Rachel & Adam
Things To Do
Manchester, Vermont
The site of countless dates, Manchester is a charming town to explore with lots of shopping, cafes and restaurants. Also check out the Southern Vermont Arts Center!
Battenkill Valley Outdoors
Kayaking, canoeing, tubing, biking and hiking less than 10 miles from the West Mountain Inn. We're told it should be open through Monday, October 11. Here are some other outdoor rental companies we're aware of: - Vermont River Runners (802) 430-7197 - Battenkill Canoe Ltd. (800) 421-5268
Equinox Mountain
Equinox Summit is the highest peak in the Taconic Range! There are a few hiking options here, ranging from one hour easy/moderate hikes to an all-day steep climb to the top. This spot gets an A+ rating from our Maid of Honor!
Cycling
Check out one of Adam's routes via Ridewithgps or make your own route - Vermont is renowned for its amazing (and hilly!) cycling. We just might join you! There are also great spots for mountain & gravel biking.
Haystack Mountain
This challenging 1 to 1.5 hour hike offers some of the best views in Southern Vermont!
Lye Brook Falls
One of the best waterfalls in the region! It's a 2.3 mile walk to reach the falls.
Stratton Mountain Village
We would be remiss if we neglected to recommend visiting the Stratton Mountain Village! 30 minutes from Manchester, Stratton has restaurants, shops, and one of our favorite sandwich shops, Stratton Mountain Market. If you go, say hi to Liz for us! You can also hike up the mountain for some amazing views.
Jamaica State Park
While Adam was out cycling and training for the Pan Mass Challenge, Rachel explored this park with her friends and highly recommends it for a low-key, beautiful walk through Vermont fall woods. A moderately strenuous bit at the end leads to Hamilton Falls, but that's easy enough to skip if you're not so inclined.
Bennington
Between West Mountain Inn and the Northern Berkshires, Bennington is a fun little town to explore, with breweries, restaurants and shops. 20-25 minutes south of Bennington, you'll reach Williamstown and North Adams, MA. Both have have museums, like the the Clark Art Institute and Mass MoCA, and hiking at Mt. Greylock and the Hoosac Range.
Saratoga Springs
We love Saratoga! About 45 minutes from Arlington, VT, Saratoga has lots to do: parks, the race track, SPAC, places to eat, we could go on. A tip: if you go, stop at the Lakeside General Store on Rt. 49 in Cossayuna, NY along the way - it will not disappoint!