PhillyFan

Hi all. We will be driving up Vermont I-91 on our way to Quebec.

We have a long driving day that day (about 6 hours), and we would like to make a few stops along the way. We don't want them to be too long, so we're looking for shorter hikes or attractions we could see, very close to off the highway.

Any suggestions?

jubilada

Not a hike, but Brattleboro is a nice walkable town with scenery, and a real variety of non chain stores. Exit 1 or 2 both take you right into town.

This site lists many short and long hikes near Norwich Vt
http://m.scout.me/hiking--near--norwich-vt

jubilada

Also at exit 8 in Windsor there is StGaudens National Historical Site with sculpture gardens and pleasant walks. Five minutes off 91.

Fra_Diavolo

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.

PhillyFan

jubilada - thanks. And Norwich is where King Arthur is, right? That's definitely going to be a stop!

FraD - thanks. That's normally what would be a hike we would do, but tacking on a 40 min. drive is too much to add to our 6 hours of driving that day.

suze

jubilada beat me to it, the first post is exactly what I was coming to suggest (I used to live in Brattleboro). Have lunch at The Marina.

Vttraveler

I think either Brattleboro or the St Gaudens site in Cornish NH would make a good stop.

I know you asked about VT but you could also consider stopping in Historic Deerfield in western MA a little bit south of the VT border. Just get off I-91 and follow routes 5&10, detour through the village and continue on to get back on the highway in Greenfield.
http://www.historic-deerfield.org/pl...irections-map/

Another stop in that area very close to I-91is Mount Sugarloaf in South Deerfield
http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr...servation.html

Vttraveler

I realized after responding that I didn't know where you will be starting and ending on the travel day you are asking about. If you are planning on driving 6 hours you must not be planning to go all the way from Philly to Quebec City

zootsi

Mt Ascutney is just off Exit 8. There is a eye-popping auto road that goes almost to the summit. At the top there is a picnic area, and hiking trails with great views of both Vt and NH. There is a small entrance fee.
http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/ascutney.htm

If you get off to visit King Arthur (exit 13), you can cross over to Hanover NH, a scenic college town with lots of lunch options, and a very pleasant downtown.

There is ar great 1 hour hike at exit 14. At the exit, proceed east to Lyme NH (VERY scenic drive), and then towards the Dartmouth Skiway in Lyme Center. Just before the ski area, the Appalachian Trail crosses the road. From this spot you can hike up to Holt's Ledge, a scenic overlook with great views. If you get off at Norwich, you can just as easily drive up Rte 10 to get to Lyme for this hike.

PhillyFan

Thank you, zootsi. I will look into all of those. Hanover sounds like a great lunch stop.

Vttraveler -on that day, we will be starting from Bennington, VT so I think our route will put us on I91 north of Brattleboro. The previous day, we will be dropping my son off at camp. Those two days will feature a lot of driving.

It probably makes more sense, in one weeks time, to just focus on Montreal/Vermont, but we are sooo close to Quebec that we are jamming that in.

On the way back, we will be taking I87 in NY and I already have reservations at Olana State Historic Site - I've always wanted to see that.

suze

Yup, you'd already be a ways "past" Brattleboro in Bennington.

Vttraveler

another route you could take from Bennington would be up Route 7 to I-89. Only a few minutes longer than going east and up I-91.

In NY Olana is a great stop. We had a wonderful tour there a few years ago in the fall.

jubilada

In NY don't miss Storm King.