Revisiting Charles Kuralt’s "America" with these two sisters

Janie Gass & Lou Schell

Yesterday we had a very pleasant surprise from two sisters who are driving across the country visiting all of the same spots that Charles Kuralt (journalist and long time CBS news anchor) did in his 1995 book, “America“. They began their journey in New Orleans and have spent months in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Brooklyn, and then Woodstock, Vermont. Today they are headed to Maine for July and then will be headed to Minnesota, Montana, up to Alaska, and back down to New Mexico. Phew!

Lou and Janie (both in their 70′s but not that you would know it!) have been traveling since the beginning of a year, spending a month in each spot exploring the people and area just as Kuralt did. Our dear friend, Louise (who you will recognize as the star from “The Elders” film) had befriended them during their stay in Woodstock . She told them they had to come see the Inn. We gladly showed them around and headed to the Windsor Station Pub for a delicious lunch.
Last night, Channel 3 News aired a short piece with them, which is wonderful so you can hear their charming southern drawls and get a sense of their warm and kind personalities. They also have a blog you can check in on and their plan is to write a book about their experiences driving across America for a year. We love their spirit of adventurism and were about to hop right into their car with them. We do hope they make it back our way to stay with us someday (perhaps for some quiet time to work on the book) because it was such a delight meeting these two sisters and participating, even in the smallest way, in their great tour of the country.

America is certainly made for road trips, don’t you think? What has been a favorite drive you’ve taken?

Well done friend!

Remember back in February when friend and film maker, Nathaniel Hansen, held a special screening of his new documentary, “The Elders” in the Maxwell Perkins library? Well, his film was chosen as one of 12 to be part of Kickstarter’s 2nd annual film festival in New York City on July 9th. Tickets go on sale today if you are in the area, we HIGHLY recommend going. We hear that the DVD will be on sale early Autumn so we will be sure to let you know when that happens as well.

Nathaniel is currently filming in India but we are sending him big high fives from his friends at the Snapdragon!

This one means a lot

The Snapdragon Inn has a strong legacy of family. For nearly 200 years, it has been a beautiful refuge for families. Recently a review showed up on Tripadvisor from a very special guest. McKay wrote a great post here about being part of such a grand history of home and of course you can read more about the previous owners Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. This is also a very special note left to us from one of the 5 kids that lived in the home just before us.


This inn is in a house that was previously owned by family of mine for many, many years. As a kid, I was in and out of this house as well as the other homes on the “estate.” I was a little nervous about staying in it as a guest, and not as family, and also to see what had been done to it.I couldn’t have been more pleased. Read on…
We love this home and are so pleased that it’s legacy of family continues to exist as we take care of 26 Main.

Can’t stop thinking about this book

South Dakota, via National Geographic

Hello Monday!

We had odd weather for the last weekend of June-rainy and cooler but this morning is dazzling. June’s literary club is this Thursday at 7:30PM in the Maxwell Perkins library. We are very excited to discuss this month’s book, “One Thousand White Women” by Jim Fergus. It certainly was an adventure from rural New England into the plains of the expanding and fought over west of the late 1800s. The photo above feels like most of the scenery described in the novel. Beautiful huh?

Save the date: Spectacular fireworks

by Rich Vial
by Aaron Settles

Are you looking for a late July getaway? We have just the spot. Come visit us at the Snapdragon and enjoy one of the best fireworks shows around on Friday July 22nd. They are set over our gorgeous Paradise Park and Lake Runnemede just behind the Inn so the views are brilliant. In fact, there are many viewing spots all over Windsor. This year our town is celebrating its 250th birthday so there will be various activities to enjoy through out the month but now is the time to book a room for that weekend. The show is sponsored by the Windsor Mt-Ascutney Chamber of Commerce and kicks off Harpoon’s BBQ Weekend. They will be plenty going on.