       |
     |
|
|
 |
 |
||
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
||
| Spring day-tripping in the Bennington region |
|
||||||||||||||||
|
|
Detail from the sign at The Tinder Box Studio and Performance Space in Brattleboro, VT. 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. Today’s itinerary is custom made for spring and summer days—a drive to nearby Brattleboro that’s a little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll.
The Weathervane Music Hall (theweathervanemusichall.com) has live music and a snacks-and-sandwiches menu, for those who like to power their dance moves with a fresh mozzarella and red pepper panini. The Tinder Box, right next door to the Weathervane, is an art collective/music venue and a great place to mix with new friends, new-to-you bands, and the occasional plush squid art object. Each show is donation only, with the money going directly back to the bands performing. Check out upcoming shows at myspace.com/thetinderbox.
Once you’ve determined your end point, you’re ready to roll. Strike out from Bennington on Route 9 heading east... Morning swim in the Harriman Reservoir. Bennington has its own choice swimming hole—Lake Paran—but this is another great find for hot days. The banks of the Harriman Reservoir are studded with lots of beaches and small parks. Click here for an insider tip on how to find the best swimming. Brunch on the mountain. Worked up an appetite yet? When you hit the town of Marlboro, keep your eye out for the sign that says “Scenic Overlook.” They mean it—at the top of Hogback Mountain, you can take in the 100-mile view of southern Vermont, northern Massachusetts, and southwestern New Hampshire. Just behind you is the Skyline Restaurant, seated just at the top of the mountain. Stake out a window-side table and enjoy a waffle breakfast in the clouds.
On to Brattleboro! Route 9 goes straight into the center of downtown Brattleboro. ‘Til you drop. In keeping with the rock ‘n’ roll theme, head over to Turn It Up!, a classic independent music store that buys, sells and trades CDs, tapes, and vinyl (plus some videos and books). You can listen to anything in the store before you buy it, all discs are guaranteed, and they can order you stuff in just a few days. It’s a great place to check out (and hear) local artists, and they even sell blank tapes for the mixin’. Don’t miss the shrine to Schwarzenegger on a back shelf.
Everyone’s Books. This family-owned bookshop has all of the selection and none of the problems of big-box retailers. And how can you not love a bookseller with sections like Science Fiction, Graphic Novels, Labor, Media, Philosophy, and Social Action? Beadniks. Even if you’re not crafty by nature, Beadniks is a fun pit stop (and a great place to pick up a gift for your mom or your friend back home). They have tons of loose beads in every material, from metal to recycled African bottles. Maple Leaf Music Co. is an independent music and instrument store where you can find picks, strings, and that new instrument you’ve been dreaming of (mandolin or tenor banjo, perhaps?). If guitar is more your speed—electric or acoustic—they have all the brands you’d expect, plus their own local custom made line, Froggy Bottom. Twice Upon A Time is an enormous space is filled with great finds at thrift store prices—get a funky piece of furniture for your room, or an amazingly cheap vintage outfit for the next theme party back on campus (you know there’s always one on the horizon). Call it the antiques store for people who never knew they liked antiques stores. And don’t miss the full-sized taxidermied ibex guarding the front door.
Latchis Theatre. Photo by Jeb Wallace Brodeur, from the Brattleboro Arts Initiative at www.brattleboroarts.org. Finally... The best part about driving back home is the Chelsea Royal Diner, right on 9 in West Brattleboro. The giant ice cream cone sculptures outside should tell you just what to order to end a packed spring day in Vermont. * * * Insider tip for Harriman Reservoir: The best swimming is in an uncrowded spot at the northern end of the reservoir. Just past the town of Medburyville, there’s a turn-off at an old metal bridge. Follow the dirt road to the left—it runs along the banks of the Harriman a few hundred yards to a clearing with grills, picnic tables, and great rock ledges for sunning, reading, and warming up out of the clear, chilly water. * * * More things to do in the Bennington region: A few suggestions from The New York Times, which has run several articles on the area:
We've also tailored two more itineraries for those who like day trips (and have plenty of energy!).
Click here to read more stories about Bennington.
|
|
|||||||||||||||
| Bennington College One College Drive, Bennington, Vermont 05201 802-442-5401[tel] |
| Site by Myriad Media, Inc. |
For those about to rock. We recommend planning your trip around one of the nightly music events in Brattleboro. Indie rock, hip-hop, jazz, funk, electronica, reggae, metal, DJ nights—you can check out the venues’ events calendars and pretty much take your pick. Notable hotspots:
More fun shopping:
