Mount Mansfield + the Winooski River

During the July fourth weekend, I visited idyllic Vermont. 

On July 2nd, my boyfriend and I climbed Mount Mansfield, which is the tallest mountain in the state. It was my second mountain and it was by no means a walk in the park. Last month I started working full-time in an office-they say sitting is the new smoking- and it had been nine months since I completed my first mountain. As we were nearing the top, I actually broke down crying. I truthfully believe hiking is more of a spiritual experience than anything else. There's no better activity to learn mind over matter than climbing a mountain, and though my boyfriend gave me the option to turn around, I couldn't be happier I didn't.  

We climbed Sunset Ridge Trail, which is 3.3 miles. The amazing perk of this route is you get to see above the tree-line half of the way. Another fun fact about Mount Mansfield is it has 200 acres of rare Arctic Tundra. The first mountain I climbed, Camel's Hump (read about my experience there), has a few acres of Arctic Tundra as well. 

The next day, July 3rd, my boyfriend and I rested our sore muscles by tubbing down the Winooski River.  This watershed drains 1,080 square miles in central Vermont, encompasses multiple counties,  is the largest tributary to Lake Champlain, and is approximately 10% of the land area in the Green Mountain State. 

It was my first time tubbing and I didn't know something so relaxing and fun existed. 
For the special occasion, we got a lounger that fits four, has a place to dip your feet, and two coolers, which were perfect for the delectable Vermont craft beer and cider we bought. Here's where you can purchase it! 

 Even though my boyfriend and I ended up spending the fourth of July indoors applying aloe, chugging water, and popping Ibuprofen because we got sun poisoned from four hours of tubbing, I still had the time of my life. Because when you start full adult-ing, any moment you get to be in the place you love is always ideal.