Wilson's Castle is worth a visit. It's currently going through renovations which it needs. I will…read morehave to visit when the renovations are finished. Smaller than it looks. It is kinda spooky and is located in beautiful Vermont. I visited in October, went through a short tour and we were free to explore on our own. I would recommend

Hidden gem well worth the trip! The castle is full of intricate trinkets and oddities, especially…read moresince we visited around Halloween time. We especially loved the painted ceilings and stained glass. And the tour guides showed us such hospitality! They even let us play the antique organ

I had seen the other sculpture on the interstate but I made it a point to stop at this one because…read moreI love how the tails are curved around. Makes for a great shot.

We stumbled on this beautiful landmark getting gas. I felt so lucky to see something so cool and…read morebeautiful out in a distance! If you're ever in Vermont Google directions to see this in person. I don't think anyone would be disappointed.

The home is immaculate, so well manicured, cared for, and lovingly maintained. Absolutely beautiful…read moreand nostalgic in a good way. The farm is a must visit. We enjoyed the sheep, chickens, bunnies. The staff was wonderful and very informative. Highly recommend a visit here.

This was quite the surprise. We were visiting relatives in the area when they suggested touring…read morethis place. We had no idea it existed and no knowledge of Abe's family beyond he and his wife. The grounds are huge and the house and the displays are well done and very informative. The garden is beautiful and the views are spectacular. It was also a plus to have the tram wisk us to the Pullman car display since we were running out of time before closing. Gary the docent at the Pullman car did an excellent job explaining the history of the railcar, the company, and the life of the workers. Very educational. One bonus was as members of NARM our $25 admission per person was free. This is a great asset to the area.

It is very evocative of 19th century life on a rural farm; I wouldn't last a week as a yeoman. I…read moreespecially enjoyed the "indoor outhouse" that our prior president used. Wonder how he would feel about the gold plated ones our current occupant of the White House uses. Admission is cheap cheap cheap by NY standards and there is one weekend at the beginning of the season that is free in all VT state parks and most attractions.

I had to come out of my way to get here, and yes it is out of the way. It's amazing that a 20th…read morecentury president came out of such a humble place. On Google maps, I saw it was a small town, but basically the entire town is Calvin Coolidge Town. Yes it's only like 8 buildings and the church functions on its own and the cheese shop rents, but still. As a presidential house connoisseur, this is really a top experience because of the extent of the buildings and the authenticity and preservation of the objects. And unlike any other presidential house, this also doubles as the site a president was sworn into office. There is a thorough exhibit hall where you buy tickets, watch a movie, and see all about Coolidge's presidency with some interesting artifacts and interactive audio elements. They also have the lamp which lit the inauguration in here, and it's a pretty sweet lamp. The video introduction to Coolidge was really engaging and well-made, and one of the top videos I've seen at a historic site as well. Tours start at the general store (which is also cool, take a look before), go through the 2 barns that house antique cars and farming equipment, next to his birth house, to across the street to his later boyhood home. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and really painted Coolidge as a hard worker from a young age and how his dad, a hater of the telephone, was a public notary and personally swore him in at 2:47 am one fateful night. Coolidge should get more attention. Painting his story from the death of his mother to the death of his sister, to the death of his son really painted a picture of a figure outside of politics, and having all the buildings as they were at the time, on a quiet forested part of Vermont, was a really interesting way to spend the day. Definitely a 5/5 and worth a few hours on site. Keep cool and keep Coolidge.

A ten-minute uphill walk to this tower that mental patients were ordered to build for physical…read moreactivity/to alleviate their illnesses. Sadly, when it was done, many started jumping off the top to their deaths, so of course I had to visit and see what this was like. Parked in the ski slope Farm Retreat parking lot and walked to the trailhead across the street. Worth seeing and hiking up to the tower as it's so quick, though you can't enter the tower/climb up it. Visitors put wildflowers at the base of the tower by the sealed door which was so nice. 5 stars!!!!

This is a really cool landmark to see in person, while it was locked up it was still amazing to see…read moreand we even made the small hike to see the cemetery as well.

Closed to traffic but open for pedestrians, the Creamery Covered Bridge was built in 1879 and is a…read moreTown lattice truss design. It does have a vehicle lane (closed to traffic in 2010) as well as a pedestrian lane that was added 40 years later - you can walk both easily. The bright red bridge crosses Whetstone Brook and is a very short distance from the Interstate. You really have no excuse for not stopping to check out this fabulous piece of architecture, Brattleboro's last surviving 19th-century covered bridge. The bridge is the centerpiece of a small park where there is parking and there are some benches. It's a nice stop in any weather. [Review 1674 of 2024 - 160 in Vermont - 22697 overall]

I love covered bridges and this one in Brattleboro VT, built in 1879, didn't disappoint! I love the…read morespruce red wood and the lattice work inside! A nice feature of this bridge is the pedestrian covered walkway along the side of the main bridge which was added in 1920. The bridge is closed to traffic, and had cement blocks at the end, but it is a popular tourist attraction in this cool town of Brattleboro. After we walked and shopped along the downtown area, we spent quite a bit of time exploring this bridge and its history! What a treasure!

What a gem! We visited the area from San Diego and a friend suggested to stop over at the Grant…read moreCottage. This is a great move for any history buff. The home is in the original condition the way President Grant and his family would have experienced it, meticulously maintained by a knowledgeable staff and volunteers. I had a great time and learned a lot. Highly recommend!

My visit to Grant's Cottage was amazing. I learned so much about his last days and how he provided…read morefor his family. The staff and tour guide here are all very informative and friendly. The grounds are well kept and the cottage itself is well preserved. I have no words to describe the breathtaking outdoor overlook. It is not to be missed. Everything within Grant's Cottage is well maintained and you truly feel as if you are brought back to the 1800's. You will enjoy the tour whether you are a history buff or just looking to gain knowledge about President Grant. I highly recommend!!

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.

Took the self guided tour. The mansion were beautiful. Definitely worth checking out. There is also…read morea walking trail inside.

This place was not at all on my radar when I planned our trip. We had driven up to Windsor to see…read moreanother museum, and the lady who sold the tickets there talked to us about our plans and recommended this place as very worthwhile. So, after lunch, we crossed a semi-narrow wooden bridge and drove a mile or two to this site. You park in a small lot (there was a sign for overflow parking too) and either pay there (if a ranger is on duty) or proceed to the visitors' center (where you can also pay). Augustus Saint-Gaudens was an American sculptor in the late 1800s and into the very early 1900s. I was not specifically familiar with him, but his work and that of those who trained with him was featured on a lot of U.S. coins at the time. It seems like a lot of the older coinage (before the models used now) was related to him. He also designed the Shaw Memorial on Boston Commons (related to the 54th Massacusetts regiment of black troops - see the film 'Glory' for background). From the visitors' center, there are several other areas to see. The ground slopes down towards the Connecticut River in the distance. Facing that, there is a small gallery and courtyard featuring some sculptures to your right. There is also a large sculpture of Lincoln. As you proceed towards the river, there are some works housed in spaces bordered by high hedges (including a copy of the Shaw Memorial). These end at the border to Saint-Gauden's original house, which is sometimes open for tours. When we visited, the sign just said 'wait for docent to open the door'. We later learned that this only happens between 2 - 4 p.m., which would be helpful to add to the sign. A bit below that is the studio building, which has examples of the sculptor's work and exhibits on the process of creating some. Maybe 300 yards further down is a memorial (sort of a small Greek temple) where the Saint-Gaudens' ashes (and those of several family members) are buried. It was a pretty site especially if the weather is nice. The sculptures, especially those which are outdoors, make for good photos. They also offer periodic ranger-led tours. We tagged along for part of one, but had already seen some of the areas, so we broke off and continued on our own. If you are in this area and have any interest in sculpture, this is very worthwhile.

This place is beautiful. There is an art gallery and studio inside. Beautiful garden and sculpture.read more

We had such a blast! The musket and cannon demonstrations were so fun. There was a lot for the kids…read moreto enjoy. Walking throughout the fort there were games for the kids to play, they tried writing with a qu'il, and were given small wool scraps to take home. We explored the gardens and the kids ran and got all of their energy out in those wide open spaces! There were beautiful apple trees and more buildings to explore. We didn't sign up to do the boat ride but that is available and is a great way to extend your stay at the fort! The staff was all incredibly friendly understanding of children's needs. We couldn't ask for more with a family day out at a historical site! It was such a joy to enjoy! The gift shop had so many gems it could be very easy to end up with super cool toys Tshirts and yummy treats. Drive out slow and be ready to pull over to read the informative stones on the way out. Worth it!! Don't forget to check out mount defiance after visiting (otherwise it's $10 a car to check out) and on your way there there is a park with a beautiful waterfall to look at.

We spent the day here at the fort, just awsm to see all the History…read more It's a Must see if you like this sort of thing. Great gift shop, cannons, re enactment, all working there are in that time periods clothing. 2nd time there, we highly recommend!!