Visitors to Southern Vermont have no shortage of worthwhile destinations as the leaves change color. Scenic foliage drives, apple picking, farm tours, corn maze walks—the season is chock full of activities. For those tourists looking for something to do that’s off the beaten path, maybe even a bit unusual, well, the region’s got you covered there too. The following list of locations have one similarity: they all make fantastic stories that will serve as keepsakes of your experience in the Green Mountain State.
The Dollhouse and Toy Museum of Vermont
212 Union St., Bennington
Jackie Marro, owner and curator, opened the museum in 2012 and recreated a world children enjoyed in the days before electronics and computer games. The permanent collection includes many fully furnished dollhouses ranging from a simple Cape Cod home to elaborate Victorian and Colonial mansions. It also houses a collection of more than 400 dolls, vintage toys, puppets and marionettes and miniature fine art replica galleries. Call 802-681-3767 or visit dollhouseandtoymuseumofvermont.com for more information.
Black Rock Steak House Weekly Truck Sale
284 River St., Springfield
The traditional steakhouse that serves Sunday brunch buffet, lunch, and dinner is known for serving seafood, chicken, and steak on hot volcanic rocks for you to cook right at your table. It’s now also known for its weekly truck sale every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The box truck, which travels to Boston each week and brings back fresh seafood, meats, and produce, delivers to a grocery storefront next door to the restaurant. The selection has included king crab, lobster tails, center-cut salmon, filet mignon, whole chickens, produce (from hothouse tomatoes to fiddleheads) at wholesale prices (cash and carry) but it varies from week to week. Check the steakhouse’s weekly newsletter for sale items. The menu changes according to season: some more unusual seafood items have included blue marlin, grouper, and halibut. For more information, call 802-885-2200, or visit blackrocksteakhouse.com or on Facebook.
Benedictine Monks of Weston Priory
58 Priory Hill Road, Weston
The community of Weston Priory traces its origins to the 6th century Rule of Saint Benedict of Nursia. Founded in 1953 by Abbot Leo A. Rudloff, OSB, of the Abbey of the Dormition in Jerusalem, the Weston community is firmly rooted in the Benedictine monastic tradition.
Visitors can stay for a retreat or come for the day and see the visitor’s center, check out the gallery shop book store that includes ceramics, woodwork, calligraphy, candles and other items produced by the brothers as well as Benedictine monasteries in other parts of the world and impoverished Third World communities. Several pieces of the pottery produced at the monastery are held by museums, such as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The Community maintains gardens and livestock, as well as The St. John XXIII Labyrinth, a circular path that winds its way to the center.For more information, call 802-824-5409 or visit westonpriory.org.
Beadniks Museum
115 Main St., Brattleboro
At street level is the 25-year-old retail store featuring the largest selection of beads and jewelry making supplies in the region, toys and crystals and gemstones—and belowground is where the even more unusual gems are kept. From shipwrecks to archeological digs around the world, Beadniks owner Brian Robertshaw has assembled a collection dating to 10,000 B.C. through the last century of beads from neolithic and ancient cultures as well as indigenous artifacts from every corner of the globe to put on display in the Beadniks museum. You’ll find beads traded between Native Americans, beads from monasteries, and some used in tribal rituals, to name a few. What is on display represents Robertshaw’s 40 years of collecting. Call 802-257-5114 or visit beadniksvt.com for more information. We suggest you call first for a tour of the museum.
Santa’s Land
655 Bellows Falls Road, Putney
Santa’s Land has been in Putney since 1957 when it was started as a roadside attraction by founder Jack Poppele. Located in an evergreen grove on 42 acres, the park reopened last year under new ownership after a three-year hiatus. Visitors to this Christmas wonderland can take a ride on the Alpine Express Train, carousel and amusement rides; visit with Santa and his elves, stop at the concession stand for a sweet treat, hot chocolate or fries; or buy a souvenir at the country gift shop filled with ornaments, Vermont maple products, toys and other treasures. Santa’s Land is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $12.95 and $10.95 age 65 and older and includes parking, park entry and rides. For more information, visit Santa’s Land on Facebook or call 802-387-2777.
