2 Best Sights in Dorset, Southern Vermont

On hot summer days the sight of dozens of families jumping, swimming, and basking in the sun around this massive 60-foot-deep swimming hole makes it one of the most wholesome and picturesque recreational spots in the region. First mined in 1785, the stone from the country's oldest commercial marble quarry was used to build the main branch of the New York Public Library and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.

This 3,162-acre educational center has 30 miles of nature trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, horseback riding, and rustic camping. You can visit the 62-acre farm, which grows organic berries (available for pick-your-own in season), and check out the horses, sheep, pigs, and chickens while you're there—you're even welcome to help out with the chores. Stop in the visitor's center to pick up a gallon of maple syrup made in the on-site sugarhouse.