Are you passing through or visiting Southern Vermont or New Hampshire this summer? Take some time to explore the Brattleboro area, it’s full of unexpected finds, interesting experiences and excellent local food!
Start at Retreat Farm, formerly part of the Brattleboro Retreat campus and now a community park of 500 acres including farm buildings, 11 miles of hiking trails, a market of Vermont made goods and an event space with programs from entertaining to educational. Check their busy summer schedule for live music with food trucks, wine tastings and farm visits, and definitely stop by the Retreat Farm Market for their excellent selection of local foods.
Once you’re downtown on Main Street, it’s best to walk each block to find hidden gems. Spend time browsing in thrift shops and downstairs at antique shops. Don’t skip unique boutiques like Persephone and Penelope Wurr. The latter is the quirky kind of shop that would have a cult following if located in Manhattan or Brooklyn. There are a number of stores that feature Vermont artisans for one of a kind pieces or gifts, and Zephyr Designs has an impressive selection of art supplies. Each storefront demonstrates uniquely Vermont character no matter what they sell.
At Lost Time Books you can browse a section of outdoor bookshelves or explore Trillium, a shop full of practical and artful gadgets for the home and garden. Shopping here is never tedious, it keeps you playfully engaged.
Catch a show at one of Brattleboro’s historic venues like the Stone Church or Marigold Brattleboro– the newest cabaret. Step back in time at the Latchis, a beautifully restored Art Deco movie theater and linger afterwards in the Latchis Pub next to the original Latchis Hotel. Brattleboro’s history lives in its streets, in the rivers and in the surrounding hills.
Book a Sweet and Savory Brattleboro food tour for a taste of seasonal farm to table dishes, craft beer, local Vermont cheeses, specialty chocolates and Vermont-made ice cream. The restaurant scene here is a mix of creative fine dining and casual local haunts, with an emphasis on freshly made and locally sourced. And we’re sure you’ll find your favorite spot for coffee at one of the local cafes.
If you’re heading out for a hike or explore, pick up picnic provisions at the Brattleboro Food Coop or the Vermont Country Deli. Don’t miss the Brattleboro Farmers Market if you visit on Saturday, it’s West of downtown on Route 9.
The more you look, the more you’ll find with historic sites like the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center in the former train station on Vernon Street. The character of the building is preserved but aptly transformed into gallery space for a fascinating array of artists and exhibits.
The Estey Organ Company Museum is located in a former factory building for this key industry that made Brattleboro famous. Its collection includes pipe and reed organs that you can play.
A nearby site worth visiting is the historic Creamery Covered Bridge, near the Farmers Market off of Route 9. It was built in 1879 and has been very well preserved and pedestrian only since 2010. It is the only covered bridge remaining in the Brattleboro area.
Fort Dummer State Park is also nearby with campsites, picnic spots and hiking trails on a site that overlooks the original Fort Dummer which was built in 1724 and was the first European settlement in Vermont. It formed the Northern frontier between the English and the Wabanaki territory, which was considered wilderness by the British. When the Vernon Dam was constructed in 1909, the site of the original Fort was submerged beneath the Connecticut River. The Brattleboro Historical Society is a wonderful online resource for a deeper look at the history of Brattleboro and its surroundings.
Whether you spend a half day or a weekend in Brattleboro, you’ll be surprised by all that is there. You may even want to return again.
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