Once a mill town powered by the Whetstone Brook, Brattleboro has evolved into an inclusive arts haven budding with creatives interested in perfecting their craft. With a rejuvenated downtown and farm-to-table dining focus, this small town in Southern Vermont is perfect for those looking to pair outdoor activities with hands-on creative pursuits.
Brattleboro’s history in the arts goes back to author Rudyard Kipling penning classics like “ The Jungle Book ” nearby. Today, you will find chocolatiers and circus artists, glassblowers and ceramicists, woodworkers and photographers, visual artists and chefs. And it isn’t just a place where you can go to watch or buy, you can also get hands on and express your own creativity through a variety of workshops and classes.
As many times as I’ve stopped in Brattleboro on my Vermont road trips , it took me staying a couple of days to dig beneath the surface of what seemed like a cool but sleepy town, to see the vibrant community that lies beneath. And, this time I visited in the winter. Imagine how much more there is to do in Brattleboro in the summer or fall when the farmer’s market, food truck festivals, and outdoor recreation are in full swing!
Things to do in Brattleboro Vermont
Editor’s Note: I recently revisited Brattleboro as part of a media stay to research this article. Portions of my stay, including accommodations and meals, were complimentary. All opinions are my own.
If you are ready to get crafty or just looking for an artsy and outdoorsy weekend getaway , let me introduce you to a sampling of things to do in Brattleboro Vermont. Oh, and it is Vermont, so of course there is going to be some cheese and craft beer involved too!
Go to the Circus
Have you ever watched Cirque du Soleil and wished you could move like that? Or have you ever wanted to try the flying trapeze? Before you run away and join the circus, give circus arts a try at the New England Center for Circus Arts . This premiere circus training school is both a pre-professional school for those serious about careers in the circus arts, and a place where community members and visitors can come and give it a try.
You will need to check the calendar before you visit to see if there is a performance you can watch or if you will be in town during one of the Friday Flight Nights to give the flying trapeze a try. In addition to recreational classes in Chinese pole, straps, and trapeze, NECCA also offers workshops that are perfect for visitors.
If you are really interested in circus arts, you could sign up for an aerial and circus skills week, which is kind of like a full-day circus camp for adults. NECCA also offers group events and executive leadership retreats for women.
Get Fired Up
Fire Arts Vermont has both hot glass and clay studios, along with a gallery featuring the work of 25 local artists. It is a joint collaboration between Randi Solin, who is an award-winning master glassblower whose work is featured in the permanent collections of the White House, United States Embassies, and in the Metropolitan Museum Breuer Gallery; and Natalie Blake, who specializes in producing large public art and residential projects in sculptural tile.
The glass and clay studios are open to the public whenever the gallery is open so that you can observe the artists at work (it is fascinating!) Walking through the gallery, I started to feel guilty that I don’t have any hobbies or talents when it comes to working with my hands. But if you feel the same, you can sign up for workshops during your visit for things like beginner glass classes or “make your own” creature out of clay.
The Wheelhouse Clay Center in downtown Brattleboro also offers workshops and classes, many of which are weekly classes for residents but some are suitable for visitors too.
It’s Hammer Time
Wood turning, carving, joining, and building — if you have ever wanted to create something out of wood, HatchSpace is your place. This community woodworking maker space offers the tools and training necessary to turn project dreams into reality. There are five shops that house tools and equipment from hand-held tools to industrial-scale machines.
While HatchSpace is primarily a member-based workspace, there are plenty of classes and workshops for those looking to try out or get better at woodworking. Check the website for offerings such as making a tiled serving tray, a sculpted stool, a French rolling pin, or charcuterie board. You can easily turn your visit to Brattleboro into a weekend of artistic workshops!
HatchSpace is co-located in the High Street and Green Building along with other creative ventures such as First Proof Press, Wheelhouse Clay Center, and the Vermont Center for Photography. In the future, they plan on offering weekend retreats, allowing visitors to sample workshops from each over the course of one to two days, including community meals and celebrations.
Also in this space you will find Gravitate Pinball, the community radio station, and Vermont table, a farm-to-table restaurant.
Take a Photo
There are plenty of Instagrammable spots around Brattleboro, from the “Welcome to Brattleboro” mural to the bubbling waterfall of Whetstone Brook. But if you want to brush up your photography skills or purchase some vintage camera equipment, head to the Vermont Center for Photography . This gallery plus workshop features monthly exhibits, artists talks and workshops, plus a darkroom facility.
Get Artsy
Aurora Robson exhibit
The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center is a surprising find in small downtown Brattleboro. Located in a former train station, this small contemporary art museum features just five to six exhibits at a time and they rotate the exhibits three times a year, to provide a different experience each time you visit.
The shows are curated from living artists and the work is on loan rather than in a permanent collection. The exhibits tend to be a mix of famous artists and local or regional artists.
Browse the Galleries
If you are more an art appreciator than an artist, it should come as no surprise that Brattleboro has plenty of art galleries right in the downtown historic district. Vermont Artisan Designs has two floors of paintings and sculpture, along with a wide array of fine hand-made crafts, including glass, jewelry, pottery, wrought iron, fiber art, and more.
The Harmony Collective Artist Gallery has 31 member artists across different media all exhibited in a collaborative gallery. Mitchell Giddings Fine Arts is focused on the regional New England arts scene and features artists who consciously engage with the myriad of challenges of personal expression within their chosen medium.
A great way to explore the local galleries is on one of the Gallery Walk events or annual events like the LUV Crawl. Check the Downtown Brattleboro Alliance calendar for dates.
Snack on Artisanal Chocolate
With a brand-new retail space in the heart of downtown Brattleboro, it is now easier than ever to sample the elegant, seasonally-inspired artisan confections at Tavernier Chocolates . These chocolates are locally handcrafted using traditional European techniques blended with unconventional methods that utilize locally-sourced and foraged ingredients.
These mouth-watering delights start with the finest, ethically sourced chocolate and are developed to perfection with an artistry that has been recognized nationwide. In addition to chocolate bars and truffles, you simply can’t miss the truly unique chocolate charcuterie.
Meant to pair with a wide array of cheeses, fruits, sauces and cured meats, this pâté-style, ganache brick is made from single origin Latin American chocolate and blended with Vermont cheeses, raw honey and tree syrups. It is unlike anything you have experienced and sure to be the star of your next party.
Sip a Local Craft Cocktail
It isn’t all about art in Brattleboro, you can also enjoy local craft spirits and beer. Saxtons Distillery started 18 years ago by creating a maple liqueur, in the style of founder Christian Stromberg’s Lithuanian ancestral traditions of flavored liqueurs. Today, Saxtons has three brands: Sapling, which uses maple syrup from local farms to create flavored bourbons, rye, and liqueur; Snowdrop, which uses both local and exotic herbs and botanicals to create vodka and gin; and Perc, which uses ethically-sourced Peruvian coffee beans from a local roaster to create a coffee liqueur that has become popular for espresso martinis.
You can find Saxtons’ products throughout New England, but while you are in town, stop in to the distillery for a tasting and cocktail and enjoy the spacious tasting room or outdoor picnic area with a stage for live music. While in Brattleboro, you may also visit Saxtons at the downtown tasting room and shop.
Taste Local Beer
You can follow the Southern Vermont Beer Trail straight to Brattleboro. Whetstone Beer Co . offers a wide range of craft beer and seasonal specialties including Pale Ales, IPAs, Porters, Ambers, and Brown Ales. Sample a flight while overlooking the river and munching on some small bites or lunch.
If you love sours, like I do, be sure to stop at Hermit Thrush Brewery because they focus exclusively on sour beers. There is even a sour IPA (Green SIPA) and collaborations with other Vermont breweries such as Magic Hat and Lawson’s to create co-branded sours.
Shop the Boutiques
Downtown Brattleboro isn’t large, but you can still spend some time browsing the various boutiques. If you are into antiques, Twice Upon a Time offers a treasure trove of antiques and collectibles at this multi-dealer and consignment ship with an array of furniture, collectibles, vintage clothing, china, musical instruments, and more. Beadniks is a lovely store dedicated to beads, rocks, crystals, artisan-made jewelry, and retro toys.
Cara Wolff Jewelry features handmade jewelry from natural and repurposed materials, inspired by natural beauty, from a metalsmith and wildlife biologist. Book lovers can check out Everyone’s Books , a local independent bookstore and Brattleboro Books , which is a used book store.
Sample Vermont Cheese
Grafton Village Cheese Company , just north of town and next to the Retreat Farm, may just be my favorite cheese shop in the world since I stop there every time I visit Vermont. One of Vermont’s legacy cheesemakers, Grafton Village Cheese creates award-winning, naturally aged and naturally flavored cheeses. You can taste their cheese, along with dozens of others they offer in the shop. The shop is also stocked with Vermont products, charcuterie, and local beers.
Take a Hike
Brattleboro isn’t just about the art. I mean, it is Vermont after all. You have to spend some time in the great outdoors. The Retreat Farm plays a central part in the Brattleboro community. Located on traditional Abenaki homelands, the Farm encompasses 500 acres of conserved forests, farmlands, and waterways, along with miles of hiking trails. They also host community events including the summer Food Truck round-up and live outdoor music events.
You can also enjoy the 3.5 mile West River Trail with views of the river and the golden Vermont hills. You will also see where the trail bed was cut from rock to build the railroad in 1879, one of Vermont’s oldest transportation routes.
Visit a Maple Sugar Farm
The Robb Family Farm was established in 1907 and is still family run. This former dairy farm has been focusing on maple syrup production since 2011. Today, they are happy to show you around, tell you all about maple syrup, and you can stock up on all sorts of maple sugar products.
Stroll the Brattleboro Farmers’ Market
The Brattleboro Area Farmers’ Market is southern VT’s premier farmers’ market featuring over 50 agricultural, craft, and food vendors. It wasn’t in season when I was last in town, but the market happens every Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. from May to October.
Watch a Movie
The Latchis Theatre is a 1930s Greco Deco member of the League of Historic American Theaters. Movie goers have been watching films there since the days of vaudeville and silent films. Today, you can still watch a movie at the Latchis from indies to cinema classics.
Enjoy Live Music
There are a couple of spot to catch live music in Brattleboro. The Latchis Pub and Underground Lounge has karaoke night on Thursdays and live performers on many weekends. The Stone Church is located in a renovated Victorian Gothic church and features a full calendar of live music and events.
Eat Apple Cider Donuts
If you visit in the fall, be sure to stop by Scott Farm Orchard for some fresh cider, cider donuts, and pick your own apples. This is also home to Stone Wall Park, featuring master stone walls created by craftspeople of the Stone Trust (and yes, they also offer workshops for stone masons!)
Scott Farm Orchard is also used for events and you can rent out one of the five overnight rental properties that are maintained by the Landmark Trust USA. This even includes Naulakha, Rudyard Kipling’s 1892 home and where he wrote The Jungle Book .
Hit the Trails
The Brattleboro Outing Club offers four recreation programs including tennis, rowing, cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, and paddling. The organization maintains 33 km of groomed trails as snow and weather conditions warrant.
Take a Sleigh Ride
Fair Winds Farm offers seasonal sleigh rides and hayrides, either private or group rides through the woods and fields.
Where to Eat in Brattleboro
For a small town, Brattleboro offers a wide range of dining options for various budgets and tastes, from the pub grub at Whetstone Station to fine dining at Peter Havens, Mediterranean specialties at Yalla Vermont to on-the-go options at the Brattleboro Food Coop. Here are a few to check out during your stay:
Coffee Shops
If you need a pick me up, Mocha Joe’s serves up specialty grade locally roasted coffee, which is roasted fresh just down the street. Coffee lovers can also stop into the Latina-owned Duchess Coffee for a taste of her modern espresso blend.
Guilford Country Store and Cafe
Located just south of downtown Brattleboro, the Guilford Country Store and Cafe is a local hangout. This cozy historic building is part country store, part coffee shop and deli serving up delicious sandwiches, tempting baked goods, breakfast options, and fresh coffee.
Whetstone Station
Combine your beer tasting with lunch (or dinner) at Whetstone Station . This brewery restaurant serves up award winning fries and burgers, along with healthy vegetarian and gluten free options. On a nice day, grab a table on the terraces overlooking the Connecticut River for a meal with a water view.
River Garden Marketplace
The River Garden Marketplace combines food, craft beer, entertainment, and a craft market under one glass roof. The Marketplace also serves as an event space and has both indoor and outdoor seating, which overlooks Whetstone Brook. This is perfect for a casual lunch or drinks.
The Oyster Bar at Peter Havens
This small bar serves up fresh oysters, small plates, and signature cocktails in a small, cozy but classy setting. The Oyster Bar at Peter Havens is the perfect stop for a pre-dinner drink or happy hour.
Echo Restaurant & Lounge
Echo Restaurant and Lounge has a varied menu of sandwiches, pizzas, and traditional entrees such as the pan-seared ribeye at reasonable prices for those that can’t decide what they are in the mood for but want a cool vibe and good food.
Peter Havens
Just around the corner from the Oyster Bar, Peter Havens is a full-service, fine dining restaurant, which is perfect for a date night or special evening. As you may expect, the menu features an array of fresh seafood, but also American classics like a New York strip steak or Long Island duck breast. There are even creative options for vegetarians such as the heart of palm cake starter, which is like a crab cake but uses heart of palm.
Where to Stay in Brattleboro
If you are looking for a classic Vermont experience, stay at the charming Inn on Putney Road . This French Baronial style, six room bed and breakfast is perfectly situated next to the West River and miles of walking trails, while also being only a five-minute walk from downtown Brattleboro.
Each room is uniquely appointed, with four rooms and suites in the main inn and two additional in the carriage house. In addition, there is a large living room with a fireplace and billiards table, a second floor sitting room overlooking the gardens, and a conservatory with beautiful original windows and a tin ceiling.
The innkeepers also excel at providing a two or three-course home-cooked, gourmet breakfast each morning. You will be happily fueled up for a busy day exploring the area! In addition, coffee, tea, and cookies are always available and there are complimentary snacks in each guest room.
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