Manchester, Vermont Travel Guide
Manchester, Vermont is located in the Vermont’s Southwest corner about 45 minutes north of the Massachusetts border and 20 minutes from the New York border. The area has tons to do including outdoor adventures, delicious spots for dining, and shopping which make this location a perfect year-round destination!
Here are a few of my favorite activities and spots to explore in Manchester, Vermont!
What to do in Manchester, Vermont
Visit the Southern Vermont Arts Center
Explore the unique sculptures across the property along with a beautiful mountain view backdrop and enjoy the indoor exhibitions on display. You will also find trails to explore on the Southern Vermont Arts Center property so be sure to pack a pair of comfortable shoes for this stop.
Have lunch at curATE cafe
While at the Southern Vermont Arts center, enjoy a meal at curATE cafe. This was the absolute best meal I had in Manchester and the view was unmatched! The cafe offers both indoor and outdoor seating - I recommend a spot outside on warmer days. The menu items are crafted with locally sourced ingredients and the gnocchi I ordered was seriously the best I have ever eaten. Cannot recommend this spot enough!
Tour the Hildene - the Lincoln Family Home
The Lincolns built Hildene as a summer home and the 412 acre estate is now open to the public. Visitors can purchase a ticket to explore the grounds which includes a tour of the inside of the historic estate where you will find a variety of historic artifacts that even include Abraham Lincoln’s top hat. After touring the inside of the home, make your way through the gardens and take in the incredible views from the property. Make your way along the property to see the 1903 Pullman car - Sunbeam. You can learn about the history of the Pullman Company and walk through the inside of one of the cars.
Check out the Hildene Events Calendar to learn about the different event offerings throughout the year.
Explore the American Museum of Fly Fishing
The American Museum of Fly Fishing costs only $5 (as of my visit in June 2024). I am a new angler and loved learning about the history of fly fishing and seeing the amazing collection of flies here. I recommend this spot even if you are not really interested in fly fishing as museum also features an impressive collection of beautiful artwork.
Shop the Orvis Flagship Store
After visiting the museum, head across the parking lot to explore the largest Orvis store. You will find two floors full of Orvis gear and you even enjoy a distillery tasting on the first floor. You will also find the Orvis Manchester Fly Fishing school across the street.
Want to try fly fishing? You can book a fly fishing lesson through their school like I did on my recent stay.
Drive Mount Equinox Skyline Drive
Take “A Drive to the Sky” with a trip along Mount Equinox Skyline Drive. The longest privately owned, paved road in the United States takes you to the summit of Mount Equinox. Sitting at 3,848 feet, it’s the highest peak in the Taconic Mountain Range. There are several stops along the way to the top to take in the views. At the top, you can also enjoy expansive views that stretch out even to Mount Greylock in the Berkshires. While at the top, enjoy one of the many hiking trails available, including a short hike out to Lookout Rock to get a view of Manchester Village.
Tips for your visit:
Stop by the Skyline Drive Welcome Center to purchase your ticket to the top. The cost to drive the road is $25 per car and $5 for each additional passenger. The road is open Memorial Day weekend through the end of October, daily from 9 am - 5 pm, with the last entry to the top at 4 pm. Restrooms are available at the Skyline Drive Welcome Center and at the top of the mountain in the Saint Bruno Scenic Viewing Center. Dogs are welcome on leash.
Walk Downtown and Manchester Village Historic District
Downtown Manchester offers a variety of restaurants and shops, including a section of outlet shops, and fun art. One of my favorite stores I popped into on this visit was Northshire Bookstore. The book store is huge and they have a great selection as well as a really fun book display.
Head to Manchester Village Historic District to see some of the oldest buildings in Manchester. You will also find the Equinox Golf Resort & Spa here.
Enjoy Lunch or Dinner at The Crooked Ram
The Crooked Ram is the perfect spot for a casual lunch or dinner. From May to mid-October, you can enjoy a seat in The Yard. This beautiful outdoor dining space features a full bar and a wood-fired pizza oven. They offer a variety of local craft beers as well as a cocktail menu. From October to May, The Dining Room is open for serving up a variety of dishes made with locally sourced seasonal ingredients.
Equinox Valley Nursery
Visiting in Fall? Be sure to check-out the scarecrow display at Equinox Valley Nursery. You can also shop from a beautiful selection of pumpkins, gourds, and mums. They also serve a variety of goodies including cider donuts and donut sundaes complete with maple syrup!
Visit the Chiselville Covered Bridge
Head just slightly south of Manchester, Vermont to the neighboring town of Sunderland to visit the beautiful Chiselville Covered Bridge. The bridge was originally built in 1870 and repairs were made to the bridge in 1973. There is no official parking area for this bridge, but there is enough space for a couple cars to park along the the side of the road. I especially love the sign that this bridge displays which states, “One Dollar Fine for Driving Faster Than a Walk on This Bridge.” It is a fairly quiet spot and I did not see any cars cross the bridge on this visit.
Aloyicious Pizza Shed
Visit the Aloyicious deep dish roadside pizza shed to pick up a delicious frozen pizza to take home with you. The shed features a few different vegetarian pizza options and these taste just like a classic Chicago deep dish pizza. Map to 1174 Beech St, Manchester Center, Vermont to find the pizza shed.
Where to stay:
Two spots I have stayed in Manchester and would recommend are:
The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa - a full resort featuring a world-class golf course, spa, on-site historic tavern, amazing mountain views, and shuttle service to Equinox pond. See my blog post “A Historic Stay at The Equinox” for all the details.
Hillside Getaway - a pet friendly stay with the most incredible views of Mount Equinox; bookable via Airbnb and Vrbo. See my blog post “Southern Vermont Airbnb with the Best Views” for all the details.
