Why Vermont's villages in the Green Mountains are so special
Whenever we travel in New England, images of the Green Mountain Villages pop into our heads. With their pointed church steeples, a cozy inn across the street, and a covered bridge, they're typical. Somehow, these clichés represent our image of New England.
Typical New England: What makes Green Mountain Villages special
However, these ideas are not so clichéd, because they actually exist. We discovered some particularly pretty villages on our trip through the Green Mountain Villages in Vermont last year. Even the Green Mountain Villages around Manchester correspond to this picture, except that gas stations and cheap motels on the outskirts of town near Highway 7 spoil the overall impression somewhat.
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Our route through the most beautiful villages of the Green Mountains
It's a completely different story in Grafton, a small village tucked away in the hills of the Green Mountains. We're driving there from Manchester. Our sat nav initially leads us along increasingly narrow roads, where we encounter fewer and fewer cars. The road leads through dense forest up into the heights of the Green Mountains. Along the way, we see hardly any signs of human activity. Perhaps it's due to the rugged terrain we're driving through. There's no room for agriculture in the narrow valleys we pass through. And the mountain slopes rise steeply right next to the road—a landscape that itself explains why so few people have settled here.
The villages are off the main routes
Eventually, the navigation system tells us to turn onto a gravel road, and we begin to doubt whether we're still on the right track. A glance at the map, however, seems to confirm this. So we continue! After a few miles, the gravel disappears from the road, and our car rolls along a slippery dirt road, as it has started to rain. "After this, I'll definitely need a car wash," I think to myself, still skeptical whether this is the right route. I'm also concerned because we haven't seen another car in a long time.
Grafton: An insider tip for slow travelers in Vermont
But suddenly, fences appear along the road, and an inconspicuous sign points the way to Grafton. So we're on the right track after all! After a final steep section, the dirt road leads into the center of Grafton. Right next to us stands the village church, painted white, with its steeple. Across the street, the long porch with its rocking chairs invites you to take a leisurely rest. While there isn't a covered bridge directly in town, one of the homeowners has kindly built his garage in the style of the covered bridges of New England.
Discover culinary delights and local life in Grafton, Vermont
It's raining, and not much is happening in town. Every now and then a car pulls up to the post office, and the housewives quickly disappear into the building to escape the increasingly heavy rain. We take a short tour of the town and end up in the eatery, a kind of village café. There, a few men in work clothes are sitting at a table, looking at us in surprise. A stranger immediately catches your eye. And in the rain, they certainly don't expect one. They don't let us disturb their conversation and continue talking about the events that concern the people in the village: there's the neighbor whose daughter just got married, and the fence that someone else is currently planning to have built. Village gossip, fitting for a place like this. Somehow, the clocks tick slower here, and life goes on at its leisure.
Highlights in Woodstock, VT – The most charming village in New England?
As the rain does not let up, we drive a few miles further to Woodstock. And as soon as we leave Grafton, we actually see the first covered bridge next to the road. Our stereotype has been fulfilled.
This is even better in Woodstock. I wouldn't call this place a village anymore; it's too big for that. And with its Main Street, lined with shops and restaurants, it doesn't quite fit the picture. However, Woodstock does have a pretty little town park, around which the main street divides. Around this park are grouped well-kept villas in a variety of architectural styles: magnificent Palladium-style houses as well as red brick buildings with white wooden windows. And of course, there's an inn here too, surrounded by a large garden with a white-painted fence. Behind dense maple trees, we can see the spire of the white village church, and on the other side of the park, a covered wooden bridge crosses the Ottauquechee River, over which cars rumble loudly as they drive into town.
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Quechee: Natural drama and glass factory in the heart of Vermont
Nestled amidst the rolling hills of the Green Mountains, the charming village of Quechee surprises with two very special highlights: the dramatic Quechee Gorge and the elegant Simon Pearce Glass Factory – a perfect interplay of natural wonder and artisanal craftsmanship.
The Quechee Gorge, often called the "Little Grand Canyon of Vermont," is the deepest gorge in the state. From the historic railroad viaduct, now a road bridge, you'll enjoy spectacular views of the shimmering green Ottauquechee River, which carves its way through the rock almost 50 meters deep. Those who want more than just amazement can hike the trail down to the water's edge and experience the interplay of light, rock, and water up close—especially in autumn, when the colorful foliage transforms the gorge into a sea of color.
Just a few minutes away, the Simon Pearce Glass Manufactory into a completely different world: In an old mill above the river, mouth-blown glasses and elegant ceramic tableware are created – all by hand. Visitors can watch the glassblowers at work, browse the stylish shop, or enjoy local specialties in the in-house restaurant overlooking the waterfall.
Scenic drive through the Green Mountains – tips for your road trip
If you want to avoid the - highly recommended - detour to Grafton, Woodstock also finds what makes up the Green Mountain Villages of New England and does not have to drive over the narrow mountain roads. Woodstock is located on Highway 4, which connects the Connecticut River Valley with the route west of the Green Mountains, the 7 Highway.
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Source: On-site research. We would like to express our gratitude for the kind support of Tourism Vermont and Discover New England. However, our opinions remain, as always, our own.
Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
