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Southern Vermont

VERMONT BEGINS HERE

Southern Vermont is your gateway to Vermont from southern states, and offers a hero’s welcome rich with history, beautiful views, captivating heritage and an immediate sense of belonging. Southern Vermont celebrates its past and heritage, like the town of Bellows Falls, where the first bridge to be built anywhere on the 410-mile-long Connecticut River was over the Falls' narrow gorge, or Springfield, home to a thriving manufacturing past and stunning historic downtown.
people swimming in a water hole with a waterfall

5 Iconic Vermont Swimming Holes

Vermont is rich with swimming holes, waterfalls, and places to paddle and cast a line. These five local-loved spots in southern Vermont feature waterfalls, beautiful state forest settings, and family-friendly recreation.

Stone Church

In Brattleboro, a Church is an Atmospheric Music Venue

Rambunctious metal shows, intimate folk music gatherings, and everything in between find space and a stage at Brattleboro’s Stone Church, which reopened as a live music venue in 2016, enlivening Brattleboro’s arts scene.

covered bridge in bennington vermont

72 Hours in Bennington, Vermont

Vermont’s Shires region is a stronghold of arts, history, culture, and things to do, as well as access to bountiful outdoor recreation options. Here’s how to spend 72 hours in Bennington.

art in downtown rutland

Exploring Downtown Rutland

Downtown Rutland is home to outdoor art aplenty, history, delicious local dining and stores that offer the unique and unexpected. Go along with a Seven Days reporter to explore, and then plan your own trip.

arts and heritage in Vermont - vermont vacation

Three Must-Visit Heritage Attractions in Southern Vermont

Contemporary art, American history dating back to the Lincoln presidency, and an immersive gallery, as well as Vermont’s largest outdoor sculpture garden, await in southern Vermont.

NAULAKHA HOUSE

Stay at Rudyard Kipling’s Historic Home

The writer Rudyard Kipling made his home in southern Vermont in the late 1800s and wrote several of his critically acclaimed works here – and now visitors can call his painstakingly restored home theirs, too, for a vacation.

Manchester Sculpture Park

Outdoor Art Shines at Manchester’s Seven Springs

Featuring 15 sculptures on 20 acres, this southern Vermont sculpture park is the project of a couple committed to keeping art accessible to all. With no set path, visitors can explore the land at will and on their own time.

Grafton Inn in Vermont

NO PLACE LIKE GRAFTON

Vermont’s unspoiled beauty abounds in Grafton, home to the Grafton Inn, delicious local cheese, a network of trails to explore and a base from which to check out southern Vermont.

SOUTHERN VERMONT HISTORIC DOWNTOWNS

Vermont’s historic downtowns offer the chance to get off the beaten path and explore the history of the Green Mountains, as well as enjoy delicious local food, shopping that feels like treasure hunting and welcoming communities. 

Skiing in Southern Vermont - ski lifts

A Winter Retreat in Southern Vermont

Vermont’s history, art, and diverse winter recreation await in the state’s southern region. Here is a curated list of indoor and outdoor activities to inspire your trip.