There is much more to Vermont than maple syrup and leaf-peeping. The out-of-the-way nature of the state offers an excellent refuge to creatives and naturalists alike. Not to mention, Manchester is only a short jaunt from many major metropolitan centers. Manchester, VT shares an underdog mentality with her English sister city. but this sister city in Vermont is a can’t miss locale with its natural surroundings, folksy museums, and booming art culture.

Visitors Must enjoy fresh Air and Wide-Open Spaces.

Singularly American wilderness is a rarity when subdivisions spring up where mighty trees once stood. Few places offer truly wild, untouched expanses of nature. However, in Vermont, there still are plenty of open spaces. Even if one does not consider themselves outdoorsy, a morning romp through the woods is just what the doctor ordered for all visitors.

For the resolute city-slicker who may need some coaxing to enjoy a long walk out in nature, an ideal first stop is Mrs. Murphy’s Donuts. This place offers melt-in-your-mouth, homemade donuts, and breakfast sandwiches. A dozen will set you back less than eight dollars. It is a charming, locally-owned place that might remind you of your gran’s kitchen. What’s not to love?

There are a variety of nearby hiking areas to enjoy. For those hoping for a proper hike, Equinox Mountain is the highest peak in the Taconic Range and the second-highest peak in Southern Vermont behind Stratton. It is a classic and well-traveled hiking area. However, Lye Brook Falls is ideal for those looking for adventure and a bit more of a ramble. Lye Brook Falls is one of the highest waterfalls in the entire state. Believe it or not, it takes just a few hours to complete the whole hike. But, of course, by the time you have worked off those donuts, it’s lunchtime.

 

Fresh Air Feeds Fresh Art

One would be remiss to visit Manchester without seeing the Southern Vermont Arts Center, one part gallery, one part art school, and entirely supportive of the community living in Manchester. What a breath of fresh air, at once. This venue makes the seemingly stuffy art world accessible to a wide variety of individuals in the community, and it also supports artists while they are alive. 

This Museum is nothing like that and shows the art of the same elite tier one might expect in a Chelsea gallery. There is an indoor aspect that houses most of the permanent collection and various visiting shows. The Art Center also boasts a sculpture garden on its relatively large campus, a stone’s throw from Equinox Mountain. Entrance is free for members and $10.00 for adults, $5.00 for kids. It is worth however long the party wishes to visit at such an affordable price. There is a fantastic gift shop that offers a variety of handmade gifts from local artists and artisans and even some of their fellows and visiting artists—the perfect place to pick up a little painting or a poster for the dog sitter.

Fly Fishing Woman via Pinterest

Folksy Fun at the American Museum of Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is a typical pastime in Vermont’s many rivers and streams, but who thought that the meditative anglers could produce such excellent art? A modest home houses the Museum on Manchester’s Main Street, which holds some of the oldest flies in existence, dating to 1700s Scotland. Not to mention, there is a variety of other tackle on display, from rods to reels. In addition to stewarding the sport, the Museum also protects the wilderness and waterways that anglers fish. There are accounts of early fly-fishing practices in letters and drawings to more contemporary video interviews with pioneers in saltwater fishing and their struggles with a changing planet. Even those who do not obsess over fish have something to enjoy at this small but mighty venue. It is the perfect off-kilter spot to wrap up a perfect Vermont day.

Manchester, VT is an oft-forgotten destination that hides many gems within its borders. Everything about the place is quaint, charming, and a little quirky. It is a vital step out of time and back to nature that every city dweller could use in times such as these. Going back to nature may not be for the birds after all.