STORY BY BENJAMIN LERNER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY THE 251 CLUB
Adventure Awaits !
An inside look at how The 251 Club of Vermont helps travelers discover “ The Real Vermont ”
“ A swift turn from one of our main roads , and you are on your way to the rewarding experience of a lifetime and memories good until the years are frosty .”
So reads the defining line from Dr . Arthur Peach ’ s 1954 column in Vermont Life that inspired the creation of The 251 Club of Vermont . Peach was an accomplished professor and writer who was exuberantly enthusiastic about Vermont , its celebrated towns , and its natural beauty . After receiving multiple letters from inquisitive readers asking how they could discover “ The Real Vermont ,” Peach wrote an editorial article in response to their questions . In the article , Peach stated that the only way to truly get to know the state of Vermont was to see all 251 cities and towns in person . He also advocated for the creation of an official club for people who were interested in visiting every town in the state , and offered to send a complimentary map of Vermont to anyone who applied for membership . In the months following the publication of the article , Peach was so inundated with membership applications that he ran out of his first round of complimentary maps . Over six decades later , The 251 Club of Vermont has expanded its membership to include over 4,500 curious travelers and vacationers , including Vermont Governor Phil Scott and U . S . Congressman Peter Welch . “ If you become a member of The 251 Club of Vermont , it is entirely up to you how you want to craft your 251 journey ,” notes The 251 Club of Vermont ’ s Executive Director
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