Windsor (Vermont)

Windsor is in Southern Vermont. Windsor has a small population of 3,800 people and sits on the banks of the Connecticut River. Mount Ascutney, one of Vermont's only volcanoes (inactive), offers great views while visiting this small but progressive community.

Understand

Founded in 1761, the town of Windsor boasts historical significance in that the Republic of Vermont was written there. The Old Constitution House is preserved as the specific building in which the document was drafted. There are many sites of historical importance within the community.

The industry in the area is rich and varied; Simon Pearce, the renowned producer of blown glass and hand-thrown pottery, is but one of the renowned businesses within the community. There are also many small and locally owned retail shops that offer antiques, books, crafts, wines, gifts, and clothing. The many restaurants offer various cuisine and the recreation is plentiful. Windsor is also just a short drive away from Woodstock.

Get in

By car

Interstate 91 passes through Windsor. Windsor is approximately 12 miles south from the Upper Valley tri-towns of Hanover and Lebanon, NH and Hartford, VT.

By train

Windsor is served by Amtrak via its Vermonter train between Washington, D.C. and St. Albans. Southbound trains arrive around noon while northbound arrives just before 6PM. 🌍 Windsor-Mt. Ascutney station is centrally located at 26 Depot Ave. There are no amenities, but the old station has been converted to a restaurant.

Get around

A car is preferable in this rural area, however biking is common in the warmer months.

See

Windsor is a very historical town with many 18th century buildings that are in various stages of rehabilitation. Windsor was the site of the writing of the Constitution of the Republic of Vermont. Vermont was never a colony of England and was previously claimed land by NH and NY. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys fought these states and formed their own republic on July 7, 1777, by signing a constitution that was the first to allow women rights and ban slavery. Vermont remained a Republic for 14 years when it was recognized by the United States and became the 14th state. The Constitution house, located on Route 5 North heading into town, has been restored and is open to the public. This historic building has moved from its original location to where it sits today. Another historic building in this town is the Toll House; this is where tolls were originally collected after crossing the Covered Bridge over the Connecticut River.

There are two pristine ponds that are public owned. Windsor also is home to the oldest continually operating post office in the same location in America, and one of the longest covered bridges in America.

  • Old Constitution House, N Main, ☏ +1 802 674-6628. 
  • 🌍 American Precision Museum, 196 Main St, ☏ +1 802 674-5781. Windsor is the home of interchangeable parts. (updated Mar 2018)
  • Cornish Colony Museum, 147 Main St, ☏ +1 802 674-6008. Features works of art by resident artists of the Cornish Colony. The Cornish colony brought highly acclaimed artists like Augustus St. Gaudens, Maxfield Parrish, Willard Metcalf, Ethel Barrymore and many more artist, writers and musicians. 
  • 🌍 Ascutney State Park, 1826 Back Mountain Rd, ☏ +1 802 674-2060. Open May 15-Oct 16: 10AM-official sunset. Adult $4, Child (4-13) $2, Small child (0-3) free. (updated Jan 2022)
  • Vermont State Prison. The former was built in 1820 and was closed in 1975. At the time of closure it was the oldest prison in the United States. 

Do

Windsor is a town with something to do for everyone to do. Vermont's fall months there are foliage viewing; the spring brings mud season and maple sugaring. In Windsor there are scenes of small town life with plenty of trees, flowers and shrubs and is more rural as you travel further from downtown. In the downtown area there are many small businesses where everyone is friendly and inviting; some examples of small businesses are Tami's Head Lines, Pizza Chef, Mariams, and Boston Dreams. Windsor is also home to Paradise Park, a great local wooded area with plenty of open spaces, streams, and a pond.

  • 🌍 Wilgus State Park, ☏ +1 802 674-5422. Popular with canoeists or hikers. Has many acres of forest and trails as well as Evarts pond. There is also a cabin/lean-to for larger functions. These areas can be accessed year round. 
  • John P. Larkin Country Club (Country Club), North Main St, ☏ +1 802 674-6491. 9 Holes- loretta taft, During the winter a great place to go sledding with the family. 

Buy

Windsor is home to many shops and convenience stores. The smaller businesses include Friends & Co., Three Seasons Art Gallery, Simon Pearce, Vermont State Craft Center, and Saint Gaudens National Historic Site. Larger convenience stores include Price Chopper, Aubuchon Hardware, Dollar General, and Rite Aid.

Eat

Drink
  • Harpoon Brewery, 336 Ruth Carney Dr, ☏ +1 802 674-5491. Weekdays 7AM-4PM, Saturdays 9AM-2PM. Great bar as well as a family restaurant; Harpoon makes beer on site. 

Sleep
  • Juniper Hill Inn, 153 Pembroke Rd, toll-free: +1-800-359-2541. Charming Vermont bed and breakfast with spectacular views of Ascutney Mountain. They also feature a gourmet romantic restaurant on site and is ideal for weddings. 
  • Snapdragon Inn, 2066 Us Route 5 North, ☏ +1 802 277-0008. Fairly new as of 2011, this bed and breakfast is a great stop. Home to many weddings and is owned by the same people that own the Juniper Hill Inn. 

Camping
  • Ascutney State Park, 1826 Back Mountain Rd, ☏ +1 802 674-2060. Has 39 wooded tent or trailer sites and 10 lean-to sites inside two camp loops. Each loop has a rest room providing modern plumbing and hot showers (fee). Sanitary dump station for RV's, but no hookups. There is a small picnic area at the foot of the summit, and a shelter/picnic area midway up. 
  • Wilgus State Park, ☏ +1 802 674-5422. I-91, Exit #8 Go 1-1/2 mi S on US Rt 5. There are 2 cabins, 19 tent sites and 6 lean-to sites which are located along the Connecticut River bank. Rest room with running water and hot showers (fee). Picnic area with 3 lean-tos in the group area. Canoe and kayak are available. A trailer sanitary station is located by the ranger's quarters. 

Go next

Windsor is a great place to go outdoors. You can walk virtually anywhere, which include Paradise Park and the mile square around the downtown area. You can also bike down many types of roads from cement to dirt, and flat to hills.

Routes through Windsor
St. Albans ← White River Junction ←  N  S  → Claremont → Springfield, MA
St. Johnsbury ← White River Junction ←  N  S  → Springfield, VT → Brattleboro
Montpelier ← Woodstock ←  N  S  → becomes → Claremont → Keene


This article is issued from Wikivoyage. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.