New England Travel Adventures
Woodstock, Vermont
Traveling to Woodstock, VT one of the US's Prettiest Small Towns - by Bryan Hagberg
Whether it's skiing in the winter, exploring the majestic Vermont foliage in the fall or cooling off in the refreshing valley surroundings in the summer, Woodstock, Vermont offers its visitors something special during each of the four seasons.
A friend and I recently took the hour and half car-ride trip up to the place that Ladies' Home journal, in 1998, called the "prettiest small town in America". Upon arriving in Woodstock, I was content to just sit by the back window of the Shire Motel, where we stayed, an gaze out at the captivating scene of sprawling hills littered with gorgeous trees that comprise the Green Mountains. One look out at the surroundings, and I all but forgot about the fact that my heating bill was due in a few days, and that I would soon have to fill out more forms for my accountant.
Oh, but I did eventually rise from this tranquil scene and do some exploring. Despite the fact that the temperature during my February visit was near zero degrees and the arrival of a severe winter storm was looming on the horizon, my friend and I braved the cold winter weather and walked the peaceful streets of Woodstock. Along our stroll, we noticed such places as the Village Butcher Store, the Dana House Museum, which houses the town Historical Society, the historic Woodstock Inn, and a litany of cozy little shops, including F. H. Gillingham and Sons, which happens to be Vermont's oldest country store.
If you are into antiques, you definitely want to visit the Woodstock - Quechee area. In and around the town are several little antique shops featuring relics from the past. My friend and I checked out a few of these and then ventured out to Quechee, where we visited the Antique Mall, consisting of town floors of jam-packed old-time merchandise, antiques, and collectibles. It was here that I was able to flip through issues of Time magazine dating back to the early 1900s, and glimpse different types of cameras that were popular throughout the20th century.
On our ride back into Woodstock, we stopped along the way to admire the beauty of Quechee Gorge. The look down into the gorge is a sight to behold, and for those who want to take a good nature walk, there are plenty of hiking trails available in and around this area.
Sightseers should also be sure to check out the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, which is located a short distance from the center of Woodstock. This historic site was named for the two men who once owned the famous mansion - Charles Marsh, one of Woodstock's first citizens.
Downtown Woodstock, Vermont
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Additional Woodstock VT Tourist & Travel Information
Woodstock Vermont Chamber of Commerce
18 Central Street, Woodstock, Vt. 05091
Telephone: (802) 457-3555
Information Booth (June to October) 802-457-1042
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