8 Most Neighborly Towns In Vermont
The 14th State to be admitted to the Union, the thinly-populated, singly landlocked state of Vermont sits in the New England region in the country's northeastern corner. Highlighting awe-inspiring panoramas of verdant hills and valleys during summertime, otherworldly colorful foliage in fall, the white wilderness in winter, and wildflower-covered alpine meadows in spring, The Green Mountain State is there to take your breath away whenever you are on a visit. Dotting the state's scenic 9,250 sq. mi. terrain are incalculable neighborly towns that are worth journeying to on your reinvigorating sabbaticals.
Montpelier
Christened by Colonel Jacob Davis with reference to its homonymous French city, Montpelier, the capital of Vermont and Washington County’s seat is located close to the geographic heart of the state by the side of the upper Winooski River. The unostentatious appearance of the US’ least populous state capital efficaciously obscures the copious creative activities that one gets to experience in this friendly small town.
Although the sundry historical sites like the gold-cupolaed Vermont State House, Kellogg-Hubbard Library, and Vermont History Museum are star attractions of this chief town, the large number of pristine urban oases such as Hubbard Park, Mill Pond Park, and their unlimited open-air recreations should not be missed. Also, pop in at the TW Wood Art Gallery to observe its extensive award-winning art collections, watch performances at the Lost Nation Theater, and shop for farm fresh produce and meet the locals at the Capital City Farmers Market.
Grafton
Initially baptized Thomlinson and later relabeled Grafton after its namesake Massachusetts town, this teeny and welcoming 645-inhabitant settlement is situated in Windham County of southern Vermont. The grandiose backstory of this noted stagecoach hub for transportation across the Green Mountains is appropriately reflected in significant properties like the Grafton Inn (previously the Old Tavern), together with numerous other accommodations that the Windham Foundation has suitably restored.
You can peruse the town's myriad small enterprises, such as Plummer's Sugar House, MKT: Grafton, and the Grafton Village Cheese Company, and participate in the plentiful summer and winter leisure activities provided by the Grafton Trails and Outdoor Center.
Woodstock
Woodstock, the seat of government of Windsor County, is located next to the Ottauquechee River's south branch, almost a three-hour drive from Boston, Massachusetts. Woodstock's idyll town square, popularly the Green, is flanked by umpteen warm and thoroughly maintained buildings with different architectural designs.
On a trip to this town, check out the famed tourist lures like the Billings Farm & Museum, Taftsville Covered Bridge, Woodstock History Center, and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. Yearly, join the friendly locals for the two-day Harvest Celebration at the Billings Farm & Museum in October and Wassail Weekend in December.
Stowe
Chartered by the colonial Governor of New Hampshire, Benning Wentworth, this neighborly Lamoille County town is situated in a wide-ranging grassy valley limited by the Worcester Range to the east and Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak and other Green Mountain peaks to the west. Known for a long time for its snowy pursuits, this Ski Capital of the East offers vacationists excellent skiing and snowboarding amenities in addition to several miles of groomed and backcountry trails at the Stowe Mountain Resort, one of the leading cross-country skiing destinations of North America.
The brilliant colors of the encircling arboraceous mountains in the fall season make Stowe an exquisite location for photo opportunities coupled with a slew of recreational opportunities. When in town, the iconic Stowe Community Church, the paved Stowe Recreation Path, Smugglers’ Notch State Park & Recreation Area, Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center, and Trapp Family Lodge are must-visits.
Manchester
Rimmed in the west by the Taconic Range and in the east by the Green Mountains, Manchester, set close to the Batten Kill River, is a welcoming town and one of the administrative capitals of Bennington County. A quondam iron-mining town and currently an all-season Vermont getaway, Manchester invites globetrotters to take note of its archaic properties, including the Bennington County Courthouse and the Lincoln Family Home, Hildene, symbolical white steeple churches, art galleries like Southern Vermont Arts Center, antique stores like The Vintage Soul, museums like American Museum of Fly Fishing, well-maintained community parks like Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, and cozy diners like Ye Olde Tavern.
Summers and springtime are ideal for hiking the Prospect Rock Trail and trekking through the Merck Forest and Farmland Center. In the cold season, one can go skiing on the downhill slopes of the adjacent Stratton and Bromley Mountains.
Brattleboro
This teeny neighborly town in Windham County occupies the Connecticut River Valley, which is approximately 10 miles north of the state border with Massachusetts at the conflux of the Connecticut River with its 53.8-mile-long tributary West River. Brattleboro, one of the state’s most sought-after travel destinations, proffers a seamless blend of agrarian ambiance and modern comforts, with plethoric gift shops like Penelope Wurr Retail Store, art galleries like Gallery In the Woods, museums like Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, performing arts theater like the Hooker-Dunham Theater & Gallery, and eateries like Peter Havens Restaurant in the Downtown Area.
You can spend quality time at the different parks and recreation centers, such as Fort Dummer State Park and Gibson-Aiken Center, or attend any of the town's yearly events, such as the Brattleboro Free Folk Festival, Maple Open House Weekend, and Brattleboro Women's Film Festival.
Weston
A serene and hospitable Windsor County town circumscribed by the verdurous Green Mountain National Forest, Weston is lauded for its flawless fusion of historical heritage and community spirit. This 623-resident town's National Register-listed historic district features several well-preserved Gilded Age buildings, such as the Weston Playhouse, Old Mill, and the Farrar-Mansur House.
Merrymakers, all year long, get to enjoy diverse performances presented at the Weston Playhouse by the Weston Playhouse Theatre Company, which, established in 1935, is the longest-running professional theatre in The Green Mountain State. Weston’s other impressive sites include the placid Weston Priory, the Vermont Country Store, where traditional goods are sold, and the Weston Village Green, which serves as a setting for fun-filled gatherings.
Shelburne
Christened Shelburne in honor of William Petty Fitzmaurice, the 2nd Earl of Shelburne, this friendly town is set along the banks of Lake Champlain. Part of Chittenden County, and home to around 7,000 residents, its central business district is located around 7 miles south of the city center of Vermont's most populous city, Burlington.
Holidaymakers on a visit to Shelburne adore its mind-boggling Green Mountain spectacles, productive valleys, and the conterminous scrupulously preserved farms. Aside from dropping by the town's celebrated spots like Shelburne Farms, Shelburne Museum, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, and Shelburne Vineyards, vacationers can chill out with friendly locals at the beaches or partake in myriad aquatic pursuits such as swimming, fishing, boating, canoeing, and kayaking at the panoramic Lake Champlain.
From the beatific ski town Stowe to Shelburne's lakeside opulence, the intimately connected towns peppering the 2nd least populous and 6th smallest state of the country lure excursionists with their idiosyncratic charisma. So, if you wish to have a well-rounded experience in The Green Mountain State, seek no further than these neighborly towns perpetually ready to hypnotize you with their natural spectacles, quaint downtowns, restaurants serving finger-licking locally sourced cuisines, unique seasonal celebrations, and never-ending outdoor interests.
