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Does anyone else find it harder to write about a place you know and love intimately than it is to write about new and intriguing places you find while traveling? I’m having that issue today, but I really want to share my hometown of Bennington, VT with you, especially the special outdoor places that make it so special. Beautiful places in Vermont are pretty easy to come by, and the natural beauty in and around Bennington, VT is what made me fall in love with it.

The photos in this post are taken from my Instagram account .  My Instagram gallery is very “Vermonty”, with a few other lovely places sprinkled throughout for good measure. Ready to explore Bennington? Here are some amazingly beautiful places in my hometown, as well as some reasons it’s a very special place to visit. 

Woodford State Park is just a few miles from Bennington, VT

Exploring Bennington, VT

Until now, I’ve never really had a hometown. I’ve lived in dozens of places all over the country, never really settling in until I came here. I discovered this special place quite by accident thanks to house shopping on the internet. When we were looking to buy our first house back in 2006, we naturally spent hours each day browsing real estate websites. Eventually, we found ourselves looking at houses in Bennington, and we fell in love with a cute little bungalow. We never looked back, and have called Bennington home for the past 12 years. 

Headwaters Park in Bennington, Vermont

 Amazingly, I’ve lived here in Bennington longer than any place I’ve ever been. So even though we’re set on exploring the world near and far, I have to tell you a bit about my home town. Here are just a few things we love about Bennington, VT.

Bennington, Vermont is Gorgeous in Just About Every Season

Meyers Road, North Bennington/Shaftsbury Vermont

I say just about, because I’m not terribly fond of mud season. I’ve lost whole boots to muddy quagmires, and I’ve known others that have lost cars! Luckily, mud season in Vermont is short, lasting the month of March, and as long as we keep climate change at bay, I think I can handle it. Lucky for us, mud season goes hand-in-hand with maple sugaring season, so I guess that’s reason enough to cut it some slack! 

Overlea Road, North Bennington, VT

7 Beautiful Places to Visit in and around Bennington, VT

The Old First Church in Old Bennington

The Old First Church, Bennington, Vermont

Judging by the number of tour buses and photographers I’ve seen at the Old First Church over the years, I think it might just be the most photographed building in New England. The Old First Church,  such a lovely place to explore, even if you’re not visiting during leaf-peeping season. If you do get to walk around the church, be sure to check out the rest of Old Bennington. It’s like stepping back in time.

 The Old First Church is the first gathered church in Vermont. Although the church that stands there now isn’t the original, it’s been around since 1805. Sunday worship takes place at 10 am during the summer months and 11 am during the rest of the year. You can also pop in for a tour with a local volunteer. The Old First Church is open for visitors every weekend  from Memorial Day to July 1st, and daily from July 1st to the end of foliage season.

While you’re there, be sure to visit the grave of one of our most famous residents, Robert Frost, which is located in the beautiful old graveyard between the Old First Church and the Bennington Museum. 

Robert Frost’s grave behind the Old First Church, Bennington, Vermont

The Bennington Battle Monument

While you’re in Old Bennington, you won’t want to miss a tour of the Bennington Monument. At 306 feet, the Bennington Monument is the tallest building in the state. It’s the most popular of all Vermont state historic sites, and the views from the top are spectacular. Visitors can ride to the top in an elevator from mid-April until October 31st from 9 am to 5 pm.  Learn all about Bennington’s place in the Revolutionary War and be sure to have a picnic on the lawn.

A view of the Bennington Battle Monument from the Old First Church

The Robert Frost House in Shaftsbury, Vermont

Mr. Frost is buried in Bennington, but he lived in a little stone house in Shaftsbury, the next town over. You can walk through his house in five minutes or so, but there’s also a beautiful nature trail that starts behind the barn and heads out to Lake Paran in North Bennington. The trail is 2 miles, one way.

Lake Shaftsbury State Park

While you’re in Shaftsbury, please take a walk around the lake at Lake Shaftsbury State Park. You can bring your dog in the off season, and in the summer you can go for a swim. The hike around the lake is just about a mile – it meanders through a gorgeous wetland, onto a ridge, and over two nice walking bridges. Lake Shaftsbury is also a great place to throw a line in and catch some trout. 

Early morning in the fall at Lake Shaftsbury State Park

Woodford State Park in Woodford, VT

Another gem of a place, this one is 10 miles outside of Bennington, in the Green Mountains east of town. If you’re itching to go camping, Woodford State Park is where you want to do it. The lake at Woodford State Park is cold, even in summer, but it’s such a paradise! In my opinion, this is one of the most beautiful places in Vermont.

Fall at Woodford State Park

The Appalachian Trail in Bennington, VT

The famous long-distance trail runs across route 9 between Bennington and Woodford. There’s a parking area right off the road. The trail runs north and south, but we prefer hiking south to Harmon Hill, for the beautiful views of Bennington.

White birches on the Appalachian Trail in Bennington, VT

Park McCullough House in North Bennington, VT

This historic, Victorian-era house was built in 1864, and is considered one of the finest and best preserved Victorian mansions in New England. You can visit this beauty, the working farm behind it, and the lovely, Mile-Around-the-Woods hiking trail all in one afternoon. This is one of my favorite places to walk and take pictures, and we always bring visitors here.

Park McCullough House photo credit: Angus McCullough

Park McCullough House in North Bennington/ photo credit: Angus McCullough

As usual, this post focuses almost entirely on outdoor excursions, but there are also cool museums, lots of shopping, and good restaurants in Bennington. If you really do come to Vermont for a visit, feel free to contact me. I’d love to show you around!

Resources for Exploring Bennington, VT

What to do – The Bennington Chamber of Commerce has a great events page, plus lots of ideas for places to explore while you’re in the area.

Where to eat – Want some ideas for where to get some yummy grub? Bennington has lots of choices, but here’s what I’d recommend: For bread and baked goods head to Bakkerij Krijnen on East Main Street. Eat breakfast at the Blue Benn diner, lunch at Madison Brewing Company, and dinner at either Allegro on Main Street, or Pangaea in North Bennington.

Where to stay – Find the best hotels in Bennington by reading reviews on TripAdvisor. If you want to camp, we highly recommend Woodford State Park.

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