Suggested Day Trips
New England is blessed with destinations of both natural beauty and cultural significance. And unlike the iconic American West, where sites are separated by several hundred miles, many New England destinations are merely an hour or two apart. Let the Bridges Inn at Whitcomb House be your home base and consider visiting these sites that are within arm’s reach.
About an Hour’s Drive
Central New Hampshire
Currier and Ives Scenic Byway, Henniker, Hopkinton, Warner, Webster, and Salisbury, NH, state-designated Scenic and Cultural Byway consisting of iconic New England villages, active recreation, covered bridges, and breathtaking vistas
Fells Historic Gardens and Estate, Newbury, NH, more than 80 beautiful and tranquil acres includes the 22-room Colonial Revival home, forests, woodland trails and the renowned gardens (seasonal)
Franklin Pierce Homestead State Historic Site, Hillsborough, NH, the boyhood home of America’s fourteenth president, a spacious and beautiful, federal style country home, built by Pierce’s father in 1804
McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center, Concord, NH, has an amazing collection of exhibits to explore the worlds of astronomy, aviation, Earth and space sciences, as well as a planetarium
Mount Kearsarge Indian Museum, Warner, NH, which bills itself as “the premier destination in New Hampshire, for people interested in Native American history and culture”
New Hampshire Audubon, Concord, NH, offers exhibits, trails, and a gift shop which will delight outdoor enthusiasts interested in birding, hiking, and the conservation of wildlife and habitat
New Hampshire Historical Society Museum & Library, Concord, NH, has a wealth of information about the history, culture, people, and art of New Hampshire
New Hampshire Telephone Museum, Warner, NH, houses a tangible history of telecommunications, documenting the telephone industry’s past, with a collection of over 1000 artifacts (check for seasonal hours)
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests Conservation Center, Concord, NH, a forestry association seeking to perpetuate the forests of New Hampshire through their wise use and their complete reservation in places of special scenic beauty; also manages sites throughout the stated
The Cornish-Windsor Area
American Precision Museum, Windsor, VT preserves the heritage of the mechanical arts, celebrates the ingenuity of our mechanical forebears, and explores the effects of their work on our everyday lives (seasonal)
Artisans Park, Windsor, VT, offers a brewery, distillery, cheese shop, sculpture garden, glass factory, pottery, and river outfitter on their lovely grounds
Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge spanning the Connecticut River connecting the towns of Cornish, NH and Windsor, VT, it is the longest wooden covered bridge in the United States and the longest two-span covered bridge in the world; directions from the Bridges Inn (scroll down)
Harpoon Brewery, Windsor, VT, this brewery and restaurant on the grounds of Artisans Park offers a full selection of Harpoon beers straight from the source along with delicious food to pair with your pint
St. Gaudens National Historical Site, Cornish, NH, the home, studios, and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, one of America’s greatest sculptors; over 100 of his artworks, from heroic public monuments to expressive portrait reliefs, and the gold coins which changed the look of American coinage (seasonal, open Memorial Day weekend through October 31)
The Fort at #4, Charlestown, NH, (en route to the Cornish-Windsor Area) travel back in time to this reconstructed village, once the northernmost and westernmost township within the British Colonies in North America, brings history to life through engaging reenactments, educational activities, and historical experiences
Southeastern Vermont
(Most sties are 30-40 minutes from the Bridges Inn)
Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, Brattleboro, VT, a non-collecting contemporary art museum focused on the work of living artists
Creamery Covered Bridge, Brattleboro, VT, built in 1879, Brattleboro’s sole surviving covered bridge is the Town Lattice construction, and is named after the old Brattleboro Creamery which stood beyond it
Grafton Village Cheese (Brattleboro Specialty Cheese & Wine Shop), Brattleboro, VT, sample naturally aged and naturally flavored cheeses, which are still handmade, plus a large variety of cheese from around the world, wine, gourmet products, and gifts
Tasha Tudor Museum, Brattleboro, VT and her Corgi Village cottage, Marlboro, VT, honor the life of Tasha Tudor, the famous American illustrator and writer of children’s books (limited hours and access)
Vermont Country Store, Rockingham, VT, provides a step back in time, offering penny candy, Vermont-made food products, personal care remedies, household problem solvers, clothing, and more; if time permits, their flagship store in Weston, VT is worth the trip
Central Massachusetts
(Many sties are 30-40 minutes from the Bridges Inn)
Basketball Hall of Fame, Springfield, MA, home to more than 300 inductees and more than 40,000 square feet of basketball history
Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, MA, spanning the Deerfield River, its gardeners and volunteer members work hard to keep the Bridge’s many flowers, plants, trees, shrubs and vines growing beautifully throughout the season
Doane’s Falls, Royalston, MA,
Dr. Seuss Museum, Springfield, MA, devoted to Theodor Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss, features family friendly, interactive exhibits exploring Dr. Seuss’s Springfield roots and providing opportunities to experiment with new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, and invent stories
Emily Dickinson Museum, Amherst, MA, explore Emily Dickinson’s life and legacy at the Homestead and the Evergreens (hours vary by season)
Historic Deerfield, Deerfield, MA, an outdoor museum that interprets the history and culture of early New England and the Connecticut River Valley with 12 carefully-preserved antique houses dating from 1730 to 1850, and collections of regional furniture, silver, textiles, and other decorative arts
Kringle Candle Company, Bernardston, MA, offers candles in all shapes and sizes, scented and unscented, for every occasion
Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens, So. Deerfield, MA, features an indoor conservatory, home to nearly 4,000 exotic and domestic butterflies in a tropical environment as well as a food court, Monarchs Restaurant, and gift shop
French King Bridge, Erving and Gill, MA, spanning the Connecticut River, a landmark example of a steel deck arch bridge that is scenic and beautiful as is the surrounding landscape
Northfield Mountain Recreation and Environmental Center, Northfield, MA, offers a variety of environmental and recreation programs and opportunities such as cross country skiing, hiking, and mountain biking on 26 miles of trails; camping, canoeing, and kayaking at Barton Cove recreation area
Yankee Candle Village, South Deerfield, MA, features all the candles that you’d expect from Yankee Candle plus a toy shop, jewelry, a year-round Christmas village, kitchen & garden shop, candy, ice cream, a brewery and restaurant and more; located just a few minutes from Magic Wings, also in South Deerfield
About 1.5 Hours’ Drive
Central New Hampshire
Budweiser Brewery, Merrimack, NH, the Merrimack Brewery has a variety of tours and attractions, including beer and food and other signature experiences
Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury, NH, non-profit museum preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers and providing a place for learning and reflection through tours, programs, exhibits, research, and publications
Currier Museum of Art, Manchester, NH, an internationally renowned art museum featuring European and American paintings, decorative arts, photographs, and sculpture, including works by Picasso, Monet, O’Keeffe, Wyeth, and more
Merrimack Premium Outlets, Merrimack, NH, numerous name-brand outlet stores
Millyard Museum, Manchester, NH, in the historic Amoskeag Millyard, the museum depicts Manchester and the people who have lived and worked in the mills as well as early farmers, lumbermen, and the beginnings of industry in the area
Connecticut River Valley / Hanover-Lebanon Area
Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock, VT, outdoor history museum combining a fully-operating Jersey dairy farm with educational exhibits and interactive programs and events
Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH, a teaching museum encompassing American, Native American, European, African, and Melanesian art, including a significant collection of indigenous Australian contemporary art and a major archive of photojournalism; the Hood and the Montshire Museums could be combined into one trip
King Arthur Flour, Norwich, VT, watch bakers create breads and pastries, take a baking class, enjoy breakfast, lunch, or an afternoon coffee and dessert in the cozy café or on the outdoor patio (seasonal), browse the retail store and sample delicious treats
Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich, VT, a hands-on museum located with more than 140 exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, ecology, and technology; the Montshire and the Hood Museums could be combined into one trip
Quechee Gorge in Quechee, VT, “Vermont’s little Grand Canyon,” Vermont’s most spectacular natural wonder, with beautiful vistas from the bridge above the Ottaquechee River and hiking or walking the trails along the mile-long chasm; also nearby is the Simon Pearce glass shop and Restaurant
Woodstock – Arts, Education and Culture, Woodstock, VT are just some of the reasons to visit Woodstock
Southwestern Vermont
Bennington Battle Monument, Bennington, VT, built to commemorate the August 16, 1777 Battle of Bennington, and is considered to be the turning point in the Revolutionary War
Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT, home to the largest collection of Grandma Moses paintings in the world, the Gilded Age Vermont reflects the industrial boom in Bennington from the mid-nineteenth century through the mid-twentieth century, the Bennington Modernism exhibition, Early Vermont Gallery, and the Bennington Pottery Gallery
Hildene, Manchester, VT, home of Robert Todd Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood, became the home of Lincoln descendants
Norman Rockwell Museum of Vermont, Rutland, VT, nationally recognized collection of Norman Rockwell’s art, commemorating his Vermont years and the entire span and diversity of his career (larger Norman Rockwell museum in Stockbridge, MA)
President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site, Plymouth, VT. America’s 30th president was born in 1872 in the house attached to his father’s general store. In 1876 the family moved across the street where Coolidge was sworn in as president by his father, a justice of the peace. The Coolidge Historical Site could be combined with a trip to the Vermont Country Store
The Vermont Country Store, Weston, VT, provides a step back in time and a leisurely stroll down memory lane, offering penny candy, Vermont maple syrup, Vermont cheeses, personal care remedies, household problem solvers, clothing, and more; plus the Bryant House Restaurant; If time doesn’t permit, a smaller Vermont Country Store is located in Rockingham, VT
Central Massachusetts
1761 Old Mill Restaurant, Westminster, MA, delicious food served in a setting of rare charm overlooking the mill dam and pond; about an hour from the Bridges Inn, the Old Mill is about half way between the inn and Boston and on the way to the Worcester, MA area
EcoTarium, Worcester, MA, museum of science and nature offering an indoor-outdoor experience to visitors of all ages; three floors of indoor interactive exhibits, live animal habitats, exciting shows in the digital planetarium, daily Science Discovery programs, hikes through forest and meadow nature trails (seasonal)
Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA, is committed to sharing the unique perspectives of historical and contemporary artists
The Icon Museum and Study Center, Clinton, MA, the largest collection of its kind in North America, includes more than 500 largest collection of icons and Eastern Christian art spanning six centuries, including important historical paintings dating from the earliest periods of icon “writing” to the present (formerly called the Museum of Russian Icons)
Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA, 19th-century adventure at New England’s largest outdoor living history museum, with costumed historians at work on the farm, in trade shops, and in charming homes
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA, nearly 40,000 works of art from around the world, from ancient mosaics and medieval suits of armor to iconic works of impressionism and abstract expressionism
About 2 Hours’ Drive
The Atlantic Coast
Portsmouth, NH and southern Maine are lovely coastal destinations. If your vacation schedule does not allow you to stay on the coast, it is possible to see Portsmouth and southern Maine in a day
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, MA is known for museums, historical sites, colleges and universities, cultural and theatrical events, shopping, restaurants, and more. If your vacation schedule does not allow you to stay in Boston, it is possible to choose a couple of activities or sites that interest you and take a day trip to Boston
Western Massachusetts Museums
The Clark, Williamstown, MA, art museum and a distinguished center for research and higher education, houses European and American painting, sculpture, works on paper, and decorative art (The Clark could be combined with a visit to Williams College Museum of Art)
MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA, exhibits art by both well-known and emerging artists, focusing on large-scale, immersive installations; in addition to visual arts, MASS MoCA supports performing arts and education
Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA, houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Norman Rockwell art, presents, preserves and studies the art of illustration and is a world resource for reflection, involvement and discovery inspired by Norman Rockwell and the power of visual images to shape and reflect society
Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, MA, where you’ll find items from around the globe and representing several thousand years of history, including the collection of original documents from the founding of America (Williams College Museum of Art could be combined with a visit to the Clark)
