I don't know about you, but between jobs, homeschooling, daily obligations and well, 2020, not a week goes by where I don't think about just packing up and getting away from it all.
So recently my family and I did just that. In the middle of the week, we loaded up the car and drove less than an hour over the Massachusetts border.
Yup, we were Vermont bound.
Bennington is just a stone's throw away from the Berkshires — so close that the southern areas are often referred to as the Shires of Vermont.
We packed so much into our two-day trip it felt like we had been gone for a week!
Below you'll find an overview of our two days. Mix and match, take a day trip or hit up Bennington for an afternoon. Travel doesn't have to be extreme to be rewarding. Sometimes a local change in scenery is all you need to feel refreshed.
DAY ONE
The inside is only open Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We got there early Thursday morning just to marvel at its 306 feet. Bonus: It doubled as a homeschool lesson!
The Bennington Museum's George Aiken Wildflower Trail
Not to be missed! This place was the highlight of our trip. Multiple trails feature a Storywalk, children's garden, poetry, and outdoor sculptures. The historic cemetery at the Old First Church is also a short walk behind the museum (Robert Frost is buried there!).
A delicious place for a lunch to-go! Grab a yummy sandwich and eat outside. Try the "Maplelicious!"
No fall outing is complete without apple cider donuts. The Apple Barn's mini donuts were perfect for scarfing on the go.
A great little apple orchard perfect for picking.
This 1.3-mile walking loop is adjacent to the Park-McCullough house. Winding through farmland, woodlands & meadows of wildflowers it was the perfect place for an evening walk.
Considered one of the finest and best-preserved Victorian mansions in New England. We didn't tour the inside, but the grounds were gorgeous.
Dinner with a million-dollar view! We sat on the deck and watched the sun go down behind the green mountains and the Bennington Monument.
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DAY TWO
Lye Brook Wilderness & Waterfall
Located in Manchester, this 4.7-mile hike was a challenge for our two little ones. Not ones to give up, they toughed it out and the falls were absolutely spectacular!
After that hike, beer was just what the doctor ordered. Get a flight, thank me later.
On the drive home we stopped at the Williamstown entrance of Mountain Meadow. We ended our trip with views of goldenrod and the setting sun.
