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!

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!

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!

Almost all Vermont waterways are clean and beautiful and perfect for swimming, though some spots are better (and safer) then others.  The sure way to find yourself a decent swimming hole is to drive along any river or stream and look for other cars parked along the side of the road.  Chances are that if you pull over and park you will find some folks frolicking in the water nearby.  Some of the closest swimming holes to our Vermont Bed and Breakfast are along the scenic West River.  One nice example is just about 3 miles north of Grafton Cheese Company on the right hand side of Route 30.  This spot has a nice gravel parking area and is shallow but rocky.  The water is cool and clean and there is even a small sandy area to stretch out and sunbathe.  Of course, you’ll find plenty of other nice spots along Route 30 as well.

If you are looking for the quintessential Vermont experience and a great secluded spot with picturesque views then I would suggest checking out The Ledges or Timber Crib Dam.  The Ledges is located on the Harriman Reservoir and is best know for its clothing-optional status.  The Ledges (as the spot is referred to) offer sandy beaches and big, flat rocks at the water’s edge as well as some rocks to jump from.  Timber Crib Dam is one of the most beautiful of any of the swimming holes we have yet to find and is even a National Historic Site.  At Timber Crib Dam you are swimming above and below the picturesque Green River Covered Bridge.  For directions to these two great swimming holes check out our “Warm Weather Outdoor Activity Guide.”

Some quick tips for swimming – Remember that you will likely be walking on a rocky river bed so water shoes are a great idea.  Also remember that we moved to Vermont to get away from the boise, litter and polution of New Jersey, so please do your part to help us keep this state as beautiful as you find it.  Be sure to take all of your trash with you and respect the water and your neighbors.