We had no idea what to expect, other than it was an awesome looking treehouse, but we were excited as we pulled off the road and started driving through the field that led to the woods where we would be spending the next two nights as part of my wife’s birthday celebration extravaganza. The pictures made it look pretty cool, but I have to tell you, the pictures didn’t do it justice. Our host met us at the little parking area in the clearing, and before we could even get up the hill our breaths were taken away.
The Hermit Thrush Treehouse was built by this one guy, a builder, carpenter, and stoneworker, who retired and decided to keep doing what he loved to do. The treehouse was finished only a few weeks before we arrived, and it was truly a magnificent work of natural art. We felt like we were stepping into the Ewok village on the moon of Endor.
The details that went into the place were amazing at every turn, and we kept discovering new hidden secrets, even as we were leaving. The treehouse had electricity, which I was not expecting, but the light bulbs were hidden in knots in the wood, so it didn’t look intrusive at all. You didn’t have “a light” in the room, you just had “light.” The structure had two stories, but the stairs were on the outside, with strings of lights hidden under the boards so that you could find your way at night. It was modern, and yet rustic. This was glamping at its best, and the whole family was practically giddy the whole time we were there.
The lower level of the treehouse even had a composting toilet, in addition to the outhouse which was just off of the pavilion. Oh! The Pavilion! If you wanted it, there was a full kitchen, just sitting out in the middle of the woods. Refrigerator, stove, sink, cupboards filled with dishes and utensils and gadgets, and anything else you might need. A hot water heater sat at the end, which connected to the shower, which was situated off a ways down the hill, and consisted of a nozzle on a pipe that let out into a large circle surrounded by beautiful planks. This was a forest hotel!
You could cook over the fire put if you didn’t want to use the stove, or there was also a gas grill on hand. I mean this place had everything! Hammocks sat out in the woods, as well as on the porch of the treehouse, and we all spent a good bit of time just laying out in among the trees and gazing up at the canopy. Bliss.
Since we were down in southern Vermont, we decided to take advantage of the location and explore some cool places to which we wouldn’t normally be close enough to visit. Our first full day out there consisted of a drive of about an hour to Plymouth Notch, the hometown of Calvin Coolidge. Coolidge was a far more interesting man than history gives him credit for, and the whole town is preserved as a monument to the man and his family.
We saw the store that his parents owned, as well as the room he was born in. We got to see the exact spot where, in the middle of the night, he was sworn in as president by his father who, being a notary public, felt qualified enough to do so. We saw the church he attended and the barns he used to work in. It was an interesting and beautiful morning, and when it was over we drove to Manchester and saw Finding Dory in 3-D, to prove that we were still in 2016. After a day in Plymouth Notch it can be hard to tell.
The thing about the treehouse, and camping in general, is that when the sun comes up, you are up. There were windows of course, but the only curtains were the mosquito netting over them, so we were up early each morning, ready for another day of adventure. Our last day, after we had packed up our secluded retreat, consisted of the Montshire Museum of Science, which was an adventure in and of itself. The building contained no end of interesting and fun things to do, but the museum itself is only the surface of what fun there is to be had. There are trails that we hiked, fountains that we splashed in, outdoor exhibits hidden in the woods that we made our way to. It was a splendid time, but we did have to leave so that we could be back in time for my wife’s surprise birthday party here at the co-op. And she was totally surprised. If you know my wife, you will know that this is no easy feat, and is only pulled off about once every 10 years.
Now that we are home, we are already missing the sounds of the woodpeckers and sights of the chipmunks scampering through camp. We miss the treehouse, and the pavilion, and our quiet moments of familial solitude. It was one of our best adventures so far this year, and that is really saying something. In fact, we are already checking our calendars to see when we can go back again, this year or next. And if you are looking for an affordable adventure (it’s cheaper than the Holiday Inn!) that the whole family will enjoy, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Swiss Family Robinson route of a weekend in a treehouse.
