We finally RVed Vermont! What town did we choose?
Being New Englanders, it might come as a surprise to hear that, 41 states into our RV journey, we had not yet checked off Vermont. We passed through it heading from New Hampshire to New York in 2022, but because we didn't stop, it remained a void on our RV travel map. Of course, on our non-RV "states visited" maps, Vermont has been checked for decades. Anthony and I had both visited many times as children, and since we've been together, we have had weekend getaways, birthday celebrations, and even looked at a wedding venue there. We've spent time in the northern part of the state, up near Burlington and Lake Champlain. We've nestled into a cozy inn in the Green Mountains. We've made many stops at the Cabot Country Store in Quechee when we've crossed the border from New Hampshire. We've even stayed in a dome house!
Safe to say, the state of Vermont is not a stranger. So now that the opportunity to RV there was upon us, where did we choose to go? While we would have loved some time up north or deep in the forest, we needed to stick close to the MA border, since that's where we were heading next. If we were going to stay in the southern part of the state, we knew exactly where we wanted to be.
Bennington, VT is rich in history. It's the oldest town in the state and houses Vermont's tallest manmade structure, the Bennington Battle Monument. A pivotal battle in the American Revolution took place there. The Redcoats descended on what is now Hoosick, NY, just across the state border, and engaged in a days-long battle over several miles, ending at what is now the site of the monument. The Colonists won the battle and it put them in position to defeat the British in the Battle of Saratoga, which was the turning point in the Revolution, when the Colonists proved that they were strong enough to garner foreign support, which ultimately aided their quest for independence.
Art and literature also play huge roles in Bennington. Grandma Moses painted her interpretations of the area, allowing Vermont's quaintness to jump right off her canvas. The Bennington Museum holds the world's largest Grandma Moses exhibit. Robert Frost spent many years of his life in the area and is buried with his family at the Old Bennington Cemetery. Bennington College boasts ample higher learning opportunities in liberal arts. Take a walk downtown and you will pass various galleries, artisan gift and antique stores, coffee shops, and a book store. The streets are dotted with painted moose and catamounts (the whimsical Vermont mountain lion), all adding vibrancy to the artistic, intellectual, and hippie vibe that we've grown to love over our many visits to the town.
Despite several visits to Bennington over the past decade, we never had the chance to truly dive into everything the town offers. Typically, we'd pass through the area, sometimes for a day or less – just enough time to see a few sights and grab dinner at our favorite restaurant. We looked forward to bringing our RV lifestyle to the area. Finally, after all these years, we could slow down and spend several days here, really giving this beautiful town the attention it deserves. We were in a prime position to be both locals and tourists at the same time. We were already comfortable with the area and had some favorite places, but we could also catch up on the big attractions we hadn't yet seen.
On our first day, we drove to downtown with plans to walk around and visit some of the shops. On our way, we stopped at Apple Barn Country Bake Shop, located a few miles south of downtown on US 7. You haven't visited New England until you pop into a country store. The rustic decor, maple products, fresh produce, baked goods, and crafty gifts were our warm welcome home. Apple Barn does pick-your-own fruits which varies with the season, so they were advertising everything blueberry when we visited.
We were running low on maple syrup and purposely waited until we got to Vermont to replenish. We also found some maple hot cocoa mix that's too delicious to wait until the cooler weather to drink. After walking around, we bought a couple of baked goodies and had breakfast in their little "dining" section, aka a room full of tables where you can enjoy your morning coffee or afternoon fudge or ice cream. I got probably the most New England baked good in the history of the universe: An apple cider donut whoopie pie with maple cream filling. Not at all healthy, but oh-so-homey!
If the weather is nice, you can take your food out back to picnic tables overlooking the gardens. We ventured back there on our way out. The wildflowers were in full bloom, and a hawk was standing post on top of the covered garden bridge.
Because we went on a Monday with on-and-off rain, downtown was not at all busy. There was plenty of street parking, but municipal lots are available as well. The Visitor's Center was closed for the day, but they keep the vestibule open so people can grab informational pamphlets. We ducked into a few of the shops, browsing the various local artisan gifts, toys, and even some musical instruments!
Just west of downtown is Old Bennington, the historic district. We would be doing more there in the coming days, but on this day, we decided to go to the Bennington Museum. We had never been before, and we thought it would be a nice place to get out of the rain.
The museum has two floors and tons of rooms, showcasing local artists, historical exhibits, vintage artifacts, a rock display, and more. The first floor housed the Grandma Moses collection and an exhibit devoted to the Battle of Bennington.
We spent most of our time looking at these exhibits because they were the main reason we visited the museum. However, upstairs was certainly worth seeing, too. We got to read about the construction of the Battle Monument and see maps of the various rocks that make up the land in Vermont. The museum also had impressive displays of antique pottery and grandfather clocks.
Outside of the museum are some sculpture gardens and walking trails. We got a little break in the rain and enjoyed a short nature walk.
A couple of days later, we returned to Old Bennington, this time to visit the monument. Over the years, we have grown fond of seeing the limestone obelisk jutting up from the mountains, and one time we drove up Monument Ave to get a closer look. However, we hadn't yet timed our visit to be able to actually go inside the monument. All that was about to change. The Visitor's Center is open daily from 10AM-5PM from May through October. It houses a gift shop, and this is where people can buy tickets to take the elevator to the top of the monument. If you go to the Bennington Museum, save the receipt because it will get you $2 off admission here (there are a few similar discounts for admission to Bennington historic sites, so be sure to get a list of them when you visit).
Even if you can't go inside the monument, just walking the grounds is worthwhile. On either side of the monument are statues of Colonel Seth Warner and General John Stark. Colonel Warner was the Commander of the Green Mountain Boys, who helped the Colonists achieve victory in the battle. General Stark was from New Hampshire and was a vital force in the battle. He is known as the "Hero of Bennington." His statue was donated by the Citizens of New Hampshire.
The monument's ground level has a few information boards and displays, which talk about Bennington's history in the Revolutionary War, and the construction of the monument. The state of Vermont had wanted to commemorate the Battle of Bennington for a long time, but it look a while to get the monument construction project funded and off the ground. The 100th anniversary of the battle helped to move the project along, but the state governor at the time wasn't convinced. Although the monument would stand as the tallest structure in the state, Governor Hall didn't think it would be grand enough to attract attention and visitors. What he wasn't factoring in was the presence this monument would have. To this day, I still remember seeing it for the first time from a distance and having a visceral reaction. It's a true symbol of American strength and tenacity. It's also an incredible addition to the landscape.
A curator takes visitors to the monument's observation level, telling a little about the history on the ride up. Views from the top include Massachusetts' Berkshires to the south, New York to the west, and the Green Mountains to the east and north. The windows are tiny, but we were up there to see the monument's construction as much as we were there for the views.
To keep with our revolutionary theme, we left the monument and drove the 20 minutes across the New York border, over to Hoosick Falls, the site of where the Battle of Bennington began. The site has a few places visitors can walk around, but it was extremely hot that day, so we only stayed for a little while. If you're a history buff, then definitely add both of these sites to your southern Vermont itinerary. We recommend visiting the New York Historic Site first and the Battle Monument second, so that way you follow the same direction as the battle. We would have preferred to do this, but we were running out of time to go to the top of the monument before it closed.
On the plus side, we finished our excursion just in time to catch The Publyk House as it was opening for dinner. This restaurant is no stranger to our blog, despite us never having gone there during our RV travels. That's because it's the standard that we hold all other restaurants against – well, at least the rustic farm restaurants. We sang its praises the first time we went to Richards Farm in Casey, IL. The Publyk House was basically the reason we wanted to try Richards Farm in the first place, because homey food in a farm atmosphere is exactly the type of restaurant we like to eat at. Plus, we've said it before and we'll say it again: We love a good salad bar!
So finally, we get to give The Publyk House the blog feature it deserves. Ever since we first ate there over a decade ago, this restaurant has never failed to serve us delicious food in a cozy setting. Locals agree; this restaurant has won many accolades over the years, including the 2024 Reader's Choice Award in both the Bennington Banner and the Manchester Journal. The restaurant is only open a few hours every day for dinner, and they recently began offering a Sunday brunch, but to thrive on these limited hours shows just how good they are. We arrived less than 10 minutes after they opened, and already several cars were in the parking lot. We think people were just waiting for 5PM to roll around! That's a good idea for visiting here. Going at peak times, you are basically guaranteed a substantial wait time.
The Publyk House is described as an "American Steak House and Tavern" on their website, but the menu offers so much beyond that. They often stick to local and seasonal ingredients, so the specific items change, but we have always been able to rely on staples like baked brie, fish and chips, burgers, and mac & cheese. We almost always get the baked brie as our appetizer, but this time their sweet potato tots special was calling our name. They topped the tots with roasted pecans and maple drizzle. How could we not enjoy something maple?! When in Rome....
For our entrees, I got the Hawaiian chicken, which was grilled chicken served with sweet teriyaki sauce and pineapple, and I chose wild rice for my side. Anthony got the lobster mac & cheese. Then of course, we cannot forget the beloved salad bar, which is included with every entree. The restaurant also serves warm bread with their famous maple butter.
We always try to save room for dessert here because their dessert menu is extensive, and every one we've tried has been fantastic. This time, we went for a classic: The skillet chocolate chip cookie topped with vanilla ice cream.
We could rave about the food forever (and let's face it, we do), but we cannot forget that this restaurant also has some amazing views! How many places can boast both great views and delicious food? The restaurant is a converted barn, so each room has its own vibe. Then there is the patio, which we totally would have dined on if it was just 10 or so degrees cooler. Some patrons braved the heat, which means they got the best seat in the house, with a monument view.
Our room didn't have the views, but it had a lovely ambience, nonetheless. We didn't need the views; we had just seen them. Actually, in all the times we had been to this restaurant, we had never sat in this room, so we were happy to check this one off. Perhaps soon we can accomplish sitting in every single room in the barn. We only have a couple left!
We were so happy to finally experience Vermont as part of our RV travels. Bennington is a town that certainly deserves a multi-day visit. In addition to all the fun excursions right in town, Bennington is central to tons of awesome day trips. If you head west, you can visit Albany or Saratoga Springs, NY. Head north and east and you will find yourself in the heart of Green Mountain National Forest. Manchester, VT is only a half-hour away and is adorable. Head south from Bennington and you will enter Massachusetts. Williamstown, Adams, and North Adams will give you New England vibes right away. For our fellow outdoor enthusiasts, we recommend a scenic drive on the Mohawk Trail and a drive or hike up Mount Greylock, Massachusetts' highest peak. Or for our art and literature lovers, after getting your fix in Bennington, drive the hour south to Stockbridge, MA, home of Tanglewood Theater, the Norman Rockwell Museum, and just minutes away from the Edith Wharton Home in Lenox. Even though New England is our home, it's overwhelming to think of how much we have yet to see and do. This is just a glimpse into all that this area has to offer.
For the first year since we launched into our full-time RV life, we will be spending several months traveling around New England, and we can't wait to share some of our favorite places with you. Stick around for the journey!
