Montpelier, Vermont

After being on the road for seven years, we have finally made our way to New England! For the next 12 weeks we will be exploring the six states that comprise this region (Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut), as well as New York State. Our first stop was the tiny but beautiful state of Vermont, and our first order of business was a trip to Montpelier to visit the capitol. Set high upon a knoll, with its distinctive gold leaf dome rising above the dense wooded hillside behind it, the capitol has a stately appearance that catches your eye as soon as you arrive in Montpelier. Nestled in the valley formed by the Winooski and North Branch rivers, Montpelier was chosen as Vermont's capital in 1805. The neighborhood surrounding the capitol building consists of government offices housed in well preserved examples of various 19th century architectural styles. Two fun facts about this Capital: Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the United States (with a population under 9000) and is the only US Capital without a McDonalds. (Glad someone's thinking!)