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| Journeys and Jaunts in the Bennington Region (Part 2) |
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Day Trips: Journeys and Jaunts in the Bennington Region This story is Part 2 of a series. Be sure to check out Part 1 for two more itineraries: a retro jaunt to Manchester, VT and an atmospheric tour through the mists of Old Bennington. If you’ve seen our slideshow, checked out our events calendar, or visited campus, you know that Bennington College has a thriving on-campus culture: concerts, exhibitions, plays, parties, outdoor activities, and more. But the region around Bennington also offers plenty of diversion—with a lot of good eats, stunning views, and serious bargains along the way. To help you explore the nexus of the Berkshires, Taconics, and Green Mountains, we’ve put together the following itineraries. (To be honest, attempting even one of these itineraries in a single day might be crazy—there’s enough here for several months’ worth of weekend day trips—but we’ll cheer you on in the attempt!) This sampling of what the area has to offer is meant to inspire you as much as to guide you. If you take a detour and come upon a hidden treasure, tell us about it. Itineraries:
The Zero-Emissions Walking Tour of “North B” This is an exploration of the village of North Bennington, which many students call “North B.” At the center of the village is a little green—currently marked by a brightly painted, almost-life-size moose statue—surrounded by historic, colonial buildings: a few storefronts, the public library, an inn, a general store, and several good restaurants. The town even has a lake and beach. Make your way to North B by walking up to Jennings Music Building on campus and slipping out what used to be the back gate.
Picnic breakfast from Powers Market. At the bottom of the hill from the back of campus is the general store, Powers Market. In addition to gourmet chips and other prepared foods, it’s got homemade pastries and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Coffee, not to mention café tables, indoors and out, at which to nosh. You can also bring your food to the river between the Market and the fire station and eat on the bench next to the waterfall.
Tour Park-McCullough House. Walk to the top of the westerly hill and you’ll run into the majestic, 35-room Victorian mansion Park McCullough House. Students can tour it for $5. Walk the Mile-Around-Woods. Just beyond Park McCullough House on the left is a lane that winds through a pasture where white horses are grazing and up through the woods in a loop. (The “blue trail,” marked with blue blazes, shoots off from this and can take you back to campus.) Walk this trail once and it will become a favorite study break.
Lunch at Kevin’s at Mike’s Place III. This pub on Main Street offers reasonably priced burgers, salads, and crocks of chili. Come back Saturday evening for Open Mic Night!
Hang out at Lake Paran or the McCullough Free Library. Just up from Powers Market you’ll see a sign pointing toward the lake. If the weather’s unseasonably warm, walk that way for a refreshing dip or wade. If the weather’s brisk, read your beach book at the public library instead (located across the street from Powers).
Pangaea Lounge, not far from the waterfall, is a bit of a splurge but well worth it. (Pangaea has two parts—the lounge [casual] and the restaurant [fine dining]—so make sure you go in the left-hand door to the lounge, or you’ll end up splurging even more than you meant to!) In warm weather, the terrace out back is a great place to sit. Ask about the ravioli of the day—always good. Fun fact: Pangaea is owned and operated by Bennington alumnus Bill Scully '94.
Journey (South) to the Center of Visual Art Two world-famous centers for art are within easy driving distance of Bennington (and that’s not counting the Williams College Art Museum!). Enjoy a dip into French Impressionism followed by a blast of activist art at Mass MoCA.
Photo from the Williamstown Chamber of Commerce Coffee at Tunnel City Coffee in Williamstown. Park in the free parking lot at the end of Spring Street, just across from Tunnel City and duck into this popular coffeehouse for great coffee and a happening atmosphere. Bring cash unless you plan to spend over $5. Wi-fi is free.
Visit the Williams College Museum of Art. If you’re on Spring Street, you’re already smack in the middle of the Williams College campus. The College’s art museum is a true find, with 13 galleries displaying art from a broad range of periods (with emphasis on contemporary art and the art of world cultures) and free admission.
Tour the Clark. Along with paintings by Monet, Degas, Pissarro, Renoir, Sargent, Remington, Cassatt, Klimt, and Turner, the Clark offers lots of events—lectures, films, and concerts—and many of them, like the museum, are free to students. Check out the café and museum shop. If you need a break from man-made beauty, you can set out on the Clark’s woodlands. You’ll spy benches, picnic tables, and a lily pond. If you’re with a non-student, s/he might want to buy the $20 joint ticket to the Clark and Mass MoCA rather than pay the separate admissions fees.
Lunch at Mass MoCA (Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art). After touring the Clark inside and out, drive east from Williamstown into North Adams. Just beyond the rolling cemetery, you’ll see signs for the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, or Mass MoCA, the largest contemporary art center in the United States. Before investigating the latest video installation, consider sampling soup and salad downstairs in the museum café—save room for ice cream at the Lickety Split counter!—or, if you’re with family, at Café Latino, where you can get a scallion chorizo omelette. On the museum grounds, which comprise a former factory, you’ll find lots of industrial-looking, hip gifts for sale. Tour Mass MoCA. The ever-changing exhibitions at this pioneering museum feature collage, photography, site-specific installations, and more. Students pay $9, but the concerts (often by big names) are free with reservations.
Head back to Williamstown, and on the way, browse the goods at Wild Oats natural food market. Even if you’re not buying a picnic dinner, you’ll want to bring some fresh bread and local cheese and veggies back for Coffee Hour. Eat dinner at Sushi Thai Garden or the Indian restaurant Spice Root back on Spring Street in Williamstown. Alternatively, if you’re in a group, you could pick up an amazing pizza (they only come large) at Hot Tomatoes around the corner on Water Street, and take it across the Green River to eat on a picnic table in Linear Park.
Catch an art house movie at Images Cinema. Munching popcorn as you take in a film at cozy, atmospheric, nonprofit Images (“Independent Film for Independent Minds”) ends the day on a relaxing note. Now all you’ve got to do is get back and work on that paper....
...and More Things to Do: In addition to the itineraries above, there are plenty of other things to do in the region. The Bennington Chamber of Commerce offers great information for locals and visitors, including attractions, events, and recreational info. You might also want to check out:
More:
Click here to browse the archive of campus feature stories.
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