Vermont Points-of-Interest

Information sources: A=AAA Travel Guidebook, AC=AAA Camping Book, H= Highways magazine (Good Sam Club), L=loop tours book (Readers Digest, hardbound), X=Xerox copy, T=1992 Texas travel soft-cover book, NOTE: Key to map-location numbering system: A=2005 trip B=2006 trip C=2007 trip No letter = 2008 trip & later trips NOTE: Info may NOT contain CURRENT phone numbers, prices, times of operation, etc. due to publication dates for info sources. ALWAYS check with the attraction / location / venue for updated info rather than drive to the location and be very disappointed !

VERMONT

2006

VT001 B Jericho (X07) has a museum honoring its favorite son, Wilson Bentley, the man who discovered that no two snowflakes look alike. The museum has displays highlighting his research and photography (housed in the Old Red Mill), also known as Chittenden Mills it houses a milling museum, an art gallery, and a craft shop. Jericho is located on Highway 15 about 30 miles northeast of Burlington. VT002 B Bellow Falls (A125) Green Mountain Flyer is a 1930s diesel train offering sightseeing trips. Departs from Union Railroad Station at 54 Depot Street. Allow 2 hours minimum. Trips depart daily at 11 and 2, mid-Sept thru mid-Oct; Tues Sat at 11 and 2 late-June thru Aug 31. Regular fare = $14; senior discount on Fridays. AAA Discount indicated. Ph: 802.463.3069 or 800.707.3530. VT003 !B Bennington (A125-126) 1) Has 3 covered bridges: The Silk Road Bridge, Papermill Village Bridge, and Bert Henry Bridge, which are all easily accessible from off SR67A on Murphy Road; the 3rd bridge also is off SR67A. US7A north to Manchester and SR9 east to Brattleboro provide scenic drives. 2) Plays and exhibits presented April thru October, while concerts are offered the rest of the year in Bennington Center for the Arts on SR9. Ph: 802.442.7158 for concert & exhibition info, and 802.447.0564 for play info. 3) Hemmings Sunoco Filling Station and Exhibits displays vintage automobiles and auto memorabilia in an old-fashioned, full-service gas station at 216 Main Street. Ph: 802.442.3101. 4) Self-guiding tours: maps available for 2 walking tours of historic buildings, houses and streets, available at chamber of commerce. Also bike tour maps and driving tour map featuring covered bridges. 5) Bennington Battle Monument, [Gem site] .5 miles west of junction of SR9 and US7, then north to end of Monument Avenue to 15 Monument Circle. Was the tallest battle monument in the world when completed in 1891, at 306 feet, and still the tallest structure in Vermont? Upper lookout chamber allows view of 3 states. A diorama and exhibit illustrate the battle. Allow 30 minutes. Daily 9-5, second week of Apr thru Oct 31. $2. Ph: 802.447.0550. 6) Bennington Museum [Gem site] is 1 mile west of junctions of SR7 & SR9 on W. Main Street. A large collection of Grandma Moses paintings. See A126 for details. Allow one hour. Daily 9-6, June-Oct; 9-5 rest of year. $8, over 61 yrs = $7. Ph: 802.447-1571. 7) Old First Church is on Monument Avenue in Old Bennington Village. Congregation dates from 1762 with building from 1806. Regarded as one of the most beautiful churches in New England. Mon-Sat 10noon and 1-4; Sun 1-4, July 1 thru Columbus Day; Sat 10-noon and 1-4, Sun 1-4 Memorial Day weekend thru June 30. Donations. Ph: 802.447.1223. VT004 B Brattleboro (A126) The Belle of Brattleboro is a flat-bottom, 49-passenger wooden vessel providing 75minute scenic cruises on the Connecticut River. Departs from the marina off I-91 exit 3, then south 1.5 miles on US5 (Putney Road): Fri @ 7, Sat-Sun @ noon, 3:30, & 7PM, June 1 thru mid-Oct. Phone to verify schedule. $10-$12, seniors = $8-$10. Ph: 802.254.1263. VT005 B Burlington (A127)

Vermont Points-of-Interest

1) The Burlington Bike Path is a 7.5-mile scenic route from Oakridge Park to the paths terminus at the Winooski River and travels through the towns historic waterfront, along Lake Champlain shoreline and through woodland areas. 2) Battery Park, downtown at the foot of Pearl Street, was eh 1812 scene of engagement between US land batteries and British vessels on Lake Champlain. Park affords scenic views and free summer concerts Thursday and Sunday. Park open daily dawn to dusk. Free. Ph: 802.864.0123. 3) Spirit of Ethan Allen III a 500-passenger triple-deck cruise ship offering sightseeing cruises on Lake Champlain; an audiotape provides info about Revolutionary War battles and local history. Brunch, lunch, nightly dinner, and murder mystery cruises are offered. Reservations reqd for dinner cruises. 90-minute sightseeing cruises depart from Burlington Boat House every 2 hours daily 10-4, mid-May thru mid-Oct. Sightseeing = $11.99. Ph: 802.862.8300. VT006 !B Cabot (A128-129) 1) Cabot Creamery, 2870 Main Street, is a working creamery processing cheddar cheeses. 30-minute guided tours include videotape presentation. Free cheddar samples. Tours daily every half-hour 9-4, June-Oct; Mon-Sat 10-4 rests of year. Last tour begins 1/2 hour before closing. Tour = $2. Ph: 802.563.3393 or 800.837.4261. 2) Goodrichs Maple Farm, 2427 US2 halfway between Marshfield and West Danville, offers tours that outline production of maple syrup. Free samples. Mon-Sat 9-5. Free. Ph: 802.426.3388, or 800.639.1854. VT007 B Graniteville (A130) Rock of Ages Visitors Center, at 558 Graniteville Road, follow signs; from I-89 take exit 6. Guided tours of the 1880 quarry shows drilling, blasting & removal of stone from 550-foot-deep, 50 acre hole carved out of hillside. Largest granite plant in the world. Observation deck. Visitor center open Mon-Sat 8:30-5, Sun noon 5, May-Oct. Manufacturing division open Mon-Sat 8-3:30. Also a 30-minute shuttle tour of active quarry departs about every 45 minutes Mon-Fri 9:15-3 June 1 thru mid-Oct (weather permitting). Admission free. Shuttle fare = $4, over 62 yrs = $3.50. Ph; 802.476.3119. VT008 B Manchester (A133) Hildene [Gem site] 1.5 miles south on US7A to 1005 Hildene Road, is a 24-room Georgian Revival mansion built as the summer home of Robt. Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincolns only child to live to maturity. Contains original furnishings, 1000-pipe organ and family memorabilia. Allow 1.5 hours. Guided tour available daily on the half-hour 9:30-3, mid-May thru Oct 31. Guided house tours = $10. Grounds only = $5. AAA Discount indicated. Ph: 802.362.1788. VT009 B North Bennington (A135) Park-McCullough House [Gem site], a 35-room summer home, contains original furnishings & decorative art, period clothing. Also has gardens and carriage house with carriages. Picnicking permitted. Allow 1 hour. Guided tours daily on the hour 10-3, mid-May thru mid-Oct. $8, over 59 yrs = $7. Ph: 802.442.5441. See color ad on A125. VT010 B Norwich (A135-136) Montshire Museum of Science [Gem site], exit I-91 exit 13 to 1 Montshire Road off SR10A. Features exhibits about science, natural history, and technology. See A136 for details. Allow 4 hours. Daily 10-5. $7.50. Ph: 802.649.2200. VT011 B Plymouth (A136) President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site at Plymouth Notch [Gem site] off SR100A, includes birthplace, boyhood home and burial place of Calvin Coolidge, 30th US president. Birthplace and homestead have original furnishings. (See A136 for details) Allow 2 hours. Entire site open daily 9:30-5, Memorial Day thru Sun after Columbus Day. $7.50. Ph: 802.672.3773. VT012 B Proctor (A136-137) 1) Vermont Marble Museum at 52 Main Street. One of the largest exhibits of its kind in the country, illustrates the origin, quarrying and finishing of marble. Hall or Presidents has marble relief carving of all past US presidents. 11-minute video. Allow 1 hour. Daily 9-5, mid-May thru Oct 31. $6.50, over 61 = $4.50. Ph: 802.459.2300 or 800.427.1396. (See color ad A137). 2) Wilson Castle [Gem site], 3.5 miles south on W. Proctor Road, built in 1867 on 115-acre estate. Castle has 32 rooms with distinctive architecture (see book). Guided tours of 2 of 3 floors depart continuously daily 9-5:30, late-May thru mid-Oct. $8, over 61 yrs = $7.50. Ph: 802.773.3284.

Vermont Points-of-Interest

VT012b B Randolph (A138) Porter Music Box Museum, on US66; from I-89 take exit 4 tehn go 2 miles west on US66 to parking lot then up wooden stairs. Museum houses collection of antique items from 1700s to 1900s. 15minute videotape about history and construction of large disk music boxes. Allow one hour. Mon-Sat 9:30-5 May thru Oct (also Sun noon-4, mid-Aug thru mid-Oct). Last tour leaves 90 minutes before closing. $5. Ph: 802.728.9694 or 800.811.7087. VT013 B St. Johnsbury (A139) Maple Grove Farms Factory Museum, 1 mile east of US2, has maple exhibits and videotape showing the sugaring process. Tours given Mon-Fri 8-2, May thru Oct. Museum free. Factory tour = $1. Ph: 802.748.5141. VT014 B Shelburne (A139) 1) Shelburne Farms, 1.5 miles west of SR7 at junction of Bay & Harbor Road. A 1400-care working dairy farm producing cheese & furniture. Landscape created by Frederick Law Olmsted (Biltmore fame). Open daily 9-5:30, guided 90-minute property tour at 9:30, 11:30, 1:30, AND 3:30. mid-May thru mid-Oct. Grounds & welcome center open daily 10-5 rest of year. $6, over 62 yrs = $5. Guided property tour = $3. Ph: 802.985.8686. 2) Shelburne Museum [Gem site], (A19-140) on US7, consists of 39 galleries and historic structures, over 45 acres. Much to see; refer to A139 for details. Allow 4 ours minimum. Daily 10-5, May-Oct. Ph: 802.985.3346. 3) Vermont Teddy Bear Company, 1 mile south at 6655 Shelburne Road (US7), offers glimpse into the step-by-step creative process required to make these jointed teddy bears. Can design and make a teddy bear for a fee. 30-minute tour daily every half-hour 9-6 in summer, 9-5 rest of year. Phone for extended summer hours. Ph: 802.985.3001. VT015 B Warren (A142) Granville Gulf Reservation, covers 1200 acres between Warren and Granville, protecting the scenic beauty of the 6 miles of highway that bisect this steep, forested gorge. Deer Hollow Brook cascades 80 feet to create picturesque Moss Glen Falls. Theres a 200-foot boardwalk. Free, 24 hours. VT016 B Waterbury (A142) Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream Factory Tours, off I-89 exit 10, then 1 mile north on SR100, provides guided 30-minute tours of ice cream factory. Samples given after tour. NO ice cream production Saturday thru Monday and holidays; a videotape is shown these days. Daily 9-8 *July 1 thru late-Aug; 9-6 **late-Aug thru Oct; 9-5 ***in June; 10-5 ****rest of year. Guided tours every 10* minutes, 15** minutes, every 20*** minutes, every 30**** minutes. $3, over 60 yrs = $2. Ph: 802.882.1240 or 866.258.6877. VT017 B Waterbury Center (A142) Cold Hollow Cider Mill, off I-89 exit 10, 3.5 miles north on SR100, produces about a million gallons of cider each year. Self-guiding tours; 8-minute video. Allow 30 minutes. Daily 8-7 first Sun in July to late-Oct; 8-6 rest of year. Free. Ph: 802.244.8771 or 800.327.7537. VT018 B Woodstock (A143) 1) Billings Farm & Museum [Gem site], .5 miles north on SR12 across the Elm Street Bridge. Encompasses modern working dairy and a museum of Vermont farm life. Much detail on A143. Allow 2 hours. Daily 10-5, May-Oct. $9, over 64 yrs = $8. Ph: 802.457.2355. 2) Sugarbush Farm, 3 miles east on US4, north over the covered bridge at Taftsville, north of Quechee Main St. to Hillside Road, follow signs. Produces maple syrup and cheeses. Allow one hour. Mon-Fri 8-5, Sat-Sun & holidays 9-5. Free. Ph: 802.457.1757 or 800.281.1757. 3) Woodstock Historical Society, north at junction of SR12 & US4 at 26 Elm Street. In an 1807 house. Many items to view (see A143 for details). Allow 1 hour. Mon-Sat 10-4, Memorial Day thru Columbus Day. Fri-Sat 10-4, Sun noon-4 Thanksgiving weekend and Dec 10-12. Tours given every 45 minutes Last tour begins 1 hour before closing. $5. Ph: 802.457.1822.