I would not recommend Cook and Garden. The staff came across as condescending rather than welcoming…read moreor helpful. The property is also not very pet-friendly, which was disappointing. In addition, the place is in need of major repairs and maintenance. Overall, the experience did not meet my expectations, and I felt there were too many issues to overlook. My advice: save your time and money and consider going elsewhere.

I've been making the rounds of plant nurseries in the area (Essex and Clinton counties in NY, as…read morewell as the greater Burlington area) all summer and into the fall, so I can say with confidence that this place is among the best run of the bunch. The plants are always in terrific condition--something that can't be said for all of the places I've visited. There's a wide selection of native plants, helpful descriptions, and Christian--the owner--has been very helpful to me in my huge and daunting landscape project.

The Babbie Rural & Farm Learning Museum is simply that. It is educational and fun place about what…read morelife was life in the late 1800's into the first half of the 1900's up to 1950. I recommend checking it out. Read Gabrielle V. for an excellent, informative review.

BEST Museum in Keesville!! We spent Museum Day here and it was incredible. We were guided by the…read moreyounger sister Audrey Babbie of her family's museum. This is the perfect place to bring your family and friends. You will have a hands on tour and get to learn about agriculture from the 1800s! You will also have a chance to watch a short film and meet the chickens, donkeys and adorable and friendly horses! You can feed them the clovers and grass and they will happily run to you and give you kisses! We LOVED this place and spent four hours here talking to the Blacksmiths and guides. Everyone here is very passionate about the farm and the Babbie museum it is so beautiful. It's free today and tomorrow for the Adirondack Association! Definitely come and check this amazing museum out! You will not regret it!

Beautiful selection, great prices, extremely friendly service and can answer so many questions and…read morethey're hanging baskets are absolutely beautiful also

Went here with my parents as part of our Vermont Vacation on August 27th 2023. We walked in and…read morechecked out the exhibits at the front near where we parked. Then we went in and just missed the tour of the homestead. However, Tom, who was really nice, and knew alot about history, took us to the current tour of the house. There is an admission fee for the tour, and i was lucky enough that i was given a student discount because i look young for my age. I appreciate that. Also the staff was very nice, all of them. Tom took us through to the house and told us about Ethan Allen, even told us about those beautiful flowers that one can freshly cut from the garden. Tom took us to our tour in the house, where a woman took over. Very interesting and very educational. i also enjoy history, so that is a plus. After the tour, we cut fresh flowers that were beautiful and lasted our whole vermont trip! Then we went inside and watched the movie about Ethan Allen. in the movie area, there is also dress up, and one can try to weave like in the days of when Ethan Allen was living. didn't try it, but it is so cool. highly recommend for any history buff, and my favorite tour guide was Tom. He seems to know his stuff, which is great, plus admire his energy! Oh and restrooms were very clean. Was a bit confusing at first because there is 2 gender neutral bathrooms, and i did a double take to make sure that i wasn't in the wrong place. all good though, just a little confusing, as other places don't have gender neutral bathrooms.

We really enjoyed our visit today to the Ethan Allen Homestead. Was amazed with the garden that was…read moremaintained by the director Dan and his passion for nature and Fanny and Ethan Allen and crew. Noah was a great guide full of interesting facts. The tour was of the homestead and history of the Ethan Allen family and their home and Vermont history. We spent about 11/2 hours here. Only about 2 miles from the Echo Museum.

This is not related to the furniture manufactures, but historical vermont figures…read more We came right after Irene, so half of the stuff was flooded, but it was informative, and fun. They have a video about the history of the region and then a guided tour of the house.

This is a small private museum that turned out to be a little gem. Our guide named Dorothy "Dot"…read morewas extremely well-informed and had the patience to really make the tour interesting for my seven year old. By the end, he was holding her hand and hearing stories with great interest, including the tour of the kitchen garden and outside grounds. She passed along some really interesting anecdotes about Ethan Allen, his family, and general life in the wilderness. Ask your docent why women wore wool aprons in the kitchen, decided who was "worth their salt", and what "pop goes the weasel" means. Since most families traveled by water (and on the ice in the winter), there is also a neat exhibit of a large row boat (sort of the mini-van of its day) which helps to provide context of how arduous it was to bring goods back and forth to your farm. There is a small gift shop (with a good assortment of books and smalls) and exhibit area that also has a mock tavern. Depending on your interest level, the tour could take 15 min. or 2 hours- so this trip will not consume your whole day. The tour does involve a short walk (wear comfortable shoes) from the information center to the homestead (which I don't think is accessible to wheel chairs), but all of it is shaded and easy to manage (even in the upper 90s). If you are traveling in the heat, I would recommend bringing water- there really aren't any stores nearby to pop into.

We visited the Hillis Farm and Vineyard during our Memorial Day vacation, and it was the highlight…read moreof our trip. Judy and Jim were two of the most down-to-earth people you could ever want to meet. The wine was best we had tasted out of the five vineyards we visited. The farm is impeccably maintained. Everything is organic, and there are absolutely no fertilizers or pesticides. If you venture to northern Vermont, their vineyard is a must to add to your trip!

Two of my friends and I decided to make an impromptu stop here last week while we were killing time…read moreon our way to the airport. (We had flown in for a weekend wedding.) What a wonderful find! The property itself is beautiful. It's just off of Hwy 2, and as we walked up we were greeted by the "meter greeter", a friendly poodle named Luna. Classical music was being played from the top of a small hill, which only added to the peaceful, lovely scene. We were greeted by Judy, who owns the farm with her husband Jim. She gave us a nice tour of the vines and we got to watch some of the grapes being harvested. Had a taste too--delicious! Then she led us up to the sugar house where they not only ferment the wine, but make maple syrup in the spring. She proceeded to take is through a fantastic wine flight and we even tasted the two premium maple wines. Heavenly! I would love to come back to Vermont someday, and definitely plan to return to the Hillis' farm.

Over the weekend, my wife and I wanted to explore something new and found ourselves in charming…read moreIsle La Motte, VT, where we discovered Goodsell Ridge Preserve for the first time. This hidden gem combines accessible trails, fascinating history, and stunning outdoors--all in one peaceful visit. The preserve covers about 83-85 acres and features easy, well‑marked trails that gently wind through former farm fields, meadows, and mixed hardwood forest. It truly feels like an outdoor museum--perfect for a relaxed morning stroll with plenty of fresh air and natural beauty. Goodsell Ridge sits atop part of the Chazy Fossil Reef, dating back around 480 million years, making it one of the oldest known diverse fossil reefs on earth. You can actually spot ancient marine fossils--trilobites, early cephalopods, gastropods, stromatolites--embedded in the limestone underfoot and on exposed outcrops. A highlight is the "Walk Through Time" trail: a mile-long outdoor exhibit featuring about 80 colorful panels that guide you through Earth's history from its origins to modern day. We parked easily at the Quarry Road lot and picked up orientation tips from the kiosk and visitor barn (open seasonally), which includes fossil displays and videos. Though it's a self‑guided visit, everything felt thoughtfully arranged and cared for--trail upkeep, signage, and interpretive materials reflect a real commitment to education and conservation, managed by the Isle La Motte Preservation Trust and Lake Champlain Land Trust. Goodsell Ridge Preserve offers a serene, educational, and visually engaging experience. Whether you're a geology buff or just looking for an easy outdoor adventure steeped in ancient history, this place delivers. We left feeling peaceful, enlightened, and ready to return--definitely a must‑visit next time we're in Isle La Motte!

Absolutely a hidden gem! It has so much history about the North Country, Vermont and Canada! They…read morehave extensive history of the network of lines leading into Canada from Albany, Troy, Glens Falls, Lake George, Essex County and through the Champlain Region. They have a video presentation on The legacy of John Thomas and another video at the end detailing the stories of runaway slaves! I learned so much today!

WOW Super interesting...who knew the North Country had so…read moremany historical people around here that were tied to the Underground Rail Road??? Very impressive information and I learned a lot at my old age!