LINCOLN ’ S HAT Get back on 7A or head north on the Sunderland road ( slowly through the covered bridge , please !) for a beautiful afternoon at Hildene : The Lincoln Family Home . Summer residence of Robert Todd Lincoln and his wife , Mary Harlan Lincoln , this a favorite spot for locals and tourists alike . There ’ s a working farm and dairy ( goats !), history , architecture , gardens and miles of trails . The room dedicated to Lincoln ’ s second inaugural ( with a stovepipe hat on display ) will move you . So will the restored Pullman Car and the story of its Black porters .
TAKE A BREAK Head to Union Underground , Manchester ‘ s fully underground bar , for a delicious cocktail . Outdoor seating is perfect during nice weather , but be sure to check out their cozy space belowdecks . Emerge to shop . The Northshire Bookstore anchors Main ; outlet stores lie to the south and east .
TAPAS TIME If you ’ re feeling leisurely , take 7A back to Bennington , or hop on the highway and shorten your trip . Head to dinner at downtown ’ s newest hotspot , The 421 Craft Bar & Kitchen . Tasty tapas , wood-fired pizzas , Vermont beers , cocktails , and conviviality . Sit at the bar and chat with the locals or grab a table and a menu . After dinner , if you ’ re staying at the Southshire Inn , your comfortable bed is only a minute away .
Left page , top to bottom : Photo courtesy of The Coffee Bar in Bennington ; Old First Church in Bennington , Photo by Lorianna Weathers Photography
Right page , top to bottom : Northshire Bookstore in Manchester , Photo by Lorianna Weathers Photography ; Photo courtesy of Union Underground in Manchester
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