Brattleboro Travel Guide

If at all possible, plan your trip to Vermont in the fall. You'll see this common thread in most of my writings here: that Fall is my favorite time of year, and what better place to experience it but New England and in this case, Vermont, one of the six New England States. The warm smells of Fall, the crisp leaves underfoot, the smell of woodsmoke, the crystal clear blue skies, the cry of geese overhead as they migrate south, the feast of color that awaits you this time of year will stay with you forever. One of these days I'm going to take someone who is very special to me and from the South, and introduce him to the wonders of Fall...I recommend it to any couple out there: Fall in New England can be incredibly romantic!

Fall in Vermont is breathtakingly beautiful. The intensity of the colors sometimes varies a little depending on the weather that particular year, but traveling in the state during mid September to early October will give you the best of the best in the amount and range of the fall colors.

Although this is a bit of a 'plug' for my sister---if you do happen to go to Vermont, look for a band called 'Extra Stout' or another called 'The Cold River Band'(the Cold River Band just put out it's first CD called 'Ankle Deep'). My sister plays the fiddle and sings in both those bands specializing in Scottish/Irish/Folk music. They tour Vermont pubs and coffeehouses and are sometimes seen in Boston. You will enjoy their sound and their spirit!!!!
What can I say? My sister is in these bands!!! lol. You will find your feet tapping and your youth returning in heartbeat. I promise you that.

Dress Code: Casual---please! Most places they tour simply require you to come clothed :)

Hartford's Bradley International Airport is located approximately 1 1/2 hours from Brattleboro. All major domestic airlines fly in and out of Hartford. Colgan Air provides daily flights to Rutland, VT and Newark, NJ, from Dillant-Hopkins Airport in nearby Keene, NH. In addition to airlines, Brattleboro is easily reached by train. Amtrak operates two passenger trains daily through Brattleboro. Vermont Transit interlines with Greyhound bus service throughout the U.S. Their convenient terminal is located at the junction of Route 5 and I-91. It's easy to get around Brattleboro. The town bus is a bargain at only 75 cents for adults and 25 cents for children age 12 and under. Taxi service is also available.

An amazing book store in an amazing town. Tashina the manager is a gem.

What to buy: Books, postcards....more digital memory for your digital camera and dog treats dammit!

The other warning I have is to try steer clear of Vermont on Columbus Day weekend, usually the first weekend in October. The Inns, Hotels, Motels, etc are generally booked full that weekend, as all the 'leaf-peepers' come out to see the color. The roads are crowded and getting around is simply no fun. One route to avoid also, in peak color or tourist season, is RT 100, a 'scenic' route that wends it's way up the state from south to north. When uncrowded, it gives you all the beautiful, interesting spots in the state, and access to all the ski areas, historic places, and resorts such as the one in Stowe which is (was?) owned by the Trapp Family (of Sound of Music fame).

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Brattleboro has 4 definite seasons, the shortest of which are Spring and Fall followed closely by Summer. Winters can be very cold with sub-zero temperatures and windchill factors even lower than that. Layers of clothing are recommended, and especially good footwear....lined boots, wool socks, etc. In summer the temperatures reach to the low to mid-90's but average in the 80's. It is humid here and therefore the air is often oppressive so, although these temperatures might not sound so hot to the desert-dwellers, it's the humidity that is so tough. I have a cousin who lives just outside of Phoenix, Arizona, who says she would rather have a temperature of 115F with 10% humidity, than a temperature of 85F with 88% humidity---common in New England. Temperatures do not drop much at night either, unless you're at a higher elevation. Spring (April, May) and Fall (September, October) can be unpredictable but it's best to pack a wide range of clothes from light t-shirts or tanktops to heavy sweaters or jackets. Winter in New England is Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb/Mar. Expect snow on the ground in April as well, even at low elevations . October snowfalls are not unusual either.