The nickname stuck and now affectionately refers to the counties of Caledonia, Essex and Orleans. This tri-county corner spans 2,000 square miles with 117 of them publicly and 1,500 of them privately held forestland. It has 35,575 acres of public lakes and ponds, some glacial. There are approximately 4000 miles of public rivers and steams. Extensive networks of recreational trails provide opportunities for biking, hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Native Vermonters have a tradition of sharing their land and it is not uncommon to find trails going through private property. Kingdom Trails, a non-profit conservation group, maintains 100 miles of trail in the summer for hiking, climbing, mountain biking, among other activities, and 50 miles of trail in the winter for cross country skiing, snowshoeing, etc. For snowmobiles there is the 3100 miles of the VAST trails. There are two downhill ski mountains, Burke Mountain, one of the best-kept secrets on the east coast, and Jay Peak.

There are 16 covered bridges, the Big Falls in North Troy, and wildlife siting spots all over the place. There also are historical museums, a planetarium, art galleries, and an opera house, all with Victorian charm. There are several golf courses, some with outstanding reputations. There are many country stores and gift shops featuring Vermont artisans. The many inns and bed & breakfast establishments have something for everyone. Frequently, magic happens to visitors of the kingdom: they fall in love with one of these hospitable places and return year after year.

There are also spiritual retreat centers that keep people coming back year after year, as well. Karme Choling, a Shambhala Buddhist meditation and study center, is one of the longest established and largest of the retreat centers on the east coast. It is pictured on this page. It offers not only a beautifully enriching and peaceful environment for meditation and Buddhist studies, but also secular programs for meditation, dance, song, creative writing, organic gardening internships and mindfulness adventure excursions. It is located in the town of Barnet. The phone number is (802) 633-2384, web:www.karmecholing.org

There are top quality high schools, some private, that serve as the towns public school, one of which was rated the #10 high school in the country. There are several institutions of higher education. There is the Northwoods Stewardship Center in East Charleston, where children and teens learn invaluable, wholesome, leadership life skills participating in the carefully planned seasonal programs.

The Northeast Kingdom is not only filled with picturesque beauty and an idyllic way of life, but also wonderful, honest, respectful people. On the whole, this is an excellent location to consider for a business expansion or relocation. The advantages to business include:

• A skilled and eager workforce
• Location at a transportation hub of Interstates I-91 & I-93 and US Routes 2 & 5
• Convenient access to major markets in the US and Canada
• Prime industrial sites with development potential
• Incentives to smooth a transition

Vermont was ranked the most livable state in the union according to The Rating Guide in America's Fifty States. Analyzing multiple factors related to quality of life including business climate, safety, arts, politics, education, among others - Vermont got the only A+ rating overall. Saint Johnsbury, the county seat of Caledonia County, was rated #4 in the top 10 retirement spots, according to Retirement Places Rated, because of it's low costs and environment.

You are warmly invited to visit Vermont and in particular The Northeast Kingdom, the states most beautiful and undisturbed region. You are asked to help keep the land as clean and beautiful as it is. Tips on how to do this, particularly for hiking and boating, can be found on the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources preservation website: www.anr.state.vt.us

You are invited to enjoy music, crafts, feasts, and particularly in autumn, glorious fall color, that some years blaze, turning the sky red and gold.

For more information about the Northeast Kingdom, accommodations and special events

contact:

Northeast Kingdom Chamber
51 Depot Square, Suite 3
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
Web: www.nekchamber.com
Email: <nekinfo@nekchamber.com>
(802) 748-3678 or
(800) 639-6379 - toll free

Or

Northeast Kingdom Travel & Tourism Association
P. O. Box 465
Barton, VT 05822
(802) 525-4386
(802) 525-4387 - fax