Trav

I will be flying into Hartfield (Bradley) from the SF Bay Area on Thursday, May 10th to attend a wedding of a long time friend. I arrive around 7PM and plan to rent a car to drive to a hotel in Brattleboro. The wedding is Friday evening in Bellows Falls with a reception to follow at the Putney Inn in Putney, VT.

I will not know anyone except the groom so therefore I'm on my own for entertaining myself all day Friday until the 7PM wedding. Any suggestions on how to spend Friday until 5PM or so when I'll have to be in Brattleboro getting dressed for the church service? I'm open to anything even if it is just a scenic drive and a nice lunch. I'll also have Saturday AM free as my flight doesn't leave Bradley until 4PM.

dfrostnh

The highway from Bradley to Brattleboro takes you thru rural western Massachusetts. I think it goes fairly close to Yankee Candles' huge store, probably something for your trip back to CT. Across the river from Brattleboro is Keene, NH, a college town with interesting main street to browse. If you're an old car enthusiast it might be worth the trip over to Bennington to Hemmingway's. If you like baking I'd head up to Norwich to King Arthur Flour. Haven't been to the shopping outlets in Manchester VT but that's another option. Another fun place to explore would be the Vermont Country Store. The drive from Brattleboro to Bennington goes over a small mountain so it's scenic. One of the best places in VT for an upscale lunch is Simon Pierce where they also blow glass and make pottery. Fascinating building with their own hydroelectric power and lovely town. It might be an hour drive north to Quechee. You can make a nice scenic driving loop in almost any direction.

suze

I used to live in Brattleboro. It's a nice town in itself. Somewhere along the line you could definitely enjoy a few hours just kicking around the downtown there. Then have lunch at "The Marina" a fun casual restaurant overlooking the Connecticut River.

A drive west on Route 9 to Hogback Mountain is beautiful, fairly close. There's a lookout point with a wonderful gift shop with all manner of VT products, if you need souveniers.

Saturday: On the way back down to Bradlee, leave in the morning and stop for lunch in the town of Northampton, Mass. It's right off the freeway and the perfect break on your drive VT-CT. Lots of great shops and restaurants right on the main street.

suze

whadda ya know they even have a website!
www.vermontmarina.com

Trav

Thank you so much. I was dreading the trip a bit as I only have time to be in and out of there (and the fact that I will not be spending time with my friend as I know he will be very busy with wedding guests) but now I have something else to do. I'll follow the above suggestions and have a nice relaxing time.

suze

I know my suggestions are OK because I did them just this past August lol! I'm based in Seattle. So flew back transfering Dulles then into Bradlee, and up to Brattleboro by car to stay with friends for one week.

I don't know if you've ever been before but it is an absolutely gorgeous state. And Brattleboro a fun area to live (or visit). I'm guessing you may be pleasantly surprised!

Trav

Just wanted to thank you for your responses and write a bit of my very short stay in Vermont. First of all, I mentioned I would not have time with my friend...I was wrong! While his bride to be and her bridal party were off doing their spa, nails and hair thing, I was able to spend the day with the groom!

In the AM I did take the suggested route to Hogback Mt. Lovely drive. I spent the latter part of the morning just hanging out on my friends porch in deep conversation of our friendship and his upcoming marriage. A bit of background...I'm female in my fifties..he in his late forties. We have been best friends for 25 years. If you have seen My Best Friends Wedding then you will get an idea of what many of the guests were thinking when I arrived!! In fact he and I were the very first ones to arrive at the church (other than the priest) and we teasing said to each other, "Shall we just do it?" Enough of that.

I want to share a great place where he took me for lunch. Boccelli's at 46 Canal St., Bellow Falls, VT. What a fabulous lunch. This is from their website:

At Boccelli's On the Canal, we believe that taking care of ourselves should be delightful, delicious, and fun. Come on in and hang out with friends; enjoy our WiFi, music, and spoil yourself with fine, filling meals at a price that won't break the bank. We also make an effort to care for the earth and each other by serving only fair-trade organic coffees, supporting local farmers and vendors, using organic ingredients whenever we can, as well as recyclable and biodegradable packaging whenever possible, and recycling and composting our wastes. We also donate our tips to a local charity every month!

It was a beautiful wedding at St. Charles Church in Bellows Falls followed by a reception at The Putney Inn.

I met the bride just after the wedding ceremony and she is just lovely. Blessing to them both. Hopefully I'll get back to the Vermont in the very near future to explore more of what that very green state has to offer (and visit with the happy couple).

suze

Thanks for the update. Glad things worked out & you got to do the scenic drive up Hogback Mt. I love southern Vermont and hope to spend more time there in the future myself. I'm trying to figure out a scenario so I can avoid wintertime and mud-season but go for summers or falls. Gorgeous.