The Area:
The
Manchester Area is different things to different folks, depending upon
where you are standing, and the time of the year. More specifically, Manchester Village
and Manchester Center are as
different as day and night. Manchester is known for its mansions, golf courses,
art center, and the like…Manchester Center for its nationally renowned outlet stores.
And, Arlington differs from both of them. Scroll entire page for
overview of all towns and villages in the Manchester Area. Click On Photos For Larger Images
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Manchester Center: They're all
here...Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, and their
equals! You can pretty much find the outlet of your choice here.. In
addition to the legendary outlets, you'll find countless other 
shops of
every variety, including one of the finest bookstores you could hope to
find outside of an urban metropolis.
Manchester Center also has a beautiful setting. In fact, if you are
entering from Route 11/30, coming from the Bromley or Stratton Mountain
areas, you'll enjoy the equivalent of an aerial view of this handsome
village nestled at the foot of Mount Equinox. There are eating
establishments of every variety...from a first-class steakhouse to
McFood. Likewise, there's an endless choice of lodging establishments.
Exit
Manchester Village to the east on Route 11/30 and you'll be in a
different world altogether...within minutes. You'll be in Vermont's
famed Green Mountains and at the doorstep of two of Vermont's well-known
ski areas - Stratton
and
Bromley Mountain Resorts
Go west on Route 30 and you'll soon be in charming Dorset, the home
of one of Vermont's more popular summer theatres. Travel on to Rupert
and villages like Wells and you'll enjoy some truly beautiful scenery
and a look at some of Vermont's farmland.
If you leave Manchester Center on Route 7A, heading north, you'll
soon have a great view of the Southern range of the Green Mountains on
your right. It's a beautiful drive north toward Danby and its marble
quarries. Soon after leaving Manchester you'll see the entrance to Emerald
Lake State Park, a very popular warm weather recreational site. To
the south is Arlington and Bennington.
Take Note - Both Manchester and
Manchester Center are well known for their Special
Events. Check 'em out before heading this way!
As you can see, Manchester has much to offer...come and enjoy!
Manchester
(Pop. 3622): Manchester (Village) has been a
resort town for longer
than anyone alive can remember. However, in its early days it was almost
exclusively for the rich and famous, still evidenced by Hildene, the
summer home 
of Robert Todd Lincoln, the son of the President. This
magnificent estate is now open to the public, offering everything from
tours of its formal gardens in summer to Cross-Country
Skiing & Snowshoeing during the winter months.
The
elegant 220 year-old Equinox Hotel still serves, as it did then, as the
centerpiece of this elegant and affluent village. A number of small
shops are within steps of the hotel and its marble sidewalks, as is The Equinox Country
Club. Everything in
Manchester Village is well-manicured and pleasing to the eye, including
several very impressive inns and dining establishments. The Southern
Vermont Arts Center is also a Manchester
landmark and is more than worthy of a visit.
Last,
but certainly not least, you should plan to make the spectacular drive
up Mount
Equinox, the backdrop of both Manchester and Manchester Center.
However, before you take this toll road (May thru October) make certain
your vehicle is in good shape or you may get to the base of the mountain
faster than you planned on.
If you're a shopper, head north to Manchester Center...you'll think
you died and went to heaven!
For
the most current information on the Manchester Area, including events
and other goings-on, we recommend you visit the Manchester
& The Mountains Chamber of Commerce website. It's also a great
source for
those planning to shop Manchester's great craft shops, outlets and
boutiques.
Dorset,
East Dorset, South Dorset (Pop. 1918): Dorset is primarily looked
upon as a summer place, although there is certainly a great deal of activity here in winter.
During summer, the Dorset
Playhouse is what Dorset is most identified with. Dorset is another
of Vermont's well-manicured upscale communities. It is also home away
from home for a number of artists and writers, including several
Hollywood names. One step removed from bustling Manchester, Dorset
offers the best of both worlds.. quiet tranquility and easy access to all
Manchester and the surrounding areas have to offer.
Arlington, E. Arlington, W. Arlington
(Pop. 2,299); Shaftsbury, S.
Shaftsbury (Pop. 3,368);
Sunderland,Chiselville,
Kansas, Kelly Stand (Pop. 872): It is unusual for
LinkVermont to list so many towns and
villages together, especially when combined that they account for a
sizable population by Vermont standards. However, although each of
these locales are individual in their own right, together they make up
the Historic Route 7A corridor between Bennington and Manchester to
the north. Historic Route 7A (originally Route 7) runs just west of,
and parallel to, Route 7 (sometimes referred to as the Route 7
bypass). Should you be traveling Route 7 north take note that there
are exits for each of these towns, and don't travel above the speed
limit or it can be very expensive. If you do, the odds aren't in your
favor!
There's much to see and do in this area, ranging from a 
visit
to the Norman Rockwell Exhibition to fly fishing and/or canoeing the
legendary Battenkill River. Rockwell lived in West Arlington from 1939
to 1953. The shops are plentiful, varied, and fun to browse. The
Chocolate Barn, just north of Shaftsbury, and Candle Mill Village in
East Arlington, are two extremely popular stops. If you're interested
in antiquing you've also come to the right place.
There's plenty of lodging and dining establishments in the area,
one for every taste and pocketbook. However, during fall foliage
there's not a room to be found, so make your reservations very early.
Lastly, it should be noted that
Chiselville, Kansas, and Kelly
Stand are all villages within Sunderland. And, that Kelly Stand can
only be reached via Forest Road #6, which is closed in winter.
Danby, Danby Four Corners (Pop. 1193):
Danby is just short of halfway between Manchester and Rutland to the
north, and can easily be passed through without a thought. Don't! Anyone
who knows anything about marble has heard of Danby, or more
specifically, Danby Marble. Marble has long been synonymous with
Vermont, and the marble quarried here and in neighboring areas can be
found in our most famous landmarks...ranging from the Vermont State
House to those in our nation's capitol. So when in Danby, check out the
marble!
Danby also offers unique access to the
Green Mountain National Forest, Forest Road #10. You won't find this
road designated as such on any state roadmap, although the road may be
indicated. The road is on the eastern side of Route 7. In fact, it is
the only road in Danby heading east toward Mt. Tabor. This 14 mile
unpaved road cuts directly through the Green Mountain National Forest
and ends in Landgrove.
There are some great views from this road (check out the gorge) on the
Danby side, including one from a small picnic area. A number of hiking
paths and interesting old logging roads will be found intersecting the
Forest Road, including Vermont's famed Long Trail. This auto road allows
you to experience that which is usually reserved for backpackers...take
advantage of it.
Forest Road #10 is closed in winter but experiences a great deal of
traffic by cross-country skiers, snowmobilers, those snowshoeing or
winter camping, and large (bigger than you) hairy animals.
Although certainly not a metropolis, Danby does have several inns,
dining establishments, and shops.
Pawlet, North Pawlet, West Pawlet (Pop.
1314); Rupert, East Rupert, North Rupert, West Rupert (Pop. 654);
Sandgate (Pop. 278); Wells (Pop. 902): These villages, all northwest
of Manchester, are all very rural. Except for Sandgate they are all on
Route 30, which just before Wells connects with Route 149 to Granville,
New York. The Route 30 drive is a beautiful one and we urge you to take
it. However, with the exception of Merck Forest and Farmland Center in
Rupert, and a very thin scattering of shops and general stores, there is
little to be found here other than a slice of Vermont life.
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