Near our Cabin: Woodstock, Vermont
Our Vermont Travel Guide: Intro & Itineraries | Vermont Villages | Killington | Woodstock | Waitsfield & Mad River Valley | Hiking & Nature in Green Mountains | Brandon | Middlebury | Montpelier | Burlington | Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour | Stowe | Favorite Restaurants
About 25 miles from our Vermont Mountain Cabin is Woodstock. Words like romantic, magical and historic are often used to describe this quaint village that has been called "the prettiest small town in America." First settled in 1768, Woodstock retains the elegant charm and rugged character of American antiquity with unique shops and galleries, artisan studios, country stores and fine restaurants. The Ottauquechee River runs through the village with water entertainment right at your feet. Wade in the river while eating an ice cream cone from the local creamery, or be brave and take a swing on a rope out over the river. One of the most popular bike rides in all of Vermont is the ride along the scenic road that follows the river from Woodstock to Quechee. Hiking abounds in the area for all levels of hiker: the National Park offers many trails and a wonderful view of the area, the Appalachian Trail circles our area so you can easily do day or overnight hiking, the Long Trail is also nearby to challenge you, and the incredible State Parks are fun for swimming. And for the very fit, you can compete in the Vermont 100 mile road race as a runner or a horseback rider! The most spectacular season of all, Woodstock in autumn! Each year, the trees proudly put on their very finest autumn dress, their colors going from gold to amber to red to bronze. It is always sensational! Walk the trails in the National Park and climb Mt. Tom to take in magnificent views of the surrounding area. Get on your bike or in your car and get lost on the back roads and find hidden gems of shining color. But no matter where you are in Woodstock, just be outside and enjoy the breathtaking colors. Autumn weekends are jammed packed with entertainment. Enjoy lots of home cooking and tasting at the Annual Chili Cook-off on the Green or treat yourself to one of the harvest suppers that take place in the local churches or villages. Shop on Columbus Day Weekend at the Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair, where 100 juried crafters sell their wares and then head East on Route 4 to the annual Antique Show. And don't forget the annual fall Glad Rags Sale. Nestled in the heart of Vermont, Woodstock is a synonym for timeless beauty. Clear blue skies, babbling brooks, fields of flowers and pastoral farms envelop and delight as you enjoy the unhurried pace of life. Woodstock maintains a vibrant cultural heritage, continued today in a variety of venues: VINS Nature Center/ VINS Headquarters The VINS Nature Center off Route 4 in Woodstock, just west of the Quechee Gorge, features outdoor raptor exhibits, Ribbit exhibit, flight demonstrations, nature trails, and a nature shop featuring fun and educational products for discovering and studying the natural world. Raptor Exhibits, available summer and winter. Tour through the VINS exhibits and outdoor enclosures and visit our rehabilitated birds of prey. Find out the story of the 22 resident raptors from the Ferruginous Hawk to the Bald Eagle. Walk the nature trails. Billings Farm & Museum Billings Farm & Museum has been serving the public for over 20 years as an operating dairy farm and a museum dedicated to telling the story of Vermont's rural heritage. Experience real farm work firsthand including care of our Jersey cows, sheep, horses, oxen, and chickens, the afternoon milking of the herd, feed production, and crop rotation. Engaging exhibits depict the home, community, and seasonal work that shaped the lives and culture of rural Vermont. The authentically restored and furnished 1890 Farm House reflects the farm as it was in Billing's day. Engaging tours and programs explore 19th century farm and domestic life. Sugarbush Farm This 550-acre hilltop family farm is open year-round. Enjoy free samples of 14 varieties of cheese and four grades of pure maple syrup. Learn how they tap 6,000 maple trees to create the syrup. See the farm animals and walk the trails. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park Vermont's first National Park interprets the history of conservation and the evolving nature of land stewardship with tours of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller mansion and the surrounding 550 acre forest. 20 miles of carriage roads (no driving) and trails for hiking. Guided tours of mansion & gardens. President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site The birthplace of the 30th President of the United States; born on July 4. Homes remain as they were at the beginning of the century. Fine perennial gardens. National Historic Landmark Plymouth cheese Factory located here, open and making cheese regularly for the public to view. Town Hall Theater Music, drama, dance and movies at the historic Town Hall Theatre. Free noon concerts. Dedicated to keeping the arts alive in the community by the Pentangle Council on the Arts. Quechee Gorge Stop along Highway 4 just east of Woodstock for a beautiful view that looks down 165 feet to the cascading waters of the Ottauquechee River. Stop at the Visitors Center and take a short hike along the gorge. Simon Pearce Glass & Pottery Watch artisans creating hand blown glass and wheel thrown pottery, shop for unique housewares and decorative works of glass and clay including a selection of manufacturer's seconds, glimpse a hydroelectric turbine at work and dine overlooking an old mill stream and a picturesque covered bridge. Hiking: Mount Peg The trailhead is easily accessible from the Village Green. Head down Court St. between Courthouse and Woodstock Inn. At the end of Court St. turn left and then make a right on to Golf Ave. Continue on Golf Ave. to Maple St. At Maple and Golf Streets see parking on left. Trailhead is to the left off the driveway. Trailhead starts with a steep incline through the woods but levels to a gentle series of trails. The vista at the summit includes Mt. Tom, Billings Farm and Museum, Pomfret Hills and Killington Mountain. Hiking: Mount Tom The hill in the center of town on the banks of the Ottauquechee River can be reached by three different trails, including the The Faulkner Trail. The walk is about 30 minutes for the average hiker and provides a magical view of Woodstock. Note that reaching the summit requires sure-footed-ness at the top as the trail gets steep, narrow and rocky for the last hundred yards or so. From the Town Green, walk over the Covered Middle Bridge in the Center of Woodstock to River Street, go straight on to Mountain Avenue that will bear left, as a dirt road. Enjoy the stately architecture of the homes as you head to Faulkner Park, just beyond the lovely white Faulkner Mansion (a private home). The paths up the mountain are easily accessible from this secluded park and provide a series of switchbacks to the top.	Don't miss Bentley's Restaurant for lunch or dinner. Gallery on the Green features a wide variety of Vermont artists. Our favorite sweet stop in Woodstock is Allèchante for artisan bread, pastries and coffee.