For first timers, check out the Brattleboro Outing Club. The outing club sets up shop in the winter on the golf course, creating a 14km system of trails for cross country skiing and snowshoeing throughout the picturesque hilly country club. They even rent equipment and offer lessons right on site on the weekends. The outing club is located just across the water from our inn, on Upper Dummerston Road.

If you are looking for something a bit more challenging, or a nice afternoon trip, check out Grafton Ponds. Grafton Ponds is located in Grafton Vermont, about 25 miles up Route 30 (to Rt 35, to Townshend Road). A bit bigger than the outing club, and with snow making equipment and groomed trails, Grafton Ponds is a local favorite for a serious day on the trails. Grafton Ponds rents equipment, offers lessons, guided tours and even snow tubing. All situated in a picturesque community in rural Vermont.

For those who already have equipment or prefer the “wild” side of getting out on a mountain, the Kilburn Loop trail in nearby New Hampshire’s Pisgah State Park should certainly fit the bill. Pisgah State Park has 13,500 acres of forest and covers more than twenty-one square miles.  Trails roam for miles in the park and six different trailheads leading into the park each allow for a specific use such as snowmobiling, or snowshoeing.

Of the trails, the Kilburn Loop is for skiing and snowshoeing as motorized vehicles are prohibited to protect these ungroomed trails. The trail itself is five miles long and loopy. While the trail is rather steep at times, it is also picturesque and offers a series of rewarding views and places to pause.

Sure Pisgah State Park and the Kilburn Loop are a challenge, but a fun one. If you don’t have your own snowshoes, the Outing Club mentioned earlier rents them on site (on the weekends) as does Burrows Specialized Sports in downtown Brattleboro.

Any way you try it, snowshoeing is a great way to spend an afternoon staying active in the winter. And Brattleboro is a great base for any snowshoeing adventure.

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I am all about spending a sunny summer day outside as you can see from the video above.  One of my favorite leisurely outdoor activities is tubing on the West River in Southern Vermont.  The best part is the tube rental and the river are located very close to our Bed and Breakfast.  The West River is great for tubing as it is not too deep, the water is moving at a good speed, and it offers variety.  In some spots you are just floating along while in others you are gently bumping your way through the large smooth river rocks.  What a relaxing way to spend a hot summer day.

If you are planning a trip to Brattleboro and you choose to stay with us here at Forty Putney Road B&B, we can help you with your tubing adventure.  We will direct you to the tube rental (Vermont Canoe Touring Center 802-257-5008) to pick up a tub and life jacket, you can follow us in your car to the ending point where you will leave your car,  we will then drive you and your tubes to the launch site.   The launch site is located at the  West Dummerston Covered Bridge this trip will take you about 2 hours depending on the speed of the current.   Then all you have to do is float down the river and get out at the nearby swimming hole where your car will be parked.  What do you need to bring?  We suggest water shoes and sunscreen.  You will find beach towels at our B&B that you can borrow.  So cool off this summer in a tube on the West River – and at Forty Putney Road B&B!

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Start by walking downtown and crossing the steel bridge into New Hampshire.  Make the first left and follow that dirt road to the end.  You’ll see a small parking area, where you can head off in several directions.

When we want to take a leisurely stroll with the dog we head to the left and take the nearly flat walk along the Connecticut River.

When we are looking to build some endurance we will head up the hill to the right, and take the winding  switchback style jeep trail to the top of the mountain. This trail is pretty gradual, but a steady climb.  We would label it as a moderate hike, and it takes about three hours from our front door to the top and back.

Finally, if we are short on time, we will take the short cut straight up the mountain which is much steeper, but shorter.  We would label that path moderately difficult, this trail only take about two hours from our door step and back.

Both the switchback and the short cut will take you to a clearing at the top where you will see panoramic views of Brattleboro and the river valley.  Even on a hazy day you can see our slate roof peaking out over the trees and our huge Japanese Maple with its bright red leaves, in the back yard.

If you are really looking for a longer adventure, venture over the top of the mountain and hike the backside down all the way to the old “Castle” (see our haunted hike).  Be warned though, that is a long trek.

When you come off of the mountain, you walk back to the Inn through downtown, where you can stop to enjoy a well deserved lunch.  This certainly makes  Mount Wantastiquet a great local hike and one of the many reasons we love living in Brattleboro.

For more great Brattleboro area activities, be sure to keep an eye on our blog at InnBrattleboro.com!

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Marlboro’s 60th Season: July 17th-August 15th, 2010

The programs offer chamber music for diverse instrumental and vocal combination’s from all musical periods. Selected each week from among some 70 works in rehearsal at any one time, the programs are announced Saturday just one week prior to weekend performances.

To purchase tickets over the phone, please call our Box Office at (215) 569-4690.  Box Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm.

Concert Schedule

Please Note: All performances take place in Persons Auditorium at Marlboro College in Marlboro, VT. Please call (215) 569-4690 with any questions or concerns.

Opening Weekend 2010

Saturday, July 17th at 8:30pm
Sunday, July 18th at 2:30pm

Week Two

Saturday, July 24th at 8:30pm
Sunday, July 25th at 2:30pm

Week Three

Saturday, July 31st at 8:30pm
Sunday, August 1st at 2:30pm

Week Four

Friday, August 6th 8:30pm

Saturday, August 7th at 8:30pm
Sunday, August 8th at 2:30pm

Week Five

Friday, August 13th at 8:30pm
Saturday, August 14th at 8:30pm
Sunday, August 15th at 2:30pm

**Final Weekend Package w/ All Three Performances

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2010 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS from June 18th through August 7th

Yellow Barn Alumni Concert
with the Meehan/Perkins Duo
Friday, June 18, 2010 8:00
Centre Congregational Church, Brattleboro, VT

Young Artists Program Concerts
Friday, June 25, 2010 8:00
with guest faculty composer Steven Mackey, electric guitar
Centre Congregational Church, Brattleboro, VT

Thursday, July 1, 2010 8:00
Centre Congregational Church, Brattleboro, VT

Friday, July 2, 2010 8:00
Centre Congregational Church, Brattleboro, VT

Opening Night at Yellow Barn
Friday, July 9, 2010 8:00
Big Barn, Putney, VT

Founders’ Concert
honoring David and Janet Wells
Friday, July 16, 2010 8:00
Big Barn, Putney, VT

Composer Portrait
with Composer in Residence Melissa Hui
Tuesday, July 20, 2010 8:00
Big Barn, Putney, VT

Open House
with Yellow Barn musicians on campus
Saturday, July 24, 2010
The Greenwood School, Putney, VT

Scholarship Benefit Concert
honoring George Heller
Friday, July 23, 2010 8:00
Big Barn, Putney, VT

2010 Festival Gala
with pianist Peter Frankl
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Details to be announced

Season Finale
Saturday, August 7, 2010 8:00
Big Barn, Putney, VT

PURCHASE TICKETS

(800) 639-3819 x107
(802) 387-4726 fax
tickets@yellowbarn.org

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Brattleboro Sidewalk Sale will be held in downtown Brattleboro on May 7th, 8th, & 9th 2010, organized by Build a Better Brattleboro.  Downtown Brattleboro is home to many outdoor events, join local businesses as they kick off the spring season right with deals and discounts.

Gallery Walk, on Friday night will follow the sidewalk sale.   All of the Galleries, many restaurants and shops will open up to display a variety of art work, sculptures and paintings.

River Garden Event also in downtown Brattleboro, on Saturday, May 2nd,  from 10am – 4pm will host a pottery exhibit and sale complete with food and live entertainment by Brattleboro Music Center’s Music School  join them for there Performathon.  Music School students perform recitals all day to raise money for the student scholarship fund. Public invited free.

Brattleboro Farmers Market opens for the season on Saturday, May 2nd from 9am – 2pm.  Enjoy local grown flowers, herbs, produce and locally made Vermont products along with live entertainment.

Brattleboro Museum and Art Center presents Charmed by Audrey: Life on the Set of Sabrina at 2 pm on Sunday, May 3rd at 2pm. Located in downtown Brattleboro at 10 Vernon St, tickets are $6. Join the BMAC as they celebrate Audrey Hepburn’s 80th birthday with a screening of the 1954 film Sabrina starring Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden. Following the film , photographer and author Juliet Cuming of Dummerston, Vt., will sign copies of her new book, Charmed by Audrey: Life on the set of Sabrina, which features photographs by Cuming’s father-in-law, famed fashion and celebrity photographer Mark Shaw.

The Race for a Reason is an annual fundraiser hosted by the SIT Graduate Institute Chapter of Net Impact. This event will begin at 10am, on Saturday, May 2nd, with the customary 5/10k run/walk, and continue the festivities with games, food, live music, and entertainment. There will be also be a silent auction with a selection of wonderful items generously donated by Brattleboro businesses. Net proceeds will benefit our ‘Reason’, Morningside Shelter, which is the only homeless shelter in southern Vermont. Join them in celebrating spring and give your support to a fantastic local cause!  For more details contact Sara LeHoullier (919)257-0057

For continued updates on what is going on around Brattleboro, follow us on twitter or sign up for email alerts on our blog, innbrattleboro.com.

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The Vermont Country Store is a popular attraction in Southern Vermont with stores in Weston, VT and Rockingham, VT, both just a short drive from Forty Putney Road and Brattleboro.  Many of you may already be familiar with the Vermont Country Store through their catalog and Internet sales.  But to fully appreciate this piece of Vermont’s history you really need to go to one of their stores.

The Vermont Country Store was founded in 1945, yes over 60 years ago, by Vrest and Ellen Orton.  Vrest and Ellen created a 12 page catalog with 36 high quality and practical items in it and mail it out to everyone on their Christmas list.  Word began to spread and In just one year they had a booming mail order business.  In 1946 they opened their first store in Weston, VT which is still open today for your shopping needs.  Today both stores are owned by 3rd and 4th generation Orton’s…Lyman, Eliot, Gardner and Cabot.

The Vermont Country Store is still stocked with high quality and practical items.  All of the best Vermont Cheeses, preserves, Vermont Maple Syrup, penny candy, warm cloths, hats, etc.   This new generation of Orton’s have taken things one step further by finding unique and nostalgic products.  Eliot Orton says it best “We still find products that aren’t sold any where else.”

Unique would certainly define the “Attitude Adjuster” or perhaps one of several models of moose hats.  But its the nostalgic toys from my childhood that really brought me back.  They sell real easy bake ovens (that’s right with the 25 watt light bulb to cook your sweets).  Rockem Sockem Robots, Monkey’s in a barrel, the rubix cube just to name a few.  There are also the products that have fallen out of products and the Orton family has purchased the patent and began producing it themselves.  My favorite example is Lifeboy Soap.  You may remember this soap from the popular Christmas movie, A Christmas Story.  This is the brand of soap Ralphy’s mother used to wash out his mouth when she thought she caught him using inappropriate language.   Pick some up and relive the moment (we picked some up for our brother in law, who recently had his first child and loooves the Christmas Story movie!).

During your next visit to our inn be sure to take the 30 minute drive to The Vermont Store in Rockingham, VT or the slightly longer drive to the original store in Weston, VT.  No matter which one you choose you are sure to discover something you have never seen before, and something you haven’t seen in forever…

The Vermont Country Store directions and details can be found on their website.

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When is prime foliage viewing time?

The time of year that is best to see the fall colors in Vermont varies based on the summers weather.  It is a safe bet that from late September through the third week or so of October, you will be able to see some great leaf action.  Check out this interactive foliage map of Vermont for an idea of where and when you will see the best color.

Is Vermont the best state in New England to see foliage?

Vermont is the largest producer of Maple Syrup in the country.  Maple syrup comes from Maple trees, which are the most vibrant tree in the fall, with leaves changing to the most dramatic colors.  With a large number of these trees in an unspoiled mountainous terrain, Vermont is certainly one of the most dramatic places to see the fall foliage.  In addition, the historic charm of covered bridges, the preserved wilderness and the many beautiful back roads make the overall landscape ideal for the fall addition of color.

Where can we go to see the leaves?

Well of course, our beautiful Bed and Breakfast in Southern Vermont is a great place to start!  During the peak times in Brattleboro, our backyard and the Hogle Wildlife Sanctuary on the water behind us becomes a beautiful canvas of color.   Of course when Brattleboro hasn’t peaked yet, we have assembled driving directions for some amazing rides from the inn to put you in the middle of fall splendor regardless of the time that you visit.   Our turn by turn directions will take you through some beautiful back country roads, along winding brooks, past waterfalls and bring you safely back to Forty Putney Road.

Retreat Meadow, our backyard at Forty Putney Road B&B

Where should you stay when checking out the foliage?  Clearly the obvious answer is our great Southern Vermont Inn, Forty Putney Road B&B.  But you don’t have to take our word for it!  Here’s what the folks that have been here before are saying – we would love to add you to our family of guests and share the beautiful fall foliage with you this year.  Reserve your stay now!

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