Bennington Recreation Center

Bennington Recreation Center
655 Gage Street
Bennington, VT 05201-2002
(802) 442-1053

The Bennington Rec Center includes a six lane, 25 yard indoor pool that is handicapped accessible with an aquatic lift and stairs. The pool serves many groups including adult swim, family swim, senior therapy swim, club and high school swim teams, lifeguard training, swimming lessons, and more. The Rec Center also offers a sauna, showers, cardio vascular equipment, weight training, and multi-purpose rooms. Outdoors at the Center includes basketball courts, tennis courts, a volleyball court and softball fields. Summer programs are offered for the Towns youth and include T-ball, sports camps, tennis & basketball programs, and more. Click here for a current Pool Schedule and Current Member Rates


Bennington Tennis Center

Bennington Tennis Center
200 Lovers Lane
Bennington, VT 05201
(802) 447-7557
www.benningtontenniscenter.com

The Bennington Tennis Center is a state of the art indoor tennis club. We offer year round indoor tennis in a climate controlled(heated/air-conditioned) dome. Our staff runs group and private lessons. Our programing includes: adult clinics, junior clinics and round robins. We rent court times for game play. We also have a ball machine for the ultimate work-out. Our pro-shop is full service offering: racquet demos, restringing services, apparel and footwear. We have Quickstart courts, which are courts designed for junior development. We provide equipment if needed. Some amenities include: men/women changing rooms, shower room, viewing area and ping pong. Call with questions 802-447-7557.


Battenkill Canoe

Battenkill Canoe
6328 VT Route 7A
Arlington, VT 05250
800-421-5268
www.battenkill.com

Offering a variety of canoe trips from daytrip canoe rentals on the BattenKill to fully supported 2-10 day exclusive outdoor vacations with stays in cozy Vermont country inns. From quietwater to whitewater, no other outfitter offers our special combination trips.


Hathaway's Drive-In Theatre

Hathaway's Drive-In Theatre
4762 NY Route 67
North Hoosick, NY 12133
518-659-6098
www.hathawaysdrive-in.com

Opened in 1948, Hathaway's Drive-In Theatre has operated continuously year after year, showing current block-buster movies on their "big screen". As New York's oldest drive-in and one of the few remaining in the USA, Hathaway's is a step back in time. Hathaway's boasts an all grass field with ramp parking, AM & FM broadcast sound and window speakers for those who enjoy that old time drive-in experience. The full service snack bar features hamburgers, hotdogs, hand-cut French fries, chicken tenders, pizza, nachos, and much more. Movie staples such as popcorn, candy, fountain soda, Snapple juices, ice cream, cotton candy, coffee, tea and water are also available. Hathaway's is a short drive from North Bennington across the New York State border on Rte 67. Visit their web site for information about current and future movies and show times.


Mt. Anthony Country Club

Mt. Anthony Country Club
180 Country Club Drive
Bennington, VT 05201
802-442-1617
www.mtanthonycc.com

Open to the public seven days a week, Mt. Anthony Country Club features an 18-hole regulation length course: 6,364 yards of golf from the blue tees for a par of 71. The course rating is 70.5 and it has a slope rating of 127. Newly renovated clubhouse, restaurant & pro-shop.


New England Tropical Conservatory

New England Tropical Conservatory
Route 7 South
Bennington, VT 05201
802-447-7419
www.netrop.org

Fostering the conservation, appreciation and understanding of tropical plants. 96 acres of open meadow, wetland and woodland just over a mile from Bennington's main street. Trails are open to the public daily for hiking and recreation.


Lake Paran

Paran Recreations
Houghton Road
North Bennington, VT 05257
802-688-6270
www.lakeparan.org

Swim, boat, fish and have fun at Lake Paran.

Southern Vermont Storm Football

Southern Vermont Storm Football
107 Rollin Street
Bennington, VT 05201
802-688-6651
www.southernvermontstorm.com

New England Football League. Courage, Commitment, Community.


Bennington, Vermont Area Recreation Links

Four season outdoor recreational opportunities are plentiful in scenic Bennington Vermont. Enjoy bicycling, canoeing, fishing, golf, hiking, horseback riding, skiing, snowshoeing, swimming and tennis all just minutes from downtown Bennington. Something for every outdoor enthusiast... something for all ages.

Bicycling | Family Activities | Fishing, Hunting & Boating | Golf | Hiking | Ski & Snow | Snowmobiling | Campgrounds & State Parks Hiking in the Green Mountains

Bicycling

Plan a vacation around cycling the scenic, historic backroads through the rambling countryside and covered bridges (Bennington has five), or mountain biking in the nearby Green Mountains here in Bennington County. http://www.trails.com/activity.aspx?area=10509

Please check our events page -- or use our events calendar for listing of a variety of events including BMX bicycle races, Road races and more are available.

Family Activities

You can swim, canoe, or go tubing down the river and still have time for tennis, golf or miniature golf on the long summer days. For rainy days and late night activity, Bennington provides bowling, pool and other indoor games. The Bennington recreation center on Gage Street has a full sized pool open to the public year-round. Call the Bennington Recreation Center at 802-442- for free swim schedule ad fee. The Bennington Recreation center is also the home to public tennis courts.
Paran Recreation

Fishing, Hunting & Boating

Fishing on local rivers and lakes is excellent, and on the Battenkill fishing is internationally famous. Bennington enjoys long seasons of hunting, fishing and trapping. The area is home to many public and private hunting and fishing areas.

Mount Anthony Country Club

Golf

Mount Anthony Country Club
Golf Shop (802)447-7079 and www.mtanthonycc.com
Voted as one of the "Best Places to Play" by Golf Digest 2008-2009, Mt. Anthony Country Club is well on its way to becoming one of Vermont's premier golf destinations. Mt. Anthony, an 18-hole golf course nestled in the Green Mountains of Vermont on 110 picture-perfect acres, has undergone major renovation including reshaping bunkers and tee complexes as well as the fairways and greens. An exciting challenge for golfers of all skill levels! After a challenging round of golf use the luxurious locker rooms and enjoy lunch, dinner or cocktails at The GRILLE Restaurant. Mt. Anthony is the perfect location for your next golf outing or special event. Open to the public 7 days a week.

Hiking

Hikers can take the Long Trail which continues the Appalachian Trail along the crest of the Green Mountain National Forest. There are some great day hikes in the Bennington area. - Enjoy a nice short hike in Historic North Bennington Village - Mile Around Woods (pdf)

Sledding at Willow Park

Skiing & Winter Activities

Bennington is a center for some of the finest alpine and cross-country skiing in the country. There are twelve major ski areas within an hour's drive. The Green Mountain Club plans year round activities including impromptu hiking, ski trips (both down hill and x-country), snow-shoeing, ice skating and trailwork.

Snowmobiling

Winter snowmobiling

For 40 years, Vermont has been opening the doors to winter's wonders with a remarkable trail system that now totals over 5,000 miles. We set the standard for well-marked trails, readable maps, easy access to fuel stops, food and accommodations. Our many convenient trailheads mean snowmobilers can hook up to trails anywhere in the state. And all it takes to snowmobile is a simple trail pass and a valid state registration. Or simply take a guided tour from one of Vermont's many snowmobile tour operators.

Many private and club-owned snowmobile trails run through Bennington and Bennington County.

Campgrounds/State Parks

Enjoy the incredible scenery from Vermont Parks. Vermont offers 40 State parks and 71 private campgrounds with thousands of campsites including facilities for tent and RV sites, rental trailers, 3-sided leantos, cabins, housekeeping cottages, and rooms for rent. For day activities many of these park offer opportunities to picnic, swim, hike and boat. Picnic shelters may be available and can be reserved for family reunions, weddings/receptions, company picnics and other gatherings.

Southern Vermont Campgrounds

Bennington Area State Parks include
  • Lake Shaftsbury State Park - Historic Route 7A between Shaftsbury and Arlington - sandy beach, picnic tables and shelters, boat rentals, concession.
  • Woodford State Park East of Bennington on Route 9 - camping, swimming, picnicking, fishing, boat rentals
  • Emerald Lake State Park -Route 7 north of Manchester - camping, sandy beach, picnicking, fishing, boat rentals, hiking trails
Local Private Campgrounds

E-mail & request a local visitors guide

The Shires of Vermont
Bennington, Vermont established in 1749 serves as the economic and cultural center of Southwestern Vermont. Bennington is adjacent to both New York and Massachusetts; is only 3 hours from Boston or New York City and 50 minutes from the Albany International Airport in Albany, NY.