Scenic Shires of Vermont – Rupert
If you are looking for a getaway full of solitude and scenery, look no further than Rupert, Vermont. Rupert is a sleepy little village in the shires of Southern Vermont. The village is located in Bennington County and is only a stone’s throw away from the state line into New York. Rupert has a population of 698 people, so the serene and peaceful nature of the area is readily apparent. There is a running joke about Vermont saying, “there are more cows than people in the Green Mountain State.”We did see some cows during our visit to Rupert but the scenery and laid back atmosphere is what drew us there.
The Carver House
Rupert is best known for being the location of the Carver House which was the set of the world renowned cooking show Cook’s Country. The TV show was produced in Rupert for many years at the rural home of Christopher Kimball who hosted and produced the show. The show is now produced in Boston, Massachusetts and the Carver House is available for overnight guests. You can enjoy staying on this historic property with an incredible kitchen. The Carver House is located on the corner of West Pawlet Rd and Rupert Rd. The house and gardens are impeccably maintained and the porch looks so inviting as a shady haven to enjoy a book as you relax in one of their rocking chairs.
Sherman’s General Store
Just outside the heart of Rupert is Sherman’s General Store. The general store embodies the quintessential Vermont general store. Sherman’s General Store provides the community and visitors with a fantastic selection of local Vermont products and services. The store offers sandwiches and pizza as well as sundries, baked goods, local honey, meat, fresh vegetables and so much more. As the store is an old fashioned general store, it would not be complete without antiques! The store is full of vintage items that perfectly create the historic vibe of how a general store would have been in the old days. Sherman’s General Store is well worth a visit for lunch or to take home some Vermont made products. We highly recommend checking out the bee window where you can see the bees create their honeycombs right before your eyes.
Merck Forest & Farmland Center
Nearby is the beautiful Merck Forest & Farmland Center. The Center is a nonprofit dedicated to teaching and exhibiting the benefits of sustainable management of forests and farmland. The Merck Forest Visitors Center is open daily and offers special programs throughout the year. The Forest & Farmland is free of charge to visit for the day, the only fees are for overnight guests. Merck Forest & Farmland offers overnight guests a rustic and wilderness experience with breathtaking views. There are cabins, shelters and dispersed tent camping sites throughout the 3,100 acre preserve. To stay overnight, please be sure to make a reservation as they are required and bring all necessary survival gear to stay in a remote, hike in accommodation. The hike to your campsite may be up to three miles so plan accordingly.
Visiting the Merck Forest & Farmland Center for the day is a wonderful experience for adults and children alike. The Center provides school programs, workshops and incredible educational programs such as blacksmithing, sheep shearing, mushroom identification, animal tracking, basketry and so much more. The terrain near the farm center is picturesque with beautiful rolling hills dappled with an array of indigenous trees. Wear good hiking shoes if you plan to hike any of the 30 miles of trails in the preserve. Please Click Here to view the trail and area map.
The Merck Farm offers guests a variety of products for sale such as maple syrup, pasture raised pork, grass fed lamb, wool & fleece products as well as pick your own blueberries in season. All profits go back into supporting the low-impact, ecologically-sensitive practices of the farm and forest management of the preserve.
As you stroll around the picturesque Merck Farm you can glimpse the horses, sheep and pigs as they graze the pastures. Some of the horses are quite friendly and will come over looking for a pet or a treat. The views and scenery are spectacular! The sugar house where the maple syrup is made has a beautiful deck to enjoy the fresh mountain air as it wafts up from the valley. The walking trails are peaceful and serene, interrupted only by the babble of mountain streams. Whether you decide to visit for the day or if you want the adventure of a remote night away, the Merck Forest & Farmland Center is a perfect place to visit.
Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail
Another fantastic recreation opportunity in Rupert is the southern section of the Delaware and Hudson Rail Trail, commonly known as The D & H Rail Trail. The rail trail is a wonderful multi-use trail that has two sections. Please Click Here to view the trail and area map. The southern section beginning near Rupert travels 10.8 miles north to the village of West Pawlet, Vermont. The southern parking area for the trail is just south of the center of Rupert at the intersection of Rupert Road and Hebron Road. From the parking area the D & H rail trail continues south for a short section to the New York state line. If you head north from the parking area the trail winds through wetlands, farmland, fields and forest. The trail terrain is partially packed gravel and dirt interspersed with stream bridges and farm road crossings. As you walk, bike or ride on horseback you will pass the original Rupert train depot and continue on into rural countryside complete with cows, beaver lodges, fields, silos and a beautiful stream.
The D & H Rail Trail and the Merck Forest & Farmland Center are fantastic family friendly places to visit in Rupert. Complete your visit with a stop at Sherman’s General Store and you can’t go wrong. Enjoy the mountain air in the beautiful Taconic valley as well as the rural countryside at the foothills of the Green Mountains. Peace and tranquility await you. Rupert is only one of the scenic shires of Southern Vermont, there is so much more to see and explore nearby.
