries will take part: Humble Sea, Bottle Logic, Cervezacito, Stereo, Moksa, East Brothers, Smog City, Chapman Crafted, and Enegren. Breweries will participate in a log sawing contest and a stein holding contest. Other entertainment will be provided by Nate Javier of Maker’s Magic, trivia hosted by Aaron Schwartz, and the bands Half Past Two, Greasy Spoons, and Da Stube Buben.

You can find more information on the official event website. Bonus: Guests will get a limited edition Droptoberfest stein.

When: September 26

3. Oktoberfest Mini Driveway Tour

Photo: Breckenridge Brewery/Facebook

Since you can’t go to Oktoberfest, why not let Oktoberfest come to you? Breckenridge Brewery is sending a Jeep with a traveling Oktoberfest trailer carrying food, steins, and live music to homes in Denver and Colorado Springs for a driveway tour. While the brewery can’t provide the beer because of alcohol laws, pretty much everything else is accounted for (at least for people who have a space about 30 feet long to accommodate the Jeep and trailer carrying The Rhinelander’s band).

Check the Oktoberfest Mini Driveway Tour event page to see if you’re in the qualified area. Those who are can sign up by September 12 to be selected as a party zone, and seven people will be chosen by random drawing for each day.

When: September 19 and 20

4. Oktoberfest Virtual 5K

Running might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering how to spend Oktoberfest 2020, but this is no normal Oktoberfest year. The Oktoberfest Virtual 5K is asking people to run to raise money for the hard-hit restaurant industry. You choose the course and report your own time, and proceeds will be donated to the Baltimore Restaurant Relief Fund, Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, and Restaurants Care. After the run, it’s on you to eat a brat and drink a festbier.

Register for $45 on the event website by September 17. Participants will get an Oktoberfest 5K shirt as well as the satisfaction of knowing they supported a good cause.

When: September 19 through October 4

5. Newberry Oktoberfest

Newberry, SC, typically has an Oktoberfest that shuts the streets for all the right reasons: local vendors, competitions in lederhosen, live music, and plenty of beer and food. A smaller virtual event this year will try and bring as much of the family-friendly fun as it safely can. The virtual Newberry Oktoberfest will feature a German traditional dress contest (done with photos rather than in person), a dance video contest, and a virtual vendor fair. You can make crafts with the Newberry Arts Center, as well as learn classic Oktoberfest recipes from Newberry chefs.

More information and how to view contests and events are on the Newberry Oktoberfest website.

When: September 20 through October 3

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Renovated school buses in Colorado

The idea of sleeping in a bus hardly conjures up images of coziness and comfort, yet guests in these school buses are sure to have a relaxing stay.

In Paonia, Colorado, two school buses have been renovated and furnished to welcome travelers who want to get away from it all. The buses are located on the wooded property of Sage View Ranch, and they’re available for rent on Airbnb.

Photo: Airbnb

The two painted buses have been redecorated by hosts Laurie and Scott, who describe the experience as “glamping with a twist.” The two buses feature sitting areas, woodfire stoves, beds, tables, and couches, as well as an outdoor solar-heated shower and convenient outhouse.

Photo: Airbnb

On the Airbnb listing, Laurie and Scott invite guests to “Enjoy the nature here by taking a walk through the forest, sit by the pond (during season), have an evening fire in the community fire pit, grill out using the community grill, or sit outside with your favorite beverage and enjoy the sunset.”

Photo: Airbnb

They also mention that you’ll be sharing the property with Ziggy, their 16-year-old cat, and some other wildlife. “We have 15 chickens,” they say, “and a rooster, named Rodney, that free range the property, momma goat named Valentine and her two kids, Dory and Stella, along with a grand dog and two grand cats that all live on the land.”

You can rent both buses for only $50 per night.

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American Perimeter Trail

For through-hikers in the United States, completing either the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail is enough to earn a lifetime of bragging rights. Soon, hardcore hikers will have the opportunity to double down and tackle both routes at once on the 12,000-mile American Perimeter Trail.

As its name suggests, the APT will loosely follow the perimeter of the continental United States, connecting part of the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia, with the Pacific Crest Trail, which travels down the entire West Coast. Hiker Rue McKenrick is currently mapping the route. He came up with the idea after finding a dearth of long-distance trails to pursue upon completing the country’s Triple Crown of through-hikes: the Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. McKenrick hopes to finish scouting the APT by October, after which he intends to get the ball rolling on making the trail official, which could take years.

Once formalized, the APT will be the longest hiking route in the United States, incorporating both established paths, such as the North Country Trail that runs from New York to North Dakota, and new routes. According to Afar, McKenrick told the host of Gaia GPS’s Out and Back podcast that “the goal [of the APT] is to create a protected corridor of land and natural resources that will be available for recreational use.”

“Even if you don’t care about conservation,” McKenrick reportedly continued, “maybe you care about hiking.”

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Traveling with kids during COVID-19

A half-year into shelter-in-place, at first mandatory and now largely self-imposed, most of us are getting the itch to travel again. Amidst the feeling that we are finally getting the hang of our new normal, you may be curious what this new normal could look like for your next family vacation. There are many things to take into consideration when planning a vacation, but below are five specific tips for traveling with kids during the time of coronavirus. While you should keep these in mind while planning and participating in your trip, be sure to spend the rest of your time enjoying your family and your much-needed break.

1. Research destination requirements

Photo: PiggingFoto/Shutterstock

Whether you are traveling domestically or internationally, it is especially important right now to do your due diligence when deciding where to visit next. Some states, such as Alaska, have strict travel protocols for out-of-state visitors, including a $250 COVID-19 test upon arrival and self-quarantine at the traveler’s expense until they receive their results. At the time of this writing, US citizens are still unable to travel to countries belonging to the European Union, and even though the Caribbean is open to Americans, countries like Aruba require a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before landing in the country.

For some, the additional requirements regarding testing and visitors needing to prove their healthy status will give them peace of mind. For others, the added hassle of proving negative results within a small window of time and added expense of testing may deter you from that destination altogether. And for families with babies or small children, the discomfort of a nasal swab just for a vacation may not prove worth it. When researching destination requirements, also consider if wearing a mask is required and how comfortable you will feel around others who may not wear masks. And lastly, stay up to date on the number of cases at your destination and if it’s becoming a hotspot for the virus.

2. Travel by car when possible

Photo: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Air travel is by far the easiest and often most convenient way to travel, even with a family. However, when traveling with children too small to properly wear a mask for the duration of a flight (as well as while being in the airport and through security), flying may not be your preferred option right now. Traveling by car allows you to better control your surroundings and minimize interactions with strangers while getting to your destination. Babies and toddlers are notorious for touching everything and putting things in their mouths. When you drive, you decrease the likelihood of contracting germs in general — not just coronavirus.

3. Rent a home or apartment instead of a hotel

Photo: Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock

Even with decreased capacities, hotels still have staff and other guests who you may inevitably have to come into contact with. In order to ensure that your family is able to keep its distance from people outside of your bubble, renting a home or apartment is going to be your best bet. Having a kitchen will also allow you to cook your meals at home, reducing the need to go to restaurants or eat out. Masks are removed in order to eat and drink, and with that comes an increased risk of exposure. It is true that most restaurants only offer outdoor dining for this very reason — and in some places, restaurants have done a good job of keeping tables spaced apart. But that’s not true everywhere. If you prefer not to eat out, for whatever reason, the ability to cook in your rental will be very valuable to you and your family.

4. Sanitize everything

Photo: Space_Cat/Shutterstock

Hotel brands have made a point of demonstrating to consumers that they are doing everything they can to ensure the safety of their guests. However, one can never be too sure when it comes to their health and the health of their loved ones. The first thing you should do when arriving at your hotel room is open the windows to encourage cross air circulation. Then make a point to (re)sanitize the remotes, thermostats, light switches, door handles, bath/shower and sink faucets, alarm clocks, all surfaces, and anything else you can think of. This should take less than 10 minutes, but you will know for a fact that everything has been disinfected properly. Even though Airbnbs are supposed to be cleaned between guests, much like hotels, you can never be too safe. Sanitize everything in a rental home just like you would a hotel room.

Another tip, if you have small children, is to scan the space and wipe down anything within their eyeline that they may want to touch but that you would not have thought of. When baby-proofing our home, we got on our hands and knees so we could see from a crawling baby’s point of view what they saw. I would recommend doing this when sanitizing your space as well.

5. Go camping

Photo: Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

Now is the perfect time to try camping. We know that being indoors with poor ventilation increases our exposure to the virus, so what better way to get away from home while staying safe than a camping trip? We still have some time before the winter weather keeps us inside again. And if the prospect of a hotel or even a home rental still makes you uneasy, the great outdoors might be just what you need to feed your wanderlust while keeping yourself and your family safe. And we’ve got tips on how to make sure your kids enjoy it as much as you.

Another reason to go camping right now is for the added benefit of fresh air, sunshine, and nature to your mental health. Our homes have become our offices and, for most, our classrooms. It is easy to feel like we have nowhere to escape to anymore. Even if you have never gone camping, it might be exactly what you need right now.

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Map shows Earth years ago

Looking at a map of the world before the continents took their current shape and place can be a trippy experience. That’s especially true when you can identify your hometown on those ancient maps. Now you can do just that. Ian Webster, a paleontologist in California, has created an interactive map that lets people see how their hometown’s location has shifted over 750 million years.

Webster told CNN, “It shows that our environment is dynamic and can change. The history of Earth is longer than we can conceive, and the current arrangement of plate tectonics and continents is an accident of time. It will be very different in the future, and Earth may outlast us all.”

Photo: Ian Webster

The interactive map is an application that sits on top of another map created by geologist and paleontographer Christopher Scotese, which shows tectonic development over the course of 750 million years. Webster’s map also uses a software that helps visualize plate tectonic reconstructions.

All you have to do is enter your location. That location then gets plugged into the plate tectonic models, allowing you to see where your hometown was located hundreds of millions of years ago. As a bonus, you’ll also see what dinosaurs used to live near your childhood home.

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Gold diggers destroy site

In the movies, treasure hunters are usually interested in the preservation of culture. In this particular incident, that’s unfortunately not the case. Illegal gold diggers in Sudan destroyed an 2,000-year-old archaeological site while hoping to strike it big.

Last month, when a team of archaeologists arrived at Jabal Maragha, an ancient site located 170 miles north of the country’s capital of Khartoum, they found five men with two mechanical diggers and almost no sign of the site — it was entirely destroyed.

Habab Idriss Ahmed, who excavated the area’s ruins in 1999, told Agence France-Presse, “They had only one goal in digging here — to find gold. They did something crazy; to save time, they used heavy machinery.”

Jabal Maragha was once a small settlement or a checkpoint within the Kingdom of Kush and in use between 350 BCE and 350 CE. Its grounds contains pyrite, a metallic rock which likely set off the gold hunters’ detectors. Prior to the incident, Jabal Maragha was a quiet and relatively untouched site.

Hatem al-Nour, Sudan’s director of antiquities and museums, told AFP that the illegal digging and looting is part of a larger trend. “Out of a thousand more or less well-known sites in Sudan, at least a hundred have been destroyed or damaged,” he said. “There is one policeman for 30 sites…and he has no communication equipment or adequate means of transport.”

While the treasure hunters were arrested, they were freed within a few hours and even recovered their excavators.

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Moving to Mexico during COVID-19

It was another foggy San Francisco day — or so the windows of my overpriced bedroom told me. I was gazing out over a jumble of swinging power lines, as I so often found myself doing, two computers idling dimly next to me in bed. My newly purchased plant collection and scented candles did very little to lift the mood of stillness, of impending and lingering gloom that the fog seemed to echo. The sound of nothingness had started to fill my ears like a growing scream. As with so many people, COVID-19 had hit me like a shock to the system.

I had moved into a new apartment in downtown San Francisco — with a complete stranger and only a small bedroom to call my own — just one day before the city became one of America’s first to issue shelter-in-place orders. (The city is still under similar orders today.) I had expected to be working from home full-time in the large open common area, sourcing and marketing organized group trips around the world. I was excited for this setup. This job. This life.

But by the second day of that life and nearly every day thereafter, my new housemate — who had lived in the apartment for years — was also forced to use the common area to work a very demanding job. A loud one. She was on conference calls and video chats practically non-stop, leaving me feeling out of place in the common space and both of us feeling generally despondent. Squeezed. Claustrophobic.

Even more than the loss of the life I had planned for 2020 — the new job, the new apartment, the new lifestyle — the physical effects of being trapped in a small room started to weigh on me more than I could have ever predicted. I became depressed. My bed became my office and my dining room; window-gazing became my main activity. I started doing online Zoom yoga classes on a slim yoga mat laid out next to my bed, with no extra space on either side for twists or stretches, only partially committed to this new reality. My life was now contained in a 15×15 square box with two big windows, minimally functional WiFi, and little else.

I tried to force myself to make the best of the situation: I attempted to take all of the self-betterment advice flooding social media to heart. This was My Time™! Here was an opportunity to expand my creativity, begin crafting my long-neglected memoirs, start a meditation practice, redo my resume and recalibrate my dreams. While I don’t want to say that all of this unsolicited life advice was bullshit, it was certainly bullshit for me. I was unable to tap into any form of creative productivity. I wasn’t moving my body. I felt in a permanent state of waiting, watching, not commenting on the world around me. I was stunned.

Despite my shock at feeling the world as I knew it crumble, I do believe that struggles can bring out the best in our resilient selves and often in ways that we don’t expect. After confining myself to my bedroom — as I felt the health experts and government had told me to do — I hit a breaking point in my personal struggle for well-being. In that moment, I did what I knew best: get out. Only I could change my circumstances, and I brashly made a decision to do just that. After all, it had worked for me before.

When I was 17 and had just graduated high school, the only university that accepted me was a good one: UC Santa Cruz, the UC system being one of the main reasons my parents moved the family to California. Blame it on being a teenager, but I didn’t bother to reply to my acceptance letter from UCSC until the very last day I could accept their offer — scholarship included. I have vivid memories of walking to the post office just blocks from my high school, thinking pseudo-adult thoughts to myself. This is the next chapter; so it begins. Placing my acceptance letter in the blue box, I felt keenly aware I was signing my life away.

Maybe one of the reasons I had waited so long to indicate my acceptance was that it all felt a little too easy, too clear of a path straight from high school to a nearby university. But in the end, the timing didn’t matter — accidentally or purposefully, I had forgotten to place a postage stamp on my letter of acceptance. No amount of phone calls to the dean could get UCSC to make an exception for me or even offer me a deferment. Two months before I expected to live the American teenager’s dream of moving into my dorm room, I was smacked in the face with the reality that I was not going to university, and I had nothing planned for the next year. As normal and boring as attending university had felt to me then, the prospect of doing nothing and living with my parents seemed much worse.

In my rose-colored memories, the next decision for me was a no-brainer: Deciding to head for an entirely self-funded gap year in Thailand and Southeast Asia seemed like the only logical step. I had never traveled anywhere except across the border to Canada with my family, but I had seen the movie The Beach and had developed an obsession with Thai culture, Buddhism, and the promise that there were like-minded people similar to me doing exactly what I was doing — wandering the world in search of true experiences, a little fun, and the chance to grow and learn every day.

I would go ahead and change my personal narrative from the girl who forgot to put a postage stamp on her college acceptance form to the girl who saved her money and went across the world with no fear and just a backpack. I hadn’t known anyone who had done a gap year like this, but I wasn’t afraid to be the first. I was enticed by the idea of trailblazing and of the possibility that anything I wanted was out there in the world. How did I expect to find it sitting in my parents’ living room? A dorm room? A box in San Francisco?

I’m older now, but apparently I haven’t really changed. If anything, I believe even more that if my present world is not serving me, I have the power to leave it behind and create a new reality. I started building on my plan to leave San Francisco: I quickly sold all of my belongings, gave my notice on my month-to-month apartment, and decided to move to Mexico — one of the only international destinations available to me as an American — for the foreseeable future. Mexico was a country I had spent a lot of time in, and life in a small town on the beach sounded far superior to being stuck in my room in a large American city. While my decision to head south at the height of the COVID-19 crisis was certainly not a risk to be taken lightly, I think it speaks volumes about knowing myself, being kind to myself, and developing methods to help myself when no one else is going to.

When I bought that one-way ticket to Puerto Escondido, I began to breathe again. Sitting still and waiting was making me feel unwell, and I was able to find a way to exert the little control over my life that I still had: the power to choose where I physically spent my days and nights. I had never actually been to Puerto Escondido before, but like Thailand so many years ago, I was seduced by stories of a friendly beach town with surf all year-round and lots of budget-friendly accommodations. I didn’t know anyone living in this Oaxacan town, but a friend I had met traveling through Asia a few years ago spoke highly of it, and he gave me tips on where to live, how to negotiate a great monthly deal on a furnished room and bathroom, and the phone numbers of some of his friends still living in town. Somehow that seemed like enough to me.

Let me be clear: Moving here has not been without struggles. After all, this is a foreign country to me, where I don’t know anyone. Simple tasks like getting money and buying coffee have to be figured out by trial and error. Despite this, I know I’m lucky. The ability to choose a new life and to work remotely — or work at all — during this crisis is an immense privilege: Not everyone can drop everything and move to a beach town in another country on a whim. Speaking only for myself, I have built my life to be flexible, unattached, and mobile — for better or for worse.

Right now, it’s for better. In Puerto Escondido, I can afford my own place — I can afford privacy, something I sorely had been missing in San Francisco. With low rates of COVID-19, a small population, and most restaurants and activities taking place outside, I feel safer and freer than I could have imagined. Swimming in the ocean daily, eating fresh tropical fruit, and improving my Spanish skills all serve to stoke the once-dormant creativity that had been suffocating me in “The City.”

It is — and I am — a work in progress. I have to forge my own path, and it is within the process of figuring this out, little by little every day, that I find my own power. This is one more chapter in my life where a struggle has forced me to be my greatest champion and to make an honest-if-daring choice for my own well-being. Who knows where I would be right now if I had used a stamp? If 2020 had not shaken me out of my plans? What I do know is that change, although painful, often leads to immense growth. And I’m ready for that.

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The post I moved to Mexico for a better life during COVID-19. It’s the best decision I’ve made. appeared first on Matador Network.

Lindsey Hagen’s ‘Ode to Desolation'

The chaos of modern urban living routinely robs us of the chance to simply be. To take in what’s around us and notice the little things, both good and bad, that we so often overlook. For many of us, part of the appeal of spending time outdoors is the chance to reflect: on life, on nature, and on one’s future. What if that were your job? For Jim Henterly, it was. For more than 20 years, Henterly has worked as a fire lookout on Desolation Peak in the state of Washington. In a new film from director-producer Lindsey Hagen and videographer-editor Chris Naum, Henterly contemplates the future of fire lookouts in America, which, in an obtuse but very real way, represent both the future and a time long past.

1. The act of simply observing nature is on the decline.

The first takeaway from Ode to Desolation is quite striking. In the early 1900s, more than 9,000 fire lookouts gazed over the nation’s forests and high country. Only 60 remain staffed and active.

Compare that with today, when 55 percent of people live in metropolitan cities, and CNBC projects that number to rise to 68 percent by 2050. These days, you can actually rent many of the old fire towers as getaway lodging on sites like Airbnb. While it’s great to see these historic spots given a productive use rather than being abandoned or even destroyed, the irony of staying in a fire lookout is quite blatant. What was once a normality and even a job for many people is now an escape reserved for the weekend.

2. Fire lookouts represent an important chapter in the human story.

Photo: Chris Naum and Lindsey Hagen

As Henterly notes in the film, our collective human heritage is told through what we leave behind for future generations to find. Even before the days of Airbnb, fire lookouts were a part of that story. Long a refuge for wilderness hikers, many are stocked with the remnants of those who occupied them. “We have been making pictures on walls or whatever 2D surfaces to tell our human story,” he says. “That’s the most human thing we do is story.”

Those remnants likely include maps or the books and journal entries that many visitors find left behind. Henterly, for his part, created elaborate drawings of what he observed in the wilderness surrounding Desolation Peak. As the role of fire lookouts has evolved, Henterly’s job is now as much about keeping the history of the area alive as it is fighting for its preservation.

3. There’s always something to gain by simply getting outdoors.

Henterly’s wife Emory and their children often stayed with him in the hut. To them it was a home, a part of them, a place where the family could bond and appreciate not only themselves but their natural surroundings. The film builds its narrative around peace found in the wilderness. Henterly notes that mankind’s evolution took place mostly outdoors, and that by simply being out there, we’re channeling our true selves.

“If I hadn’t started down this track, I’d be a very different person,” Henterly says in the film.

Later, he discusses the role of fire lookouts, the forest and park services, and other activists in protecting the land. “If we hadn’t been these individuals in the right place at the right time, we would not have saved this stuff. There were powerful economic forces trying to stop any kind of preservation effort. Suddenly, people wanted the national forests to survive and they wanted a fire crew to protect them.”

4. Now is the time to protect the future.

Photo: Chris Naum and Lindsey Hagen

“This present moment that lives on to become long ago,” Henterly says at the end of the film. “We think, every moment of our life is there for eternity. Did we do something with that moment that will be a good story? At the least, will it be something that will make things better for the future?”

If there’s one overarching takeaway from Ode To Desolation, Henterley’s closing line is it. The actions we take in the present will be reflected in the future. It’s on us both to preserve what we have and to pass on to our children the knowledge and passion that they will need to do the same.

5. We’re all spending life simply spotting smoke.

Henterly’s job at Desolation was to spot smoke rising from the wilderness. In a way, we’re all doing the same as we move through life. For some, that smoke might be a kink in the supply chain at work, for others a personal hurdle in the home.

“Those highest points of contrast out there between the darks and the lights, that’s what catches our eye,” Henterly says.

Whatever the smoke in your life, here’s to catching it before it spreads.

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Best fall foods in Vermont

Fall is coming fast, and with the turning leaves and cooler temperatures, it’ll soon be time to treat yourself to the indulgent comfort of Vermont’s rich flavors. From smoky cheddar cheese to artisanal chocolate and mint bonbons, the Green Mountain State takes great pride in its gourmet offerings. Plan an epic road trip following the state’s chocolate and beer trails, taste the dessert treat that is ice wine, and sample a delectable combo of saucisson-style mortadella with pistachios and dark chocolate for some of the most delicious food experiences to have in Vermont this fall.

1. Try world-class artisanal bonbons and chocolate charcuterie

Photo: ETavernier Chocolates/Facebook

While Vermont is famous for its maple syrup, the state also has a vibrant chocolate-making industry. Small bonbons crafted by hand, dark chocolate bars, chocolate-covered figs — you name it, Vermont has it.

Tavernier Chocolates is one of the state’s oldest and most notable chocolate makers. The family-run venture traces its origins back to France where they ran a number of confectionaries in Paris, Calais, and Bourges. The family matriarch, Dar Tavernier was a passionate traveler who globe-trotted whenever the opportunity arose, tasting diverse flavors along the way. It only makes sense that the shop is named after her.

The production process at Tavernier is simple. Each small batch follows strict quality control guidelines to make sure that every bonbon meets the standard for taste and quality. Here, you won’t find any artificial or sweeteners. What you will find is a mix of local dried fruits and herbs, spice blends, and charcuterie bonded by the full taste of chocolate.

Tavernier’s chocolate collection is inspired by the local surroundings and always uses seasonal ingredients. At the shop you’ll see chocolate tablets with dried rose, hibiscus, and lavender; maple macaroons; white chocolate with strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries; and “nibby milk” bars that combine dark milk chocolate, cacao nibs, and black Hawaiian sea salt. Some of Tavernier’s more unexpected flavors include the total eclipse black garlic bonbons and the forage mushroom bonbon collection.

You can also try chocolate charcuterie pairings such as the hand-rolled dark chocolate ganache log made with local dairy and served along with saucisson-style mortadella, a cardamom King Arthur Flour shortbread, pistachios, and dried Medjool dates dusted with cocoa powder.

2. Nibble on award-winning artisanal cheese

Photo: Vermont Cheese Council/Facebook

Cheese-making is not only a culinary trade in Vermont but also an art form. Local cheesemakers have gone on to win multiple awards at the World Championship Cheese Contest held biannually in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2014, Cabot Creamery won the “Best-in-Class” award for its two-years aged cheddar. This year, Vermont Creamery took home three “Best-in-Class” titles for its Coupole (aged goat’s milk cheese) and herb chèvre.

With more than 45 cheesemakers statewide, the options are plenty. You can choose from 150 cheese varieties made from local milk. Make sure to get your hands on some cheddar, alpine, and blue cheese. What’s unique about some local cheeses is that they have a hint of basil due to the fact that quite a few cheesemakers feed the aromatic plant to their cows.

Follow along the Vermont Cheese Trail and hit up Shelburne Farms for its cheddar, Nothin’ but Curd to eat your weight’s worth of buffalo cheese curds, and Cabot Creamery. Offering dozens of flavors, Cabot Creamery specializes in clothbound cheddar, classic cheddars, and cheddar prepared according to a 101-year-old tradition. If you’re in the mood for something spicy, try the habanero cheddar, the cracked peppercorn cheddar, or pepper jack cheese. At Cabot Creamery, you can learn about sustainable farming and how local producers are taking care of the environment in order to ensure that green pastures remain vibrant.

3. Sip on apple cider while watching the leaves turn red

Photo: Citizen Cider/Facebook

Nothing conjures up fall in the Northeast quite like cider. Vermont’s hard cider is made with local apples from the state’s many orchards. Woodchuck’s cidery, located in Middlebury, has been around for 30 years and offers guided Cider House and Tap tours where you can learn a thing or two about the process and sample over 20 varieties of cider on tap.

Citizen Cider in Burlington sources 100 percent of its apples from the region and offers daily specials, as well as cider-infused meals like the Unified Press Street Corn, made with chipotle aioli, crumbled cotija cheese, honey, paprika, and cayenne pepper, and of course, cider. Try Citizen’s Origin Series featuring the Fruition Lavender Cider, the Big Juicy, the Tree Tapper maple cider, and the single-varietal Northern Spy.

4. Go on a brewery road trip to taste hundreds of beers with a side of stunning views

Photo: Whetstone/Facebook

Vermont’s craft beer industry is thriving. In fact, Vermont has the most breweries and brewpubs in the United States per capita. You can plan an entire road trip through the state by mapping out a beer route and visiting over 40 craft brew locations. Take the Brattleboro Trail and stop by the Hermit Thrush Brewery for and pick up a Local Hoppy Box — a pack combining some of the brewery’s signature flavors such as Po Tweet, Athenaeum, and 40 Mile Fun Zone.

Pop into Whetstone Station and sip on a Weizen Guy at their rooftop beer garden while soaking up the lake views. Then, explore the in-house nano-brewery where no two batches are ever the same. When you get hungry, try the food-truck-style bites such as the Brewer’s grain pretzel with Mug Life Amber Ale beer-cheese dipping sauce, the crunchy Bridge Street chicken, or the bacon cheddar burger.

If you’d like to combine craft brew with picturesque landscape, follow the Central Vermont Trail. You’ll drive past seven breweries including the iconic Harpoon Brewery, Long Trail Brewing, Killington Beer Company, and more.

5. Raise a glass of fruity and refreshing wine

Photo: Lincoln Peak Vineyard/Facebook

While cider and beer are certainly the Green Mountain State’s specialties, Vermont is also home to perfectly tended hillside vineyards producing Frontenac, Marquette, and La Crescent. These grapes are characterized by a fruity, crisp flavor that never fails to refresh.

Just like Vermont’s cheese and chocolate production, the wine-making process is strictly monitored for quality and done by hand. There is one dessert wine here that you need to try at least once: Vermont’s ice wine, which is made from grapes left on the vine until winter and harvested while frozen.

Get a wine passport for free and have it stamped each time you visit a winery. Once you collect 10 stamps from individual wineries, you’ll have the chance to win a prize that’s drawn every January, giving you all the more reason to explore Vermont’s wine scene. Map out your winery bucket list and make sure to include Autumn Mountain Winery, Boyden Valley Wine & Spirits, and Lincoln Peak Vineyard.

6. Taste the gooey goodness that is maple syrup

Photo: Eric Dale/Shutterstock

In 2017, Vermont produced close to two million gallons of maple syrup, which accounts for 47 percent of the total syrup production for the United States. Vermont prides itself on the purity of the local maple syrup, as producers never use added sugar or sweeteners. The state has a whopping 1,500 sugarhouses where you can go and learn all about the process of tapping the trees, waiting for the sap run, gathering, transporting, and boiling it until it’s ready to be canned. Add Solar Sweet Maple Farm to your itinerary. Here you’ll be able to see the eco-friendly twist that these sugarmakers are adding to the classic process.

Then, to truly appreciate the glory of maple syrup, pair it up with a stack of fluffy pancakes. There are dozens of pancake spots in Vermont where each pancake is handmade and comes to you hot and topped with syrup and fruit. Try The Maple Diner in Bridgewater where portions are generous and service extremely friendly in a typical Vermont fashion, or drop by Miss Lyndonville Diner in Lyndonville where your pancakes will be bursting with whipped cream, jam, and syrup.

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Hawaii launches online health app

The Hawaiian government is taking new steps to prevent visitors from spreading COVID-19 within its state. Beginning September 1, all visitors (regardless of if it’s trans-Pacific or inter-island) will be required to complete an online health application before boarding their flight.

Passengers will first be asked to provide their flight information and reason for travel. A health questionnaire will also be required and won’t be available until 24 hours before the flight departs. Passengers will be asked to disclose their current health status along with recent travel information and whether or not they have experienced any COVID-19 symptoms. Once through with the application, passengers will receive a unique QR code to be scanned at the airport upon arriving in Hawaii.

“I am pleased to launch this digital app which will allow our travelers to provide their required health and travel information before they arrive at the airport,” said Hawaii Governor David Ige in a statement. “It will also help us keep in contact with those who are required to be in quarantine. This is an important step in preparing to reopen our economy.”

All incoming arrivals are still subject to a 14-day quarantine, even after filling out the questionnaire. Beginning October 1, the state plans to initiate a pre-testing program that would eliminate the need to quarantine.

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