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When you think of Vermont do you picture rolling hills of deciduous trees, beautiful streams, and a scent of maple syrup in the air? You would be mostly right! In Brattleboro it was the scent of cheese in the air that drew us to it. More specifically the Grafton Village Cheese company.

All of Vermont is beautiful, but Brattleboro is a nature lovers paradise. There are trails for walking and hiking, rivers for fishing, biking trails with gorgeous surroundings, and a darling downtown.
Truly there is something for everyone here.

 

Where to Hike in Brattleboro, Vermont

Hiking in Brattleboro, Vermont is also a popular activity. The Indian Rock Park trail is the most well-known for its scenic views of Brattleboro, Vermont and surrounding area.

Other well know trails include:

Hiking on Mount Ascutney – Considered one of North America’s most scenic trails, this hike will take you through beautiful scenery.

The Riverwalk Trail, which is a  half mile loop that follows the Whetstone Brook through scenic woods, and connects with the Indian Rock Park trail;

The Homestead Woods walking trail, which has one of Brattleboro’s best wildflower displays in late spring too!

Grafton Village Cheese Company in Brattleboro

But the main event for us was the Grafton Village Cheese Company. Did you know there was a name for cheese lovers? It is turophile. And we are a family of turophiles! But the greatest among us is my husband. This cheese shop was his candy store, and his eyes were huge as we surveyed this turophile dream. Everywhere you look there are cheeses out for the tasting. Most of them veer toward the basic cheddar but in every variation possible.

However, the center of the store has a large counter with enormous blocks of cheese. They are still local cheeses, but the variety is overwhelming. The employees cut slice after slice for you to nibble and amaze over. After 30 min of tasting, I couldn’t remember what I liked in the first place, but my husband kept on for a full hour, chatting with the very knowledgeable cheese monger about his favorite cheeses and being introduced to some of his new favorites. Meanwhile, I ate nearly half a jar of lemon curd on sampling crackers.
We came home with pounds of cheese and more than a few dollars short. But well worth it!

Best Things to do In Brattleboro, Vermont.

 

• Brattleboro Museum and Art Center – Visit the museum to learn more about Brattleboro’s art, history, and culture. While it is small it has plenty of interesting exhibits.
• The New England Maple Museum – The museum is the perfect place to learn about maple syrup production and how it became a Vermont tradition. It also includes some recipes for cooking with maple syrup!
• Marlboro College – Visit Marlboro College in Brattleboro, Vermont, one of six schools accredited by the Association of American Colleges and Universities. Founded as an educational experiment in 1826, Marlboro was the first coeducational college or university in America that did not require daily attendance at religious services.
• Grassroots Vermont Gallery – this gallery features a diverse collection of contemporary work by regional artists that highlight the beauty of nature in rural communities.
• The Whetstone Memorial Library is an architecturally significant building with large public spaces for meetings or other gatherings. It includes a Children’s Room, Teen Area, Adult Reading Room, Genealogy Research Station (with access to AncestryLibrary), Special Collections Collection which houses material on local organizations such as VACOA (Vermont Association of Community Organizations) or BTVPWUA.
• Brattleboro Farmer’s Market – Held year-round, this market provides a variety of produce from local farmers as well as other stands with crafts and jewelry.

The Creamery Covered Bridge

The Creamery Covered Bridge is a historic sitein the town of Brattleboro, Vermont. Built by J. A. Holton and Company in 1875 using whip-sawed lumber for diagonal bracing, it is one of three covered bridges left standing that are from that era that is still used as part of the road.

Retreat Farm in Brattleboro, Vermont

Retreat Farm is a beautiful and serene location for yoga, meditation or just time to relax. One can enjoy the peacefulness of this farm by visiting the barnyard, walking down country lanes or hiking through acres of woods.

Seminars at Retreat Farm feature topics such as Mindful Eating (using meditation techniques), Yoga Nidra Meditation Program (a series of guided meditations), Ayurvedic Massage Therapy Program which provides individualized therapeutic sessions.

Tours are available on Wednesday mornings from 11:00 am – 12 noon year round , with the exception of most holidays.

 

 

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