The area & Hiking

The state website has extensive information about outdoor and indoor activities.
This article has some fun and curious information about Wallingford and the surrounding area.
The A.T. can be accessed a few minutes’ walk up the road on School Street, as well as from a number of other locations in the area.
The Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forest is next to the house, and extending throughout the surrounding area, with dozens of trails for all hiking levels to explore.
The White Rocks Recreation Area can be accessed approximately two miles from the house; take the right turn for Sugar Hill Road and follow the signs for the parking area.
Ice beds/Chaos Canyon: This is a quick and steep hike that we call, “the donut burner.” Be sure to wear proper footwear, and enjoy the steep ascent to beautiful views of the quartzite sprawl.
Bully Brook Cascade: Accessed by a scrappy trail best used May–October, with a beautiful waterfall view.
Lye Brook Trail is a moderate trail that takes the average hiker 2.5 hours to complete. This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and running, and best accessed April–October.
Top Vermont hiking trails

seasonal Recreation

Elfin Lake is small and wonderful for swimming (or a very brief canoe/kayak, looping around), three minutes’ drive or a short bike ride from the house. Visits cost $3.00 for adults, $1.50 for children 2-17 years-old (cash only).
Buttermilk Falls is excellent for a (very frosty) swim on a hot day, people-watching, or just walking around at almost any time of year.
Check out what our friends at Adventure Dinner are doing; offerings are constantly changing, and always worth it. Book ahead.
The Timber Ripper is available June–October at Okemo’s Jackson Gore. The ride follows the contours of the mountain at speeds of up to 25 mph. Drivers must be 8 years old and 52" or taller to operate the sled and riders must be 3 years old and 36" or taller to ride. To drive with a passenger, guests must be 16 years or older.
Ramble State Park features a Japanese garden and rolling hills, and a longer rocky hike (not recommended for young children or bad ankles) that requires some scrambling.
Approximately an hour away and 15 minutes away in New York state, Lake George has every kind of outdoor option available in summer, including swimming, boating, boat tours, as well as the annual Elvis Festival. We had an excellent boat rental experience with Brodie’s Lakeside Marina in August 2023.

Okemo is 20 minutes from the house in the “right” direction (i.e. against all the Ludlow traffic) and is a great mountain for new and advanced visitors alike. We recommend parking and accessing the mountain from the Jackson Gore entrance.
Pico is 30 minutes away.
Bromley is 35 minutes away, and is a small and solid family mountain.
Killington is 35 minutes away, and a big sprawling mountain for visitors of all levels.
Magic Mountain is a good-sized mountain 35 minutes from the house.
Stratton is one hour away.

Gamebird has a full bar, a great little menu, and two rooms full of arcade games – a great place for a family earlier in the day, and game-loving adults later in the evening.
A colorful and bright stop for the family to the Sparkle Barn includes any combination of a visit to The Bloom Room, the Land of Sparkle Dragons, and whatever other curiosity the owner will share.
Otter Creek has a year-round arcade and bounce house, and offers mini golf and a driving range in the warmer months.
Check Killington’s calendar for ongoing events throughout the seasons. Whether you’re a skier or not, consider a gondola ride.
Pastime Pinball has arcade games, beer, and bar snacks.
There are various tour options for adults, kids, or the whole family based near Killington, approximately 40 minutes away.

Chaffee has a constantly shifting range of exhibitions and events, so be sure to check their calendar.
Handmade in Vermont is a half mile away in Wallingford, and has a range of local offerings including jewelry, lighting, wood carvings, and much more.
The NRM was founded in 1969, and is home to nearly 1,000 of Rockwell’s paintings and drawings, the largest single collection in the nation. His original Stockbridge, Massachusetts studio was moved to the site of the Museum, and can be visited May–October.
Pentangle in Woodstock has various offerings including film screenings, exhibits, and events, like Woodstock’s famous Wassail Weekend in December.
The SVAC has an ongoing range of classes, events, and exhibits. Check out their calendar for current offerings.

Wilson Castle is 20 minutes from the house, and is a beautiful estate. There are daily tours, along with candlelight paranormal tours coming in the future.
This property was the boyhood home of America’s 30th President.
The Vermont Marble Museum is currently under renovation; the date of reopening is currently unknown.
Hubbardton is approximatley half an hour from the house. This July 7, 1777 Revolutionary War battle was the only battle fought entirely on what would become Vermont.
Hildene is approximately 35 minutes from the house. The Georgian revival mansion was built by President Abraham Lincoln’s only surviving child, Robert, and his wife Mary. The grounds are beautiful, and there are daily tours (masks are required for indoor tours as of January 2023).
Mount Independence is approximately 50 minutes from the house. It was a critical defense point against the British during the Revolutionary War.
Fort Ticonderoga is approximately one hour and ten minutes from the house. Along with the fort and reenactments, be sure to visit the King’s Garden in warmer months to see spectacular gardens.

“The Picker” may be less curated than some of our other favorite antique stores, but we always get a good (and affordable) find at this store. If the owner is there, hopefully you’ll meet his wonderful rescue dog, too, a Weimaraner named Alice.
We joke that our paychecks went straight to Stone House when we first bought our home. Many of our favorite antiques in Brookside are from this great co-op in Chester, Vermont, approximately 45 minutes from the house. Take note that the first Tuesday of every month has a 20% discount day, and the dealers are present to speak with you (and maybe offer additional bargains). Cash and check payments automatically get a 10% discount any time.
Perfect Piece is a beautifully curated consignment shop (in two separate buildings) in Manchester. Several items in the home were found there (and we’re sure there will be more in the future).
Quechee is worth a visit for a range of retail and good dining, and the Antique Mall is a cavernous sprawl of mostly small vintage and antique pieces. There are several other stores in this area, making it a good stop.
Windham is our favorite antique store just about anywhere. We found it while house-hunting, and treat it with reverence; it’s something in between a shop and a gallery. Bring your wallet.