Green Mountain Activities in Vermont, Cottages Lodging Inn VT

Welcome To Brandon, Vermont
Unhurried, Unspoiled, Unforgettable

Whatever the season, activities abound around the Cozy Cottages.

Or give us a call and we are happy to help you plan your

Vermont Getaway

Family Vacation

Family reunion

(802) 247-6644 or (386) 336-5104
We're also available via email cozycottagesvermont@yahoo.com

ANIQUING
The Nutting House Antiques Center, (22 Center St.; 802-247-3302 or 800-870-9866).

Antiques By The Falls (47 Center St; 802-236-3737) - A fun assortment of antiques, folk art, and collectibles - featuring an eclectic variety of delightful and unusual small items, primitives, miniatures, glass, pottery, lighting, jewelry, toys, kitchenware, and original folk art.

APPLE PICKING
"Pick some fruit to bring home"
Click here to learn more about apple picking in Vermont Summer/Fall.

Strawberry picking at Wood's Market Gardens farm stand. The biggest, reddest, and juiciest berries you'll ever find. Available early summer. Route 7 South, Brandon; 802-247-6630.

ART STUDIOS/ GALLERIES
Peruse the Art at Warren Kimble House Gallery -- Famed American folk artist Warren Kimble lives and paints in Brandon. Visit his museum, gallery and gift shop on Route 7 in downtown Brandon; 802-247-3026 or 247-8880.

Liza Myers Gallery & Studio features original painting, sculpture, prints and cards by Liza Myers. After wandering the western hemispheres, Liza has brought her colorful images of the natural world to historic Brandon. Her artwork has won awards nationally and internationally. The studio offers a wide range of classes for all age groups. Visit www.lizamyers.com for a preview.

Local artists have come together to create an art gallery/store right in downtown Brandon. The Brandon Artists Guild, at 7 Center St. (802-247-4956), represents more than 25 talented people. Check it out!

Country Owl Studio Holds a full schedule of art and craft classes each summer at the fully air-conditioned Illingworth Hall. Be sure to look for the right class for you -- its a great way to spend a week or weekend in Brandon. Call 802-247-3847.

Check out the folk art gallery of local artists John Hoare and Linda Hickox at Gingerbread House Fine and Folk Art Gallery (on Route 73E; 802-247-3380).

BERRY PICKING
"Pick some fruit to bring home"
Blueberry picking is best on Blueberry Hill (and you will find a thrill there too!). Mid-to late July. Green Mountain National Forest, Goshen.

BIKING

Lake Dunmore Loop, 12 miles. Can be done with road or mountain bike - there is a short gravel section. Fairly easy terrain. Some traffic. Start from Route 53, either from Route 73 or from Route 7.

Brandon - Larabees Point Loop, 41 miles. From Brandon, ride north on Route 73 to Route 53 vis Forest Dale. Head west throughLeicester, Whiting, and Shoreham to Larabeses Point at 23 miles (Ferry to Fort Ticonderoga). Continuing, ride on Route 73 through Orwell and Sudbury back to Brandon.

Brandon - Middlebury Ride, 50 miles. From Brandon, ride west on Route 73 to Route 30 (6 miles). Head north on Route 30, through Cornwall, reaching Middlebury at 25 miles. Return by same route.

Covered bridges Tour, Pittsford (Mountain Biking). A combination of gravel and paved roads passes through three covered bridges and next to a fourth. Starting in either Brandon or Pittsford, ride to Florence and work yor way around and then back the way you came.

Ripton - Goshen Road (Mountain Biking) 8.5 mile stretch of moderate to easy gravel road (Forest Road # 32) which traverses the high area between Goshen and Ripton. Beautiful views.

Leicester Hollow, Goshen (Mountain Biking). From the Churchill House on Route 73, ride north on a wooded road to Silver Lake. It is possible to continue down to Lake Dunmore, then back through Forest Dale - or return by the way you came.

BOATING
Branbury State Park, Lake Dunmore has a boat launch and canoe rentals, Route 53, Salisbury; 802-247-5925.

Bring your own canoe for a trip up Otter Creek to Cornwall and Middlebury. Pass views of farms and covered bridges. Flatwater and quickwater. Route 73W, Brandon.

FISHING
Fishing is great on Lake Dunmore stocked with warm water species, lake trout and landlocked salmon.
Also fish Silver Lake and Sugar Hill Reservoir, stocked with rainbow trout, browns, and brookies, both in the Green Mountain National Forest.
The Neshobe River offers cool water trout fishing. Brown trout dominate lower down, rainbow and brook trout in the sections up towards Brandon Gap.

For Private Guide Service, Call Stream and Brook Flyfishing, Click here for their website.

GOLF

Neshobe Golf Course (18) - closest course (just 1 mile from Cozy Cottages & Otter Valley Winery)

Proctor - Pittsford Country Club (18) 802 - 483 - 9379

HIKING
A few of the best -- Falls of Lana, Silver Lake Interpretive Trail, Moosalamoo, Rattlesnake Cliffs, Leicester Hollow, The Long Trail, Robert Frost Trail, Chittenden Brook, Texas Falls.

Falls of Lana, Lake Dunmore: A short hike to pretty cascades and pools. Parking area on Route 53 or park at Brabury State Park and walk to trailhead (follow the pipeline or road to Silver Lake).

Leicester - Hollow Trail: 3.5 mile moderate hike through the Green Mountain National Forest passing the Silver Lake Interpretive Trail. Parking: Route 73, first left past Churchill House Inn, cross Neshobe River, continue to parking area and gate.

The Long Trail - Vermont's end - to - end hiking trail runs 265 miles along the crest of the Green mountains, from the Mass. border to Canad. The 10 mile section from Brandon Gap to Middlebury Gap offers Vermont wilderness hiking. Hiker parking areas at Route 73 (Brandon Gap) or Route 125 (Middlebury Gap).

Cross Moosalamoo Trail (alternative to Long Trail). Using a series of trails including leicester Hollow trail to Chandler Ridge Trail, to silver Lake Trail, to Falls of Lana, to North Branch Trail to Moosalamoo Camp Area, the Moosalamoo Trail to Oak Ridge to Route 125 in Ripton (19 miles)

Mount Horrid, Brandon Gap (our favorite!). From hiker parking area at Brandon Gap (Route 73), cross the highway and follwo the Long Trail north. Climb through pleasant woods for about 20 minutes to reach the spectacular Mount Horrid Overlook.

Mountain Biking
For Rentals: Sports Peddler, 158 N. Main St., Rutland. (802) 775-0101. Rentals, sales, and service.

Mountain biking sampler: Great trails are in the Green Mountain National Forest. Or ride through Pittsford's covered bridges - a combination of gravel and paved roads pass over three covered bridges. The Ripton-Goshen Road is 8.5 miles of a moderate to easy gravel road (Forest Road #32) which traverses the high area between Goshen and Ripton with beautiful views.

Road biking sampler: Lots of great loops are in the area. Ride to Fort Ticonderoga, out to High Pond Road and throughFlorence, and around Lake Dunmore.

MUSEUMS
New England Maple Museum -- The story of maple sugaring in the world’s largest maple museum. Antiques, paintings, slide show, folk art exhibits, maple syrup samples. A simulated boiling prcess, “sap to syrup” is presented all year. Gift Shop with mail order service. Open daily. 8:30-5:30PM. US Rte 7 in Pittsford, 8 miles north of Rutland. (802) 483-9414. Admission: adults $2.50, Children under 12yrs $.75, Senior rates and AAA.

Vermont Marble Museum -- Worlds Largest Marble Museum - Movie, Hall of Presidents, Artist in Residence, Marble Office, Bathroom, Chapel, Kitchen, “Earth Alive” Geology display room, Calcium Carbonate in everyday life, Sample Room, Plaster and “Pointing” display, Marble Market, Custom Marble Work, Extensive gift shop, Quarry Trail, Historic Photographs, Relics, 100 displays and much more. Open 7days a week, 9:00–5:00, Mid May to November. Visa, Discover, MasterCard. Large parking lot. Tour Groups Welcome. Call 800-427-1396 or 802-459-2300. Robert Pye, Museum Director. 52 Main St., Proctor;

Wilson Castle -- Tours daily of this 32-room, 19th century architectural masterpiece. Antique furnishings and museum pieces. Open seasonally. On Proctor Rd. in Proctor; 802-773-3284.

To see what's going on in and around Brandon, click here for the Brandon Chamber of Commerce
To see what's going on in and around Middlebury, click here for the Addison Chamber of Commerce Travel Planner

Home	Cottages	Directions	Reservations	Activities
Pet Friendly	Family reunions	History	Tours
Winery