Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner (call about brunch), the Fairway Tavern menu supplies the basics from burgers and apps to soups and salads. Gourmet options are available on the weekends ranging from duck to fillets as well as seafood and pasta options. Their menu is seasonal and frequently changes so call in advance to check out the latest selection. Great outside dining in Brattleboro is hard to find, but the scenic view and deck at the Fairway Tavern makes this dining spot one of our favs!

Looking for an event venue or a spot for a reception after your wedding at our inn?  The Fairway Tavern hosts group events, conferences and weddings on the beautiful groundsoverlooking the 18 hole golf course here in southern Vermont. Tents flank the rear of the historic pub building providing both covered and open, outside dining options. Ample parking for guests, members, buses and golf carts sit next to the facility as well as the check-in spot for 9 or 18 holes of picturesque golf in southern Vermont. The challenging and historic golf course is just another great excuse to head out to the Fairway Tavern when there’s warm weather. For more information about the Tavern or the course, call 802-254-9864. And check out our website for golf and lodging packages in southern Vermont.   We look forward to seeing you outside on the deck (and hopefully at our beautiful inn for a night or two as well!).

The Marina Restaurant sits near the intersection of the West and Connecticut Rivers just north of downtown Brattleboro. With Mt. Wantastiquet on one side and the Green Mountains on the other, the Marina’s view overlooking the Retreat Meadow is always great, but unbeatable during fall foliage. Dock space allows boats, kayaks and canoes to stop in during the warmer months for a delicious Vermont Beer or one of the seafood favorites. tubing down the West River? What better way to end a day on the water than at a beachy waterfront restaurant in Brattleboro? Although we can’t say there’s a beach, we can mention the waterfront view. Did we mention that already?

Not only is the Marina one of our favorite restaurants with outside dining, the newly designed space brings the outdoors in with lively colors and a friendly, laid-back vibe. The huge windows bring in the breeze and outside dining allows guests to bask in the sun. Hawaiian shirts, fish jumping, the cool Vermont breeze, a refreshing McNeill\’s brew and the sun setting over the Retreat Meadow … does it get any better? Whether it’s a casual dining in southern Vermont with the family, or girls night on the town, the Marina appeals the casual crowd looking for fun, food and, of course, a view. Visit Brattleboro and the Marina Restaurant for the day or stay overnight at our inn in southern Vermont!

Cheers!

Originally called the Wantastiquet Golf Club, this Brattleboro golf club was founded in 1889 as a six hole course and today is rated one of America’s Top Golf Courses by Zagat. Rudyard Kipling, Author Conan Doyle, Francis Ouimet and Tom MacNamara were among some of the many golf enthusiasts to frequent the 100 year old golf course. After changing hands from the Brattleboro Retreat in 1914, the grand opening of the official Brattleboro Country Club kicked off its new 9 hole course with a Japanese lawn party and trap shooting. Today, there are 18 holes of golf equipped with a challenging spread of par 3’s to par 5’s.

Today, Brattleboro Country Club offers both members and guests the option to book tee times online. Play 9 holes of golf in the morning, grab lunch at the Fairway Tavern, then venture downtown to explore the shops and Brattleboro culture. If it’s 18 holes of golf in southern Vermont you’re looking for, book in advance and finish your day on the deck with an afternoon snack, such as Brattleboro’s best seafood hor d’oeuvres or a cheese platter paired with a local Vermont beer (of course!).

Even on a rainy day, the Brattleboro Country Club’s Fairway Tavern has a covered porch, easy parking and a view, especially during fall foliage . When fall foliage is over and the snow begins to fall, the green turns into groomed trails for snow shoeingand cross country skiing. For more information about a golfing in southern Vermont or golf lessons, visit the Brattleboro Country Club website or call them directly at the Golf Shop 802-257-7380 or the Clubhouse 802-254-9864.  And if you’re looking for a place to stay, we’d be happy to put a golf package together for you!

If the Vermonter helped you escape from the city, get off the train (arrives at around 5:30ish) and head east over the bridge to Mount Wantastiquetfor a beautiful nature walk or sunset hike with views of downtown.  Of course,we are happy to pick up our guests at the train station, or it’s an easy walk to our inn.

If you head west from the Brattleboro train “station” (more like parking area),  you’ll find shopping, dining, theaters and galleries.  You’ll also find Burrows sports, a sporting goods store supplying reasonably priced bike rentals and gear for outdoor activities.  Rent a bike for one of the local easiest ways to travel and open up even more entertainment options beyond downtown.  The Saturday farmers market, located in West Brattleboro, has food, artisan crafts, culture and amazing produce.  Just up Route 30 along the West River sits Grafton Cheese, waterfalls and swimming holes.  If you’re looking to get on the water, you can rent kayaks, canoes, tubes and fishing poles just a few blocks North of the inn.

What better way to  escape than one of the easiest ways to travel – a stress-free train ride that drops you off in heart of downtown Brattleboro?  Our inn is a short walk from the train station or a phone call away if you’d rather have a ride.  (It’s partially uphill, we understand.)  So, leave the car at home and enjoy a train ride on the Vermonter!

First, of course, if you’re staying at our B&B, a fine gourmet breakfast and a hot cup of Mocha Joes coffee gets you started every day, not just on the rainy ones.  Amy loves to tailor her menu to the weather, preparing the perfect breakfast for the day ahead.

After breakfast, head over to Grafton Cheese,  just 1/2 mile from 40 Putney Road B&B.   Over there you’ll find artisan cheeses, fine wine, local flair, a gift shop and, of course, samples of their award winning cheeses. Next, get your umbrellas (which of course we have available for you to use) and venture downtown. Catch the latest opening at the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center and see historical exhibits and a variety of contemporary art. Stop for a cup of tea in downtown Brattleboro and get a crash course on knitting at Knit or Dye (yes, it’s even fun for the guys!) The Latchis Theater sits across the street where shows begin at 2pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Not only does the Latchis Theater have great popcorn, the 1938 historic Art Deco building was deemed a “town within a town” housing a pub, hotel, retail space and 4 theaters.

Looking for your own umbrella? Shopping in Brattleboro starts at Sam’s Outdoor store. Downtown Brattleboro storefronts are filled with unique decor shops, vintage and contemporary clothing and wouldn’t be complete without Mocha Joes coffee shop located at Main and Elliot. If it’s a cold beverage you’re after, McNeill’s and Kipling’s both sit on the edge of the downtown providing libations, specifically for those who enjoy a craft brew or two. Although many places serve lunch in Brattleboro, the dinner choices are abundant for a town of 12,000. Sit down for a brick oven pizza at Fireworks and go for dessert at Peter Haven’s.

Galleries, food and shopping in Brattleboro not your ideal idea on a rainy day? Book stores are scattered throughout downtown, all with their own flavor and unique niche. Whether it’s a coffee shop, under a pavilion overlooking the town or just lounging on the enclosed sun porch at 40 Putney Road B&B, there is a great way to spend a rainy day in Brattleboro for everyone.

That’s why I was so intrigued when a friend of mine who works in downtown Brattleboro told me I have to check out Cafe a la Cart, a brand new “upscale street cart” on Elliot Street right next door to one of our other favorites, Peter Havens.

I stopped by the bright white cart (which is more like a trailer, complete with a grill, prep station and lunch counter) last week and was immediately drawn to the colorful menu propped up against it. It soon became clear why this curbside chow stop was branded “upscale”. While the menu consisted of basic items like burgers, quesadillas, hot dogs and sausage, peppers and onions, the ingredients and preparation were anything but typical.

I went for the “Vermont Farm Burger,” made with all-natural, Vermont-raised beef. Instead of a roll, it’s served on a Portuguese muffin, a crisp and slightly sweet bun. For extra zing, chef/owner Zach Corbin-Teich adds homemade pickles that he cures himself. A fixins bar on the lunch counter is complete with the standard mustard and ketchup, plus a variety of hot sauces, relish and fresh chopped onions.

For the veg-heads, Zach, who has served as chef at several upscale Vermont restaurants over the years, includes a veggie burger on the menu. There is also an “Egg McZach” breakfast sandwich served all day.

Wherever possible, Cafe a la Cart uses fresh local ingredients, all homemade.  As innkeepers, we really appreciate that.  We do the same for our breakfasts and really try to support others who support the local farms and farmers.  The carts daily specials are always listed on a separate chalkboard (when I visited, homemade potato salad and chocolate cookies were waiting). The only drink on the menu, beside bottled water, is fresh-squeezed lemonade, squeezed to order before your eyes (soooo good). Newbies to the Cart may not notice, but there is a shaded picnic table hidden just behind it. Have a seat and relax while you eat, watching the world go by on Elliot St.

You might expect to pay upscale prices at an upscale cart, but nothing on the menu is more than $6. It’s a cash-only establishment, and Zach keeps the windows open from 11 – 5 every day but Sunday and Monday.

So if you’re thinking of coming up to visit Brattleboro this summer, make sure you stop by Cafe a la Cart.  Just a short stroll from our Brattleboro inn and the perfect spot for a casual but delicious lunch.

Fireworks Under the Stars in Grafton, VT

On July 4, 2010, the United States of America turns 234 years old. In our hamlet of Brattleboro in southern Vermont, we have a tradition that’s not quite as old, but steeped in history nonetheless.

The annual Fourth of July Parade and all-day “Celebration of Community” takes to the streets of Brattleboro on Sunday, July 4… a tradition that dates back to 1973. The parade will take off from Brattelbroro Union High School, just off Exit 1 on Interstate 91, at 1 p.m. sharp, head down Canal St. and connect to Main St. in the heart of Bratt. It ends at the Brattleboro Common, a shady park at the north end of town.

The parade is a celebration of this small Vermont town’s eclectic population. Spectators can expect parade standards like a marching band, provided by the Brattleboro Union High School, and local fire engines. Live rock bands can be expected to cruise by on more than one float, and local business, from organic farms to restaurants to solar panel installers, are enthusiastically represented.

The good times then move on to Living Memorial Park, a large park just a stone’s throw from the farmers market. Spend the afternoon with family and friends playing baseball or frisbee, enjoy barbecue and other delectables from local food vendors and relax to live music and comedy acts.

“But what about fireworks?!”

What, you thought we’d leave you hanging without an explosive display overhead? Of course there are fireworks. The town of Brattleboro gets their fireworks show going just after dusk, with the best views from Living Memorial Park.

Even more spectacular, and growing in popularity, is the Music and Fireworks Under the Stars show in Grafton, Vermont, about a 40-minute drive from Brattleboro. Now in its 20th year, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra will play to an audience and then a dazzling fireworks show will explode overhead. Bring a picnic and blanket and enjoy the show – Saturday, July 3 starting at 7:30 p.m.

Coming up for the weekend? There’s a ton of stuff to do around town, from our farmers market to great hiking to golf. And if you need a place to stay, we hope you’ll spend the night with us at our beautiful Vermont inn.

Whitewater Rafting is a great way to spend a hot summer day. We recently enjoyed an awesome whitewater rafting adventure with the great team down at Zoar Outdoor.  Just a short 45 minute scenic drive from our Vermont Bed and Breakfast, Zoar Outdoor is located in Clarlemont, MA.

Being new to this, we went on the beginner whitewater rafting trip called the Zoar Gap.  This trip is 10 miles of fun on the Deerfield River consisting of mainly class I and II but a small stretch of class III rapids.  That makes it perfect for all ages and skill levels.  Of course if you are a more advanced whitewater rafter they recommend you check out one of their tours down the Miller River where you can find some class IV and V rapids.

But back to our adventure, we arrived, signed in and met their fun staff.  We point that out as sometimes guided tours can be a bust solely because of the guides.  On occasion we have found that they forget that while they are experts, we are not.  The folks at Zoar really went out of their way to introduce the sport to us and got us excited about our trip, and about coming back for more.  So after a short lesson on how to use the equipment we were off getting fitted for life jackets PFDs (learned that in the lesson), helmets and oars. Then we jumped on the bus to the “put in”. Once in the water our instructor Katie began cracking a few jokes and chatted us all up so we could get to know one another better.  There were 2 other Zoar Outdoor rafts on the water with us, so when we were not navigating the rapids we found ourselves horsing around and having splash fights with the other rafts.  Just after we maneuvered our way through the most aggressive part of the journey, the class III rapids, we stopped for a homemade picnic lunch.   Lunch consisted of homemade salsa, hummus, organic lunch meat, freshly baked rolls, homemade pasta salad and cookies for dessert.  That was just the energy boost we needed to finish our trip.

Overall, we had a blast! Not only was this the perfect activity to cool off on a hot day,  but we got a little exercise and made some new friends.   So weather you are a beginner or an expert at whitewater rafting, you should check out Zoar Outdoor for a great afternoon adventure during your trip to Brattleboro.  And of course, we hope that you’ll spend the night with us at Forty Putney Road B&B!

#3 Cows are cute!

Who can resist the cute face of a cow. Not only will you see their cute faces you will see them all dressed up for the event. We are not just talking about live cows either. We are talking about paper machete cows on floats, stuffed cows on the side of the road, cow aprons, cow T-shirts, balloon cows, people dressed up like cows and finally cow scarecrows (with a political message of course…this is Brattleboro, VT after all).

#2 Not just cows?

That is correct this parade is not all about cows it is about a community joining together to celebrate local agriculture and do what we love to do here in Brattleboro… that is to parade down Main Street. According to local historians the town of Brattleboro has been parading down Main Street since the 1800’s. You will find more than just cows parading down Main Street, you will also see the kind of parade you may remember as a child. That’s right this parade has marching bands, unicyclists, stilt walkers, clubs, local businesses, men and women driving historic tractors and little cars. That’s not all…don’t forget about the circus. The local circus school will be in the parade and performing afterward.

Be sure to be here Friday night as well for a killer Gallery Walk.  Downtown will be blocked off to traffic for an awesome block party.  A stage will go up for live performances and street performers will be out in full force.

#1 Free Ice Cream and Cheese!

After the parade we stroll just a few blocks to the Brattleboro Retreat where tent after tent is set up. Each tent is serving locally made dairy products including milk, yogurt, cheese, and ice cream. The best part is it is all free…that’s right free!

Clear your schedule on June 4th and 5th (2010), book a room at Forty Putney Road Bed and Breakfast and join the festivities. This is sure to be worth the trip!

Now the good people of the Brattleboro Country Club have helped us to sweeten the pot for our fellow golfers.  They are offering our guests $20 off of greens fees and 10% off of food and beverage at their Fairway Tavern.

The Brattleboro Country Club has been member owned and operated since 1914 and is less than 5 minutes from our Brattleboro Vermont Inn.  With our $20 discount you can play 18 holes for just $25! How can you beat that?

If you are traveling, they have clubs to rent available and of course carts are available for those not looking to take on the somewhat hilly course on foot.  There is even a small grass range if you would like to warm up or just hit a bucket.

But wait, as the legendary Billy Mays would say, that’s not all…  They are even offering preferred tee times for our guests!

So if you are heading to Vermont this summer and enjoy playing a round – stay with us at Forty Putney Road Bed and Breakfast and take advantage of our great deals over at the Brattleboro Country Club.    As for us, we have an 1:10 tee time this afternoon (squeezing in 9 holes before check in time!) so we have to run – thanks for reading InnBrattleboro.com – the best information about Southern Vermont!