Will be in the area near Brattleboro, VT this weekend. I know they have a great market on Saturday I think. any other suggestions for things to do in the area? Any hikes of 2-3 hours length? How about restaurant recs? Pretty much any type of food preferably under $100 for 2 people. thanks!

There are a couple of barb que places which each have their own following, Curtis' in Putney and Top o the Hill just North of Brattleboro.

TJ Buckley's will come in around a hundred bucks( with moderate wine choice) and is excellent. We drive an hour to get there.

Three Stones is a very very good Mayan place that is a real hidden gem

There was another thread recently about hikes

Here's what I posted on the other thread:

"The trail to Putney Mountain is an easy hike at Vermont Exit 4. The trail head is probably 15 or 20 minutes drive. Take route 5 to the center of town, then:

"In Putney you can take Westminster West Road (west) and turn left onto West Hill Road. Then take Putney Mountain Road up to the crest of Putney Mountain. The short trail follows the crest of the ridge up to a wonderful overlook down into the West River valley."

and here's a brief description:

http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail...lid=CGN030-005

Activity Type: Hiking
Nearby City: Putney
Length: 1.2 total miles
Elevation Gain: 140 feet
Trail Type: Loop
Skill Level: Easy
Duration: 1 hour
Season: Summer and Winter
Other Uses: Kids, Dogs, X-C Skiing, and Snowshoeing OK.
Local Maps: USGS Putney and USGS Westminster West
Topo Map: Putney Mountain Topographic Map
Guide Book: Best Day Hikes in Vermont Guide Book
Driving Directions: View Guide
Trail Directions: View Guide

After the hike, stop at Curtis' BBQ on Route 5 for lunch."

Agree with Jubilada that Top of the Hill is also very good. Peter Havens is another good high-end spot.

http://www.vermontmarina.com/
The Marina is a fun place to eat, right on the river.

Wow jubilada, Curtis' is still around. That's fantastic! (I lived in Brattleboro many moons ago).

We ate at the marina for the mini GTG a year ago and while the view was nice the food was fair only.
It probably used to be better, but no more, IMO.

Yup, Curtis' is still there.

I have not been to the Marina since the fire and rebuild. Sorry to hear about the food because it's a sweet little spot.

Also glad to know both TJ Buckley's and Peter Havens are still around and going strong.

The Thai restaurant Thai Bamboo is very good. Nice ambiance, right in the center of town.

There is also a sandwich shop and bakery overlooking the river that has fantastic lunch fare. Don't recall the name.

Fra Diavolo, thank you for the suggestion of the hike. We're going to try it the next time we're in town.

jub, where is Three Stones?

Three stones is on Canal Street
http://www.3stonesrestaurant.com/