Located on 412 acres in Manchester Village, the historic Lincoln family estate, built by Presidential son Robert Lincoln and his wife Mary, is a favorite destination for locals and visitors alike. Whether you’re a history buff, a nature lover, or a fan of gorgeous architecture, Hildene offers amazing grounds and gardens, trails, Hildene Farm (including goat dairy, cheesemaking facility, and both animals and production gardens in the dene), informative tours, engaging exhibits, and a fabulous museum store. Don’t miss the restored 1903 Pullman railcar “Sunbeam” and the “Many Voices” exhibit (the southernmost stop on Vermont’s African American Heritage Trail). Particularly special times of year to visit include peony season from late-May through mid-June (thousands of flamboyant blooms in the formal garden) and a Victorian Christmas (the home is bedecked in holiday finery, as thought it were Christmas in 1912). Manchester’s most popular visitor destination, Hildene is a favorite of ours in every season. Not to miss!

Girls on the Run Vermont (GOTRVT)
Girls on the Run Vermont is a statewide nonprofit organization for girls in 3rd-8th grade that provides dynamic, research-based lessons facilitated by trained, volunteer coaches. Lessons creatively incorporate physical activity with social and emotional skill development so girls are able to successfully navigate life experiences. Teams meet twice a week for 90 minute sessions for a total of 20 lessons over the course of the season. Lessons cover topics such as positive self-talk, managing emotions, navigating friendship, gratitude and more.

GOTRVT proudly serves 1,800+ participants each spring at more than 120 sites throughout the state of Vermont. Since our council’s inception in 1999, we have served over 37,000 girls and made a lasting impact on our community through participant-led service projects. GOTRVT celebrates 25 years of positivity and empowerment in 2024 and we will continue to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident for years to come!

Interested in volunteering with GOTRVT? Your gift of time as either a Coach this spring or as a volunteer at our 5K event in Manchester on Saturday, June 8, 2024 will make a meaningful impact on the girls that participate in our programs. Visit https://www.gotrvt.org/ or email info@girlsontherunvermont.org to learn more!

Land Rover Experience Centers will resume operations and safely offer a range of physically distanced drive experiences from August 1, 2020.

We want to assure you that every precaution is being taken to protect the health and safety of our guests and local staff. In prioritizing health, safety, while still creating a day to remember, Land Rover Experience has implemented the following actions:

• All guests will be required to undergo a temperature check and wear a face mask upon arrival and when outside their vehicle. Additional PPE equipment (gloves and hand sanitizer) will be provided complementary – or feel free to bring your own.
• All vehicles will be sanitized before every experience.
• Guests and staff will be physically distanced in separate vehicles. Instructors will coach guests and marshall the course via two-way radios.
• Food and beverages will be boxed or pre-packaged and served in an open area while respecting social distancing.

We know that it has been a while and you are looking forward to your off-road experience. Please know that safety is our top priority while creating a memorable and exciting day. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your local Center.

If learning how to drive a really nice Land Rover through rough Vermont terrain sounds fun to you (and it should!), take a lesson or two from the new Land Rover Experience Driving School on their 80-acre, purpose-built course. Open year-round and offering off-road driving instruction in all conditions, drivers face numerous challenges and learn techniques on ascents, descents, side tilts, and rocky terrain. Course terrain and technique difficulty are matched to each driver’s skill, and more advanced drivers are invited to explore the school’s expansive trails through the Green Mountains.

Seven Springs Garden and Sculpture Park is located in Manchester, Vermont between the Green Mountains to the east and the Taconic Range to the west. The name “Seven Springs” refers to the seven springs that run on the surrounding property and figured prominently in its history. The land was first settled before the Revolutionary War and farmed for generations.

In the 1920s the Doubleday publishing family purchased the property as a summer getaway. In 1931, the Doubleday family sold the property to Lowrie and Hortense Childs. It remained in the Childs family for three generations.

Hortense was an avid gardener who designed and built the formal rose garden next to the main house as well as the border gardens around the house and the fountain garden in the front yard. Hortense’s grandson Pete and his wife Jane, the last of the Childs family owners, cared for and added to the gardens from 1976-1997.

The property was purchased by Stan and Sylvia Stroup in 1997. Over the years following their purchase, the Stroups converted the pasture behind the main house into gardens and added a Japanese and woodland garden. Their interest in sculpture led to the addition of a sculpture collection set in complementary garden rooms.

Seven Springs Garden and Sculpture Park is a labor of love that has been built and cared for by four generations of dedicated gardeners and art lovers. We hope that you love it too.

Book Your Visit

Seven Springs is open to the public on Thursdays and Saturdays from July 10 to September 25.  Book your visit here.

For groups larger than eight people, or if you’d like a guided tour, contact us.

WELCOME TO THE MUSEUM OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS

The Museum was established by Dr. Albert Levis, author of Conflict Analysis, The Formal Theory of Behavior. It features five permanent art exhibits introducing the creative process as a scientific conflict resolution mechanism reflecting the unconscious.

The exhibits demonstrate The Formal Theory, bridging art and science, gaining insight into the human unconscious as a scientific mechanism, revamping our understanding of psychology and of religions as both founded on science. The scientific unconscious revamps psychology from a medical specialty into a pure psychodynamic science, the Science of Conflict Resolution, The Moral Science.

The Moral Science revamps psychology’s key concepts:

• The analysis of the creative process, the plot of stories, identifies the unconscious as a scientific conflict resolution mechanism, the integrative paradigm reconciling psychology, morality and science.

• Diagnostic categories are revamped from illness DSM 5 diagnoses to the four alternative ways of the unconscious resolving conflicts, as four syndromal relational modalities, a wellness personality typology.

• Therapy is simplified into psycho-education for all by introducing the Conflict Analysis Battery, a self-assessment available online free of charge, using creativity for self-discovery. It is didactic, diagnostic and therapeutic representing a concise program of emotional education.

• Religions are viewed as psychological phenomena sanctifying alternative ways of resolving conflict that have evolved as metaphors of conflict resolution.

BIKE MANCHESTER VT

Looking around town this past year, it is clear that many have rediscovered their bicycles, families, and local hidden treasures.  Umbrellas and outdoor seating popped up everywhere, making it easy to spend the day biking, eating, and breathing outdoors in Manchester.

If you are slow to the movement and need a place to start – bike the River Road on a foggy morning to Hill Farm Road or the Chiselville covered bridge; meander on the Dorset West Road after lunch; or fly down Union Street in the early evening.   Better yet, start with the newest edition in town . . .

Manchester Rec Path & Historic Marble Rail Trail

Downtown Manchester Center to North Road

There is a continuous path from Manchester Center’s Historic Business District to rural North Road. The wide crushed stone path starts to the right of the basketball court at Manchester Elementary & Middle School (MEMS) on Memorial Ave and ends at the North Road parking lot across from Squires Road. It is 5.5 miles roundtrip. Visit Bike Manchester VT for the map and more details.

For a complete visual tour of the path including historical railroad photos: visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6phOlI3oLY&feature=youtu.be

An outdoor enthusiast’s dream, Dorset is home to thousands of acres of public and conserved lands that allow for hiking, biking, skiing, horseback riding, the list goes on. In 2016, the Town of Dorset acquired 260 acres to expand Owls Head Town Forest. The Town has partnered with Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, the Vermont Land Trust, and the Dorset Historical Society to develop a trail network that illustrates the historic, cultural, ecological and recreational values of the Town Forest.  The main trail follows an old road up to Gettysburg Quarry and beyond to Owls Head and Gilbert Lookout.

Rachel Batz: Outdoor Recreation Director
​ 
Dorset is fortunate to have recently hired Rachel Batz as our Outdoor Recreation Director. Rachel will be in charge of the various recreational properties and opportunities in Dorset, from trail maintenance to guiding users.

Rachel has a degree in Outdoor Recreation & Resource Management from Indiana University and also works as an forester/ arborist. She has experience working for the US Forest Service at Hoosier National Forest, the State of Maine at Baxter State Park in Maine,  and has spent time abroad working in the fields of land management and horticulture. Rachel lives on a farm in Salem, NY with her two dogs.

To send Rachel comments or input email: hikedorset@gmail.com

Established in 1974, Manchester Music Festival (MMF) has been a beacon for classical music enthusiasts for half a century, showcasing both established artists and young talents. Nestled in the beautiful Green Mountains of Southern Vermont, MMF plays a pivotal role in the cultural enrichment of our community and beyond.

The Festival celebrates its Golden Anniversary in 2024 with a curated season of more than 30 events, including performances, masterclasses, open rehearsals, talks, and outreach programs. Under the leadership of our Artistic Director, Philip Setzer, founder and violinist of the Emerson String Quartet, Season 50 celebrates “The Romantic Journey,” a theme that cuts to the heart of how art reflects our humanity.

The Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, also known as the Rec. Park by local residents, was named in honor of Police Chief Dana L. Thompson, who was killed in the line of duty in 1972. The Park encompasses more than 88 acres, the newly erected Park House, 6 lane swimming pool, diving board and kiddie pool, three baseball diamonds, multipurpose athletic fields, three playgrounds for kids of all ages, one-mile walking path, a dog park that is owned and operated by the Manchester Dog Park (a not-for-profit organization), skateboard park, outdoor basketball courts and three tennis courts. A trail in the northeast corner of the Park leads to Riley Rink and a trail in the southeast corner leads to Manchester Elementary-Middle School (MEMS) and downtown Manchester. Limited public WiFi is available near the Park House, including Applejack Field, Eckhardt Field and McClellan Field. Restrooms are available at the Park House, on the south side of the building. The Park is open daily until 10:00 PM and is located off of Bonnet Street (Route 30) on Recreation Park Road in Manchester Center. Click her to view a Visitors’ Map of the Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park.