Outdoors Around The Farm

The farm is an ideal place for a quiet, relaxing period. We have over 70 acres to wander through We’re between the Connecticut River and the Skitchewaug mountain. From the top of the Skitchewaug there are beautiful views of the river valley. For birding enthusiasts, tree farms are a treasure trove, since there is a no more ideal nesting site for many birds. Several families of Ravens and a pair of Peregrine Falcons nest on the mountain ledges.

In front of the property lies the beautiful Connecticut River which runs from the Canadian border to New London, Connecticut on Long Island Sound. We have a private dock in the river, with a canoe and a rowboat

for your use. We also have several fun tubes for frolicking children (and adults). Fishing is available right off the dock and in several nearby trout streams. In the winter the hearty can fish through the ice at a  sheltered cove just 2 miles away.

For those of you who might prefer not to swim with the fishes, we have a large in ground pool which we usually open in late June. Before then, in Vermont, only the beavers and bears do any swimming.

There is very little traffic on the river road and only slightly more on nearby Route 5, so cycling is safe for young and old. We have an assortment of elderly bicycles you can use if you choose not to bring your own. Excellent hiking is available almost at your door.

The Surrounding Area

The Springfield village center, 5 miles from the farm, has a supermarket, two pharmacies, two movie theaters, several banks, restaurants and miscellaneous shops. In addition, in case of emergencies, Springfield  has a small hospital. For serious problems, the farm is within easy reach of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, associated with Dartmouth College. Dartmouth is also usually awash in cultural activities.

 

For serious shoppers, Claremont and West Lebanon, New Hampshire and Manchester, Vermont are within easy driving distance. For a real taste of an old time country store you can stop at the nearby Vermont Country Store. If you’re visiting from some distance, you may not even mind a 2 hour drive to Boston, where you can see a lot and buy almost anything.

 

For serious hikers Vermont’s Long Trail presents some real challenges. For hiking a bit closer to home, we suggest a walk up Mt. Ascutney, only about 20 minutes away. The mountain has three well marked trails to the summit. The faint of heart can drive to within .7 miles of the top and hike the rest of the way.

 

There are also lots of activities for children. The Montshire Museum of science is noted for its hands on displays for children. The Mountain Slide at Bromley will give the kids plenty of action. The area abounds with interesting and picturesque Vermont towns such as Grafton, Chester, Weston and Peru, to name just a few. Woodstock, one of Vermont’s most popular tourist attractions, is about 40 minutes from the farm. On the way you can visit Quechee Gorge (Vermont’s answer to the Grand Canyon) , the many antique shops and flea markets in the area or the Raptor Center where captive birds of prey are displayed. Quechee is also the home of Simon Pearce where you can watch glassblowers and potters at work and dine overlooking the Ottaquechee River . In Woodstock you can visit the Billings Farm Museum to learn about Vermont’s agricultural history.

 

For Winter visitors there are two groomed cross country ski area in Springfield and several others nearby. Downhill skiers can get plenty of action at Ascutney, Okemo, Sunapee, Stratton, Bromley or Killington. For other information on Vermont activities go to the following websites:

                                 www.vtattractions.org

                                 www.travel-vermont.com

                                 www.visit-vermont.com

                                 www.vtchamber.com

                                 www.linkvermont.com