Things To Do
Shopping at the Manchester Outlets
SHOPPING For those of you who enjoy a little shopping therapy, a short drive to the lovely village of Manchester, Vermont will bring you to over 40 designer outlet stores along with some great independently owned shops. From Armani to Ann Taylor, Coach, J. Crew, the Gap, Marrimeko and Ralph Lauren. And, unlike shopping at designer stores in New York City, you can walk away with some serious deals.
Browse the Manchester Bookstore
This building, known as the Colburn House, was a continuously operating Inn for over a century before we converted it to a bookstore in 1985. We are a large (10,000 square feet) general bookstore with a large floor devoted to Children. We have tried to create a store that fosters browsing and discovery. We can, of course, get any book in print, but we believe in the joy of serendipity and have laid out the store to enhance this experience. Beyond the best in books, we offer a full line of stationery, magazines, cards, calendars, local and VT foods and many fine gifts from clothing to jewelry. In addition, the popular Spiral Press Cafe is attached to the store so there is no need to leave the building for coffee or baked goods or lunch.
The Equinox Golf Resort and Spa
The Equinox, a Luxury Collection Golf Resort & Spa, Vermont, established in 1769, offers the perfect destination for year-round relaxation. Whether you want to golf, ski, host an event, or renew at our luxury spa, you're sure to create lasting memories here.
Go for a hike
Cedar Rock – West Mountain Inn Trails, Arlington, VT 150 acres of beautiful, well marked woodland trails. Cedar Rock is about a 45 minute hike from the Inn’s front door to a lovely peak overlooking the Battenkill Valley. Stop at the front desk of the Inn for a trail map. Equinox Pond Trails – Manchester, VT Head to Mount Equinox in Manchester for 11 miles of trails that mostly follow old logging roads. Pond Loop is an easy, three-quarter mile walk through the woods around the pond’s perimeter. The Mile-Around Woods – North Bennington, VT Easy, but beautiful walk near the village of North Bennington, VT featuring rich stands of old timber and a circular carriage road laid out after the Civil War by Trenor Park. Lye Brook Falls – Manchester, VT This hike ends with a beautiful waterfall, easily one of Vermont’s finest! The trail is completely straightforward. 2.3 miles to the falls, and the view alone is worth the effort.
Historic Sites - Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home
Hildene is the historic home of Robert Todd Lincoln, the only child of President and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood. The estate has beautiful gardens, restored 1903 wooden Pullman palace car, goat farm and cheesemaking facility, walking trails and cross-country skiing in winter.
Brewery tastings and tours
You can visit the new Northshire Brewery, the Tap House at Catamount Glass, and Madison’s Brewing Company.
Adventure on the Battenkill River
Having the famous Battenkill River just steps from the Inn’s driveway, makes it pretty darn easy to make a beautiful day of tubing, canoeing or kayaking along these glorious waters. Known for it’s incredible trout fishing and abundance of wildlife, the Battenkill River is truly one of Southern Vermont’s most treasured natural assets. The inn can set up gear rentals for our guests to enjoy the Battenkill, and taking a trip down the Battenkill together will be a memory you won’t forget. You can float past wildlife, under covered bridges and along gorgeous mountain views, there are lots of great places to stop and eat your lunch or dip in a swimming hole along the way. The Battenkill is a Class 1 river (fast moving water with riffles and small waves, few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training) so you don’t have to be an expert in a canoe, kayak or tube.
The Sugar Shack
The Sugar Shack is located in Arlington, Vermont on Historic RT7A (Sugar Shack Lane). Pure VT maple syrup is produced right here in our on-site sugar house, with samples available in store daily. We also have a variety of VT food products from jams & mustards to cheese & fudge, VT sweats & Tees, souvenirs, maple frosted sugar cookies, fresh baked pies and our famous homemade cider donuts, and we are also home to the Norman Rockwell Exhibition featuring hundreds of examples of Rockwells works, 15 minute film and gift shop. Norman Rockwell lived in Arlington, Vt from 1939-1953 and painted many of our locals.