Vermont Historic Southwestern Region is a Traveler’s Delight

Because many visitors enter Vermont on the eastern portion of the state they miss out on the scenic southwestern area that includes the historic towns of Bennington and Manchester.

This region also includes Routes 7 and 7A which are popular with antique collectors and covered bridge fanatics – of which I freely admit I’m one.

So today I'm going to remedy this situation.

I'll spend time illuminating some of the destinations and attractions in Bennington and Manchester, and offer a more attractive and entry point into Vermont.

Bennington:

Bennington is just a few miles from the border it shares with the Berkshires and Massachusetts. Route 7 from picturesque Williamstown in Massachusetts takes you serenely over the Vermont border as you head north. The road is winding and takes you through rural farmland and the valleys of the Taconic Range which is usually grouped in with the Green Mountains in Vermont although geologically separate.

Historic Bennington is the largest town in Southern Vermont and lies in the shadow of the western edge of the Green Mountain National Forest boundary. Here you’ll find the famous 306-feet Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington Museum, and a potpourri of beautifully-kept houses from the 1800s and grounds for you to stroll around. This is also a popular base for lodging in the area and touring for antiques or marveling at some of the state’s famous Covered Bridges.

Three places to visit first when touring the town are the Bennington Museum, the Vermont Covered Bridge Museum, and the Bennington Battle Monument. All three are close together west of highway 4 on Route 9. You can pick up a guide to the covered bridges and their locations at the museum.

Bennington County has 5 covered bridges in a state that has the largest covered bridge population in New England. Three are in Bennington and the other two are in Arlington just north on Route 7A. These are all fine specimens of the most common type of covered bridge design called Town Lattice. The three in Bennington are Silk Road Bridge, Paper Mill Village Bridge and Henry Bridge. The Arlington bridges are Chiselville Bridge and West Arlington Bridge.

You can find a guide to all the covered bridges in Vermont here.

Bennington is also the home to Bennington Potters famous for its stoneware design. The original location at Potters Yard is set on 41/2 acres of gardens and historic rustic buildings just a few minutes form the town center. There is also a location in Burlington.

Not just a retail outlet for shopping the many gorgeous pottery pieces output from the master potters Bennington when you visit you’ll also discover the history and take self-guided tours from the Potters Yard.

If you enjoy touring mansions and estates then take the short ride out of town to the 800-acre Park-McCullough House and Estate. Guided tours of the 35-room mansion, the 1865 Carriage Barn, Playhouse and gardens take place each day between mid-May and mid-October.

Manchester:

Manchester is a small Vermont town located in the region between the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Range to the west. If you follow Route 7A north out of Bennington and pass through Arlington then Manchester is the next town and this route also takes you close to two of the destination points I’ll talk about in this region.

If the day is clear when you visit then take the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive to get spectacular views of the surrounding mountain ranges, rivers and lakes. On a clear day you’ll get to see Green, White, Adirondacks, Berkshire and Taconic mountain ranges, all part of the Appalachian chain.

The skyline drive is a 5.2 mile drive along a toll road to the 3,816 ft. summit of Mount Equinox with lots of chances to stop along the way and take in the breathtaking views especially at the summit. The toll road entrance is right on Route 7A just before you enter Manchester from the south.

The former residence of Abe Lincoln’s only child to reach maturity – Robert Todd Lincoln – is Hildene House which you’ll stumble upon just a short drive up Route 7A after the Equinox entrance. The grounds overlook the scenic Battenkill Valley and are beautifully landscaped.

In addition to the gardens to stroll there are trails to walk through the extensive woods on the estate and of course the main house is open daily during summer and fall, and Thursday through Monday during the winter. Hildene House is known locally for its active event calendar throughout the year, but especially for Hildene Holiday Evenings in December. One of the most popular displays is the permanent collection of President Abraham Lincoln artifacts in a special interpretation exhibit of the 16th president called “The Personal Abraham Lincoln.”

Antique Alley – Route 7/7A:
No description of the region along the Route 7/7A corridor in southwestern Vermont can ignore the opportunity it presents to antique browsers - go on you can admit you’ve done it. Some people even make it the focus of an entire vacation starting down in Connecticut and working their way up through the Berkshires of Massachusetts to continue up through the southern, central and finally northern regions of Vermont.

There is a high concentration of antique shops in the region with Stonewall Antiques and the Antique Center at Camelot Village in Bennington, and then out of Bennington on Route 7A in Manchester you’ll find too many to mention all, but including: Comollo Antiques, Owl’s Head Antiques, and Equinox Antiques and Art.

While I’ve seen few printed guides at visitor information centers detailing many of the antique shops along the way just driving along this stretch you’ll discover most of them yourself. Who knows you may not only find the perfect souvenir but uncover a little bit of Vermont history you can call your own.

If you have more time to visit in Vermont then check out further attractions in our special Vermont Vacations page here.

Cliff Calderwood
Executive Editor
Destinations and Vacations in New England