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Ivana De Domenico

Dr. Ivana De Domenico and Her Featured Writings

Indulge all Five Senses in Vermont This Fall

August 15, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

Ivana De Domenico- Indulge all 5 Senses in Vermont This Fall

We may be approaching the end of summer as August rapidly ticks by and children prepare to go back to school, but that doesn’t mean your travels need to end with the season! Summer may be an ideal time for travel when kids are off of school, the weather is sunny and warm, and families can focus on spending some quality time with each other; however, I find myself preferring the crisp, mild days of fall over the scorching days of summer, and some of my best travel experiences have been in the fall.

When I think of fall travel, the most quintessentially “autumn” place in the United States that comes to mind is Vermont. The state is known for its fall foliage, idyllic country drives, and quaint fairs and craft shows. There’s no better time to visit Vermont than in the fall when a drive or walk down country roads is truly a treat for all five senses. If you’re planning a visit to Vermont this fall, be sure to add these suggestions to your itinerary for a stimulating experience.

Taste

Vermont is foodie’s paradise with its abundance of farm-to-table eateries and farmers markets offering local, organic produce. Vermont is known for its farms, and visitors and locals alike can rest easy knowing where their food came from. Stop by an apple orchard and savor the sweet juice of a crisp, fresh-picked apple as you bite into its firm skin. Or prepare a meal utilizing the fresh ingredients you purchased from a roadside farm stand that morning. In Vermont, it’s never difficult to embrace a healthy diet.

Touch

In Vermont, there are so many opportunities to get close to nature. Vermonters are known for practicing healthy, active styles, and if you visit the state, you can do the same! Nothing beats a hike down a country lane where you can breath in the fresh fall air. Or, feel the tug of a fish on your line as you fish from one of the state’s ample lakes, streams, or creeks. There are so many ways to feel nature’s presence in Maine!

Smell

If Vermont were a candle, it would probably smell something like this: a smoky-sweet blend of fresh-baked apple pie, a campfire, leaves, and maple syrup. There are so many foods and products made right in Vermont such as syrup, ice cream, cider, beer, and cheese that it’s easy to imagine some of the scents you can breathe in on a fall day spent in the countryside.

See

A visit to Vermont would not be complete without taking some time to engage in outdoor activities. Be sure to experience the blazing inferno of leaves that is Vermont in the fall with a drive or walk. There are so many ways to embrace the season in Maine with the state’s many attractions including parks, festivals, farms, corn mazes (be sure to check out the Great Vermont Corn Maze for the largest corn maze in New England), pumpkin patches, and iconic venues like the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory and The Vermont Country Store.

Hear

There are many ways to take in the sounds of Vermont, from a hike through the woods accompanied by the chirping of birds and crunch of leaves underfoot, to the melodic notes of local, regional, and international musicians at one of Vermont’s many fairs and festivals.
Visit vermontvacation.com for more information on Vermont and assistance planning your next trip to this bucolic state.

Main Street America: America’s Most Charming Main Streets

May 4, 2017 by Ivana De Domenico

Ivana De Domenico- Main Street America

Sixty years ago, just about every town in America, small and large, had a distinctive Main Street characterized by department stores, Mom and Pop shops, movie theaters, soda fountains, and  general stores like Five and Dimes. The Main Street of today may look a little different than that of years past, and even though towns across America have seen a decline in business overall due to the rise of shopping malls, which then gave way to online shopping, Main streets, for the time being, are here to stay.

According to Harrisonburg, Virginia resident Eddie Bumbaugh, “During the decades of the 1970s to 1990s, the downtown district underwent significant deterioration, vacancies, and economic challenges, as was the case with many communities around the country.” There has been a concerted effort, over the last decade, however, to restore deteriorating Main Streets to their former glory. As shopping malls shut their doors, becoming massive concrete ghost towns, we are seeing a return to traditional values with a resurgence in Main Streets across the nation.

Here are just a few of the most charming Main Streets in America, compiled from Travel & Leisure, Fodor’s Travel, and the Great American Main Street Awards. This summer, if you’re looking for something to do, why not drive to your nearest Main Street, or one of the ones on this list if you’re up for a road trip, and take a leisurely stroll down the idyllic streets lined with boutique shops and family-owned restaurants? You could easily spend a whole day in one of these towns if you slow down and take the time to savor their distinctive charm.

1. Ann Arbor, Michigan

Much of Ann Arbor’s downtown activity is due to its being a college town, with long-term residents sharing the streets with University of Michigan students who make up more than a third of the population. Being a college town serves Ann Arbor well, as its breweries, art galleries, and retail shops never lack for business.

2. Saratoga Springs, New York

In stark contrast to the clogged, overcrowded streets of New York City, closed in by towering skyscrapers, Saratoga Springs offers a welcoming retreat for New Yorkers. Its main thoroughfare, Broadway Avenue, is the quintessential image of a Main Street, lined with small businesses, flowerbeds, benches, and trees strung with twinkling lights.

3. York, Pennsylvania

You may be surprised to find a small town in central, PA on a list of the greatest Main Streets in America, but York has come a long way in its efforts to revitalize its downtown since its last department store closed in 1978 and the town fell into neglect. Now, York hosts a monthly First Friday where stores and restaurants stay open late, with special events and discounts, to attract visitors. Nearly all of the late Victorian and Classical Revival style historic buildings have been restored.

4. Galena, Illinois

Chicago may be the star attraction in Illinois, but just three hours outside the metropolis, Galena provides a welcoming return to the Main Streets of years past. The downtown businesses are housed in brick mid-19th century storefronts and include antique shops, restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and even an old-fashioned ice cream parlour with more than 40 flavors to choose from. A trolley departing from Main Street and taking riders out to local wineries completes this charming small town.

5. Dahlonega, Georgia

Dahlonega is one of the Great American Main Street Awards three 2016 winners. Located just 65 miles north of Atlanta, this town’s Main Street won for its walkable downtown, gourmet restaurants, unique shops, and one-of-a-kind Southern hospitality. Although the town has a population of just 6,000, more than a million people visit Dahlonega each year.

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