THINGS TO DO
THINGS TO DO
Enfield is tiny, but there's always Jake's Market and Deli, a convenience store-plus with decent breakfast sandwiches, an extensive selection of local craft beers, and most essential supplies. For coffee, check out Carpenter's Cup. On the water is The Baited Hook, a nautical-themed restaurant with lakeside views and ice cream.
The Northern Rail Trail is a walking and biking trail that runs through Enfield along Mascoma Lake. Bike rentals are available at Omer and Bob's in Lebanon, the next town over. Hoptimystic Brewing and Tasting Room, near one of the entry points, is a good stop after some trail time. History lovers can check out the Enfield Shaker Museum and its historic buildings and gardens. Enfield's small public beach, Shakoma Beach, is also nearby, but close to a busy road and without amenities. Lake Sunapee, 35 minutes away, has a larger public beach and kayak, canoe, and stand-up paddleboard rentals. Sunapee reservations are needed to secure a parking spot and are available 30 days in advance.
King Arthur Flour, a bakery, cafe, and baking store is a 20 minute drive from Enfield. Quechee, White River Junction, and Hanover are also all 20 minutes away.
This small village has a beautiful gorge and historic covered bridge. You can watch daily glassblowing demonstrations at Simon Pearce, and eat at their farm-to-table fine dining restaurant overlooking the Ottaquechee river. WhistlePig Whiskey's tasting room is on the second floor. VINS Nature Center offers scenic trails, including a canopy walk, and live and up-close raptor encounters.
White River Junction's historic downtown area has various shops to browse, including art galleries, thrift stores, and places with other trinkets. Check out River Roost Brewery for local craft beers and Wolf Tree for craft cocktails. Putnam's Vineyard serves wines from around the world and has a weekend brunch. Fontinalis is a cute shop for wine, cheese, and tinned fish. It's also fun to poke around VT Salvage's hodgepodge array of antique architectural items.
Wander around the campus of Dartmouth College, including its free Hood Museum of Art. Lou's Restaurant and Bakery is beloved by Dartmouth students for its cruller french toast and other breakfast fare. Lou's lunch options include smash burgers and sandwiches. Still North Books and Bar is a nice independent bookstore and cafe. Not far from Hanover is the Montshire Museum of Science, which has over 150 exhibits, including interactive and kid-friendly ones, on a wide range of science topics.
For a moderately challenging hike, check out Mt Cardigan, a 30-minute drive from Enfield. There are panoramic 360-degree views at the top, and you'll be above the treeline for a good deal of the hike, so the views don't start at the summit.
In Enfield, Smith Pond Shaker Forest is a hike to a beautiful secluded pond with two route options. The trailhead off of I-89 is shorter and flatter; from Route 4A you'll have more of a climb.
Looking for views with minimal effort? Go to Clark Overlook, also 30 minutes away. Walk less than half a mile for beautiful views of Mt. Sunapee and Lake Sunapee.
Visit The Spot on the Dock for a drink while watching the sun set into Lake Champlain. Jessie and Ian had one of their favorite meals ever at Restaurant Poco, which has an ever-changing, internationally inspired, farm-to-table menu. They don't take reservations, so put your name in and grab a drink at The Devil Takes A Holiday, an excellent and creative cocktail bar. Other great food options include Honey Road and The Grey Jay, sister restaurants where the chef was a James Beard Finalist for Best Chef in the Northeast. Hen of the Wood and A Single Pebble are also good.
For a day-long adventure, rent a bike at Local Motion to enjoy the Burlington bike path along the waterfront. You'll pass by The Beach House, a tiki bar right on the water at Burlington's public beach. Keep going out to the Colchester Causeway for a beautiful ride surrounded by lake on both sides. At the end of the Causeway take the Bike Ferry to South Hero, one of the Champlain Islands. In South Hero, get a wine flight at Snow Farm Vineyard, lunch and a beer at Two Heroes Brewery, and apples, cider, and maple creemees (VT soft serve) at Allenholm Farms.
Don't want to bike? You can still take in the views by driving to the start of the Causeway.
To break up the drive from Burlington to Enfield, stop at Barr Hill Gin Distillery in Montpelier, the smallest state capitol and Jessie's hometown. Barr Hill was a James Beard semifinalist for Outstanding Bar. Or go to Morse Farm for maple creemees with mountain views.
Most Boston recs are courtesy of Jessie's brother, Jacob, a former Boston resident.
Boston is a great city to explore via walking. If you like history, following the Freedom Trail will take you through several neighborhoods including Charlestown and the North End (Boston's Little Italy). There are guided tours available, but we've preferred to wander at our own pace. A trail highlight is climbing aboard the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat, which played an important role in the War of 1812. The Boston Public Garden, and Beacon Hill, a historic neighborhood with narrow streets, also aren't too far off the Freedom Trail. Walk along the Charles River Esplanade or Back Bay neighborhoods for scenic water views. If you've never been to an Eataly, there is one in the Back Bay.
Grotto is probably Jacob's favorite Italian restaurant in Boston, especially for their bolognese and fonduta. If you want Italian in the North End, Carmelina's is a great Italian restaurant, though it's very difficult to get a reservation. After dinner in the North End, grab a cannoli at Modern Pastry, or an espresso and sambuca at Cafe Vittoria.
If you're looking for pizza, Regina Pizzeria's North End location is an OG Boston spot, particularly known for its pollo pesto pizza. Ernesto's is a good slices joint in the North End, and Galleria Umberto offers Sicilian-style slices and arancini. Outside of the North End, check out Stoked in Cambridge or Picco in the South End.
Beyond Italian fare, Yume Wo Katare is a very quirky ramen shop, Tenoch has very good steak and melted Oaxacan cheese tortas, and Toscanini's is a famous ice cream place with two Cambridge locations.
When it comes to breweries, our favorite is Treehouse, which has a location with an outdoor beer garden in the Back Bay area. Trillium also has an outdoor beer garden downtown. In the Cambridge/Kendall Square area, Lamplighter is a coffee shop by day and brewery by night.