[Champ le monstre du lac]

My partner and I want to move back East to be closer to family. We're from Massachusetts, but we don't want to move back there. The Burlington and Lake Champlain area have always been one of my favorite parts of New England. After having seen the big skies and horizons out west I'd have to say there aren't too many corners of New England that have extraordinary sunsets. But the open horizon of Lake Champlain with sunsets over the Adirondacks are the best sunsets I've seen in the Northeast. Definitely something I appreciate.

I've been looking at rentals and real estate in St. Albans and it looks like a reasonable price range and within commuting distance (yes/no?) of Burlington. I like the location within just over an hours drive to Montreal, but also being on the lake and fairly close to Jay Peak. Looking at the small businesses downtown, it seems there's enough to go around for good beer and good food. Wondering if anyone who knows St. Albans well enough can offer some perspective on what kind of community it is.

[Eddy G]

I'm no expert on the area by any means. My wife and I stumbled upon St Albans about 10 years ago on a motorcycle ride to Canada....We have made our way back or through several times since and real enjoy the hell out of it....
"Downtown" has a very modern /cool vibe but the setting is very much old school New England....Beautiful place.....
People seem nice, interesting eatery's and a few bars. I think they have a local theater group ....
Burlington's only a half hour away so there is plenty of things near by.....You could do a lot worse..

[domc]

Your traditional suburbia, family oriented, up and coming downtown. All the modern conveniences. To conservative for me. Traditional Americana. Not the real representative of "Vermont". I consider the area's along the lake to be the "fake vermont".
My brother lives there.

[harry chickpea]

Most of your assessment seems correct, except "commute." Do-able, but not comfortable. Winooski? Maybe. One other note, the sunsets from Burlington are somewhat unique, due to a very specific weather effect as air over the Adirondacks hits the lake. It is visible from Charlotte to Colchester, but not much beyond that. You MIGHT see them from Underhill on some days.

[Champ le monstre du lac]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

Most of your assessment seems correct, except "commute." Do-able, but not comfortable. Winooski? Maybe. One other note, the sunsets from Burlington are somewhat unique, due to a very specific weather effect as air over the Adirondacks hits the lake. It is visible from Charlotte to Colchester, but not much beyond that. You MIGHT see them from Underhill on some days.

Like good sunsets most places, I've tried to get it in photos while on the Burlington waterfront, but they don't really capture one iota of what it's like to be there and watch it. Yeah winter commutes from St. Albans to say Williston don't sound very fun.

Originally Posted by Eddy G

I'm no expert on the area by any means. My wife and I stumbled upon St Albans about 10 years ago on a motorcycle ride to Canada....We have made our way back or through several times since and real enjoy the hell out of it....
"Downtown" has a very modern /cool vibe but the setting is very much old school New England....Beautiful place.....
People seem nice, interesting eatery's and a few bars. I think they have a local theater group ....
Burlington's only a half hour away so there is plenty of things near by.....You could do a lot worse..

This sounds like the kind of community I could get into. I'm going up there to check it out next summer.