Travels in Southern Vermont

Fun things to do in 'Stick Season'

2006-11-15T10:22:00.000-05:00

Well... it's "Stick Season" now... that time of year that the leaves have gone from the trees and the skies are grey. But that doesn't mean there aren't fun things to do in Southern Vermont!

It's a great time of year to really see the landscape of our fair southern Vermont, but do keep in mind it's also hunting season. Check with the state parks, or local hiking experts for the best places to take a walk in the woods. Protected land spaces are best, try a visit to Merck Forest in Rupert, or a stroll thru the trails at the New England Tropical Conservancy off of Route 7 in Bennington, near the Apple Barn. Or, check with the friendly folks at Nature's Closet in Bennington for other safe bets for woodsy strolls this time of year.

Looking for some pre-holiday fun? The Bennington Museum offers a "Holiday Shopping Blowout" on November 24th and 25th with a special sale in their gift shop, as well as their "Festival of Trees" and more holiday events. More great holiday shopping is available at local shops throughout the weekend including Hawkins House, at 262 North St. The 2nd Congregational Church hosts the ever popular "Snowball Bazaar" on December 1st and 2nd. A great place to pick up local gifts, old and new. Don't forget the town Christmas Tree Lighting at Merchant's Bank Park in downtown Bennington on December 1st, 7-8:30, plus a visit from Santa. And bring an ormanent to add to the town tree!

For more events this time of year, visit our Southern Vermont event listings! And if you have a special event your group is hosting in the region, drop us a note at grandpa@thisisvermont.com

Call for Local Artists at the Bennington Museum

2006-06-06T12:02:00.000-04:00

The Bennington Museum is calling for local artists to
participate in the Local Artist Program with sessions running July
22-September 3, September 9-October 8, and October 14- November 26.
This is a juried exhibit and the museum welcomes all submissions for
review, from traditional crafts, to oil painting, to photography, to
illustration, to sculpture. The jury is open to any and all art forms.

The application deadline for the next session of the Local
Artist Program is Friday, June 16. Local Artist is defined as an artist
living or working within thirty miles of the Bennington Museum.
Artists must submit samples of their work either in slides, prints, or
originals, an artist's statement, and a one page proposal for gallery
use. Shows will run for six weeks, with a seventh week in between for
deinstallation and installation. Applications can be picked up at the
museum or call 802-447-1571 for more information.

The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main St. (Route 9) one
mile west of the intersection of Routes 7 and 9 in downtown
Bennington, Vermont. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed
Wednesdays. For more information, visit the website at www.benningtonmuseum.org.

The Palettes of Bennington!

2006-05-18T16:23:00.000-04:00

The Palettes are on the streets of Bennington!

Bennington Palettefest is proud to be a part of the Vermont Arts Council's statewide Palettes of Vermont Project, a statewide effort to create the largest art exhibition in the world and gain a spot in the Guiness Book of World Records!

Bennington Palettefest is featuring exhibits of small palettes as well as our own 4' x 6' large sized palettes, on display this summer throughout Bennington, by local artists. Bennington Palettefest 2006 will support arts/history education outreach, participating artists and future Bennington promotions.

To learn more.. visit Bennington Palettefest.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Showcased in Program at Bennington Museum

2006-05-03T13:23:00.000-04:00

The Bennington Historical Society will showcase the life of author Dorothy Canfield Fisher in a presentation at the Bennington Museum on Thursday, May 11th starting at 7:00 p.m. Helene Lang will do a living history presentation called "Dorothy Canfield Fisher - A Vermonter for the World." This program is made possible by the generous sponsorship of the Speakers Bureau of the Vermont Humanities Council. Refreshments will be served. Admission is free.

Dorothy Canfield Fisher is considered by many to be the one of the nation's most popular novelists. In addition to her prolific writings, she was a woman of great influence and a groundbreaker, especially in the field of education. Eleanor Roosevelt once called her one of the ten most influential writers in the United States.

An Arlington native, Fisher wrote 22 works of fiction and 18 non-fiction books on many subjects throughout her lifetime. Her short stories, novels, and non-fiction had to do with American values. In 1953 she wrote Vermont Tradition, which is considered a hugely successful effort to express the qualities that make Vermont special.

Fisher was also the person to bring the Montessori method of child rearing to America after meeting with Dr. Maria Montessori in Rome. Her interest in children's education and the methods shared with her by Dr. Montessori led Fisher to write several books on the subject. Fisher also presided over the country's first adult education program. She was the first woman to serve on the Vermont Board of Education. In addition to her many other achievements, Fisher influenced popular literary tastes in America as a member of the Book-of-the-Month-Club Selection Committee from 1926 to 1951.

In addition to the Bennington program, Dorothy Canfield Fisher will be the subject of an exhibition at this year's Vermont History Expo in Tunbridge on June 24-25. Many local historical societies will feature the theme of "Vermont Women in History" in their exhibits this year. Helene Lang's portrayal of Dorothy Canfield Fisher at the Bennington Museum will provide a captivating introduction to the theme of notable Vermont women. Come enjoy this living history presentation and then plan to visit Vermont History Expo, which the State Chamber of Commerce calls one of "Vermont's Top Ten Summer Events."

Helene Lang is a former University of Vermont professor who taught literature and literacy for many years. Born in Massachusetts and educated at Boston University, Lang has also taught in public schools and for the United States Navy overseas. She and her husband have three sons and five grandchildren.

The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main St. (Route 9) one mile west of the intersection of Routes 7 and 9 in downtown Bennington, Vermont. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed Wednesdays. www.benningtonmuseum.org 802) 447-1571

Bennington Museum Reopens to the Public

2006-02-24T11:00:00.000-05:00

After two months of renovations and a good freshening up, the Bennington Museum is scheduled to reopen its doors to the public on Sunday, February 26 at 10:00 a.m. The museum will resume its regularly scheduled hours of 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily, except Wednesdays. The first day the museum opens will also mark the opening of the 2006 Student Art Show which runs through March 24. The art work of regional elementary, middle, and high school students will be on display in the museum's changing exhibits gallery.

This year the annual student art show will explore the longstanding relationship between art and education. Along with the art created by current students, the museum will also be displaying a selection of works created by local schoolgirls and boys during the nineteenth century. These early works, including hand-drawn watercolor maps and needlework samplers, drawn from the museum's permanent collection, make clear that art has long been an integral part of our region's educational curriculum. All the works on display, both historic and contemporary, demonstrate that art can provide students a creative means to explore topics as diverse as geography, reading and writing, science, and the history of art itself. The museum hopes that this juxtaposition of old and new will encourage viewers to contemplate the continuing role that art plays in the education of local students today.

The schools participating this year are Arlington Memorial High School, Bennington Elementary School, The Bennington School, Cambridge Elementary, Catamount Elementary, Grace Christian School, Hiland Hall School, Hoosick Falls Middle/High School, Monument Elementary, Mount Anthony Union High School, Mount Anthony Middle School, North Bennington Graded School, Pownal Elementary, Shaftsbury Elementary, Southshire Community School, Williamstown Elementary, Woodford School.

Also on exhibit from February 26 through May of 2006 is Sitting Around: Chairs from the Collection, on display in the main lobby. Despite their utilitarian purpose, American craftsmen have created an endless variety of chairs that express the cultural attitudes of the time and place in which they were created. This installment will showcase highlights from the museum's collection of early American chairs.

Admission is free all day on February 26 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Regular admission applies after the opening event. Light refreshments will be available during the event. This is a wonderful opportunity to see the improvements and changes that have been made to the museum, as well as peruse the creative expressions of our local students.

The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main St. (Route 9) one mile west of the intersection of Routes 7 and 9 in downtown Bennington, Vermont. Open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. closed Wednesdays. For more information, visit the website at www.benningtonmuseum.org.

New Wireless Node at the Bennington Museum

2006-01-24T09:48:00.000-05:00

On December 11, 2005, Long Trail Wireless installed a new
wireless node at the Bennington Museum, by affixing a long range antenna
to the outside of the building. The installation allows for free
internet service for anyone within the coverage area, which is directed
towards the center of town and reaches as far as Panda Garden on Main
Street. Having a wireless node is a way for the museum to become even
more accessible to the public and share their bandwidth with others.
Visitors will be able to bring their laptop to the museum and enjoy the
research library, the café, or even the outdoor pavilion when weather
permits.
The theory behind wireless networking, or WiFi, is that internet
is available free to everyone in the community. Local individuals or
businesses can host a node and donate some of their bandwidth to the
project. As more nodes are installed, the area of coverage will increase
for wireless users.
Long Trail Wireless is a volunteer group that installs nodes in
public places such as parks and coffee shops. In 2005 founders Ron
Hausthor and David Pearson launched a plan to cover Bennington with
wireless access. With a small group of volunteers they have succeeded
in bringing several nodes to town that allow internet access in both
Bennington and North Bennington. In addition to the Bennington Museum,
Long Trail has received commitments from other area businesses for
installation in the near future. For more information visit
www.LongTrailWireless.org.
The Bennington Museum is located at 75 Main St.
Although the museum galleries are closed for renovations until the end
of February, the research library will still be open by appointment.
Events will also be taking place. For information on events during this
time, visit the website at www.benningtonmuseum.org or call (802)
447-1571

June Moose Sightings and more!

2005-06-07T14:44:00.000-04:00

It's June and Bennington's Moosefest is in full swing! Come check out the 57 painted fiberglass moose that adorn the town and beyond. For details, locations and associated Moosefest events, check out their website at www.benningtonmoosefest.com. Most sponsors and main locations in town have maps to help you find all of the moose, or stop by the Bennington Chamber of Commerce for help and also to get your Moosefest souvenirs.

Lots to do in Mud Season!

2005-03-30T14:09:00.000-05:00

Who says there aren't things to do in Vermont during Mud Season! The sap's been running for 2 weeks now, and spring is finally on its way. Check out our events page for March/April to see what's happening in Southern Vermont! There's a great dance party planned for April 9 to benefit Benningon Moosefest, and lots of concerts, films, lectures, festivals happening!

2004-12-27T10:54:00.000-05:00

A bout of very chilly weather hit us last week, but it wasn't too cold for Christmas cheer! The week leading up to Christmas had businesses across southern Vermont bustling with last minute holiday sales to both customers from around the world and across the street ready to enjoy a Vermont Christmas.

Personally, my family and I started Christmas Eve by packing up our backpacks, getting in the car, and heading to the Blue Benn Diner, in Bennington. After a short wait, we had a great breakfast (real egg omelets for my parents, tofu scramble for me), accompanied by some holiday music from the jukebox. Soon after, we stopped by Smoker's Den, also in Bennington, to pick up the day's newspaper before continuing our journey. Our destination was Merck Forest and Farmland Center, in Rupert, VT, to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas in a cozy cabin deep in the woods. We had been planning this for a while (you have to, Merck Forest is most popular during the winter, and you have to make reservations months in advance for a cabin! Feel free to call them anytime to check availability though, you never know, and they're always open for dayhikes). There was just enough snow on the ground and chill in the air on Friday, Christmas Eve, to make our hike in to the cabin feel festive. There are a number of cabins at Merck, my family's favorites are Ned's Place and Nenorod, but I can safely say I've slept at least one night in almost every cabin! After about an hour and a half of easy hiking (with a little ice), we got to Nenorod, and found that the people who stayed in our cabin the night before had left us a nice bed of hot coals in the woodstove. Before we knew it, the cabin was warm and cozy, with Christmas tunes on the portable radio and food cooking on the camp stove. Of course, many thanks to the Merck staff and volunteers, who were thoughtful enough to stack firewood right outside the door, ensuring only a few frigid seconds outside to get wood when the fire started to die down! Christmas Eve was a beautiful, clear night, and despite the brisk temperatures, my father and I spent quite a long time looking at the stars and the barely visible lights of New York state with binoculars. If you're around Vermont in the winter, don't be intimidated by the cold! If it is a clear night, put your jacket on, and head outside, even for a few minutes. You'll never forget the silence or the smell of a clear winter night in Vermont, the crispness of the stars and the moon amazes even lifelong residents! Christmas day was perfect for a hike. On our way out from Nenorod, we saw many people with the right idea: out for a walk on a beautiful, sunny winter day to spend time with family and check out the operational Merck farm (with chickens, sheep, cows, horses, and more!), peer in the windows of the new sugar house, and see all the way to the High Peaks of New York!

Now that Christmas is past, businesses in the area are taking a little breather from their hectic holiday seasons! But not to worry, if you need to make returns, exchanges, or just want to do a little post-Christmas bargain hunting, most stores in the area are open for regular business hours (call to make sure!), and some even have great holiday sales (Nature's Closet in Bennington comes to mind, with big percentages off all their stuff, good if you're feeling a little chilly in that old winter jacket). Be sure to dine out, our area restaurants are still feeding all who enter, and they're a great place to get in out of the cold! Whatever your plans in southern Vermont, call ahead to check hours and sales or to make reservations. We got more snow last night, but the rest of the week leading up to New Year's looks clear! Before you head out to explore Southern Vermont in the winter time, turn on your radio and get the latest forecast, and be sure to drive safely! See you in 2005!

VT Route 279 now open

2004-10-11T17:32:00.000-04:00

The new route Vermont 279 opened on Tuesday, October 12. VT 279 runs from New York Route 7 in Hoosick not far from the Vermont border directly to Route 67A in Bennington and to Vermont Route 7.

If you're heading in or out of town, check it out, but do remember to stop in downtown Bennington for great eats, shopping and attractions!

Foliage Season 2004

2004-10-04T16:35:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Southern Vermont! We're having a beautiful fall season, the leaves are coming in bright and full of color.
Leaf season usually starts here from late September thru early October, early in the mountains and later in the valleys.

Looking for some fun treks in southern Vermont for peak foliage vistas?

Try these mainstay routes for foliage views:

Route 9 east from Bennington thru Brattleboro,
Route 30 north from Brattleboro towards Manchester thru the West River Valley,
Route 11 east from Manchester to Bellows Falls.
Route 7A North from Bennington to Manchester.
Route 30 North from Manchester thru Pawlet.

Fun things to do this month:

Take a foliage ride on the the chairlifts at either Bromley Mountain or Mount Snow.
Have fun in the Vermont Corn Maze at the Apple Barn in Bennington.
Have a look at our This is Vermont events page for more things to do this month.