Joan

We will be staying in Springfield, Vt. for 3 nights in July, driving up from NY. Can you recommend nearby drives, hikes, antique shops, restaurants, off the beaten path things to see or do? Thank you

anon

I don't know if you will have a car but the road between Queeche and Woodstock has a few interesting antique and related shops along it.

try the following for more soth Vt info
www.sovermont.com
www.visitvt.com
www.govermont.com (Can search for events listings on this site)

Andrew

You could drive to Williamstown, MA (near the Vermont border). It is an upscale community with the Sterling Art Museum, good day hikes, and some cute stores on the main street--Spring St., as well as a great golf course and good restaurants.

Michelle

I second "anon"'s suggestion. We usually stay in Newfane at the Four Columns Inn and always make it a point to drive up to Quechee and Woodstock.

zootsi

While downtown Springfield isn't the most sceneic spot in Vermont, you are close to some very nice country. Some reccomendations:
Drive up to the top of Mt. Ascutney for some fabulous views of both Vermont and New Hampshire. Lots of nice hiking trails up there also. There are some very picturesque towns near Springfield, like Chester, Brownsville, Perkinsville, Cornish NH, and many others. Drive the back roads and explore. The Cornish NH - Windsor Vt. covered bridge is the longet in the US, and is located in a very picturesque spot. There used to be an interesting restaurant in Springfield called Penelope's (don't know if it's still there). Manchester Vt. is a 45 minute drive and is noted for it's upscale but quaint downtown, and many factory outlet stores. Woodstock Vt. is also a very charming town. Billings farm museum outside Woodstock is a lot of fun. Hanover NH is a small college town with lots of nice restaurants, shops, museum, theaters, etc, and the beautiful Dartmouth campus. Middlebury Vermont is another nice college town. The St. Gaudens National Park site in Cornish NH is a very scenic estate and art gallery that has classical music concerts on Sunday afternoons in the summer. You'll find this part of New England to be quite unspoiled and peaceful.