VeryVeryVermont - Manchester & Back Roads

We recently went on the most wonderful FALL adventure to Vermont! We went to see the infamous fall wonderland for our Aunt's birthday.  We spent a whole week in the lovely state and had three main (and very different) home bases. This week we are going to talk about our first stop which was Manchester, VT. Vermont is a very small state, but there is SO MUCH TO DO and explore.

Manchester was definitely one of our favorites.  It, to us, was the quintessential "New England" town. Every village was so cute and picturesque, and this one was no exception. A shopper's paradise (outlets and flagship stores!), inns and cottages, MARBLE sidewalks, and of course, yummy food!

The first morning, we took a winding drive through some back roads to the Vermont Country Store.

You should click on that link and go on a little shopping spree. They had EVERYTHING you can imagine - clothes, holiday and home decor, toys, and LOTS of food and even better - samples!

 

There are actually several stores throughout the state and we went to two of them on our trip. It's the perfect place to buy souvenirs and spend a couple of hours!

From there - we winded through some more roads and ended up at Bob's Diner. We had soup, sandwiches and burgers and it was the perfect comfort food on this cool day! Not to mention it was so cute!

We came back into Manchester and spent the afternoon exploring some of the town. You know we love a bookstore, and we found the cutest one in the middle of downtown. Northshire Bookstore. 

 

We always buy a book set in the town we were visiting and this was the perfect place to shop!

**Word to the wise -- if you go to Vermont in the fall, you MUST book your lodging and reservations way in advance. We found out while we were there  that we were visiting on the busiest weekend of the year, so thankfully we had all of our ducks in a row!

With that being said, we had made reservations at Ye Olde Tavern about a month before we visited. It was built in 1790 and was the stomping ground of the elite and Vermont Green Mountain boys. It was originally a hotel and now is historic restaurant with amazing food and such character!

Complimentary cranberry fritters.  Y'ALL.  

 

 

Everything we had was fantastic. Each room had a theme and we were in the "patriotic room". This is a must stop if you are in Manchester!

The next morning we spent more time exploring the area. Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd, made Manchester his home. His estate, Hildene, is 400 acres of historic buildings, gardens, a museum and Pullman Car, and a goat dairy & cheese-making facility! We didn't take too many pics but here is one we snapped on the way out of the front of the estate. 

We had heard we had to go by The Equinox .  It is a luxury golf resort and spa. We did not stay here, but it was BEAUTIFUL. (next time! :-))  Even if you can go for dinner or a drink you should stop by. It was built in 1769 and was a "hotbed for American revolutionaries" and there have been four U.S.A. Presidents that have stayed here. The landscaping and the trees added to the beauty.

 

On our way back into town we found the cutest and most yummiest bakery - Mother Myrik's. This is another link you should click on to buy the most decadent and mouth-watering treats! LOOK at those pies!

We stopped in for a quick lunch at the Mystic Cafe and Wine Bar in downtown Manchester. Their soup and grilled cheese sandwiches were amazing. We loved this bookshelf full of cookbooks!

 

 Another thing we had made reservations to do in Manchester was the Backroads Discovery Tour. The owner, Sharon, was such a delight from when we made reservations through the end of the tour. This tour literally takes you on the "backroads" and roads you would never find unless you were on the tour! We would literally get out of the bus and walk through a field for the most beautiful landscapes!

We had no idea that Vermont was the marble quarry capital of the world! We visited one that is now only used as a swimming hole and tourist site, but it was amazing. This one is the oldest marble quarry in the US. The sidewalks in downtown are all made of marble since it was so "cheap" from the quarries. It was something else!

 

One of our other backroads stops was to the Merck Forest & Farm. It's a non-profit educational organization supporting sustainable management of forest and farmland. You could spend a day hiking and visiting the forest and farm. Peakaboooo.

 

This is where they make maple syrup. They have a forest of maple trees and over 3,000 are tapped. Syrup season is in late winter/early spring and that would be another fun time to visit the state! 

 

Last but not least, we also got to visit an ALPACA farm on our backroads tour! We had never had a close encounter with the alpacas and they were the sweetest animals ever. We wanted to take them home.  

 "Alpaca SELFIE"

 We highly recommend this tour as a way to see a part of the state not on any tourist map!

Hard to believe all of that was just in our first two days. Manchester was the perfect village in the Green Mountains for our introduction into Vermont life. In our next #veryveryVermont installment we'll head to the lively waterfront town of Burlington! Thanks, Manchester - we loved every second!

XO,