Upper Connecticut River Valley in the Summer
Top Picks in the Upper Connecticut River Valley
Summer is your gateway to the sense of wonder and well-being that comes with slowing down and taking in your surroundings in Vermont. Plunge into a swimming hole, stroll a local festival, or simply find togetherness on the lakeshore or around the campfire. Hand-picked by the editors of Yankee Magazine, these 5 highlights are just some of what the Upper Connecticut River Valley offers in the summer.
Quechee, Vermont
Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival
Want to experience the magic of balloon flight? You can do that at the Quechee Balloon Festival, provided you make reservations in advance for your 40- to 50-minute ride into the skies. If those flights are booked up, there still may be a chance to snag a shorter, less expensive tethered ride at this annual event, which has been happening on and above the Quechee Green since 1979. Even those who like their feet firmly on the ground find plenty to like at the festival, where live music and entertainment, craft and food vendors, and a beer and wine garden occupy the masses, and balloon “glow-ups” at dusk create a kaleidoscope of colors.
Woodstock, Vermont
Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park
At Vermont’s only national park—and the only national park in the U.S. that’s devoted to conservation history—visitors are invited to immerse themselves in nature’s beauty. They find it not only in the 20-plus miles of hiking trails and carriage roads that crisscross the 550-acre property, but also in the formal gardens around the 1805 Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Mansion. When the mansion is open to visitors (May-October), don’t miss a chance to peek inside the stately residence, which was a Rockefeller family home until 1992. The first floor of the brick Victorian Queen Anne is filled with exquisite architectural details such as Tiffany stained-glass windows and parquet wood floors, as well as a notable art collection. In summer, a full calendar of programming at the park includes art classes, workshops on topics like biodiversity and land stewardship, and ranger-led tours.
Bridgewater, Vermont
Long Trail Brewing Co.
For the first beer it released back in 1989, the company then known as Mountain Brewers chose the name Long Trail Ale—a tribute to the 272-mile hiking path that winds through the Green Mountain State. After the beer proved hugely popular, the company eventually took the same name. It has stuck close to its local roots ever since, with beers inspired by Vermont (like Harvest, a seasonal brown ale kissed with maple) and a commitment to the community through programs such as the Century Ride, a fundraiser for Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports. Taste what Long Trail has been up to lately at its brewery and restaurant on the Ottauquechee River, where over a dozen beers are on tap each day.
Quechee, Vermont
Simon Pearce
On still days, the Ottauquechee River can look like glass. That’s fitting, because Quechee’s glassblowing history runs deep. When Irish glassblower and artist Simon Pearce founded his flagship production location in Quechee, he was drawn to the dam on the Ottauquechee River, which powered the business hydroelectrically. Today, visitors to the original Quechee location can watch glassblowers at work up close, browse and shop the gallery for exquisite, locally made glassware, or dine at the on-site restaurant built over the river itself with the waterfall as a backdrop. Nearby, Pearce’s son, Andrew, has struck out on his own, handcrafting wooden bowls, cutting boards, and other home decor items; his gallery and store are open to the public just minutes away from Simon Pearce.
Woodstock, Vermont
Mountain Biking
Bikers can have a Goldilocks experience in Woodstock, trying each of the town’s three trail networks to see which one is just right for them. Managed by the local mountain bike association, the Aqueduct Trails in West Woodstock has more than a dozen miles of mostly easy and moderate riding on flowing trails; there’s a small pump track, too. On the more rugged end of the scale is the Mount Peg Trails network, which combines 20-plus miles of single-track and freeride trails over a swath of challenging terrain. Look for Cloud Drop, whose big berms and jumps make it one of the best cross-country trails in the area, and be sure to save time for the skills park. Rounding things out is the ski area Saskadena Six, which serves up challenging climbs and steep descents in a relatively compact network (nearly half its trails are rated advanced). Need a ride? Rentals are available at the Woodstock Inn’s Activity Center.
More to See and Do
Places to Visit In the Summer
Yankee Magazine’s editors hand-picked 5 places to visit in each Vermont region. Explore things to do in summer statewide.
