From NY To VT, Why Now Is The Time To Travel To Vermont

Like the website says, “Set your wanderlust free, with over 550 exhibitors representing more than 170 destinations. Travel smarter, with globe-trottting tips from a huge variety of experts. Watch unforgettable cultural performances, savor tastes from the world's most delicious destinations. And make yourself comfortable, anywhere you roam.”

The NYTimes Travel Show is an unforgettable experience which sees over 50,000 people over three days every year. In the world of travel and tourism, this is the Super Bowl!

So if you’re reading this and either a). You’re going to the NYTimes Travel Show or b).  You’re just interested in visiting Vermont this year…

Hello! We’re Vermont!  And, more specifically we’re The Shires of Vermont located in the southwestern Vermont. You might have seen us at our booth.  I’m sure you’ve heard every reason why to visit far off distant places throughout your 2019 vacation plan.

Here’s our pitch and why now is the time to travel to Vermont.

Attractions

Get your history on! Check out the Bennington Museum

The Shires offers all these leisure activities and more. You can play a round on our nationally ranked golf courses, drive through covered bridges, cast for trout, ride a horse, ski and snowboard (in season), and explore outstanding museums like the Bennington

Museum and the American Fly Fishing Museum. Distinctive inns, hotels, and B & Bs will welcome you, and you can expect to dine (at reasonable prices) on locally sourced delicacies.

Art

If art is your thing, you’ll find it around every corner. See where Norman Rockwell painted and visit the home where Robert Frost wrote “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.” Take in a Broadway-caliber show at one of our equity theaters or kick back for a concert on a charming town green. Browse galleries showcasing juried art and crafts or attend one of our signature festivals.

Dining in The Shires of Vermont - Learn More

Foodies
At home in the Shires, brewers, bakers, growers, and chefs are working their everyday magic. These folks love where they live and love what they do, and so everything they create borders on epic.

Throughout the region, you can sample their fare at eclectic cafés, comfortable bistros, and upscale fine dining restaurants. Menus cover every occasion and taste, from farm to table to downhome New England to backyard barbecue. And around each meal, a host of culinary

adventures and more.  Visit a farmers’ markets or browse a neighborhood bakery. Pick your own apples and strawberries. Sample Asian fusion at a country inn or order breakfast all day at a local diner. Sip craft cocktails at a boutique hotel or pack a picnic-to-go from one of our mom-and-pop markets.

Nestled between the Taconic Mountains to the east and the Green Mountains to the west, the Shires combines an authentic sense of place with inviting recreational opportunities.Whether you’re hiking through on the Appalachian Trail or planning a family vacation, there’s a path and a view that’s just perfect for you.

Fishing on the Battenkill River - Check out more recreation ideas here

Recreation
Clear your mind and recharge your spirit as the trees bud and the birds sing. If you’re not on the mountain, consider the river. Fishing season is underway in April so you can pack your gear and try your hand on one of our world-class trout streams like the Walloomsac, Mettowee, or the Battenkill. Take the road less traveled, float all day on a lake, or hike the path to our sweetest

summits. Join a yoga class, go horseback riding, or spend the day at Bromley, with their zip line, Alpine Slide, bumper boats, and giant swing.  

Shopping
Locally owned shops throughout the Shires provide focused goods, expertise, and old-fashioned personal service. While you browse our Main Street storefronts, inspired displays and friendly shopkeepers are there to tempt and guide you. Part of the charm is discovering what’s around the corner; antiques and collectibles, furniture and jewelry, outdoor gear, home goods, and unique gifts for any occasion. You can stock up on vacation essentials or pack up Vermont to bring home. Among our more iconic offerings, visit Manchester’s Designer Outlets, with their forty plus luxury brands, and the Orvis flagship store, complete with fly fishing school and stocked pond. Put Bennington Potters on your list for handcrafted stoneware, along with New England’s best independent bookshop, the Northshire Bookstore, with staff favorites and an entire floor devoted to kids.  

Manchester Designer Outlets in Manchester, Vermont

See, there’s a lot to do and the BEST PART… we’re only a 3-4 hour drive from New York or Boston.  People are always amazed at our booth when we say that. They think Vermont is so far away, when really we are so close!

If you’re needing transportation form the city make sure you check out our new Vermont Shires Connector.  Go from Penn Station to Albany and on up into The Shires! https://www.vttranslines.com/vermont-shires-connector/