There isn't much I need to say to convince you to come here. The Niagara Falls of Vermont is what…read moremy girlfriend told me this place is called and I believe it! The walk down to the bottom from the visitor center is easy; the walk back up to the visitor center isn't so easy but it's completely worth it and there are benches every 100 feet or so for resting. The view from the bottom is stunning. The whole thing is free too and there's a great gift shop in the visitors center. The center closes at 5pm but the gorge is open until sunset!

Rating: 4.5 Came to…read morethe quechee gorge trail. We started our trail at the visitor center and when up stream towards the dam and the fall first and then made it down back down toward down stream. We also stopped at the bridge and looked at the gorge as well from both sides. It was a comfortable hike about 1.5 mile or so. The trail was mostly gravel and some leaves and twigs here and there. There is a pond upstream which was beautiful. Downstream there is a area where you can go down to the water and look and feel the streams coming from the gorge. Lots of flowers, mushrooms and trees. It's cool to see the sediments that water curved over the years at the downstream. Overall a cool hike. Must see if you are in quechee area or passing by. Took about 1.5 hours or so.

Rating: 4.0 A large…read morecollection of stores near the Quechee gorge area. We stopped by on the way out from the gorge trail. Lots of interesting stores that are connected. There are liquor store, cocktail, bakery and cafe, antique, alpaca, candy, gifts, and general stores. Lots of cool stuff. Antique shop is massive and there is lots to go through. I'm sure some people that like collectible and antique and vintage stuff would have a field day. General stores sells some local snacks, drinks and gifts. There are also some alpacas as well at the one section if the village. Overall cool place to visit to check out stores or if you want to take a quick break from driving. We did have to leave early because fire alarm went off which was a bummer. Also the bathroom wasn't working because they had some drainage issue. The building seems to be old so they may be having some structural issues.

This shopping mall is designed to appear like a 'western' town. A covered, wooden boardwalk spans…read morethe length of the main building with a few antique items for sale on display there. We actually came in the grab a sandwich or something for lunch but there was nothing available. We asked but during our visit, the bar was closed where you can get some snack items. Looks like ice cream is there too, which was also closed. The llama's out back are cute. If you have some change you can buy them some feed. One of the stores sells Llama wool items which are very warm and cozy. I recommend getting some socks if you have cold feet in the winter months. I purchased some for a relative. The other stores sell jewelry, clothing, cheese and antiques. You can access one store from another inside the building. Public restrooms are available between the antique store and the cheese shop. A very large, dirt parking lot in front includes handicap spaces by one of the entrances.

This destination was absolutely flawless - fantastic staff…read more- delicious food!! Room views are spectacular. New Hampshire life in these mountains are exquisite. Its AMAZING!!

Located in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire is the Castle in the Clouds. Built in the early 1900s…read moreby a wealthy gentleman who made his fortune in shoes, its two story home that is filled with the latest home gadgets of that era. The grounds are beautiful, you can see the lakes and the mountains from the cafe and it's not nearly as gauche or imposing as the mansions of Newport.

Serious Concerns About Emergency Signage and Safety I…read morevisited the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center on August 2, 2026, with my 9-year-old daughter. This was our first visit, and before entering I asked the staff if there was anything we needed to know. I was simply told, "Just enter and follow the signs." About halfway through our visit, we stopped at the Gordon Interactive Playscape: A Predator-Prey Adventure. After about 15 minutes, I looked around and suddenly couldn't find my daughter. I immediately began searching the indoor play area and calling her name. No answer. I went from one section to another, becoming increasingly desperate. Then I started looking for an exit sign so I could figure out how to get out and find help. I couldn't find one. When you're looking for your child and don't know where they are, every minute feels like an eternity. After approximately 10 minutes of searching, I finally found my daughter. What a relief! At that point, I decided to leave. On my way back, I started paying attention to the exit signage and counted only one clearly marked exit sign. At the gift shop, I explained my experience to a staff member and asked how many exit signs there were throughout the park. She told me there were two. I asked, "Do you believe that's enough, given the size of the park?" There was no response. My concern isn't about blaming an individual employee. It's about emergency preparedness. If a parent is desperately trying to locate a child during an emergency--or if another emergency requires visitors to leave quickly--people should be able to immediately identify where the exits and escape routes are. Clear, highly visible emergency signage is not a luxury. It is indispensable, vital, and essential. I strongly encourage the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center to revisit its emergency escape routes, exit signage, and wayfinding system. I hope the center takes this feedback seriously and makes improvements before another family finds itself in a frightening situation like the one I experienced. Thank you for your time. Eds Santiago

Had a great time! So many interactive exhibits for kids & adults. Everything was extremely thought…read moreout and fun. There are several areas for the kids to run around and burn off energy. This thoughtful combination of learning and fun gives families & kids a nice time. I appreciated the information on how the animals ended up at science center. The animals are clearly well cared for and the habitats were clean. Also, the staff listed what was the enrichment of the day was for the animals. This added touch was informative and shows care for their animals. I highly recommend this science center for all ages. It was a delightful time well spent.

The concept is really cute. You ride rail carts for either 2 or 4 people, and the views are nice…read moretoo! You'll pass water, lots of greenery, and even some cows. If you go, definitely bring mosquito spray, a rain jacket, and an umbrella. The last thing you want is getting caught in the rain like we did... it was no fun. They did provide umbrellas, but ours was broken, so we ended up completely soaked. There's plenty of parking at the entrance, and portable potties are available before you start. The customer service has some opportunities, but overall I'm still glad I checked it out. I actually think I would've enjoyed it more in the winter than in the middle of summer. The mosquitoes were noooo joke, especially after getting drenched in the rain. Overall, it's a fun experience to do at least once if it's been on your list.

Great experience pedaling through the forests north of Concord and even through a dairy farm!…read moreIncredible views and superb service from the friendly and accommodating staff. Can't wait to do again in the spring!

My husband and I had such a unique and enjoyable stay at this cool little inn. It is rich with…read morehistory and one of the most unique and interesting hotels I have stayed at. We stayed in the Meadow Look room on the top floor. It has your own fireplace, large bathtub, and patio with great views! The room itself is spacious with a very antique historical feel. We had a great time.

Our first visit to Windham Hill Inn was over 25 years ago for an autumn wedding anniversary…read moreget-away. We have returned about 10 times since then as the ambiance and atmosphere of both the Inn and the West Townshend VT area have 'called' to us. We have loved the historic feel of the farm, the amazing food and generous and down-home hospitality. One of the greatest charms has been the individual and very unique feel and character of each room - no two are even closely alike. The original farm house which housed the kitchen, bar, living room, and dining area also had some 12-14 guest rooms. There is a second building on the property, a 140 year old dairy barn that has been converted to an additional 8 guest rooms. It also has a shared large living room / lounge with fireplace and full kitchen in the lowest level. With wide wood plank floors, four poster beds, fireplaces and soaking tubs, these rooms range from intimate and 'cozy' to spacious and airy. The original farm-house building was struck by lightning in the spring of 2021 resulting in a serious fire that did significant damage. This main building remains closed and repairs are still being planned. The entire property closed for a while and finally reopened, but in a somewhat limited capacity. Only the rooms in the barn are currently available and they are open in a self-serve type manner. You can reserve your room online and then receive a door access code to your room on the day of your arrival. You can check yourself into the room using the door code, though during our recent visit in May/June 2024 the friendly and welcoming caretaker Jason was present to welcome us. The barn building and rooms, as well as the pool and local grounds are all being well cared for and are in very good condition. There is no on-site food service available which is still a little disappointing. The 4 star cuisine (included in the original room prices) was one of the great appeals of the Inn prior to the fire. Room rates are now much lower which should make this an even more appealing (read affordable) destination. You should consider bringing your own supply of snacks to tide you over between meals. There is a small mini-refrigerator in each room to keep bottles, cans and perishables fresh. There was no ice in the room yet Jason offered to get some for us if needed. There is a Keurig coffee machine in the common area which was stocked with some tea and bold coffee along with creamer / half and half. We took a couple small coolers with us, one in which to put a small bag of ice purchased at a local convenience store and the other to hold our crackers, cheese, nuts, and other snacks. Beds are large (Queen or King) with memory foam toppers - tending toward being a bit soft. There is a large TV in the room with many options and there is robust WiFi inside the building. There is no daily room / cleaning service currently. West Townshend is a very rural area with few dining options. If you are here on a Friday from mid-may to October (4:30--7:00 PM) you should consider visiting the West Townshend Country Store at the bottom of the hill. They have an outdoor pizza oven with picnic tables. People come from all over for a pizza with locally sourced toppings, to sip some beer or wine, listen to live music and shop the pop-up farm stands for locally made crafts and food items. If looking for a variety of dining options, you need to travel 25+ minutes back toward Brattleboro or out toward Stratton Mountain and Manchester. While the 150+ acres of the property do offer some hiking trails, there are also many other local places, a short drive away, to explore the outdoors. Our favorite go-to is Jamaica State Park and a 5.5 mile (total out and back) easy-to-moderate hike up to Hamilton Falls. If covered bridges are your thing - there are several within a short drive of the property. We truly love our visits to Windham Hill along with the beautiful sweeping vistas and very quiet and laid back ambiance. We look forward to returning here again, many more times. We hope the owners do consider renovating the original farm house and bringing back some of the additional appeal of the original operation.

The visitor center is renovated and clean. It is a bit hidden, but offers a lot of information…read moreabout the historical landmarks of Lowell especially the Mill factories. It offers free validated parking while it is open.

Learn the history of a town literally built to make textiles. Visitor center is free with movie…read moreabout the town and walking distance to the museum (with small fee, discount for National Park holders). Museum staff run the machines, which make cloth the same way they did in the late1800s-early 1900s and that you can buy by the yard or purchase pre-made towels. In season there are trolley rides and canal boats tours. Check the calendar if this is important to you.

I've done 2 trips with RGS. One was a multi day and one was a single day. Both were very fun. Ron…read moreis very professional, friendly, and well organized. He is willing to work with you however makes you most comfortable. You can be very experienced or a newbie. It doesn't matter he will make sure you are comfortable and make sure that you only do what he knows your vehicle is capable of. Definitely worth working with Ron. His trips are dog friendly too!

A few weekends ago I went on a group over-landing trip with @ridgeback guide service. This was the…read more"Craft Beer Run" in Vermont. During the trip we hit a bunch of local breweries as well as many local shops. The trip was perfectly planned and the trails were great. There was enough, technical driving to keep you focused, and more than enough scenery to keep you engaged. The trails/obstacles that required a bit more attention were expertly spotted by Ron and/or his crew. At no time did I feel like I was in over my head. Having gone on "self guided" trips before, I can tell you that having a pre-planned, guided tour from someone who knows the area, is worth much more than the cost of the trip itself. The campfire community every night was an added bonus. If you are on the fence about booking a trip with Ridgeback Guide Service, just go for it!! There are other guide services out there, however, Ron checks all the boxes, does everything by the book, is a wealth of knowledge in off-roading and adheres strongly to the "tread lightly" principles. I look forward to many more outings with Ridgeback Guide Service.