Erin’s guidebook
Food scene
Newly remodeled fresh food market with a wood fired brick oven in Pawlet Village.
The building is built over Flower Brook - there is a opening inside that looks down onto the water - ask to see it.
Look for Cabot wheel cheddar - they'll cut it for you. Cabot only makes wheel cheese for the VT country stores.
Also look for Earth Sky Time bread. It disappears, so morning or early afternoon is the best time to snag it - goes well with cheese.
Check out their menu at machsmarket.com.
18 habitants recommandent
Mach's Market
18 School StNewly remodeled fresh food market with a wood fired brick oven in Pawlet Village.
The building is built over Flower Brook - there is a opening inside that looks down onto the water - ask to see it.
Look for Cabot wheel cheddar - they'll cut it for you. Cabot only makes wheel cheese for the VT country stores.
Also look for Earth Sky Time bread. It disappears, so morning or early afternoon is the best time to snag it - goes well with cheese.
Check out their menu at machsmarket.com.
Absolutely superb food in Salem, NY.
Due to Covid, there is no in-person restaurant. They post a Menu every Monday on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Steiningers-Chocolates-Cafe-125026284360407/), orders need to be placed by email by 6pm Wednesday, with orders picked up in Salem on Friday.
6 habitants recommandent
Steininger's
191 S Main StAbsolutely superb food in Salem, NY.
Due to Covid, there is no in-person restaurant. They post a Menu every Monday on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Steiningers-Chocolates-Cafe-125026284360407/), orders need to be placed by email by 6pm Wednesday, with orders picked up in Salem on Friday.
Great breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dine brookside or on the patio, in Pawlet Village.
See menu and hours at pawletstation.com.
12 habitants recommandent
The Station
50 School StGreat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dine brookside or on the patio, in Pawlet Village.
See menu and hours at pawletstation.com.
Homemade ice cream - made from their own herd of cows.
Also visit the Creamery store to buy their milk and other local farm fresh products, including cheese, grass-fed beef, and maple syrup. Cash only (no credit cards).
Hours at battenkillcreamery.com/store/.
31 habitants recommandent
Battenkill Valley Creamery LLC
691 County Rte 30Homemade ice cream - made from their own herd of cows.
Also visit the Creamery store to buy their milk and other local farm fresh products, including cheese, grass-fed beef, and maple syrup. Cash only (no credit cards).
Hours at battenkillcreamery.com/store/.
Amazing food from a chef who was looking to downsize. Unbelievable place in Middletown Springs, VT - 10 miles from cabin - would be a nice bike ride. Take-out only.
Due to Covid, food is pre-order only. Can order dinner 1 hour ahead of time. See menu at sissyskitchen.com.
12 habitants recommandent
Sissy's Kitchen
10 West StAmazing food from a chef who was looking to downsize. Unbelievable place in Middletown Springs, VT - 10 miles from cabin - would be a nice bike ride. Take-out only.
Due to Covid, food is pre-order only. Can order dinner 1 hour ahead of time. See menu at sissyskitchen.com.
A great farmstand 10 miles away with meat, coffee, and other local products. U-Pick blueberries July-August.
From the cabin, take a left on Waite Hill Road. At the end of the road (Rt 133), turn right. Turn left on Danby Pawlet Road (if you end up in Pawlet Village you've gone too far). At the "T", turn right on Brook Road, follow it around the curves and turn right on Smokey House Road. The farmstand is at the end of the road.
More information at www.smokeyhouse.org/agriculture/farm-stand.
Smokey House Center
426 Danby Mountain RdA great farmstand 10 miles away with meat, coffee, and other local products. U-Pick blueberries July-August.
From the cabin, take a left on Waite Hill Road. At the end of the road (Rt 133), turn right. Turn left on Danby Pawlet Road (if you end up in Pawlet Village you've gone too far). At the "T", turn right on Brook Road, follow it around the curves and turn right on Smokey House Road. The farmstand is at the end of the road.
More information at www.smokeyhouse.org/agriculture/farm-stand.
A great farmstand 8.5 miles away. Many local products, including their own milk.
From cabin, turn right on Waite Hill Road, then right on Rt 30. Turn left on River Road, follow to "T" and turn left on Rt 153. Follow Rt 153 through West Pawlet (it'll be a left in the village) and Wayward Goose Farm is on the right after you leave town.
More information at www.waywardgoosefarm.com/wayward-goose-farm-market.
Wayward Goose Farm
1035 VT-153A great farmstand 8.5 miles away. Many local products, including their own milk.
From cabin, turn right on Waite Hill Road, then right on Rt 30. Turn left on River Road, follow to "T" and turn left on Rt 153. Follow Rt 153 through West Pawlet (it'll be a left in the village) and Wayward Goose Farm is on the right after you leave town.
More information at www.waywardgoosefarm.com/wayward-goose-farm-market.
A great farmstand 2.5 miles away. This organic sweet potato farm also carries our grassfed beef (UpTunket Farm) and other products of their own and other farms.
From cabin, turn right on Waite Hill Road, turn right on Rt 30, and Laughing Child Farm is on the right.
Laughing Child Farm
3209 VT-30A great farmstand 2.5 miles away. This organic sweet potato farm also carries our grassfed beef (UpTunket Farm) and other products of their own and other farms.
From cabin, turn right on Waite Hill Road, turn right on Rt 30, and Laughing Child Farm is on the right.
Look for Rupert Rising bread, amazing local bread by a french-trained baker using decades-old starter. They also have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, depending on the day, and you can eat on a small balcony overlooking the Mettowee River.
Edwards Market
11 W Main StLook for Rupert Rising bread, amazing local bread by a french-trained baker using decades-old starter. They also have breakfast, lunch, and dinner, depending on the day, and you can eat on a small balcony overlooking the Mettowee River.
Great sandwiches and ice cream. A nice bike ride from the cabin via North Pawlet Road (from cabin, right on Waite Hill, right on Rt 30, right on North Pawlet Rd). Make a loop and go left on Waite Hill, left on Rt 133, left on Wells Brook Rd (just before bridge), left on East Wells Rd, then coast down into Wells - Wells Country Store on left. There's also a town park on Little Lake - from store go out North St. 1 mile. To finish loop, return to cabin via South St., left on Rt 30, then left on Waite Hill.
17 habitants recommandent
The Wells Country Store
1450 Vermont 30Great sandwiches and ice cream. A nice bike ride from the cabin via North Pawlet Road (from cabin, right on Waite Hill, right on Rt 30, right on North Pawlet Rd). Make a loop and go left on Waite Hill, left on Rt 133, left on Wells Brook Rd (just before bridge), left on East Wells Rd, then coast down into Wells - Wells Country Store on left. There's also a town park on Little Lake - from store go out North St. 1 mile. To finish loop, return to cabin via South St., left on Rt 30, then left on Waite Hill.
Recreation
Spectacular swimming hole. Park (pull off road) near intersection of River Rd and Rt 153. Wide path is on FAR side of bridge to right. Watch poison ivy at bridge edges. Path goes along river through woods, and then down. Please note: Woman in house at intersection is NOT nice, so don't go on narrow path closest to house (on NEAR side of bridge to right).
Can wade in, also deep enough to jump off cliffs. Something for everybody.
1544 River Rd
1544 River RoadSpectacular swimming hole. Park (pull off road) near intersection of River Rd and Rt 153. Wide path is on FAR side of bridge to right. Watch poison ivy at bridge edges. Path goes along river through woods, and then down. Please note: Woman in house at intersection is NOT nice, so don't go on narrow path closest to house (on NEAR side of bridge to right).
Can wade in, also deep enough to jump off cliffs. Something for everybody.
6 mile out-and-back hike to a summit with views. Welcome Center at top with bathrooms (may not be open due to Covid).
Parking is on West Union Street, off Seminary Ave in Manchester Village. (19 miles away, 40 min.)
There is also a toll road up that starts in Arlington.
69 habitants recommandent
Equinox Mountain
6 mile out-and-back hike to a summit with views. Welcome Center at top with bathrooms (may not be open due to Covid).
Parking is on West Union Street, off Seminary Ave in Manchester Village. (19 miles away, 40 min.)
There is also a toll road up that starts in Arlington.
2.8 mile out-and-back hike to an outcropping with views. The last part is steep and a bit of a scramble up. The outcropping is not for those afraid of heights. There are also spur trails to see old marble quarries.
Parking area is on Black Rock Lane, the road just before the Dorset Quarry in Dorset, as you're headed south. Go past many driveways - road to parking is marked with a sign.
Owls Head Trailhead
2.8 mile out-and-back hike to an outcropping with views. The last part is steep and a bit of a scramble up. The outcropping is not for those afraid of heights. There are also spur trails to see old marble quarries.
Parking area is on Black Rock Lane, the road just before the Dorset Quarry in Dorset, as you're headed south. Go past many driveways - road to parking is marked with a sign.
Haystack Trail is a 3 mile out-and-back hike with a trailhead a short walk from our cabin. Steep near the end, but the views are spectacular. If you're feeling daring, wander down the other side of Haystack until you see a cedar tree overlooking the valley - you will need to come back up to take the trail home.
19 habitants recommandent
Haystack Mountain
Haystack Trail is a 3 mile out-and-back hike with a trailhead a short walk from our cabin. Steep near the end, but the views are spectacular. If you're feeling daring, wander down the other side of Haystack until you see a cedar tree overlooking the valley - you will need to come back up to take the trail home.
Lots of hiking trails, cross country skiing in winter. South on Rt 30, right on Rt 315 before you get to Dorset. It's at the top of the big hill (which also makes a fun, but ambitious, bike ride) going towards Rupert.
66 habitants recommandent
Merck Forest & Farmland Center
3270 VT-315Lots of hiking trails, cross country skiing in winter. South on Rt 30, right on Rt 315 before you get to Dorset. It's at the top of the big hill (which also makes a fun, but ambitious, bike ride) going towards Rupert.
Great 5.3 mile out-and-back hike starting at the Long Trail/AT parking on Rt 30. The summit is the top of the Bromley Ski Area in the winter - hike up the trail with your skis and ski down. (22 miles away, 40 min.)
166 habitants recommandent
Bromley Mountain
Great 5.3 mile out-and-back hike starting at the Long Trail/AT parking on Rt 30. The summit is the top of the Bromley Ski Area in the winter - hike up the trail with your skis and ski down. (22 miles away, 40 min.)
Great 7.2 mile out-and-back hike using Bucklin Trail - parking area off Wheelerville Rd, off Rt 4 east of Rutland. Hike through the woods, along a brook, then start the steeper rock climb. The summit is bare with great views, but is also busy - the Killington Ski gondola is used in summer to bring up many tourists. (22 miles away, 1 hr.)
16 habitants recommandent
Killington Peak Lodge
4763 Killington RdGreat 7.2 mile out-and-back hike using Bucklin Trail - parking area off Wheelerville Rd, off Rt 4 east of Rutland. Hike through the woods, along a brook, then start the steeper rock climb. The summit is bare with great views, but is also busy - the Killington Ski gondola is used in summer to bring up many tourists. (22 miles away, 1 hr.)
Nice hike up the AT to overlook the Rt 7 valley.
34 habitants recommandent
White Rocks National Recreation Area
Sugar Hill RoadNice hike up the AT to overlook the Rt 7 valley.
Emerald Lake State Park
65 Emerald Lake LnBeautiful lake for swimming.
Sightseeing
An amazingly awesome independent bookstore in Manchester. Not to be missed.
126 habitants recommandent
Northshire Bookstore
4869 Main StAn amazingly awesome independent bookstore in Manchester. Not to be missed.
There is a vein of slate that goes from Fair Haven to West Pawlet, the same vein is in Northern Wales. Find out about how slate is processed, the immigrant communities that came to work the slate (why is there a church in Poultney where Welsh is still spoken??), and maybe you'll start noticing that ALL of the roofs around here are slate. This is also the only place in the world with red slate.
There's a little pedestrian covered bridge out back. Take a right after crossing and go see the Pember Museum (top floor of the library), an old-fashioned stuffed-animal-collection museum, but fascinating nonetheless.
13 habitants recommandent
Slate Valley Museum
17 Water StThere is a vein of slate that goes from Fair Haven to West Pawlet, the same vein is in Northern Wales. Find out about how slate is processed, the immigrant communities that came to work the slate (why is there a church in Poultney where Welsh is still spoken??), and maybe you'll start noticing that ALL of the roofs around here are slate. This is also the only place in the world with red slate.
There's a little pedestrian covered bridge out back. Take a right after crossing and go see the Pember Museum (top floor of the library), an old-fashioned stuffed-animal-collection museum, but fascinating nonetheless.
A general store that first expanded by going underground, and has now added a deli, coolers, and gas. They carry a good assortment of necessary and Vermont-style clothing, such as work boots, snow boots, mud boot, Carhartt workwear, gloves, hats, Darn Tough socks, and Kuhl clothing. They also still carry animal feed. Look for Rupert Rising and Earth Sky Time bread - never a bad choice.
Also the site of the Dorset Summer Farmers Market on Sunday mornings.
29 habitants recommandent
H N Williams Store
2732 VT-30A general store that first expanded by going underground, and has now added a deli, coolers, and gas. They carry a good assortment of necessary and Vermont-style clothing, such as work boots, snow boots, mud boot, Carhartt workwear, gloves, hats, Darn Tough socks, and Kuhl clothing. They also still carry animal feed. Look for Rupert Rising and Earth Sky Time bread - never a bad choice.
Also the site of the Dorset Summer Farmers Market on Sunday mornings.