We will be visiting New England the first half of October and have an interest in Sturbridge Village (MA), Shelburne Museum (VT) and Strawbery Banke Museum (NH). We probably won't have time to see all three. If we can visit only one, which should it be?
Thanks for any suggestions.

Where are you going to be visiting in October? A good starting poing would be convenience.

We will be coming up through Massachusetts to visit VT and NH. We haven't made our schedule yet so if any one of the three is worth making a special trip to, we would do it.

I highly recommend visiting Sturbridge Village if you only have the time to visit one & it is worth making a special trip. It is large & requires the whole day; it's lots of fun & educational.

We very quickly strolled through Strawbberry Banke one year in the early morning before it opened, & we weren't all that impressed. It's not very large, if I remember correctly. I haven't been to Shelburn Museum, but my guess is that it's not as large as Old Sturbridge Village.

Shelburne Museum is a gem and Burlington is a great small city to visit, right on Lake Champlain. Check out the Inn at Shelburne Farms too.

Thanks, Kwoo and HappyTrvlr. Anyone else?

I haven't been to the Shelburne Museum but have visited both Sturbridge an Strawberry Banke. Both are interesting. SB is a series of historical houses of different periods in a small area. SV is a village with the different homes/offices of the residents and the small farming and manufacture facilities.

I recommend looking at the websites for the different places and making your decision on the one that interests you the most.

You don't mention Plimouth Plantation. It may be a big detour off your route, but if it's not, it is unique among the outdoor/living museums--different time period, and staffed with people who represent residents of the plantation in the 1620s.

Shelburne Museum is more eclectic than the other choices you're considering.
It's less of a historic village, and more a collection of small "museums". There are collections of quilts, folk art, model trains etc along with an actual lighthouse, a ferryboat, a carousel, fine art and decorative art collection, a small house frozen in time in the 1950s, and more. Admission tickets get you 2 days of visits, and I needed both days.
Can you tell that I really enjoyed my visits there?

Janie is "right-on" about Shelburne. It's huge but so eclectic, I didn't enjoy it much, but that's me. I felt there was no continuity or point. I love Plimoth Plantation. It's a recreation of the Pilgrims' Plimoth in the early 1600's and also has a Wampanoag village. It is staffed by interpreters who have taken on the personages of original residents. Ticket also used to include the Mayflower but it has been moved undergoing repairs for the next several yrs so is not available. Sturbridge is also interesting, a farming village of a different time period - the 1800's. Your choice depends on your interests.

It's been years since we've been to the three. I agree with the descriptions. Sturbridge would probably be my choice since there are so many activities being demonstrated. My FIL loved the saw mill.

Hi jrjcollins:

#1 Sturbridge
#2 Shelburne
#3 Strawbery

You should make time for at least 2 of the 3.

maytraveller

We have decided to extend our trip an extra day so that we can spend a day at Sturbridge and also a day at Shelburne. Thanks to everyone for your help.

jrcollins, you have a good plan! Sturbridge is much larger than Shelbourne and both are very worthwhile. Shelbourne's quilt collection is outstanding and I have seen it in other museums as an special exhibit.

Strawberry Banke probably isn't worth the entrance fee for most people, particularly because you can see most of the buildings by walking around the perimeter (it's pretty small); but Portsmouth is one of the most beautiful historic cities in New England.

Just an update. We decided on the following three bases:
Wolfeboro,NH - 2 nights at 1810 House Bed and Breakfast
Chester, VT - 4 nights at Inn Victoria Bed and Breakfast
Burlington, VT - 2 nights (Priceline, hopefully)
Fly home from Burlington.

Thank you, everyone, for your suggestions. It was a big help!

I forgot to mention that we will stay one night at Sturbridge,CT on the way up North in order to see Sturbridge Village.

I think you mean Sturbridge, MA.
Have a great trip! October is an awesome month in New England!

Yes, it's Sturbridge, MA. I've got my states mixed up.

For anyone interested at this point (almost three years later). I've been to all three several times. Shelburne museum is the largest and best of the three. It is very large, has everything from restored period homes, million dollar paintings, old stone jail, steam ship and steam train. They have huge collections of circus pieces, posters and carosell pieces. Large collections of carriages, coaches, wagons and other horse-pulled equipment. The place where Sturbridge has the advantage over the shelburne museum is that Sturbridge does do live demonstrations with their sawmill and gristmill. I think they both have their merits, but for me, shelburne museum is larger and have a lot more to see and do.

Well since this post has been resurrected, I will add a 4th option. The Shaker museum in Canterbury NH. The property has amazing views in the fall of lush green rolling hills and bright, vibrant foliage.