InnBrattleboro

Lennox House

Tim Brady — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 13:51:14 +0000

Brattleboro gets Sucker Punched… The Lennox House for the Mental Insane is a fictional Asylum in the movie Sucker Punch. The Asylum in the movie is located in Brattleboro Vermont and is likely based upon the Brattleboro Retreat, which was formerly called the Vermont Asylum. The trailer for the movie (which opens in March of 2011) shows a shot of the approach to the asylum, with a wrought iron sign very similar to the sign at the Retreat and clearly reads “Lennox House – Brattleboro, Vermont”.

We are writing about this because our Inn, Forty Putney Road B&B, was the Superintendent’s home for the Vermont Asylum from 1929 until 1993. We love finding references (factual and fictional) to the Asylum and the Inn and were excited to see this trailer.

Now while we have never seen a dragon at the inn, and the actual Brattleboro Retreat is a beautiful place overlooking the same water that we are situated on. It’s fun to see a movie based on a location we are so familiar with.

As an aside, this is also one of the reasons I love reading Archer Mayor books, he uses local places accurately but full of fictional characters. We would love for him to use our Inn in a book… hint hint…

Anyhow we just wanted to share this fun clip. Maybe there are a couple of young innkeepers up on the hill, or maybe the dragon lives in the mysterious underground bunker we have in our backyard (come stay and we’ll show you!). Either way, we look forward to seeing the movie when it comes out and we know the perfect place for the premier

Northfield Drive-In Movie Theater

Cafe a la Carte

Amy Brady — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:40:27 +0000

“Upscale street cart.” It sounds like an oxymoron, right? Aren’t street carts supposed to serve hot dogs and soft pretzels?

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.

July 4th Fireworks Festivals and Fun

Tim Brady — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 15:09:34 +0000

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.

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Whitewater Rafting with Zoar Outdoor

Amy Brady — Sat, 29 May 2010 13:56:52 +0000

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!

Strolling of the Heifers

Amy Brady — Fri, 28 May 2010 16:23:39 +0000

It is that time of year once again, that’s right, the Strolling of the Heifers here in Brattleboro. You may be thinking why or who would possibly want to see a bunch of cows walk down Main Street? It is pretty clear by last year’s photos as to who would attend such an event, everyone! So here are my top 3 reasons this is the biggest event in Brattleboro, and a must attend.

#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!

Brattleboro Golf

Tim Brady — Sat, 15 May 2010 20:00:34 +0000

It’s that time of year again. The folks over at the Brattleboro Country Club recently invited us over to check out the course and clubhouse. We have played over there before (Amy and I are both casual golfers) and really enjoyed the course. There are some spectacular views and the greens are challenging and well maintained.

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!

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Hiking Mount Monadnock

Tim Brady — Sat, 15 May 2010 16:17:12 +0000

Mount Monadnock, in New Hampshire, offers some great half day hikes to an amazing bare rock summit with 100 mile views to points in all six New England States. Mount Monadnock, located in the Monadnock State Park, is said to be the second most frequently climbed mountain in the world, after Japan’s Mt. Fuji.

While there are a variety of approaches to the summit, we have found our personal favorite to be the White Arrow Trail. Hiking the White Arrow Trail takes about two hours from the parking area up to the summit and about an hour and fifteen minutes down. We would say that this hike is moderately difficult, the park states that there is an average 27% grade. There are some sections that are steep and rocky. We would not suggest hiking this trail in the wet weather as there are sections that become streams in the rain. On an average day most of the trail is dry and clear, with about 3/4 of the hike in the wooded section and about 1/4 above the treeline.

To reach the start of the White Arrow approach, park in the lot off the Old Toll Road – on NH Route 124. After paying your $4 park admission (can you believe that they maintain these parks for $4?) head up the old toll road trail. This trail will take you to the intersection of the White Arrow Trail, which is located at the Old Halfway House. Don’t worry – all of the trails are well marked and your $4 includes a map of the mountain.

The trail makes several turns, with a variety of other trail options splitting off here and there. White Arrow is the most direct route to the summit however.

For most of the hike you will find yourself under a tree canopy (bring bug spray). But after about an hour you will be able to see the summit. While it looks very close, this is where the hiking gets somewhat more challenging, incorporating some large stretches of relatively smooth rock face. Take your time, be sure to look around and chose the best path up the rocks, sometimes the easiest path is not the most obvious. This is also a great time to take a gander at the forest below – there are several great points to take a break on the rocks and enjoy the amazing views and cool breezes.

The view at the top is amazing – although it is likely to be “crowded”. There are several approaches to the summit and so regardless of how busy your trail was (White Arrow tends to be moderately busy – especially on weekends) the summit is guaranteed to be bustling with other hikers.

On the descent – which is markedly easier – you still must be careful of your footing and ease your way down the same rock surfaces carefully.

Mount Monadnock is in Monadnock State Park in New Hampshire. The White Arrow Trail (Old Toll Road) starts about 30 miles from our Vermont Inn. Travel Route 9 into Hampshire – to 101 to 124 to a town called Jaffrey. Its a scenic drive that will take about 40 minutes.

The Park is open 7 days and hiking is popular year round. Off season hikers should check in at the base (located off of Dublin Road – a bit further down 124).

There is a great (and funny) list of Monadnock FAQ’s on the GCC site that should be able to help with any other questions.

Also, you can check out this step by step guide assembled by one of our guests!

Hiking Mount Monadnock is certain to be an experience you remember. There is a reason that it is one of the most hiked mountains in the world and if you are in the Brattleboro area, why not explore it for yourself. Of course, we hope that you will stay with us at our beautiful Vermont Inn which makes a great base camp for this and many other activities in New England. To read about some of our other favorites, be sure to subscribe to our blog!

The Retreat Trails

Tim Brady — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:51:37 +0000

Last year the Brattleboro Retreat completed updates on a series of trails that climb throughout their expansive property. The trails date back to the 1800′s when many of them were created for the use of the patients and staff of the “Vermont Asylum”, which continues to operate today as the Brattleboro Retreat. As a matter of fact, the Brattleboro Retreat is celebrating it’s 175th anniversary this year. Many of the trails today still use the names they were given 175 years ago – including the pictured “last step”. Lucky for us, our home was once part of the Brattleboro Retreat and these trails connect to those that are located right in our backyard.

The trail system is open year round and is more than 9 miles long. The Retreat Trails cover over 400 acres of forest and agricultural land and include some interesting sites, like the Harris Hill Ski Jump, Grafton Cheese Country Store, the old Cemetery and the Retreat Tower.

There is a nice map of the trail system available at several information kiosks along the system, the map is also online here and we have printed copies of the map at the Inn for you as well.

The trails range from flat and easy, to somewhat steep and rocky. None are really more than “moderate” in difficulty and most can be trekked year round. We have taken some great winter hikes in the snow up these trails, sliding down the steeper parts in our snow pants.

For those staying with us at our Brattleboro B&B, you can access the trails from our back yard (these trails connect to the shorter Hogle Wildlife Sanctuary Trail). For others, there are 5 public access points to the trail system – outlined here.

Sugaring Time in VT

Tim Brady — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:02:11 +0000

Its sugaring time again in Vermont. For those who don’t know, that the time of year when the maple sap runs from the trees into buckets all over the state, waiting to be collected and “cooked” into delicious maple syrup. The smell (as I am sure you can imagine) is amazing. Several sugar houses offer tours and demonstrations in our area. We took a ride up to Harlow’s Sugar House, which is just up the road from us, to check out the operation.

At Harlow’s, they offer a wide selection of local products, other than syrups. They also will let you watch the cooking process. Demonstrations of both the traditional methods of syrup production and more advanced methods will be available as well as samples and all things maple! There is more information about the activities scheduled at www.vermontmaple.org. Copies of the “2009 Vermont Ski & Maple Map” can also be picked up at any Vermont Welcome Center (Rest Areas).

If you are planing a trip to Forty Putney Road and would like to see some sugaring, here are some local spots to check out:

Harlow’s is located at 563 Bellows Falls Rd. (Rt. 5), in Putney. The phone number is (802) 387-5852. For more information, visit www.harlowssugarhouse.com.

The Clark Farm is at 4224 Bonnyvale Rd., in Guilford. The phone number is (802) 254-2569.

The Corse Farm is at 1089 Corse Rd., in Whitingham. The phone number is (802) 368-2322.

Harlow’s Sugarhouse is at Sweet Maple Alpacas is at 154 River Rd., in Westminster. The phone number is (802) 376-9846. For more information, visit www.sweetmaplealpacas.com.

Robb Family Farm is at 827 Ames Hill Rd., in Brattleboro. The phone number is (802) 258-9087. For more information, visit www.robbfamilyfarm.com.

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Ice Fishing

Amy Brady — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:04:33 +0000

Ever wonder about those little huts out on the ice around Vermont? Well, beside creating a great “Norman Rockwell” backdrop at our Vermont Inn, they are used by ice fishermen to keep warm and dry. A few days ago Tim headed out on the ice with our friend Doug, who operates a small local outdoor adventure guide service, to learn a bit about the basics of ice fishing.

Watch as Doug explains the simple equipment you will need to ice fish, as well as shares some tips for an enjoyable experience on the ice.

The Retreat Meadows is a very popular ice fishing spot in Brattleboro, and is luckily located just behind our bed and breakfast. We are happy to make reservations with Doug at Brattleboro Outdoors if you would like to borrow an ice shanty for the day, or have a guided afternoon of ice fishing (or other outdoor activities). Of course, we hope that if you are heading to Vermont, you will stay with us here at Forty Putney Road!

For details about ice fishing in Vermont, you can check out BrattleboroOutdoors.com.

InnBrattleboro

Lennox House

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Cafe a la Carte

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Strolling of the Heifers

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Hiking Mount Monadnock

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The Retreat Trails

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Sugaring Time in VT

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