What a great way to spend the afternoon! I went with my wife and Australian shepherd and we had a…read moreblast! This place is dog friendly which you rarely find in these types of places. The castle was so cool and has so many unique and rare antiques. The tour guides were so knowledgeable about the history, building techniques, and all of the antiques and art work in the castle. The castle has a beautiful marble deck outside over looking the green mountains and it was a perfect way to end out the tour. I would highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area!

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

Museum is a children's paradise that entertains the young and enchants the young at heart. However,…read moreas a mother with two special needs children, I do not recommend it. The hyperstimulation caused by some of the exhibits is far too stressful for them and there needs to be more ADA infrastructure for physically challenged children. For example, I could not take one of my children on the beautiful nature path because the gravel would have gotten lodged in their wheelchair. Also, some of the visitor services staff were quite short and impatient with us, because we were not aware and familiar with all their rules and policies. One of them actually yelled at my child for tapping repeatedly on the fish glass because it was 'annoying' them. My advice: do some research on the museum to see what kind of amenities, rules and policies they have in place before you go to decide if it's the right place to spend a family afternoon.

Excellent museum with things for kids of all ages and adults to do. We did a handful of things but…read morewe were there during the school winter break. By the time we got there 15 minutes after opening the museum was packed and we had to wait in a long line to get in. From there the museum continued to get more and more busy. Our kids couldn't get to exhibits and it was just a constant sea of people so didn't stay as long as we'd have liked. Maybe next time.

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 was a pleasant visit that I took on my way back down from visiting the White Mountains. This…read morehistorical home was the home of and don't laugh at my explanation, a French guy who grew up in NYC. Augustus Saint-Gaudens died in 1907 and lived here for 7 years til he died. He was a sculpter and he created the gold coin called the Saint-Gaudens double eagle, a twenty-dollar gold coin, or double eagle. This is the only way I knew who he was because I have seen this coin referenced in books and online when I was young. The house is a nice pleasant stroll in the late 1800s early 1900!

I wasn't completely sure what to expect from the American Precision Museum, but given our technical…read morebackgrounds, it seemed likely to be interesting. It is a bit difficult to access their parking; the turn from the main road is pretty sharp. You park 'in back' but it wasn't clear if that included some spaces along the side or just in back. Parking is all on various gravel areas and was limited, but there were not a lot of other guests on the weekday morning that we visited. The museum is built into an old machine shop / manufacturing mill where they had a large water wheel in the basement powering overhead axels with belts, etc. So some of the exhibits were actually made in this building 150 years ago. The lady who sold the tickets (I think it was $8 or $10 apiece) was friendly and helpful. She also recommended another stop for our afternoon (the Saint-Gaudens Historic Site) which we liked. She cued up the short intro video for us after which we entered the main exhibit space and browsed. They provided a historical context for the museum, citing the area as the nineteenth century's rough analog to Silicon Valley. The work done in shops along the Connecticut River accelerated machining of parts and machine tools and trained apprentices that spread out across the U.S. They also had a lot of different machine / product examples and how they evolved into things one might be familiar with now. They went from mass producing gun-stocks to making parts for bicycles and typewriters. There were also examples of precision tools. Ultimately shops in the area also produced the expanded range of industrial machine/tools that produced smaller parts for various uses. We spent just over an hour here and felt it was a very worthwhile stop. Though we didn't bring any kids, I'd think that those over 8 might find some of the exhibits interesting.

Lovely little museum tucked away. I went because my nerdy dd wanted to learn about 19th century…read moremanufacturing - but I stayed because it was so interesting. I had no idea that Vermont was the cradle of major innovation in manufacturing. The exhibits actually make it interesting, even to non-engineering types like me. Needless to say, my daughter was completely fascinated.

Firstly, hands down one of the most impressive art museums I have ever visited with such a coveted…read moreand enviable collection! Love the Greek pottery and stone reliefs. It's a good thing they do not charge admission though because, honestly, I wouldn't pay to walk through several silent galleries with no staff to liven the experience. The guides were very inattentive and seemed to be more interested in what was on their phones than in the visitors and what was happening around them. As a former musem coordinator I found this very concerning, especially with all the valuable pieces on display. In addition, they did not appear to be very interested in sharing information with visitors. I mostly recieved, curt responses to my questions, like: "No idea." This museum has so much potential, if only they could get the right people on the floor.

This is a thought-provoking museum which is in a section on the Dartmouth College campus…read more Firstly, admission is free (yay!) Secondly, there are two floors full of various art forms. I love how each exhibit was something I had never seen before. Overall, the museum is very clean and organized. I was impressed by how interactive the exhibits are: each station has questions to ask yourself and sometimes even tangible sample structures to help you better understand the art without damaging it.

Amazing place, having been the home of our 30th President, the place where he was born, established…read morehis business, the place where he took the Oath of Office, and the place where he and several generations of his family have found their resting place. Perhaps it is a view of a time when our people looked at the Presidency with respect. And with the incumbent of the Oval Office viewing his office as a Public service and not as a personal source of enrichment at the expense of our people. No gilded bathrooms, no creepy ballrooms, no disrespect to our nation. Coolidge was perhaps not our greatest president but very much a a part of our history The estate is more a village than a presidential residence, considering the Coolidge family both lived and worked in the hamlet. Excellent and friendly visitor center.

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.

Who knew I could have SO much fun at a farm and museum?! This was genuinely one of the sweetest…read moreexperiences during my time in Vermont! From the delicious cheese tasting to sampling maple syrup and apples, every little part of this experience was such a treat! I especially loved the butter demonstration and getting to make our own butter! A special shoutout to the wonderful woman from Wales who guided us through the butter making experience. She was absolutely amazing! So incredibly kind, welcoming, knowledgeable and genuinely made the experience that much more memorable. There's something so special about a place that makes you appreciate the simple things in life. I never imagined I'd have this much fun learning about farm life, tasting delicious local products, and making butter, but here we are. Such a charming, wholesome little Vermont experience. I would absolutely recommend stopping here! And Dazzle, I love you so much

We visited Billings Farm because it kept coming up as a must-see stop on our New England road trip…read more I don't like leaving negative reviews, but with 4 teenage kids, the experience was very underwhelming. The highlight was definitely the baby calves, so be sure to time your visit since that area is only open during certain hours. You can only pet two of the milk cows in the barn, and beyond that there were a few horses, pigs, sheep, and chickens. It felt more like a large petting zoo than a destination worth the admission price. For our family of six, it cost over $100 to visit, which didn't feel like a good value. We have very similar farms in California that are either free or only a few dollars to enter. If you have very young children, it might be worth a visit, but for adults or families with older kids, I wouldn't recommend it.

Our group of six adults stopped in at the Fairbanks Museum and the exhibits there exceeded our…read moreexpectations! Anyone interested in animals or natural history would enjoy the museum, and even adults shouldn't overlook some of the hands-on exhibits geared toward children.

Loved the museum, loads of history and artifacts. We saw Butterflies in the planetarium, we can…read moreall do our part. Free seeds for wildflowers, too. Just lovely.

I was drawn to the marker in front and then took some time to explore the property. On this late…read moreafternoon, the house was secured so there wasn't much to see. The marker tells the story. It reads, "Windsor, settled in 1764, became the political center of the Upper Connecticut River Valley. Here the Constitution of the "Free and Independent State of Vermont" was adopted at the tavern of Elijah West on July 8, 1777. This constitution was the first to prohibit slavery and establish universal manhood suffrage. Vermont was an independent republic until 1791, when it was admitted into the Union as the 14th state." The marker was erected in 1990 by the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation. There is free parking nearby. [Review 1672 of 2024 - 159 in Vermont - 22695 overall]

The VT Old Constitution House is a quaint small museum that is the base of Vermont's history…read more Vermont's consitution was drafted and signed here in this very building in 1777. It was a travern then, and also located up the street, on the parcel of land which is now a Veterans Park. The Vermont constitution was far reaching -- the first to prohibit slavery, establish universal voting rights for all males, and authorize a public school system. This constitution guided the VT Republic for 14 years until 1791, when Vermont was finally admitted to the Union as the 14th State. Called the "Birthplace of Vermont", the restored Old Constitution House is open May through October. It is run by local Windsor volunteers. It is located on Main St (route 5) just south of downtown.