Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:Brattleboro, Vermont
Our Tourist Attractions Expert Says:
Any time of the year is a great time to visit Brattleboro, Vermont, where you will always find events to attend and festivals to participate in. Tourists flock to Brattleboro year round from nearby New England towns and beyond for the lively cultural events and quaint country setting with a resort town feel.
Brattleboro originated with the founding of Fort Dummer in 1724, which is now a Vermont State Park and is open to the public. Brattleboro prides itself on being a literary town; the first American publication of Harry Potter: The Sorcerer's Stone, was published in Brattleboro, and the town has also been home to famous authors such as playwright Royall Tyler and Rudyard Kipling.
Culture, arts, and community events make Brattelboro a vibrant and diverse community. Some annual events you will not want to miss include the Brattleboro Fest of music in June, the Brattleboro Animation Festival in July, the Brattleboro Literary Festival in September, the Harris Hill Ski Jumping Competition in February, the Maple Open House Weekend in March, Taste of the Town in May, Winter Carnival in February, and much more. Brattleboro also hosts a number of art galleries and stores including Vermont Artisan Design, the largest store of original artworks in the area. Be sure to take part in the Gallery Walk on the first Friday of every month, when galleries, artists, and arts organizations open their doors to the public to show new work or hold performances. Other cultural attractions worth a visit include the Brattleboro Music Center, the Brattleboro Museum and Arts Center, and River Valley Performing Arts Center, which all offer live entertainment.
Brattleboro offers a wide variety of restaurant options, from fine to casual dining. The most popular fine dining eateries include Capers, Peter Havens, 39 Main, Max's, and T.J. Buckley's. However, if you are looking for something more affordable and laid back, try the Chelsea Royal Diner, Top of the Hill Grill, or the Marina.
Lodging in Brattleboro is cozy and comfortable, and several hotels by the Connecticut River offer exceptional views. We recommend Dalem's Chalet, or theMeadowlark Inn, which is a restored farmouse in a quaint country setting that offers a full country breakfast in the morning.
The town of Brattleboro in Windham County is located on the shores of the Connecticut River, in Vermont's southeast region. Brattleboro is easily accessible by bus, train, or car, and can be found immediately off Interstate 91, Vermont State Route 9, or U.S. Route 5, and is only an hour and a hlaf drive away from Hartford, Connecticut, or an hour away from Springfield, Massachusetts. The Amtrak train stops in Brattleboro and the Grey Hound bus line drives through it. Within Brattleboro, you can travel via the Brattleboro BeeLine, which operates throughout the town between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
However you get to Brattleboro, be sure to enjoy the beautiful New England scenery on the way there!