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© The Mountain Times 2006
Added Attractions
photo courtesy of Killington Resort
If you like to do different things, to get off the beaten track, to do the unusual, the extraordinary, you won’t be disappointed in the Crossroads of Vermont. Whether it’s seeing the breathtaking views from Killington or Pico summit, enjoying the thrill of descending from summit to base by Alpine Slide, or cheering the modified racers at Devil’s Bowl Speedway, it’s all there for you with the fresh air and multi-shades of Vermont green as a backdrop.
How about a covered bridge tour? Covered bridges are one of the enduring symbols of Vermont’s past, yet they remain practical and functional today. They were built to protect the bridge from exposure to the rigors of winter, and they also allowed horses to cross without being spooked by the flowing water below. There is an old superstition that says you should hold your breath whenever you pass through a covered bridge - give it a try! There are many historic covered bridges and other points of interest for your enjoyment at the Crossroads of Vermont.
Killington/Pico Adventure Center
877-4KTIMES www.killington.com If you’re looking for more fun than ever, check out what’s new in the great outdoors at the Killington Adventure Center, open July 1 through mid-September.
• Two Water Slides - For fun that’s wet, wild and wonderful, grab an inner tube and have a blast on the water slide or go for the gusher on the Giant Twister Body Flume.
• Climbing Wall - Tell your friends you were climbing the walls during your last vacation - and we’ll show you how to reach a new high doing it.
• Hiking Center - Take a walk on our wild side with more than 45 miles of trails across five mountain peaks. All trails can be accessed by the K1 Express Gondola to Killington Peak, the highest gondola-serviced peak in New England.
• Mountain Biking - Gondola-serviced mountain biking. Open mid-June through mid-October.
• K1 Gondola Rides - Scenic rides to the peak of Killington. The K1 Express Gondola leaves from the K1 Lodge, located at the top of the Killington Road, 5 miles from the junction of U.S. 4 and VT 100 North in Killington. The lift runs from July 1 through mid-October.
• Two Alpine Slides - Ride the chairlift to the top of the mountain, jump into your cart and go. If you’d like to take it slow and enjoy the mountain views, you can keep the hand brake engaged and your speed to a minimum. But, if you’re more concerned with velocity than views, you can open it up and grab serious thrills from our parallel tracks that plunge 650 vertical feet to the valley floor and are packed with ‘S’ turns, banks and straight-aways. And if you’d rather walk than fly, feel free to take a scenic chairlift ride and take a leisurely stroll around one of Vermont’s most scenic mountains.
• The Bungee Thing - Is it a trampoline? Yes. Is it a bungee jump? Yes. Is it fun? Absolutely! Grab serious air on one of the most exciting contraptions to ever hit Vermont. Of course, once you get airborne, what you do is up to you. We recommend letting your imagination fly as high as your body. Kids love it!
• Mini-Golf - You say you’d rather work on your short game? Pico’s Mini-Golf will challenge, amuse and confuse... and that’s just on the first hole. Try to get through all 18 holes of windmills, animals and other obstacles without getting your ball chewed up and spit out, and you’ll join the elite.
Pico at Killington is open mid-June through mid-September.
Devil’s Bowl Speedway
Rt. 22A, north of West Haven, (802) 265-8616. Competitive stock car racing in the 358 Modified, Sportsmen, Street Stock, and Hobby Stock divisions every Sunday evening at 7pm, May through Sept., with a special Little Devils Club for the children.
Hathaway Farms, LTD.
741 Prospect Hill Road, Rutland. www.hathawayfarm.com (802) 775-2624. Hathaway’s have gone Hollywood! This year in our giant Corn Maze with miles of paths you’ll find clues all about your favorite movies to help you solve the maze. Children’s movies, action films, old movies, horror flicks, westerns, comedies, there’s something for everyone! We have other things to find in the maze too like punch points, bridges, an “Intermission” area & much more. You can even challenge our maze EVERY Saturday night under the stars! When you solve the maze, try our Farm Adventure, a great family treasure hunt through a Vermont cow pasture! In mid-September we’ll have pumpkin picking under way with hayrides to enjoy the beautiful Vermont foliage season & our fantastic farm views! Come visit a working beef farm & “get lost” in the fun!
Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center & Vermont Adventure Tours
Woodstock Ave., Route 4, Rutland. (802) 773-3343 www.vermontclimbing.com. www.vermontadventuretours.com Have an indoor or outdoor rock climbing adventure. Choose from a huge indoor facility in Rutland or our smaller wall at Snowshed Lodge in Killington. Our indoor facilities are always sunny and temperature controlled. Kid friendly, we invite climbers from ages 3 years and up. Choose our outdoor adventures and let our safe, and knowledgeable guides take you on a natural high. Open seven days a week.
Museums and Exhibits
• Billings Farm and Museum, Route 12, Woodstock, (802) 457-2355. The Billings Farm & Museum is keeping alive the spirit and values of Vermont's rural past. The farm dates back to 1871, when native Vermonter, Frederick Billings, set out to build a farm and forestry operation that would serve future generations as a model of wise stewardship. His farm flourished, and today, is still a first-class working farm, operating with a museum of Vermont's rural heritage. The Billings Farm & Museum is an operating partner of the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and the Woodstock Inn & Resort. www.billingsfarm.org
• Castleton Historical Society Museum, Main St., Castleton, (802) 468-5523. 19th and 20th century furnishings, paintings, costumes, documents, photographs, and military memorabilia. The Museum is open Saturday mornings year round, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and Sundays from Memorial Day through mid-October from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
• East Poultney Museums, (802) 287-5268. Three museums documenting early New England settlements. Melodeon Factory, Union Academy and The Old School House. Open Sundays 1-4:30 p.m. during the summer or by appointment. School groups encouraged.
• Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock, (802) 457-3368. Daily 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., Spring through October 31. The only National Park to focus on conservation history and the evolving nature of land stewardship in America. Opened in June 1998, Vermont’s first National Park preserves and interprets the historic Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller property. The park was created in 1992, when the Rockefellers gifted the estate’s residential and forest lands to the people of the United States. Today, the Park interprets the history of conservation with tours of the mansion and the surrounding 550-acre forest. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion and gardens are by guided tour only. Admission. www.nps.gov/mabi/
• Middletown Springs Historical Museum, (802) 235-2376. Collections relate to the Montvert Hotel mineral springs resort, A.W. Gray Horsepower Factory, local organizations and families. Open Sunday 2 - 4 p.m. Memorial Day to Late October. Middletown Springs, VT.
• Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, (802) 649-2200. Natural, physical sciences, ecology, technology. Science park and walking trails on site. Hands on fun for and learning for all ages. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily. Admission. www.montshire.org
• Mount Independence State Historic Site, Orwell, (802) 948-2000. Visitor Center and museum open 7 days Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Revolutionary War fortification, new Interpretation Center, historic hiking and walking trails. During off season, call (802) 759-2412.
• New England Maple Museum, Rt. 7, Pittsford, (802) 483-9414. Exhibits and history of maple sugaring. Live demonstrations, sample syrup, gift shop. Open 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. May 19 to October 31, and 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. mid-March to May 18, and Nov. 1 to December 31. www.maplemuseum.com.
• Norman Rockwell Museum, Rt. 4E, Rutland, (802) 773-6095. Over 2000 pictures covering the span & diversity of his career. Audio/visual self-guided tour. Gift shop. Daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission. www.normanrockwellvt.com
• Pittsford Historical Society Exhibit, Eaton Hall, Rt. 7, Pittsford. Hours Tuesdays, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., March - November; Sundays, 1 - 4 p.m., July - October. (802) 483-2040.
• President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth Notch, (802) 672-3773. Hours 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. Memorial weekend to Columbus Day.
• Rutland Historical Society, 96 Center St., Rutland, (802) 775-2006. Year-round, Mondays, 6 - 9 p.m., Saturdays, 1 - 4 p.m., and by appointment for schools or other groups.
• The Slate Valley Museum, Water Street, Granville, NY, (518) 642-1417. Interprets the industrial and cultural heritage of the Slate Valley of western Vermont and eastern New York. Exhibitions, self-guided tours, special events and guided tours, and a shop featuring books, local crafts and unique gift items made of slate. www.slatevalleymuseum.org
• Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), Rt. 4, Quechee, (802) 457-2779. Home of the Vermont Raptor Center, a living museum of over 20 species of birds of prey. Daily on-site programs June through October; nature trails; nature shop. www.vinsweb.org.
• Vermont Marble Museum, Proctor, (802) 459-2300. Learn the history of the marble industry in Vermont. See geological principles brought to life in ‘Earth Alive,’ the new geology room. Try your hand at carving with the artist-in-residence sculptor. Custom marble work. Marble market. Gift shop. Theater. Open daily 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. mid-May to late October. 800-427-1396, www.vermont-marble.com
• Wallingford Historical Society Museum, Town Hall, School St., Wallingford, (802) 446-2831. Permanent collection of costumes, photographs, and memorabilia.
• Wilson Castle, Proctor Rd., Proctor, (802) 773-3284. This 19th century architectural masterpiece is brimming with antique furnishings and museum pieces. Various artists use the Art Gallery to exhibit sculpture, paintings, and photographs. Murder mysteries, too! www.wilsoncastle.com
Breweries
• Long Trail Brewing Company, Jct. of Rt. 4 and 100A, Bridgewater Corners, 802-672-5011. www.longtrail.com. Vermont’s best selling craft brew! Take a close-up look at the brewing process while sampling their fresh brews and enjoying a delicious lunch in the friendly and casual atmosphere. Relax on our sunny, riverside deck in the summer or cozy up to our Vermont Castings wood stove in the winter. Visitor Center and gift shop open 7 days a week from 10-6.
Covered Bridges
One of the enduring symbols of times gone by, these great bridges continue to be both practical & functional:
• Sanderson or Lower Bridge, Otter Creek off Rt. 7 Pearl St., Brandon.
• Depot Bridge (1840), Otter Creek, west off Rt. 7, Depot Hill Rd., North Pittsford.
• Cooley Bridge (1849), Otter Creek, Elm Street, Pittsford.
• Hammond Bridge (1843), Otter Creek, west off Rt.7, Florence Rd., Pittsford.
• Twin Bridge (1850), East Creek, off Rt. 7, Chittenden Rd., Rutland.
• Brown Bridge (1880), Cold River, east off Rt. 7, No. Shrewsbury Rd., Shrewsbury.
• Taftsville Bridge (1836), Ottauquechee River off Rt. 4, Woodstock.
• Middle Bridge (1869), Ottauquechee River off Rt. 4, Woodstock.
• Lincoln Bridge (1986), Ottauquechee River, south, next to Rt. 4, Woodstock.
• Gorham Bridge (1841) Otter Creek. Old Proctor/ Pittsford Road, Pittsford.
Vermont State Fair
Rt. 7 South, Rutland. (802) 775-5200. Labor Day week, Aug. 31 - Sept. 9. Midway, exhibits, rodeo, demolition derby, tractor pulls, nightly entertainment, Grandstand events, agricultural exhibits, farm animals, culinary, vegetable and floral exhibits, a maple sugar house and dairy barn and MORE! The Fairgrounds also hosts a 4th of July Celebration (Rutland Chamber of Commerce, 800-756-8880), the Annual RAVE (Rutland Area Vehicle Enthusiasts) Classic Car Show (802-265-8026 or 802-459-2274), Monster Truck Show, Model Railroad Show, Gun Show, Recreational and Figure Skating (Mandigo Arena). Call (802) 775-5200 for a complete schedule of events. www.vermontstatefair.net
Mike’s Hobbies & Raceways,
162 North Main Street, Rutland, (802) 775-0059. A full service hobby store, offering radio control planes, boats and cars, model railroading, craft supplies, models, games, paintball supplies, sports cards, etc.
Rutland Bowlerama
158 South Main Street, Rutland, (802) 773-7707. Large, full service bowling facility. Shoe and ball rentals. Pool tables.
All copy © The Mountain Times 2006