Pinching pennies never felt so good! Check out our picks for the best bargains in Vermont for 2013. Your wallet will thank you.
BEST GLASS EARRINGS
GREEN Mountain GLASSWORKS,
Granville
Vermont natives Michael and Angela Egan shape Venetian-style freehand blown glass into spectacular vases, pitchers, and a variety of art glass, but it’s the earrings we come for, beautifully shaped and reasonably priced.
5523 Route 100. 802-767-4547; eganglass.com
BEST SURPRISE MIX
CHAPMAN’S COUNTRY STORE,
Fairlee
Since 1924, members of the Chapman family have been steadily expanding the stock of this old pharmacy, founded in 1897. It includes 10,000 hand-tied flies, Mexican silver and Indonesian jewelry, used books, maple syrup, paddleboards, USGS maps, and an unusual selection of affordable toys. Fishing licenses also available.
491 Main St. 802-333-9709; chapmansstore.com
BEST (FREE!) CONCERT SERIES
SNOW FARM VINEYARD,
South Hero
Every Thursday, June through September, popular Vermont bands perform outdoor concerts on the broad-faced lawn adjacent to the grapevines. From jazz and blues to Western swing and rock-‘n’-roll, admission is free and it’s a local favorite. Snow Farm wines, local beer, and food can be purchased on site; outside alcohol isn’t allowed, but picnic food is welcome.
190 West Shore Road. 802-372-9463; snowfarm.com
BEST HISTORIC STONEWORK EXHIBIT
HOPE CEMETERY,
Barre
Featuring Barre’s legendary granite, this well-known cemetery serves as a museum of sorts of the immaculate detail and artistic expression that this famous stone helped inspire. Best of all, it’s free to visit.
Maple Ave. (Route 14). 802-476-6245; central-vt.com/web/hope
BEST ARTY ESCAPE
MIDDLEBURY COLLEGE MUSEUM OF ART,
Middlebury
This museum offers a treasure trove of Asian, European, and American collections from 4000 b.c. through the present. Free admission only adds to the richness of the experience.
Middlebury College, 72 Porter Field Road. 802-443-5007; museum.middlebury.edu
