Really unique and beautiful covered bridge! Built in late 1908, it's one of only two covered…read morerailroad bridges left in Vermont! The full length cupola along the top is apparently the only one of its kind (used to carry away the train smoke). I first visited back in mid October 2021 and I'm so glad I did bc they've since done extensive renovation and changed the vibe completely :( I'll admit, the renovation is greatly needed - this bridge is a historical treasure and I'm sure they're trying to preserve what they can and make it still usable. But it seems they've changed it from a railroad bridge to a regular car bridge and that, unfortunately, has caused it to lose some of its character. When I first visited, the bridge and surrounding park area were largely unmaintained - trees and vines were growing all over everything, wild and unruly! The bridge was dark and ominous, with large gaps in between the railroad planks, revealing the dark, swirling river below. Very interesting and creepy experience haha! Now, on my second visit early October 2023, it seems they've since cleared the brush and completely replaced the bridge floor. It's no longer a railroad track - it's wood with a railroad looking decor. And they've replaced all the inside planks and boards - and are now working on the outside. So it doesn't much look old anymore lol! Almost looks like a new bridge entirely! There used to be a nice historic marker sign and a covered shelter near the gravel parking area but those are gone now too. I hope they're planning on putting them back! There's a handicap accessible platform to the left of the bridge that overlooks the river - very lovely views. There's a small dirt path to the side that takes you up to the bridge but it's extremely steep with tons of loose gravel - very difficult to traverse. If you go to the right of the parking lot, through the two tall pine trees, you'll see a little path up the hill to the road and it's much easier. Definitely still a lovely visit, especially in the fall with all the autumn splendor of reds and oranges in the surrounding trees. But the antique, historical charm is gone sadly. I guess things like this can't stay as they are without deteriorating entirely. The lesson here - visit these things while you can!! Never miss an opportunity :)

This well maintained historical marker is a few blocks away from the Vermont State House, along…read moremain street in a block of mostly residential homes. It remembers a great Vermonter that should not be forgotten. The marker reads... "William Upham resided here during the first half of the nineteenth century. He was an ardent abolitionist, voting against the Fugitive Slave Act and slavery in new states and territories. A member of the Whig Party, Upham represented Vermont as a U.S. Senator from 1843 to 1853. He supported the Canadian rebellions of 1837 and 1838 and vehemently opposed the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848. Senator William Seward eulogized him, saying, "His national policy was the increase of industry, the cultivation of peace and the patronage of improvement." Upham was interred at Green Mount Cemetery in Montpelier." - Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, 2015.

This large granite memorial features three flagpoles and is carved with the symbols for the Air…read moreForce, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines and Merchant Marines. On the main column, "Dedicated to the glory of almighty God in memory of Montpelier. Man and women who by their unselfish patriotism have advanced the American ideals of liberty and the universal brotherhood of all mankind." And across the bottom, "To those who sacrificed their lives in our country's wars." This is worth a stop if you're stopping in Montpelier. There is parking nearby at the high school.

Just Go (#36) My…read morefirst time visiting Vermont was in June 2023. Summertime is pretty in The Green Mountain State (referring to the mountains after which it got its name from the first French settlers in the early 1600s, called the area's mountains the "Verd Mont") Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour & Ice Cream Shop: Unfortunately, since we arrived so late in the afternoon (one hour to closing) the Factory Tour was sold out. The tour usually sells out quickly. I joined the queue to purchase ice cream. We shared a cup of the Chocolate Fudge Brownie. Oh yes, lots of fudgy chunks of brownie goodness mixed into dark and rich chocolate ice cream. Please don't send this to the Flavor Graveyard soon... Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard: We went to the The Flavor Graveyard which rested on a hill. Gone, But Not Forgotten. The Flavor Graveyard is a place where Ben & Jerry's honors discontinued flavors with granite headstones and epitaphs. Whaaat? No more Aloha Macadamia? [2001-2002] Who doesn't love their rich milk chocolate cashew Brazil-nut butter ice cream with macadamia nuts covered in white & dark fudge & milk chocolatey swirl?? I mourn their chunks and swirls :( World's Tallest Filing Cabinet: It was at one point one of 11 "Yelp's Most Outrageous Attractions." We had VT on our itinerary so we decided to look for it and turns out it wasn't too far from Ben & Jerry's Factory (27 miles). We found the stacked filing cabinets... it is said to be 38 drawers tall. The stack is made of real cabinets and sits in the parking lot at 208 Flynn Avenue in the Southwest edge of town. I think it's cool that VT had some neat stuff to see but I wouldn't go out of my way to see this. It was some random, cool roadside attraction to see. We made a pitstop at a cookie place (Vermont Cookie Love) and purchased some cookies for the road. We love the cookies... soft and not too sweet. Loved the names they chose for their cookies. They all had something to do with "love." Not sure when we'll be back in The Green Mountain State but thanks to the Great State of Vermont... and for Ben & Jerry's! Review #3789

Vermont is a state in New England and has approximately 643,000 people living there. Canada is to…read morethe North, New York to the West, Massachusetts to the South, and New Hampshire to the East of it. It's the sixth smallest state in the U.S. and the second least populated. The most populous city or town in Vermont is the City of Burlington, with 44,500 people. The capital is Montpelier with approximately 8,000. It is the seventh coldest state in the country. The Green Mountains goes through Vermont, from north to south. The mountains located there are Mount Mansfield, Killington, Camel's Hump, and Mount Abraham. These locations are known for their winter sports. There are many trails; a popular one is the Appalachian Trail, which also runs through VT. This state is also known for its maple syrup, cheddar cheese, and it's where Ben &, Jerry's was created. My family and I enjoyed our visit there. We explored the area, shopped, played, and dined. The vista was beautiful with rolling hills and mountains. It's very rural and peaceful. There's plenty more to see but we enjoyed our visit there recently.

The Old Round Church is worth a side trip if you happen to be in the area. Richmond is a very nice…read moreold New England town. It is pretty lively for how small it is. We went in winter and it was beautiful with snow and ice everywhere, but I believe it would be equally pretty when it's warmer and one could wander about a bit more. There is a pretty library nearby as well and a nice truss bridge. It is closed in winter (after October?) so we'll have to back for a better look.

The Old Round Church in Richmond is a scenic spot for a wedding-- and everyone seems to know it…read more In the summer, if you drive through Richmond between 10am and 4pm you will nearly always see vestiges of wedding. Because the Church is not a practicing church (there are no weekly services) they do as many as three weddings there a day on Saturdays and Sundays May-October. The up side of this is that your date is unlikely to be fully blocked out. The down side to this is that you have little buffer on either side of the ceremony to decorate and un-decorate the building. The inside of the church is well-restored and if you're into a super-new-england-yankee aesthetic, you're in for a treat. It's unique inside and out and the views of the surrounding mountains outside add to the ambiance. Another tiny set-back (but not enough to knock a star off in my opinion, there are too many great things about the space) is that those Yankee Protestants of the early 1800s were by an large a lot smaller than we are today, so the pews can be a little tight for larger (or pregnant) guests. Also, it's BYO - officiant-- so you can have the scenic, yankee, vermonty setting in a church and you can have your ceremony be any denomination you want...or none. Fab.

The Adamant Coop is a charming little all-in-one shop/bakery/post office for the tiny town's…read moreresidents - located in a historic house, and sitting at the intersection of about 4 dirt roads in what seems like the middle of nowhere. So how did I come to discover this local gem? Apparently most outsiders that stop in are lost and looking for directions (according to their website) - but exploring this little village has been on my bucket list for ages - so I deliberately sought it out and all bc of a movie I saw many years ago LOL! And based on the responses from the staff when I asked about the movie, I'm probably one of the only ones that's ever visited for that reason haha! The film was What Lies Beneath with Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford. One of the actors describes the town as "that artsy little village down 7" (meaning highway 7 - one of Vermont's main arteries)...and at one point in the movie, she goes to Adamant and explores a little - it looked adorable and who doesn't love an artsy village in the fall right? So I had to come see it - and the actual place IRL is nothing like the movie portrayed of course (thanks Hollywood :P) - and it's not even anywhere near Highway 7 - but that's bc they didn't even film it here haha!! Nonetheless- it was well worth the stop and I'm so glad it worked out the way it did! They have all sorts of treats and goodies and local arts and crafts - and it's such a cozy little shop in a beautiful setting surrounded by lakes, streams, and fall colors! Residents in the community take turns baking homemade goodies for the Coop to sell so I scored some gigantic ginger cookies...and just after I arrived, another local resident brought in a fresh pumpkin spice cake and was slicing it up so of course I had to get a piece of that too! All of it was amazing! I also grabbed some other snack items made locally - some street corn dip that was fantastic - ate every last bit of that on my trip and thought about coming back for more lol. And also a unique treat I'd never seen before - chocolate covered sunflower seeds!! Oh they were just wonderful - absolutely loved those! They also have jars of various locally grown and pickled veggies and such, as well as fresh brewed coffee and all sorts of local art pieces, jewelry, and even t-shirts! The Coop also serves as the town's post office. There's even a small park across the street right next to the little rushing brook with seating. It really is such a cute place - there's some cozy seating by their little wood-burning stove and the staff were just lovely to chat to. There's also a funny little bit of history about the town's name - originally it was named Sodom - and the pond across the street is still called Sodom Pond - but apparently one of the first preachers in the town (and a few other residents) refused to get their mail delivered to a town named Sodom so they were "adamant" about changing the name haha! Such an interesting little side adventure- if you're in the area, it's very much worth a stop!

While on vacation I popped in to get some provisions. I bought some lovely kale, Italian sausage…read morefrom a local farm, organic chicken broth and cannellini beans and local garlic. The ensuing pot of greens and beans was amazing. Seems like a kind of locals-only place as folks all seemed to know each other really well.

Great town library. Very helpful staff. Seems like a safe place for children and adults. Great…read moreebook lending via Libby/Overdrive and part of Green Mountain Library Consortium. Checking out ebooks is easy.