Lucas Farrell with daughter Maisie at Big Picture Farm in Townshend Credit: Louisa Conrad | Kirsten Thompson

In this issue of Staytripper, we spot signs of spring and sow seeds of hope. The snow has melted (fingers crossed), crocuses have emerged, and we’ve already hit 50-degree days when some cold-hardy Vermonters get out the shorts and flip-flops. (You know who you are.) Along with the warming weather, the pandemic is slowly ebbing and restrictions are easing on travel and multi-household gatherings — aka getting together with our friends. Finally, we can say the days ahead look brighter.

But safety still comes first, of course. We invite you to make the most of mud season but continue to emphasize outdoor or socially distanced options. Will you wander through an expansive sculpture park in Manchester? Stroll among carved granite at a Websterville quarry? Cuddle a goat at a Townshend farm? Even relatively close-to-home destinations can be transporting.

The original print version of this article was headlined “Hope Springs Eternal”

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Carolyn Fox is Seven Days’ culture coeditor, overseeing coverage of Vermont books, destinations, events, films, food, music, performing arts, visual arts and more. She is the editor of All the Best: The Locals’ Guide to Vermont, aka the Seven Daysies,...