Quechee and Pomfret are cute, small towns nestled right in the thick of the “Upper Valley,” which includes a number of towns straddling the Connecticut River, anchored by Hanover and Lebanon, NH and White River Junction, VT.
Hanover is home to Dartmouth College, where we met! West Lebanon will come in handy if you have any last-minute shopping needs while you’re in town (with every chain store present on its “Miracle Mile” strip). And White River Junction (aka WRJ) is very close by and worth exploring.
Vermont Institute of Natural Science (“VINS”). VINS has been one of our favorite destinations for 20 years. It’s right around the corner from the Quechee Jiffy Mart (so easy to find), and close to all wedding activities! At VINS, they motivate the community to help care for our wildlife through education and avian rehabilitation. You can visit their injured raptors and join live bird programs throughout the day. They also have nature walks, including a forest canopy walk, raptor and songbird aviaries, indoor exhibits, and a gift shop. (Bonus points for finding birds sponsored by Matt and Dave, Taylor's brother and dad, and Ty D.)
Another extended family favorite place to visit, and with good reason - shops here have a huge selection of penny candy, Cabot cheeses in more flavors than you knew existed, a “Living the Dream Alpaca (rescue) Farm” and store, Vermont Spirits, an antiques museum, and even a Segway shop.
This 165-foot gap has been called “Vermont’s Grand Canyon” (by someone, somewhere). There is a quintessential spot to view the gorge (from the bridge), and a 1/3 mile walking trail to the gorge. Great place for a holiday photo opp!
Simon Pierce is a famous glassware shop. This is their flagship store location, and includes glassblowing, retail shop, bar, and restaurant.
This 550 acre family hilltop farm produces varieties of maple syrup (4 for sampling!) and 14 varieties of cheese (pro tip: waxed cheese bars are travel friendly), with farm animals wandering all over the fields.
Julie notes that Woodstock was voted in 2022 by MSN as one of “The 14 Most Beautiful Towns in the US,” and for indisputably good reasons. Woodstock center includes Gillinghams country store, two local bookstores, many clothing and footwear stores, a particularly charming toy store, numerous restaurants, and much more. Be warned, though - Woodstock is always pretty busy during peak foliage season!
Just a scenic walk from Woodstock’s village center, Billings Farm is a fully-operational Jersey dairy farm with educational exhibits and interactive programs and events.
Mount Tom is a small peak (1250 feet) right near both the center of town and Billings Farm. You can start on Mountain road, and hike the switchbacks up the mountain to a panoramic view of Woodstock.
Duncan's self-proclaimed utopia. This market includes a huge selection of local produce, treats, snacks, sandwiches, wine and beer, and even local seeds for your garden.
Just a bit further down Route 4 W from Woodstock Farmers' Market, this pottery shop includes frequent pottery making demonstrations and has a shop full of special and unique products.
Hanover has numerous spots to stop for a cup of coffee, buy some Dartmouth gear, do some light shopping, plus an ever-changing assortment of restaurants. Our favorite lunch spots include Tuk-tuk and Molly's.
Baker Library is Dartmouth's largest library, and usually includes rotating exhibits open to the public.
Ledyard Canoe Club is a student-run base of Dartmouth's Outdoor Club, and offers canoe and kayak rentals to the public. Be sure to call ahead or look online for relevant hours and current availability.
The Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth is nestled right behind Taylor's junior year dorm (and was also conveniently under construction at that time). It includes rotating collections, events and programming.
The Montshire Museum of Science (blending New Hampshire and Vermont in its name) has hands-on exhibits people of all ages enjoy, from Taylor's toddler cousins to almost-30-y/o Duncan.
King Arthur flour includes its flagship baker’s store, a café (order ahead on their app to avoid long pick-up lines!), and a baking-education center.