As one of our (currently) 433 National Park sites, this one tells the story about why we have…read moreconservation and the story behind the families who have contributed to our conservation efforts. Located just on the edge of town, this park is huge and I would have loved to hike in the back country. Unfortunately we arrived late in the day and only had enough time for a mansion tour and to take a short hike on the 'Jr Ranger Loop'. The house itself is beautiful and I highly recommend stopping in for a tour. Loved chatting with the rangers here.

Last weekend, my wife and I were thrilled to discover that Vermont is home to its very own National…read morePark and it's located right here in Woodstock! As longtime supporters of National Parks, we couldn't wait to experience it for ourselves. Entry to the park is free, though ranger-led tours of the mansion run about $9 per adult. The park's history is absolutely fascinating. It preserves the boyhood home of George Perkins Marsh, a pioneering environmental thinker whose book Man and Nature laid the foundation for conservation in the U.S. Another interesting fact: the park includes the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the country, originally reforested by Frederick Billings as a model of sustainable forestry. We opted for a ranger-led mansion tour (worth every penny), which brought the estate's legacy of stewardship to life through beautifully preserved furnishings, art, and stories of the Marsh, Billings, and Rockefeller families. After the tour, our ranger highly recommended a scenic trail hike. It was an easy, peaceful walk that led us to a lovely lake loop - perfect for stretching our legs and soaking in nature. The trail meandered beneath shady trees and felt like a serene escape from the world. All in all, if you're curious about conservation history or just looking for a peaceful, enriching outing in woodland surroundings, this park is a gem. The blend of free admission, affordable ranger tours, compelling legacy, and gentle trails make it a memorable and meaningful stop in Woodstock.

I am so glad my daughter discovered this historic site. It was a great experience!…read more Yes, originally I thought to myself...why did I have to pay $8 per person to visit the site and walked the trail....Well, after the experience, I did not regret paying the $8. The visitor center was well kept. There was a 10 minute video, and so many items discovered from the war displayed neatly inside the museum. We took the green/Baldwin trail. On this beautiful cool breezy day, my daughter and I walked around and saw all the special locations marked along the trail. The trail was well kept. The views were stunning. Highly recommend!

Lived in Vermont most of my life and this place was always on my lists of places to visit: every…read morething is extremely well maintained and the actual visitors center was extremely clean: they do have one unisex bathroom with a changing table in the back stall area. We really enjoyed the extremely informative staff member we spoke with and gave excellent suggestions for hiking with little ones. The views from the top was extremely beautiful. The trail we hiked provided shade most of the way so even on an extremely hot morning we enjoyed our visit

A very impressive location with panoramic views of the countryside. It's a very befitting place.read more

The Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery, located in Randolph Center, is a State run and operated…read morecemetery. This cemetery is an eternal resting place for veterans, their spouses, and some dependents. When you first drive into the cemetery, you are greeted with a beautiful monument area with the US Flag. The cemetery is broken up in sections and each section has a beautiful view of the scenery of Vermont. At the top of the hill is a beautiful view of the cemetery, picture included. Here you will find a chapel with a dedication sign (also included here), that can be used for services. Veterans interred at the cemetery receive perpetual care for their lot, including a marker and funeral honors free of charge. This is typical for most veteran cemeteries. However, at the VT Veterans Memorial Cemetery, spouses and dependents interred receive the same perpetual care and a marker for a small fee. Not common at other veteran cemeteries is the option to have your own stone. This cemetery allows for that option and also has a section for commercial purchased monuments and these purchases are made by the veteran or their family. Space is available for either casketed and cremated remains. Also located on the grounds is a beautiful memorial garden that provides a memorial stone for those veterans who are buried at sea or scattered. The cemetery provides simply a beautiful resting place with the beautiful scenery of Vermont in all directions. Certainly a recommendation of mine for any veteran.

I stopped by on the way back from Burlington to New York to stretch my legs and I'm so glad I did!…read more When I stopped by they were having an international contest of atlatl, an ancient hunting weapon, a wooden handle to help launch spears. I have never heard of it, but the mechanics of it made sense to me when explained - it works a lot better than throwing spears with bare hands. Apple trees in front of the museum was loaded with nice apples. I was so surprised to see them, because in Central New York we had a terrible apple year this year, producing something like only under 10% of the usual year. Our local orchard that usually have their stands full of apples had none this year, and they were selling vegetables instead. I asked and I was told that it's because Lake Chaplain protected those trees from frost damage at a wrong time of year. Whoa! I am so glad that I feel like I learned quite a bit at the museum about the history of Vermont in this quick visit. For example, I learned that Burlington where my son is at was under water many thousands of years ago. The history of Native Americans (Abenakis), the French, the British and Americans were nicely organized and displayed. I loved looking at the preserved tavern, and explanations about period clothings that were displayed upstairs. Loved photographs and paintings of local birds, also upstairs, in the hallway. I also enjoyed reading bout Olmsted and looking at the carved canoe. I had no idea they burn the wood to hollow out the wood to make those canoes - it makes complete sense but somehow I used to imagine they must have carved the woods out by hands. It was cool to look up at the bridge from below, too! It's definitely a great place to make a stop to stretch your legs during your drive.

What a fantastic not-so-hidden gem with about 9000 years of history, some of which is on display…read more And for $5 admission....what a bargain. This description form their website tells it better than I can: "Chimney Point on Lake Champlain in Vermont is one of the earliest, most intensely settled, and most strategic sites in the Champlain Valley, with human habitation dating back as far as 9,000 years ago. Exhibits and special events present the story of the three early cultures in the Chimney Point area - Native American, French Colonial and early American." The 18 photos I've posted only scratch the surface and begin to tell this marvelous story. Please check the calendar. Hours and dates are limited: (2018) OPEN: May 26, 2018 - October 14, 2018, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Open Wednesday through Sunday and Monday holidays

City of Rutland has approximately 15,800 residents and it is the third largest city in the state of…read moreVermont. As with most of New England, the city has a historic downtown area. It was incorporated in 1892. A couple of major employers are Rutland Regional Medical Center and General Electric Aircraft Engines. Merchants Row is located in historic downtown; it's a 19th century street with 108 historic buildings. They also have a 275-acre park for hiking, biking, skateboarding, etc. It is definitely the definition of a quintessential New England town (but it's actually a city). My family and I enjoyed our visit. We walked around and explored; they even had a Whoopie Pie Festival the day we went which was fun. Overall, it's a quaint and fun little small city.

The historical marker stands on the same median grass as the Middlebury Civil War memorial and…read morepoints out an interesting history of Vermont and the north. The marker reads on both sides, "From 1796 to 1814 Court Square was the site of the first Addison County Courthouse, which also served as the seat of the Vermont Legislature (1800, 1806), and home of Middlebury's first female academy (1800). Here in June 1804 a New York slaveholder brought suit before a session of the Supreme Court to reclaim an escaped slave apprehended in Vermont. When his proffered bill of sale was deemed insufficient proof of ownership, his attorney demanded what the court would accept. Justice Theophilus Harrington of Clarendon responded with some of the most famous words from a Vermont courtroom, "Nothing short of a bill of sale signed by God Almighty Himself." The former slave went free." The marker was erected in 2019 by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. [Review 18490 overall - 89 in Vermont - 2012 of 2022.]

With the burial of Governor Israel Smith in 1810, the historic West Street Cemetery saw its first…read moreuse. The North Main Street Cemetery, which was established in the 1780s, was superseded by this city cemetery. After the Evergreen Cemetery was built in 1861, West Street Cemetery saw a decline in burials and eventually ceased to be used by the end of the 19th century. Many burials were eventually moved to Evergreen Cemetery. Veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican-American War, the Civil War, and Vermont's fourth governor are interred among the more than 600 graves. Perhaps the most noteworthy person interred here is Governor Smith who served as US Congressman, US Senator and Vermont's Fourth Governor. He was elected to represent Vermont's 1st District in the US House of Representatives, serving from 1791 to 1797 and 1801 to 1803. He was then elected as a Senator from Vermont to the US Senate, serving from 1803 to 1807. Finally, he served as Vermont's Governor from 1807 to 1808. The cemetery is in excellent condition. Well maintained and quite secure. [Review 18468 overall - 67 in Vermont - 1990 of 2022.]

One of the larger and more impressive Civil War Monuments, this one simply says "Middlebury, To Her…read moreSoldiers." The monument depicts a soldier in Civil War uniform grasping a flag and standing atop a multi-layered granite pedestal. Figures depicting an artilleryman, a cavalryman, a marine, and an infantryman stand at the four corners of the pedestal's central section. The granite is from the Barre VT quarry and it stands 32 feet tall. [Review 18489 overall - 88 in Vermont - 2011 of 2022.]