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Planning a visit to Brattleboro VT? Fantastic, it’s of the best things to do in Southern Vermont!
From art galleries and niche museums, to great restaurants and beautiful outdoor spaces, there are plenty of things to do in Brattleboro, VT!
This progressive community has been named one of the 10 Best Small Towns in America, and I think it should 100% be on your list of must-visit places in Vermont! It’s got a very hip, modern vibe about it, and I especially appreciate the old school architecture being repurposed into something fresh and new. I didn’t get to spend a ton of time here, but my family and I had a blast during the short trip we had!
Check out this list of a few of the most fun things to do in Brattleboro VT.
Things to Do in Brattleboro
Catch a Show at Stone Church
Address: 210 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours Vary
One of the coolest music venues in Vermont, Stone Church is a former Victorian Gothic church. I haven’t personally caught a show here, but this is the kind of music venue I swoon over!
It’s an intimate venue and word on the street is that the acoustics are powerful. If you’re looking for live music in Brattleboro VT, check out the events calendar to see who’s on stage during your trip!
See the New England Center for Circus Arts
Address: 10 Town Crier Dr, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: Monday – Thursday, 8 am – 9 pm, Friday, 8 am – 5 pm, Saturday, 9 am – 5 pm, Sunday closed
Did you ever want to run away with the circus as a kid? Well, in Brattleboro, you totally can!
The New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA) offers in-depth classes and internationally-recognized certifications in circus skills, but they also offer year-round performances.
Check in with their events calendar to see what’s happening during your next visit. This is the kind of big entertainment you’d expect to see “under the Big Top!”
Visit the Vermont Maple Museum
Address: 1991 Marlboro Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, 7 days a week
More humongous gift shop than museum, the Vermont Maple Museum is a great spot to visit for Vermont souvenirs. Of course, there’s maple syrup. Lots and lots of Vermont maple syrup!
There’s also local beer and cheese and lots of trinket type stuff, like t shirts, books, and coffee mugs.
Have a Sip (or Six) at Saxtons River Distillery
Distillery Address: 155 Chickering Dr, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: Monday – Wednesday, 10 am – 5 pm, Thursday – Friday, 12 pm – 9 pm, Saturday, 10 am – 7 pm, Sunday Closed
Tasting Room & Mercantile: 2 Elliot St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: Monday – Wednesday Closed, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 12 pm – 6 pm, Sunday, 12 pm – 5 pm
Another of the best things to do in Brattleboro, Vermont? Drink bourbon! As the name suggests, Saxtons River Distillery is located on the river in a quaint repurposed warehouse that is now home to some seriously Vermont-style spirits.
With options like Sapling Maple Bourbon, made from maple syrup that is tapped less than 10-miles from the door of the distillery, you’ll find plenty of that signature Vermont maple flavor.
Saxtons’ Snowdrop Gin is another big crowd favorite, and honestly? You won’t go wrong picking up a bottle (or 3!) as souvenirs to take home from your Brattleboro adventure!
They have an awesome outdoor seating area, too, with a firepit that’s perfect for keeping warm on those cool VT nights.
Cross the Creamery Covered Bridge
Address: 500 Western Ave, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: Always Open!
No longer accessible by car, you’ll be crossing the charming Creamery Covered Bridge on foot, but this is really the best way to take in all the remarkable craftsmanship and restoration that has been put into this lovely covered bridge since it was first built in 1879; notice the original wood peg construction in the exposed beams!!!
Pick up a little something from the Vermont Country Deli up the road beforehand and set yourself up for a delightful picnic at one of the benches alongside the bridge.
This historic covered bridge is a picture-perfect picnic spot with beautiful Whetstone Brook babbling below, and one of the reasons why Creamery Covered Bridge is a must-visit spot on one of the most scenic drives in Vermont.
Tour the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center
Address: 10 Vernon St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm, Monday & Tuesday Closed
Housed in a converted rail station, Brattleboro Museum and Art Center is a non-collecting contemporary art museum, meaning rather than permanent pieces on display, the museum is always featuring new artists and showcasing their work.
Every time you visit, you are going to find new modern, culturally relevant work by current artists on display.
The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center is always hosting interesting events, too; check in with their event calendar to see what you might find while you’re in town!
Sample the Local Flavor at Grafton Village Cheese Co
Address: 400 Linden St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: 10 am – 6 pm, 7 days a week
Grafton Village Cheese Co is a local favorite that is so much more than just cheese! Not only is the cheese traditionally handmade from milk from local family farms, but profits are used to fund various philanthropic endeavors around the state.
If cheese isn’t your bag (hopefully you at least sample a bit!), there are plenty of other yummy treats to be found in the storefront, like handmade chocolates, candies, gourmet sauces and dips, and lots more. A bottle of wine, fine cheese, and chocolates… doesn’t sound like a bad time, does it?
The Brattleboro Specialty Cheese & Wine Shop is also right next door to Retreat Farm, so there’s that, too.
Visit Retreat Farm
Address: 400 Linden St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: 6 am – 6 pm, 7 days a week
With 500 acres of absolutely breathtaking Vermont beauty, Retreat Farm is a nonprofit that is all about preservation and community. You can visit and take a farm tour or wander the many Retreat trails that wind their way around the farm, and there are frequent community events happening onsite.
Plus, you’ll often find local food trucks onsite and Grafton Village Cheese Co is right next door, so…
My kids especially loved visiting the goats. The babies were so cute!
Take to the River with Vermont Canoe Touring Center
Address: 451 Putney Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours Vary
Explore beautiful Brattleboro, Vermont by water in a canoe, kayak, or paddleboard with a little help from the folks at Vermont Canoe Touring Center. The Connecticut River is always lovely, but if you time your trip for Vermont’s fall foliage, things get crazy scenic!
Step into your canoe/kayak/paddleboard and step away from the stress of the shore and take a deep breath of that fresh Vermont air— Bet you’ll arrive back on the shore feeling a little lighter than you felt before!
Take a Hike at Fort Dummer State Park
Address: 517 Old Guilford Rd, Guilford, VT 05301
Hours: 6 am – 9 pm
Fort Dummer State Park is just right outside of Brattleboro and is home to 217 acres of gorgeous Connecticut River Valley land.
Two of the most popular hikes at this lovely state park is Sunrise Trail and Sunset Trail, both loops that are fairly easy. Sunset Trail leads to a playground and is especially popular for families with kids!
Jazz it up with a Visit to the Vermont Jazz Center
Address: 72 Cotton Mill Hill, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours Vary
Considered one of the leading jazz venues in all of New England, the Vermont Jazz Center not only hosts world-class jazz concerts but also regularly engages in community outreach and educational opportunities with Brattleboro and beyond.
Past events have included an Emerging Artists Festival and a Jazz Piano Festival, in addition to all the many notable jazz musicians that have graced the stage with their presence and powerful mastery of this musical style. Follow their events calendar to see what’s coming up while you’re in town!
Stop by the Robb Family Farm and Sugarhouse
Address: 822 Ames Hill Rd, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours Vary
For a little peek into what small-town farm life is like in southern Vermont, visit the Robb Family Farm and Sugarhouse and get your maple syrup and other specialty treats straight from the source.
Maple candies, maple sugar, and grass-fed, organically raised beef are only a few of the other offerings on display there at this gorgeous little farm, but the syrup remains the star of the show. Plus, it’s one of the state’s best sugar houses.
Whether you like your maple syrup delicate, rich, or robust, there’s a high probability you’re going to find your new favorite syrup and take a bottle or 3 home with you as souvenirs from your Brattleboro vacation!
Visit the Past at the Estey Organ Museum
Address: 108 Birge St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: 2pm – 4 pm on Saturdays, May through October
This may not be for everyone, but for those of us who get a real kick out of seeing beautifully preserved antiques, it’s a definite must visit spot in Brattleboro!
Estey Organ Museum is especially interesting because guess what they not only allow but actually encourage? PEOPLE CAN PLAY THESE ESTEY ORGAN COMPANY BEAUTIES STILL!
You can’t just start pounding away on these bad boys as several do require instruction (they’re antiques, after all!) but how freakin cool is that???
Note the hours, they are only open for a couple of hours on Saturday afternoons, May through October!
Take in a Show at the Latchis Theatre
Address: 50 Main St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours Vary
This ornate historic Art Deco style theatre has seen its share of talent since it opened its doors for vaudeville and silent films back in 1938, and it continues to draw people in to this day!
The Latchis Theatre has a gorgeous stage with 750-seats, and four theaters for movies, so there is always something being shown at The Latchis.
The attached hotel, simply named Latchis Hotel, offers a great location within easy walking distance to all the fantastic downtown Brattleboro art galleries, local shops, and restaurants.
Snag a room at the Latchis, catch a show at the theatre, and then set out to explore downtown Brattleboro for yourself.
Wet your Whistle at Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery
Address: 36 Bridge St, Brattleboro, VT 05301
Hours: Sunday, Monday, Thursday, noon – 9 pm, Friday & Saturday, noon – 10 pm, closed Tuesday & Wednesday
One of Brattleboro’s favorite spots to eat, drink, and hang, Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery serves it up with small-batch craft beers and a simple food truck-style menu that showcases locally sourced ingredients, like pierogies served with a house-made maple bacon chive sour cream sauce… tell me that doesn’t sound simply scrumptious!
Live music is a regular occasion and if you’re able, grab a table in the outdoor Bier Garten, where you’ll be treated to waterfront views.
Fun fact: The official Vermont/New Hampshire state line runs through the restaurant, so you can enjoy your brews in two states at once if you position yourself just right.
Notable Mention: Madame Sherri Forest and her Possibly Haunted Chateau Remains
Address: West Chesterfield, New Hampshire 03466
Hours Vary
Not technically in Brattleboro but just over the state line in New Hampshire, Madame Sherri Forest is named after the larger-than-life former costume-designer/owner of the ornate fortress that now sits in ruins, revealing a dramatic spiral stone staircase that once witnessed lavishly grand parties during the Roaring 20s.
Some speculate that Madame Sherri’s larger-than-life personality can still be felt amongst the ruins there… maybe you’d like to visit and see for yourself?
Whatever ends up on your itinerary for your Brattleboro getaway, I’m sure you’re going to love exploring this cool and artsy little southern Vermont town. Have fun and Happy Travels!
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