Did you know that the small town of Arlington in southern Vermont became the first capital of the Vermont Republic in 1777? This picturesque town is home to about 2,400 people, two covered bridges, and five prominent peaks in the Taconic Mountains.
While Arlington is often overshadowed by the bustling shire towns it sits between, a weekend getaway in Arlington means you can embrace its small-town charm while being centrally located to both Bennington and Manchester.
Warm Brook Farm is a historic 1792 Federal-style colonial farmhouse with sprawling perennial gardens and room for eight guests. It’s the perfect, centrally located vacation rental for your southern Vermont vacation.
While Warm Brook Farm has been a historic landmark for centuries, its availability as a family and dog-friendly vacation rental is a more recent development.
Trevor and Piper, the proprietors and hosts of Warm Brook Farm, have completely renovated the interior space — giving it their personal touch while protecting many of the home’s historical features. The finished look is both antiquated and modern, with beautiful details, delightful color combinations, and modern amenities.
Most importantly, Warm Brook Farm is inviting, with four spacious bedrooms, three bathrooms, and spaces both inside and out for gathering with the ones you love.
Eric and I were fortunate enough to escape (just 10 miles from home) to this enchanting farmhouse in Arlington this summer. We celebrated Independence Day with dinner on the patio surrounded by flowers, followed by a blissful soak in the hot tub under the canopy of a billion stars.
Whether you prefer to be indoors or out, a stay at Warm Brook Farm is a captivating experience and a fantastic home base for exploring the best spots in southwestern Vermont.
Welcome to Warm Brook Farm
If you’re looking to slow down on your Vermont vacation, you’ll appreciate the tranquility and charm of this 18th-century vacation rental.
There are indoor and outdoor nooks to catch up on your reading.
A chef’s kitchen with everything you need to create farm-fresh meals.
Luxurious linens for blissful Vermont nights.
And did I mention the award-winning gardens spread across two rural acres surrounded by mountains?
Grab your extended family, and prepare for a memorable weekend, Vermont style.
Amenities and Details to Help You Plan Your Trip
Warm Brook Farm on Warm Brook Road in Arlington, Vermont. The property is dog- and family-friendly, but it also works well for a getaway with friends.
Here’s an overview of the amenities to help you plan your stay at Warm Brook Farm:
- Four upstairs bedrooms (one king, one queen, one twin, and two twins, plus a queen pull-out sofa downstairs)
- Three bathrooms (one downstairs with a shower and two upstairs with bathtub/showers)
- Six-person outdoor hot tub
- Elaborate coffee bar and complimentary coffee beans
- Complimentary Netflix/Hulu/Disney+
- Patio with cozy seating area and outdoor lounge spaces
- Indoor wood stove w/ complimentary firewood
- Outdoor propane fire pit and wood-burning fireplace
- Five award-winning perennial gardens featured in Vermont Magazine
- Two propane grills
- Vintage record player with vinyl collection
- Bose Bluetooth indoor/outdoor speakers
- Seasonal Koi pond with waterfall
Explore Arlington Vermont and Nearby Shaftsbury
Arlington and Shaftsbury are two side-by-side towns blessed with natural beauty and ample recreation.
Start your day at Clearbrook Farm in Shaftsbury (open seasonally from May to October), where you can pick up farm-fresh vegetables, fruit, meats, and cheese, as well as locally baked bread and cookies — basically everything you need for a summer picnic.
Next, head to Lake Shaftsbury State Park ($5 for adults, $2 for kids) to hike the Healing Springs Nature Trail (one-mile loop) before enjoying a lakeside picnic and taking a dip.
For the absolute best ice cream in this part of Vermont, pop into the Chocolate Barn in Shaftsbury for a cone. The flavors are always changing, but Wildflower Honey is my favorite when it’s available.
In Arlington, be sure to visit the two covered bridges for those Vermonty views that you won’t find anywhere else.
The Chiselville Covered Bridge was built in 1870 and is notable for several reasons.
Firstly, it sits high above the Roaring Branch River, almost 40 feet.
The bridge also experienced a brief moment of fame in the 1987 movie Baby Boom, when Diane Keaton’s character leaves New York City for a more idyllic existence in Vermont. The Chiselville Covered Bridge is a Town lattice truss spanning 117 feet along Chiselville Road.
A sign above the bridge’s entrance lets travelers know that they will incur a “One Dollar Fine For Driving Faster Than A Walk On This Bridge.”
Small parking areas are located on both sides of the bridge, and a short, steep path down to the river bank on the north side.
One of Vermont’s most popular covered bridges, the Arlington Green Covered Bridge is part of a pastoral landscape of an almost forgotten era. The bridge, along with the local church and a historic inn nearby, are often featured on postcards and calendars.
Constructed in 1852, this is one of Vermont’s oldest covered bridges. The bridge carries Covered Bridge Road across the Battenkill River for 80 feet.
Pass under the bridge on Covered Bridge Road and park in the small lot next to the church.
There are a few picnic tables scattered about, and excellent swimming is available underneath the bridge if you visit in the summer months.
Stroll down the road a piece to Rockwell’s Retreat, a historic inn that was built in 1792.
The view of the bridge from in front of the inn is the very same that Norman Rockwell enjoyed in the decade he lived here from 1943 to 1953.
For dinner, check out Bronwyn-on-Battenkill in Arlington, a traditional German pub and eatery featuring authentic German lagers, smoked meats, and a beautiful dog-friendly dining patio overlooking the Battenkill River.
Their price fix menu is $45 per person for three decadent courses, and while Bronwyn is known for their large portions of meat and potatoes, this vegetarian was delighted with the spaetzle as well as the chocolate mousse with poached cherries and whipped cream.
Bronwyn-on-Battenkill is open seven days a week with live music on Thursday evenings.
Explore the Shires of Vermont: Bennington and Manchester
Along with Arlington and Shaftsbury, southwestern Vermont includes the Shire towns of Bennington and Manchester, plus a handful of rural communities that make up the region known as the Shires of Vermont.
Discover Manchester, Vermont
From Warm Brook Farm, you can easily hop on Vermont Route 7A and head north to the iconic village of Manchester. Best known for its high-end outlet shopping and mountain scenery, this gem of a town is a day-tripper’s dream.
Here are a few things you won’t want to miss in Manchester:
Explore Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home: Hildene was the summer estate of Robert Todd and Mary Lincoln. Tour the historic home, walk through the gardens, visit the farm animals, and check out the restored Pullman Car.
Discover the Outdoor Sculptures at Southern Vermont Arts Center: This is one of Vermont’s largest outdoor sculpture parks.
Hike the trails at the Equinox Preserve: Climb to the top of Mount Equinox, the tallest mountain in the Taconic Range, or stroll to Equinox Pond.
Dine at Depot 62: It’s a furniture store and a fantastic Mediterranean restaurant under one roof.
Need more ideas? Here are 17 things to do in Manchester, Vermont.
Explore Bennington, Vermont
History and outdoor lovers will want to head south to Bennington, where you can hike or bike in the Green Mountains, visit the tallest man-made structure in Vermont, and enjoy a local craft brew afterward.
Here are some of the best things to do in Bennington (our hometown):
Take a Self-Guided Walking Tour of Old Bennington: Stately old homes, the gravesite of Robert Frost, and the beautiful Old First Church are just a few of the historic sites that attract visitors to the village of Old Bennington.
Enjoy the views from the Bennington Battle Monument: Vermont’s tallest structure and the most-visited state historic site.
Discover Vermont art and history at Bennington Museum: Best known for housing the largest collection of Grandma Moses paintings worldwide, explore permanent and rotating collections of thought-provoking and history exhibits.
Bike or hike at BATS: Here’s a little-known secret — the BATS (Bennington Area Trail Network) system features some of the best views in all of southern Vermont!
Need more ideas? Here are 11 things to do in Bennington, Vermont.
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Tara Schatz is a freelance writer and the founder and editor-in-chief of Vermont Explored and Back Road Ramblers, an American road trip blog. She is also the co-author of the 3rd edition of AMC’s Best Day Hikes in Vermont, released in May 2023, and the author of 100+ Wonderful Ways to Experience Vermont.
