Taylor Park Fountain & Historic Courthouse. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:03 am.

Vermont was the big-ticket trip of the summer, and I spent a third of it hiding from the heat. Some businesses were closed due to the extreme temperatures. The point of the trip was seeing my mom. I grew up in and around St. Albans City, Vermont, so it was nice to see familiar things and welcome changes. I also practiced some townscape photography, visited local parks, and saw a dairy farm at sunrise. The Back Alley pic reminds me of the building I grew up in that no longer exists. The blog photos are presented in sections: Intro, St. Albans City, Churches, and Hard’ack Recreation Area.

Intro:

Back Alley. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 5:50 am.

Alley Etiquette. St. Albans City, Vermont. July 3, 2026, 5:48 pm.

Alley Walk. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 5:51 am.

Alley Top. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 10:22 am.

Before my mom moved us to neighboring St. Albans City, we stayed with family on Bronson Road. Occasionally, I was allowed to play with the kittens in the dairy barn down the road. That farm is gone, but my mom’s friend Allan let me take pictures of his farm. Sadly, there were no kittens, and I didn't bring the proper shoes to muck around.

Alan’s Dairy Barn. St. Albans, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 5:35 am.

Tractor in Barn Shadow. St. Albans, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 5:30 am.

Photo Blog Disclaimers:

I do not let social media guide my photography style. The subjects and locations in my pictures are unlikely to attract influencers.

Different photography genres favor specific camera sensor sizes and lenses. My gear collection is driven more by curiosity and necessity than gear-acquisition syndrome. Overall, I have weather-sealed, stabilized gear because I spend most of my photo time outdoors where tripods are impractical. I use a variety of cameras and sensor sizes: phone, Micro Four Thirds, APSC, and full-frame.

I have omitted which camera and settings I used for the photos I am sharing because I want you to look at the pictures, not decipher a spec sheet. Some photos may become available to purchase as prints. Let me know of any favorites.

St. Albans City:

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in St. Albans City for the convenience of walking around the storefronts on Main Street. Across the street from the hotel were three amazing businesses we shopped in repeatedly: Mad Ice Cream, Red House Sweets, and Catalyst Coffee Bar.

Mad Ice Cream. St. Albans City, Vermont. July 1, 2026, 1:36 pm.

To avoid harsh sunlight and high temperatures, I did my photography walks at the start and the end of the day. Visiting my mom was the trip's priority, and it kept us close to town. I normally gravitate to the woods, so I wouldn’t have gotten these shots otherwise. I stumbled into lots of wide-angle lens mistakes, the kind you have to make to learn not to repeat them.

Bakery Coffee Ice Cream Warp. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 10:07 am.

St. Albans City Main Street, Vermont, 9:46 am. June 29, 2026.

Sunrise City Hall & Weldon Theatre. June 30, 2026, 6:02 am.

Weldon Theatre. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 5:59 am.

N. Main Street at Sunrise. St. Albans, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 6:01 am.

St. Albans Historical Museum Sunburst. Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:16 am.

St. Albans Historical Museum. Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:03 pm.

Taylor Park Fountain. St. Albans, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 7:55 pm.

Churches:

St. Albans has no shortage of historic churches with storybook looks. My time and access were very limited, but I would love to go back and shoot a photo tour of the area’s churches.

Based on the number of keeper photos, I declare the First Congregational Church on Church Street in St. Albans City the holiest church photo spot in St. Albans City. The church stands slightly apart from other buildings, and trees enhance compositions from many viewing angles.

First Congregational Church_10. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:14 pm.

First Congregational Church_02. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 7:39 pm.

First Congregational Church_03. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 7:48 pm.

First Congregational Church_07. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:11 pm.

First Congregational Church_04. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 7:57 pm.

First Congregational Church_05. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:04 pm.

St. Paul's United Methodist Church's architecture stands out because its two steeples are medieval and Victorian watchtowers rather than traditional spires.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church_01. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:12 am.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church_02. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:14 am.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church_03. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:00 pm.

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church_04. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:01 pm.

I focused on the churches on Church Street above Taylor Park in St. Albans City because they were a quick walk from the hotel. But I passed on those under repair or when the best viewing angle put me in traffic.

Immaculate Conception Church_06. St. Albans City, Vermont. June 29, 2026, 8:06 pm.

My family’s main gravesite location is behind this amazing church in Swanton, Vermont. The brickwork on the façade, which accents the bas-relief of the Virgin Mary over the door, is both humble and grand.

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary_01. Swanton, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 3.58 pm.

Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary_02. Swanton, Vermont. June 30, 2026, 4:00 pm.

Hard’ack Recreation Area:

Kids know Hard’ack as the area's top snow-sledding spot. The hill also has a ski lane. On this visit, I discovered trails and an overlook to explore on warmer days. I also found a monument to a local legend.

Found. Hard’ack, St. Albans City, Vermont. July 3, 2026, 9:42 am.

Wolf Monument. Hard’ack, St. Albans City, Vermont. July 3, 2026, 9:15 am.

Hard’ack Overlook. St. Albans City, Vermont. July 3, 2026, 10:20 am.

City Hall & Rooftops. Hard’ack Overlook. St. Albans City, Vermont. July 3, 2026, 9:54 am.

Holy Angels Catholic Church. Hard’ack Overlook. St. Albans City, Vermont. July 3, 2026, 9:53 am.

St. Albans Dairy Plant & Lake Champlain. Hard’ack Overlook. St. Albans City, Vermont. July 3, 2026, 9:55 am.

After finishing this blog, I am ready to go back to Vermont with photo plans. Many photos from this trip are learning lessons, not refrigerator material, and I want to redo them. Not to mention the sights I decided to leave to memory. Please let me know your favorite photos or suggestions to improve my photo blog's format. Leave a comment, send a message, or use the contact info at uduforu.com.

This is the first in a series of photo blogs expanding on the September 2026 blog: An Americana Dreamscape. A photo blog summary of my 2026 travels in Appalachia and Vermont. Coming soon: 2026 Oakland & Cumberland, Maryland, 2026 Boutique Hotels, 2026 Pics from Parks, and 2026 Townscapes. You can view the blogs for free in the 2026 Blog section at uduforu.com.

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2026 Vermont and St. Albans City. A photo blog by an old kid.

An Americana Dreamscape: A photo blog summary of my 2026 travels in Appalachia and Vermont

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