A Charming New England Town

Where to Find Covered Bridges, The Woodstock Inn, and a Picturesque Downtown

Woodstock is one of the most picturesque towns in Vermont. This charming New England town is not very large but does have a lot of history, nature, and a very enchanting downtown. There is a shallow creek that cuts through the downtown regions and flows off into the distant mountains providing a very tranquil feel to the area. The sidewalks are large for easy foot traffic and allow for a more mindful walk through the downtown. The town was built for pedestrians as there are plenty of crosswalks, and benches.

Woodstock was chartered in 1761 and settled in 1768 (4). In the recent years Woodstock has become a very popular tourist town due to its heritage in artisan culture and historic American charm (4). From the quaint downtown to the tree lined sidewalks, Woodstock will be sure to entice any mindful traveler.

Fun Fact

Woodstock was named “The Prettiest Small Town in America” by the Ladies Home Journal magazine. (5)

Woodstock Must See

Covered Bridge

The Middle-Covered bridge is an idyllic wooden structure that gives insight to a bygone era in our history. This 139-foot-long bridge is a remarkable sight for anyone visiting Woodstock (1). This bridge really adds to the picturesque feel of Vermont and is a true statement to the New England heritage. The bridge was built in 1969 by Milton Grace to replace an 1877 iron bridge (1). Despite being built in the 20^th century, it was still constructed using traditional methods such as material and even wooden pegs instead of nails (1).

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This covered bridge had a separate walkway for pedestrian traffic, which is wonderful because it really gives you a chance to look out at the river below and the vast mountains in the distance. The covered bridge is a sight to be seen and is the perfect spot for a photo opportunity. My wife and I were grateful to see such a renowned part of history.

Woodstock Inn

14 The Green

In my opinion, the most famous Inn in all of Vermont would be the Woodstock Inn. This captivating Inn at the edge of the downtown district is one of distinction and beauty. From the perfectly manicured lawns to the authentic New England craftmanship, this Inn is an extraordinary experience for any traveler. The Woodstock Inn has been known for its epitome of luxury standards and has been rooted in the Woodstock community since the late 1790s.

Originally the Woodstock Inn was built as a tavern. The tavern has developed over time to the luxury hotel it is today (2). In 1830 an expert carver created a large golden eagle that was mounted above the Tavern’s entrance. The eagle symbol is still prevalent today as the Woodstock Inn’s brand identity (2).

Although we did not get the chance to stay at this Inn, it was absolutely stunning to see the hotel in the Autumn. We enjoyed a very peaceful and tranquil walk around the beautifully maintained grounds. This would definitely be one of those places that we will be adding to our bucket list of places to stay at and so should you. I hear Christmas is nothing short of magical.

Downtown Shopping Woodstock, VT

Although the downtown is not very large, it is well appointed and has its own unique allure. The shopping district which would encompass most of the downtown area has many locally owned shops that offer many of Vermont’s unique merchandise. The products are mostly made in Vermont or nearby, making them very authentic and unique. The store fronts are well arranged, and each has their own story to tell. When my wife and I walked into a couple of the shops in search of an ornament for our Christmas tree, we were greeted by a cozy and warm atmosphere.

General Store

16 Elm Street

This charming General Store has been in the Woodstock community since 1886. Walking inside this store you are immediately transported back to a much simpler era with the smell of cedar wood and local timber permeating throughout the shop. The store has a little bit of everything. True to its roots it still serves local dairy, meats, cheeses and other various household goods. Also, if you find yourself in need of a greeting card or some bath products, you will find them here. My wife and I perused through the gift area and locally crafted baked goods. We found several items of interest that made for a delicious roadside snack.

Apple Cider Donuts is a delicious treat that completes any autumn day. The apple cider donut is a tasty treat and a pleasant surprise. Native to the Vermont and New England area this donut is the essence of apple cider, cinnamon and sugar married together to make the perfect autumn treat.

Pure Vermont Maple Candy is a Vermont tradition and favorite autumn candy. This unique candy is made with pure maple syrup (6). The syrup is stirred, cooled, and poured into a leaf shaped candy mold (6). The candy is pure maple syrup so it is very sweet and will most likely not prompt you for seconds or as my uncle used to say, “that tastes like more”. Every visit to Vermont should include a box of these tasty treats.

My wife and I have also used candies for our oatmeal. We make a bowl of oatmeal and when it is finished and at its hottest point, we simply drop one of the candies into the oatmeal and stir it around. The maple candy really adds a wonderful sweetener and maple flavor to the oatmeal. This is just a nice unique sweetener to liven up breakfast or take you down memory lane of your New England autumn trip.

The Maple Creemee is another one of Vermont’s famous treats. A maple Creemee is a soft serve ice cream that is infused with maple syrup. This classic taste of Vermont is one of the best soft served flavors of ice cream that my wife and I have ever experienced. If you add Vermont’s abundance of dairy farms you will see why ice cream is such a big deal in this part of the country. When it comes to ice cream, the fresher the dairy, the better it will taste, and Vermont has the Diary.

Woodstock Scoops

20 Central Street

Woodstock Scoops has a great Maple Creemee that should be tried when visiting the region. They offer soft serve ice cream that is flavored with maple syrup. Their milk is provided by a local dairy farm down the road, so they do have that creamier texture that we all know and love about good ice cream.

Architecture

Most New England towns that are built during the colonial times, such as Woodstock are famous for their architecture. Along the river and main road are several homes and buildings including the courthouse, library and other public structures that showcase the architectural splendor that the 18^th and 19^th century had to offer. The following are a few of them.

The Windsor County Court House

12 The Green

This beautiful building is a wonderful structure to photograph as it brings a lot of colonial distinction and charm. This is the typical New England architecture that defines and adds to the loveliness of the town of Woodstock.

Norman Williams Public Library

10 The Green

This magnificent piece of architecture was built in 1884 and has housed and served as the town public library for Woodstock (3). The Norman Williams library is a modern facility that provides the best contemporary library services to the greater Woodstock area (3). We found this library to be an architectural marvel. The building was designed perfectly facing the famous Woodstock Green.

Nature

Kedron Brook

A quiet peaceful bubbling brook that gently flows through the downtown of Woodstock and eventually into the Ottauquechee River. The calmly flowing stream is a wonderful place to sit next to and have a picnic or a Creemee. This stream was very picturesque, and the water was crystal clear.

Ottauquechee River

The Ottauquechee River is a 41-mile-long river in eastern Vermont. The source of the river is from the runoff of the Green Mountains and flows south eastwardly to the Connecticut River. This is a popular river to kayak or canoe during the summer months or hike in the Autumn months. Moreover, this charming river has numerous spots for picnics to enjoy the peace and quiet of the surrounding nature.

The Woodstock Green

This beautiful park is a charming setting with large overgrown oak trees and a vast well-manicured lawn. Like most small towns, Woodstock has a nice village green which serves as their location for many activities such as farmers markets, festivals, and other outdoor events. The town’s green is a long stretch of grass with benches throughout the park.

Conclusion

Woodstock is a beautiful town with a lot of picturesque nature, architecture, and tree lined streets. The town is a lot smaller than we anticipated so if you are visiting you will only need a few hours to see the majority of it. This is a great option for a stop through on the way to another destination. Each New England town, especially the smaller ones have their own unique charm about them. Woodstock is a must for any traveler venturing to the Northeast. You will discover a culture from a bygone era in this charming New England town.

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References

1. The Town of Woodstock. (2022). 4 covered bridges that epitomize Vermont charm: A visual tour. https://www.woodstockvt.com/the-town/blog/4-covered-bridges-that-epitomize-vermont-charm-a-visual-tour
2. The Woodstock Inn and Resort. (2022). Our Story. https://www.woodstockinn.com/stay/our-story
3. The Norman Williams Public Library. (2022). History of the Norman Williams Public Library. https://normanwilliams.org/history-of-the-library/
4. Woodstock Vermont. (2022). Our History. https://www.woodstockvt.com/the-town/our-history
5. Kiddle. (2022). Woodstock, Vermont Facts for Kids. https://kids.kiddle.co/Woodstock,_Vermont
6. Mount Mansfield Maple Products. (2022) Organic Pure Maple Sugar Candy. https://vermontpuremaple.com/collections/homepage/products/organic-pure-maple-sugar-candy
   

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