Vermont first-timers
May 11th, 2017, 11:02 AM
#24
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Here are some approximate driving times for a few places:
(from Burlington)--
20 min south to village of Shelburne; two great sites here:
--Shelburne Farms; the estate mansion, breeding barns, artisanal cheese factory, etc; this was the 2,000 acre estate of a branch of the Vanderbilt/Webb family
--Shelburne Museum: 40 acres, 37 historic buildings, colonial America plus French impressionist paintings (!!) from a branch of the Vanderbilt family
1 hr to Montpelier, Waterbury (Ben & Jerry's plant tour, fun), the world famous Prohibition Pig bbq brewpub
1 hr 15 min to Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge (Sound of Music etc), then drive to top of Mount Mansfield (or take the cable car) and then you can stroll gently on the Long Trail a little, on the peaks
2 hrs to Woodstock Vermont (not the NY state place)--beautifully restored colonial/early 19th century village; also visit the cluster of villages around Woodstock; very beautiful
2 hrs 15 min to Brattleboro in southeast corner; well preserved 19th century town; go to McNeill's brewpub; on the Connecticut River
2 hrs to Augustus Saint Gaudens National Historic Site, near Cornish, NH, on the Connecticut River (take I-89 from Burlington southeast toward NH; just after crossing the Connecticut take first exit and the NH state road south about 10 miles to the Site; beautiful estate of the sculptor, his house (with Park Rangers giving tours), his studio, and many of his statues (those of Lincoln are very fine)
2.5 hrs to Manchester Vermont (not the NH city); another well preserved 19th cent. town; just outside the town is the estate of Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln's estate (son of Pres Lincoln)
2.5 hrs to the "Northeast Kingdom"--the NE quadrant of the state; very wild, sparsely populated, tiny villages...watch out for moose when driving--this is not a joke!
So if you look at a map you can make all kinds of day loops and end up back in Burlington. Important to keep in mind: the driving time is not "dead time" because you will be moving through great scenery, past farm stands selling pies, apples, etc., mountains, valleys, all that stuff.
A sample loop: Burlington >> Waterbury Ben & Jerry's>>Stowe>>back to Waterbury south to Warren (great country store here, great sandwiches on the deck by the stream), then cross over the Green Mountains going west through the Appalachian Gap>>Jerusalem (pop. 73, max)>>start driving north to Hinesburg (dinner at the Hinesburg Public House) then back to Burlington.
(from Burlington)--
20 min south to village of Shelburne; two great sites here:
--Shelburne Farms; the estate mansion, breeding barns, artisanal cheese factory, etc; this was the 2,000 acre estate of a branch of the Vanderbilt/Webb family
--Shelburne Museum: 40 acres, 37 historic buildings, colonial America plus French impressionist paintings (!!) from a branch of the Vanderbilt family
1 hr to Montpelier, Waterbury (Ben & Jerry's plant tour, fun), the world famous Prohibition Pig bbq brewpub
1 hr 15 min to Stowe, Trapp Family Lodge (Sound of Music etc), then drive to top of Mount Mansfield (or take the cable car) and then you can stroll gently on the Long Trail a little, on the peaks
2 hrs to Woodstock Vermont (not the NY state place)--beautifully restored colonial/early 19th century village; also visit the cluster of villages around Woodstock; very beautiful
2 hrs 15 min to Brattleboro in southeast corner; well preserved 19th century town; go to McNeill's brewpub; on the Connecticut River
2 hrs to Augustus Saint Gaudens National Historic Site, near Cornish, NH, on the Connecticut River (take I-89 from Burlington southeast toward NH; just after crossing the Connecticut take first exit and the NH state road south about 10 miles to the Site; beautiful estate of the sculptor, his house (with Park Rangers giving tours), his studio, and many of his statues (those of Lincoln are very fine)
2.5 hrs to Manchester Vermont (not the NH city); another well preserved 19th cent. town; just outside the town is the estate of Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln's estate (son of Pres Lincoln)
2.5 hrs to the "Northeast Kingdom"--the NE quadrant of the state; very wild, sparsely populated, tiny villages...watch out for moose when driving--this is not a joke!
So if you look at a map you can make all kinds of day loops and end up back in Burlington. Important to keep in mind: the driving time is not "dead time" because you will be moving through great scenery, past farm stands selling pies, apples, etc., mountains, valleys, all that stuff.
A sample loop: Burlington >> Waterbury Ben & Jerry's>>Stowe>>back to Waterbury south to Warren (great country store here, great sandwiches on the deck by the stream), then cross over the Green Mountains going west through the Appalachian Gap>>Jerusalem (pop. 73, max)>>start driving north to Hinesburg (dinner at the Hinesburg Public House) then back to Burlington.
May 12th, 2017, 03:23 AM
#27
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I'll just add a few more of my favorite places, there are so many in this little state:
--the village of Plymouth: this was Calvin Coolidge's birthplace. The state has purchased the entire core of the village and preserved his home, his father's grocery store, the cheese factory (still produces awesome cheese), and there is a rustic cafe serving simple food, all of this preserved in a very non-Disney manner. Coolidge was visiting his father here in 1923 when a messenger appeared at the house (no phone) that President Harding had died. Coolidge's father was a justice of the peace, so he swore him in as president in the living room by kerosene lantern (no electricity even then in Plymouth). The village is nestled in the Green Mountains, on the side of Coolidge Mountain (of course), on the top of which is a great little state park for picnics and camping.
--the Dog Chapel, on Dog Mountain: this is the legacy of folk artist and sculptor Stephen Huneck. Stephen's art is all about our connections to the wonderful world of dogs. The dog chapel sounds hokey but it is not; its stained glass windows and carved pews are full of dog images and people leave photos and notes for their deceased dogs in the entryway. Stephen's life was burdened by deep depressive episodes and he finally succumbed to this illness but he left a wonderful legacy. Just outside St. Johnsbury. See www.dogmt.com
--St. Johnsbury, on the southern edge of the Northeast Kingdom, near the Connecticut River: this town has some well preserved 19th century buildings but the star of the show is the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, with a gallery of masterpieces of the Hudson River School, including a huge Albert Bierstadt
--apple cider donuts: Oh Yes! Get them at the Chittenden Cider Mill, South Burlington.
--fish tacos, beer, and sunset over Lake Champlain looking west over the Adirondacks: at the Burlington Boat House. Also, take a lake cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen, from Burlington harbor
I could go on and on!
--the village of Plymouth: this was Calvin Coolidge's birthplace. The state has purchased the entire core of the village and preserved his home, his father's grocery store, the cheese factory (still produces awesome cheese), and there is a rustic cafe serving simple food, all of this preserved in a very non-Disney manner. Coolidge was visiting his father here in 1923 when a messenger appeared at the house (no phone) that President Harding had died. Coolidge's father was a justice of the peace, so he swore him in as president in the living room by kerosene lantern (no electricity even then in Plymouth). The village is nestled in the Green Mountains, on the side of Coolidge Mountain (of course), on the top of which is a great little state park for picnics and camping.
--the Dog Chapel, on Dog Mountain: this is the legacy of folk artist and sculptor Stephen Huneck. Stephen's art is all about our connections to the wonderful world of dogs. The dog chapel sounds hokey but it is not; its stained glass windows and carved pews are full of dog images and people leave photos and notes for their deceased dogs in the entryway. Stephen's life was burdened by deep depressive episodes and he finally succumbed to this illness but he left a wonderful legacy. Just outside St. Johnsbury. See www.dogmt.com
--St. Johnsbury, on the southern edge of the Northeast Kingdom, near the Connecticut River: this town has some well preserved 19th century buildings but the star of the show is the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, with a gallery of masterpieces of the Hudson River School, including a huge Albert Bierstadt
--apple cider donuts: Oh Yes! Get them at the Chittenden Cider Mill, South Burlington.
--fish tacos, beer, and sunset over Lake Champlain looking west over the Adirondacks: at the Burlington Boat House. Also, take a lake cruise on the Spirit of Ethan Allen, from Burlington harbor
I could go on and on!
May 14th, 2017, 07:08 AM
#28
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EYWandBTV has given you lots of good suggestions, listing several of my favorite spots. Plymouth is to me like a VT Brigadoon, a lovely spot.
Here are some other places you might consider:
If you go to the Mad River Valley (Warren/waitsfield) there is a funky little museum in Warren, the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design. It advertises itself as hosting "a collection of the world's best stuff" and also has an exhibit on an interesting architectural movement called Prickly Mountain. After seeing this exhibit you can drive up Prickly Mountain road yourself.
Waitsfield has some beautiful barns including the Round Barn and, on the Common Road with great views, the Skinner and Mountain Valley farms.
Another good place to visit south of Burlington in Addison County is Rokeby Museum, an historic farm that was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Vt also has cheese and beer trails
http://www.vtcheese.com/vermont-cheese-trail-map/
http://www.vermontbrewers.com/passport-program/
Here are some other places you might consider:
If you go to the Mad River Valley (Warren/waitsfield) there is a funky little museum in Warren, the Madsonian Museum of Industrial Design. It advertises itself as hosting "a collection of the world's best stuff" and also has an exhibit on an interesting architectural movement called Prickly Mountain. After seeing this exhibit you can drive up Prickly Mountain road yourself.
Waitsfield has some beautiful barns including the Round Barn and, on the Common Road with great views, the Skinner and Mountain Valley farms.
Another good place to visit south of Burlington in Addison County is Rokeby Museum, an historic farm that was a stop on the Underground Railroad.
Vt also has cheese and beer trails
http://www.vtcheese.com/vermont-cheese-trail-map/
http://www.vermontbrewers.com/passport-program/
May 15th, 2017, 07:25 AM
#30
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Looks like this topic has been well covered, but I'll chime in with my thoughts - Burlington is a very pleasant, picturesque city, but it is a city. I would think most folks go to Vermont to be in it's beautiful countryside. My choice would be a small town (Waitsfield, Stowe, Rochester, Woodstock, etc) or even a farm b&b.
May 17th, 2017, 05:58 PM
#31
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I absolutely love Burlington and the airport is amazing, like five minutes from downtown. However, I spent a birthday about a year or two ago in Montpelier (very random but I was visiting friends in Hanover, NH and had never been there). SO CHARMING!!!! It's the state capital and a really lovely town. There is a main street with some cute shops and restaurants. I don't know if I'd want to be there more than a day, but it's definitely worth a visit.
I also think Middlebury is worth the visit for sure. Now I'm jealous....I need to plan this same trip for myself!
I also think Middlebury is worth the visit for sure. Now I'm jealous....I need to plan this same trip for myself!
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clehrman
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