Hidden away on a gorgeous hilltop that's only a 25-minute drive from Manchester but a world apart from the village hustle and bustle, this sprawling farm and environmental education center is a blissful place to experience Vermont's natural beauty and agricultural heritage. Over 2700 acres of high-country meadow and forest have been preserved here; the park's centerpiece is a working organic farm with animals, organic vegetable gardens, renewable energy installations and a sugar house where you can watch maple syrup being produced during sugaring season. The center offers a wide range of hikes, environmental education programs and such events as sheepdog trials. It also rents out cabins and tent sites, which are spread all over the property. Sales of produce and syrup, coupled with voluntary contributions, help sustain the nonprofit foundation at the heart of it all.
To get here from Manchester, take VT 30 northwest 8 miles to East Rupert, then turn left on VT 315, travel 2½ miles and look for signs on your left at the top of the hill.
