White River Valley in the Summer
Top Picks in the White 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 White River Valley offers in the summer.
Bethel Drive-In, Bethel
Back in the 1950s, when the Bethel Drive-In first opened, there were thousands of open-air movie theaters operating across the United States. Now there are fewer than 200, and of these, the Green Mountain State is home to three—more than its fair share on a per-capita basis. But it’s not hard to see why: Summers in Vermont are all about spending as much time outside as possible. And the Bethel Drive-In, surrounded by picturesque rolling hills, offers an idyllic natural backdrop for the Hollywood action onscreen. Films are typically shown in back-to-back pairs starting at dusk on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Don’t miss a stop at the cute-as-a-button concession stand, based in a sky-blue school bus.
White River, Vermont
White River Water Trail
Accessing the state’s longest free-flowing river and its tributaries got a lot easier with the 2016 establishment of the White River Water Trail. A network of boat launches, swimming areas, and other recreational access sites, the trail is overseen by the South Royalton–based White River Partnership, which works to improve existing sites and preserve new ones. Of the 110-plus river miles that the trail covers, the lower portion—where the White River widens before it flows into the Connecticut—is especially good for paddling, tubing, and swimming. Just don’t forget to arrange a ride or park a second car downriver so that you can make it back to your starting point—unlike a hiking trail, a water trail only goes one way!
Tunbridge, Vermont
The Ranger
Is it a race, or is it a moving party? In truth, one of the state’s signature gravel bike events is both, attracting cyclists near and far to tackle its 18-, 42-, and 62-mile rides over the course of a June weekend. (There is also a free, kid-friendly “Junior Ranger” option of up to five miles.) Farmland scenery and Vermont’s dramatic elevation shifts are all a part of the experience as cyclists fan out on a network of hardpacked gravel and unmaintained roads. Participants can camp on-site with fellow riders and then bask in their accomplishments at the concluding “Party in the Pasture” at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds, filled with good food, live music, and plenty of post-race banter.
Rochester, Vermont
Liberty Hill Farm & Inn
Liberty Hill’s 1890s red cupola-topped barn is so picture-perfect that it’s been immortalized by world-famous Vermont artist Woody Jackson, but that’s not the only claim to fame here. The efforts of the Kennett family to conserve energy and protect the environment on their 230-acre working dairy farm made Liberty Hill the state’s first certified Green Agritourism Enterprise. Guests bunk down in a rambling, 1825 clapboard farmhouse, where meals are made from scratch and served family-style. Anyone can pitch in with feeding calves and collecting eggs, and there are miles of trails to explore. Rockers on the porch are the perfect spot for relaxing to the sounds of the rushing White River.
Randolph, Vermont
Third Branch Pottery
Among the farming communities of Orange County, Randolph stands out as especially fertile ground for arts and culture. Visitors can enjoy the best of stage and screen at the Chandler Music Hall and the Playhouse Movie Theatre and explore contemporary art and craft at galleries like Art, Etc. and the Gallery at Chandler. Those with an urge to create, though, should make time to visit Third Branch Pottery—a studio, supply shop, gallery, and instruction space all in one. It has pottery throwing and hand-building workshops for kids and adults of all experience levels (there are private classes, too), as well as plenty of supplies for those who already know their way around a wheel. For even more inspiration: A wide array of work by more than 30 local artisans is for sale in the gallery.
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.
