Photo by Lorianna Weathers Photography
Shaftsbury
When Robert Frost decided to move from New Hampshire to Vermont , he bought a farm in South Shaftsbury where he could grow apples (“ of some unforbidden variety ”) and write poetry . One morning in the summer of 1922 he stepped outside after a night of writing , and “ Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening ” came to him , he said , “ like a hallucination .” His house is now open to the public as the Robert Frost Stone House Museum . A well-maintained trail leads through woods to North Bennington ’ s Lake Paran .
Shaftsbury still welcomes farmers : there are farmstands and CSA ’ s featuring organic vegetables and locally raised meat ( Clear Brook Farm is right off Route 7A ), in addition to horse farms offering lessons , boarding , and riding . There is even the Wing & a Prayer “ fiber farm ” making yarns from its special breeds of sheep , goats , and alpacas . Local producers of maple syrup and honey find ready takers , and the Chocolate Barn on Route 7A , with homemade ice cream , is a must-stop for many families .
To top it all off , you can jump in the lake ( in season ) at Shaftsbury State Park . Or , for a quieter experience , visit beautiful Maple Hill Cemetery and its old carved headstones off a back road on the east side of town – and meditate mindfully on mortality .
COME EXPLORETHESHIRES . COM 40 FOR INFO CALL 802.447.3311