Leslie’s guidebook
Food scene
Our ‘regular’ place. Family-friendly. Solid food, reasonably priced. They do not take reservations unless your party is 6 or more. Outdoor seating. Great burgers, salads, apps, plus some nice daily specials. They own the Sports Bar Haig’s next door, which we also recommend. Open late!
27 locals recommend
Seasons Restaurant
4566 Main StOur ‘regular’ place. Family-friendly. Solid food, reasonably priced. They do not take reservations unless your party is 6 or more. Outdoor seating. Great burgers, salads, apps, plus some nice daily specials. They own the Sports Bar Haig’s next door, which we also recommend. Open late!
Beautiful large outdoor terrace, really nice bar, great menu, Thursday night trivia in the off-season.
38 locals recommend
Barrows House Inn & Restaurant
3156 VT-30Beautiful large outdoor terrace, really nice bar, great menu, Thursday night trivia in the off-season.
“Elegant, creative cuisine with a seafood focus and a French touch, served in a renovated dairy barn.” This is our favorite place for special occasions.
37 locals recommend
Chantecleer Restaurant
8 Read Farm Ln“Elegant, creative cuisine with a seafood focus and a French touch, served in a renovated dairy barn.” This is our favorite place for special occasions.
We love the tavern! The Inn welcomes reservations and recommends them during weekends and peak periods.
49 locals recommend
The Dorset Inn
8 Church StWe love the tavern! The Inn welcomes reservations and recommends them during weekends and peak periods.
Serves breakfast, lunch, and baked snacks, good coffee, and delicious breakfast sandwiches on cheddar cheese biscuits!
Dina’s Bakery Cafe
4201 Main StServes breakfast, lunch, and baked snacks, good coffee, and delicious breakfast sandwiches on cheddar cheese biscuits!
Breakfast and lunch in the summer from the AIRSTREAM near the Mother Myrick’s parking lot just down at the bottom of Ways Lane, plenty of seating on a tree-covered grassy spot, great breakfast sandwiches.
Amy’s on the Road
4361 Main StreetBreakfast and lunch in the summer from the AIRSTREAM near the Mother Myrick’s parking lot just down at the bottom of Ways Lane, plenty of seating on a tree-covered grassy spot, great breakfast sandwiches.
A truly unique and WONDERFUL dining experience! Four-course dinners on Saturdays, three-course lunches on Sundays, special events.
8 locals recommend
Dancing Ewe Farm
181 County Rte 12A truly unique and WONDERFUL dining experience! Four-course dinners on Saturdays, three-course lunches on Sundays, special events.
Recreation
Emerald Lake State Park
65 Emerald Lake LnBeautiful lake, great swimming.
Pool with diving board, baseball, softball, and multipurpose fields, three playgrounds, one-mile walking path, track, huge skatepark, three outdoor basketball courts (with lines for pickleball) and three tennis courts.
19 locals recommend
Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park
340 Rec Park RdPool with diving board, baseball, softball, and multipurpose fields, three playgrounds, one-mile walking path, track, huge skatepark, three outdoor basketball courts (with lines for pickleball) and three tennis courts.
Hikes! Lots of trails from which to choose, all levels, including the SVAC Loop, just across the street, up the Southern Vermont Arts Center hill. One of the Equinox Preserve kiosks is located near the trail connector at the rear of the Equinox Hotel. We have trail maps in the barn.
69 locals recommend
Equinox Mountain
Hikes! Lots of trails from which to choose, all levels, including the SVAC Loop, just across the street, up the Southern Vermont Arts Center hill. One of the Equinox Preserve kiosks is located near the trail connector at the rear of the Equinox Hotel. We have trail maps in the barn.
Great hiking, all levels, check-in and out at the kiosk located near the Visitor Center.
66 locals recommend
Merck Forest & Farmland Center
3270 VT-315Great hiking, all levels, check-in and out at the kiosk located near the Visitor Center.
Family-friendly skiing and snowboarding. Just a 15-minute drive up Route 11/30. Summer activities include Mountain Adventure Park, Alpine Slide, Climbing Wall, Disc Golf, Treetop Adventure Course, and more.
187 locals recommend
Bromley Mountain Ski Resort
124 VT-11Family-friendly skiing and snowboarding. Just a 15-minute drive up Route 11/30. Summer activities include Mountain Adventure Park, Alpine Slide, Climbing Wall, Disc Golf, Treetop Adventure Course, and more.
About ½ hour from us. Large, well-groomed trails. Lots to do, even in summer - golf, shopping, scenic lift rides, and more.
173 locals recommend
Stratton Mountain Resort
5 Village Lodge RdAbout ½ hour from us. Large, well-groomed trails. Lots to do, even in summer - golf, shopping, scenic lift rides, and more.
Also about a ½ away from the Barn. Alternative to Stratton, reasonably priced, rustic. According to the website, “It will never be perfect. But it will always be authentic and interesting”. Lots of local fans.
136 locals recommend
Magic Mountain Ski Area
495 Magic Mountain AccAlso about a ½ away from the Barn. Alternative to Stratton, reasonably priced, rustic. According to the website, “It will never be perfect. But it will always be authentic and interesting”. Lots of local fans.
3.5 miles round trip. Take Route 7A ¼ mile east on Route 11/30 to East Manchester Road. Turn right just past Raven’s Den. At the 3-way stop, drive straight onto Rootville Road and follow for about a mile to parking just before the water tower.
13 locals recommend
Prospect Rock Trail
663 Rootville Rd3.5 miles round trip. Take Route 7A ¼ mile east on Route 11/30 to East Manchester Road. Turn right just past Raven’s Den. At the 3-way stop, drive straight onto Rootville Road and follow for about a mile to parking just before the water tower.
4.6 miles round trip. From Route 7A in Manchester, travel east on Depot Street (Routes 11/30) for ½ mile, turning right on Richville Road, just past Vineyard Vines and Brooks Brothers. At the local Post Office, turn left on East Manchester Road and cross beneath the highway. After the underpass, turn right on the Lye Brook Falls Access Road and follow to the end. Trail access is at the far end of the parking lot.
25 locals recommend
Lye Brook Falls Trailhead
Lye Brook Falls Trail4.6 miles round trip. From Route 7A in Manchester, travel east on Depot Street (Routes 11/30) for ½ mile, turning right on Richville Road, just past Vineyard Vines and Brooks Brothers. At the local Post Office, turn left on East Manchester Road and cross beneath the highway. After the underpass, turn right on the Lye Brook Falls Access Road and follow to the end. Trail access is at the far end of the parking lot.
Arts, Entertainment
World-Class Theatre in Southern Vermont, a local treasure.
39 locals recommend
Dorset Theatre Festival
104 Cheney RdWorld-Class Theatre in Southern Vermont, a local treasure.
Less than an hour from the Barn in Williamstown, MA. We are fortunate to have this wonderful art museum so close. Beautiful grounds and an amazing permanent collection.
329 locals recommend
The Clark Art Institute
225 South StLess than an hour from the Barn in Williamstown, MA. We are fortunate to have this wonderful art museum so close. Beautiful grounds and an amazing permanent collection.
Drive another 15 minutes east of Williamstown, MA, and visit MASS MoCA. Small town, good restaurants, great museum.
382 locals recommend
MASS MoCA
1040 Mass MoCA WayDrive another 15 minutes east of Williamstown, MA, and visit MASS MoCA. Small town, good restaurants, great museum.
Best Shopping
Best bookstore ever! A must-see. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, huge selection of new and used books, large children’s floor. You won't be disappointed.
126 locals recommend
Northshire Bookstore
4869 Main StBest bookstore ever! A must-see. Friendly, knowledgeable staff, huge selection of new and used books, large children’s floor. You won't be disappointed.