There are places that make you feel as though you've stepped into another era, and Hidden Springs…read moreMaple is one of them. Tucked away about an hour north of Hadley, Massachusetts, the drive alone is worth making. On this visit, the sun was shining, the temperature never climbed above 80 degrees, and the winding country roads were perfect with the sunroof open. By the time I arrived, it already felt like I'd left the rush of everyday life behind. I've always been fascinated by how real maple syrup is made. The kind that comes from the sap of maple trees rather than the artificially flavored syrups so many of us grew up with. While I didn't get to see the sugaring process itself, Hidden Springs Maple serves as the retail home for the family operation. Inside, the rustic barn-style shop is wonderfully nostalgic, with weathered wood, shelves lined with glass bottles and jars, and the unmistakable feeling of an old-fashioned country store. It feels less like a gift shop and more like a place where New England traditions have been carefully preserved. The young man behind the counter patiently entertained every one of my tourist-style questions, answering each with genuine enthusiasm and an obvious pride in the craft. Before making a purchase, I was invited to sample three grades of syrup--Amber Rich, Dark, and Very Dark (Robust)--a thoughtful touch that lets visitors appreciate how the flavors deepen from one variety to the next. Amber Rich was my favorite, and I happily left with a jug, along with maple cream, locally produced honey, smoked maple syrup, and a gift box of regional jams. Now comes the only real challenge: figuring out how to pack the maple jug and those glass jars for the trip home without breaking a single one. It's a small price to pay for bringing home a taste of a place that feels wonderfully timeless.

TLDR: delightful maple creamies in a beautiful spot…read more Beautiful shop with lots of maple syrup and souvenirs including some toys for kids. The maple creamies just had the right amount of sweetness. If you're feeling more decadent the diabolical donut bowl might fit the bill, which is maple creamie soft serve over a donut with maple syrup poured over.

Harlow's Sugar House in Putney has been making pure Vermont maple syrup since 1928, and it shows in…read moreevery bottle. The blueberry maple syrup is a standout, and the fudge is genuinely some of the best I've had anywhere. If you're driving through southern Vermont, this is a worthwhile stop.

Cute store with lots of local gifts. We always stop here several times when we are in town. We love…read morethe maple ice cream and the maple cookies and nuts. You really can't go wrong with anything from here! An absolute must visit!

I've been coming to Galanes since they were a clothing and sporting goods store back in the 80's…read more Now they're a VT themed gift shop, so when I was in town with my family, I came in here with my wife to browse the locally themed items. I ended up leaving with a t-shirt and some maple candy. I can't resist maple candy. It's in my blood. Service was average, which is why I didn't give the final star, but the location and items in the store bring together a lot of what people want to see when they visit the area.

I'm actually surprised by the low rating! I visited this shop just to browse (I've been to VT…read morebefore but I brought my family here for some trinkets during their visit). I ended up buying myself a few articles of clothing with bears on them since I love the brand Lazy One (and the prices were reasonable). The cashier was pleasant and very welcoming to my visiting family. The floor was clean and everything was well stocked. I'm glad I decided to walk in!

Hannah Grimes is an upscale shop featuring quality handmade artisan gifts and decor. Most of the…read moremerchandise has a New England theme, of course. There were rooms filled with art, jams and syrup, knitted and woven items, jewelry, woodworking and much, much more. The charcuterie boards caught my attention, but they were a little heavy to carry back on the plane. I did purchase a few gift cards, that were locally made. The clerks are friendly, but let you roam without pressure. Prices are high, as you would expect for handcrafted items. They have a public restroom. There is metered street parking out front. Worth a visit and a great place to buy meaningful gifts.

Staple of the downtown community they have all the crafts and goodies to make a great birthday or…read moreholiday gift basket. Plus way more art, studio pottery and clothing options in the back if you want to buy something to decorate your home or office. Grateful to have had the opportunity to stop in recently and hope to find the time to check in more frequently going forward.

Cute place but this sign is obnoxious and a sign of the times. "Tips to ensure prompt service"…read more How about "I am paying for a product and I should get good service regardless of a tip or not". Plus I ordered three pieces of their candy along with my husbands Ice cream and she gave me the wrong ones. Never offered to correct the problem.

Absolute 10/10 experience. Very friendly and helpful service in an adorable shop that sells ice…read morecream along with many other cute trinkets. We tried their "ice cream nachos" loved the concept! Choose a scoop of the Vermont Maple and a scoop of the Golddigger - both were delicious!! They had a nice variety of topping and sauce options for the nachos. Would love to come back next time I'm driving through!

Love this little shop! I always find something here, whether for me or for someone else. I've been…read morecoming for years for everything from my first ear piercing to getting jewelry and gifts -- the shop owner is so friendly, always taking the time to greet everyone who comes in and help assist with any questions or special requests. They have an excellent selection of body jewelry: earrings, necklaces, belly rings, nose rings, gauged piercings. They also have a variety of incense, candles, and holders, dowsing rods and pendulums, tarot and oracle cards. They owner offers tarot card readings (something I'll have to check this out next time). Every time I'm back in town, I make sure to visit!

I come here mostly for incense and fortune telling cards. Oftentimes I find myself walking out with…read morebooks, pendants, and elaborate censures. The in-store selection is small but jam-packed and diverse, as it should be in any homey shop. The owner is very kind, sociable, and seems to have a connection for just about any obscure product I've asked her about. Her prices are fair and all the products are good quality, many handmade or sourced from family-run business. Finally -- there is a store dog, if you have a thing about dogs, for or against. It is quite a calm and friendly dog.

Kim is always helpful always smiling and positive... the products are unique and there's always…read moresomething you can find to buy for someone that you care about weather from Asia or Thailand or Vermont support your local small business!

Owner is very pleasant. Makes you feel welcome. Great variety. I always find something I just have…read moreto have. Stop by everytime I'm in Brattleboro.

I stopped in yesterday to buy parts to fix 4 bracelets. The person at the counter was extremely…read morehelpful and ended up fixing them for me. I didn't have to buy a special glue for just one project or bags of several parts to fit the others. Staff is very knowledgeable, friendly, engaging and customer oriented. I feel well taken care off. Can't wait to go again.

Fabulous items, great prices, kid friendly atmosphere and staff (with the notable exception of one…read moreemployee...), very knowledgeable about rocks, minerals and the like. Lovely store and lovely people but I do miss their old location ! hope they settle into their new space soon

I'm not really a Hallmark shopper. I make my own cards (or have my kids make cards) & find the…read morewhole corporate greeting card industry stupid, to be honest. Seriously, four bucks for something that is either gonna wind up in the trash the next day or be hoarded in someones house, it seems like a giant waste to me. But this shop is fun. The staff is really nice. They have some "Life is Crap" stuff which is hilarious, as well as funny mugs & funny hand painted beer glasses, wine glasses, martini glasses, etc. They have a second floor although I've never gone upstairs. It's worth a trip if you're looking for an "off"-humor gift & they have Red Sox & Patriots stuff too, of course, as well as standard Hallmark stuff.

This is such a cute large hallmark store. The staff is helpful and attentive. I found previous year…read moreChristmas ornaments that I bought at 75% off. Awesome selection of lots of different stuff.

My aunt had surgery in NH and she lives in Keene. I called directly and they were able to do a…read morelovely arrangement (gerbera daisies) with same day delivery. Upon arriving home after her surgery, she loved them. Thank you so much!

The owner Mary and her staff were extremely helpful during a greving and difficult time for our…read morefamily. We had a rush order for funeral arrangements the Monday following Labor Day weekend. Mary arranged to have a member of her team make a special trip to her wholesaler to personally select the flowers and ensure that they would arrive in time to be arranged. Since we had traveled cross country for the funeral we selected The Company of Flowers simply because it was near our hotel. We couldn't be more pleased with the service. When we were presented with the invoice we were equally pleased as we were expecting the cost to be at least twice the amount given the rush request. We couldn't more highly recommend their services, their flowers, their staff or their store in general. My wife and I sincerely thank them. Paul Bach