Family Adventures

A list of local Family Friendly Events, Activities, & Places to Visit


  • Family Events
  • Pools & Splash Pad
  • Adventures
  • Playgrounds & Parks
  • Libraries 
  • Farmer's Markets & Farms
  • Kid Friendly Museums
Family Events

All About the Arts Kids' Classes

Chaffee Art Center, Rutland, VT

Fridays, 12-1pm, Free.

Must pre-register by Wednesday each week. Students will have fun creating and doing activities with art, music, literature, and more! Adult must accompany children under age 4.

Story Time

Manchester Community Library, Manchester, VT

Tuesdays, 10:30am.

We’ll be exploring the practice of gratitude during the month of November. At Story Time we will read about what it means to be grateful and how gratitude can be a part of our everyday lives.

Story Time

Dorset Village Library, Dorset, VT

Wednesdays, 10am.

Led by Lisa Welp. Each week includes a story, movement activity, and songs.

Call or email Angela (angela.dorsetvillagelibrary@gmail.com) for questions about story time or kids club.

Story Time

Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, VT

Thursdays, 10:30am.

Join us in person in our Manchester, VT store for story time with the fabulous Kathy Penge. She'll share some recent favorite picture books with your little ones.

If you have questions about this or any other Northshire event, please e-mail us at events@northshire.com.

Museum ABCs

Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT

Third Thursday of each month, 1:30-2:30pm. Free.

This free monthly program is designed for children ages 3 to 5 and their adult companions. The program is produced in collaboration with the Bennington Free Library and is generously sponsored by the Bank of Bennington whose fundamental and consistent support has made this program possible for the past twelve years. For the past three years, funds from the Stewart’s Holiday Match also have helped to make Museum ABCs possible.

Each Museum ABCs program focuses on a different theme and includes visits to the Museum galleries, stories carefully selected to support early literacy, and art and craft projects designed to encourage engagement between children and adults.

Kids Club

Dorset Village Library, Dorset, VT

Third Thursday of each month, 3:30pm. Free.

Angela will have fun activities planned. You can try your hand at our new ping pong table! We will have a small selection of Legos for building and you may bring your Pokemon Cards if you wish.

Kids Club will happen every third Thursday of the month… mark your calendars!

Call or email Angela (angela.dorsetvillagelibrary@gmail.com) for questions about story time or kids club.

Pools & Splash Pad

Manchester Swimming Pool

Dana L Thompson Park, Manchester, VT

Open 6/19-8/20

White Memorial Park Pool

White Memorial Park, Rutland, VT

Opens 6/12

Northwood Pool

Rutland, VT

Opens 6/19

Stratton Pool

Stratton Mountain, VT

Indoor, call 802-297-4230.

Mitchell Therapy Pool

Rutland, VT

Indoor, view rates online.

Bennington Pool

Bennington Rec Center, Bennington, VT

Indoor, open year-round

Splash Pad

109 North St, Bennington, VT

Adventures

Cross Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Hildene, Manchester, VT

December-March, Thursday-Monday, 10am-4:30pm.

Approximately 12 miles of trails are open to guests, whether on foot, skis (bring your own gear) or snowshoes (available to rent at Hildene). Trails are of varying levels of difficulty. We offer snowshoe rentals for children and adults. Please be aware that we are not a Nordic Center; our trails are natural and ungroomed.

Top Winter Things to Do

Snowshoeing, alpine skiing, nordic skiing, sleigh riding, snowmobiling, winter hiking, skating, and more!

Hiking

Equinox Mountain, Manchester, VT

Kid Friendly Hikes in Southern Vermont

Mountain Adventure Park

Bromley Mountain, VT

Playgrounds & Parks

Manchester Rec. Park

Dana L. Thompson Memorial Park, Recreation Park Rd, Manchester, VT

Open until 10pm

Arlington Recreation Park

Route 313, Arlington, VT

Emerald Lake State Park

65 Emerald Lake Lane East Dorset, VT

June 26-2nd Monday in October 10am -Sunset

Hapgood Pond

Hapgood Pond Rd, Peru. VT

Lake Shaftsbury

262 Shaftsbury State Park Rd Shaftsbury, VT

June 26-2nd Monday in October 10am -Sunset

Merk Forest & Farmland Center

3270 Route 315, Rupert, VT

Open year round, Dawn to Dusk

Bennington Rec Center

655 Gage St. Bennington, VT

8am-8pm

Libraries 

The Manchester Community Library

138 Cemetery Ave Manchester Center, VT

Virtual Story Time Tuesdays & Thursday 10:30-11:30am

Winhall Memorial Library

2 Lower Taylor Hill Road, Bondville, VT

Dorset Village Library

On the Green at Church St & RT30, Dorset, VT

Martha Canfield Library

528 East Arlington Rd, Arlington, VT

Farmer's Markets & Farms

Manchester Farmers Market

Adams Park, Manchester, VT

Thursdays June 4 -October 8 3-6pm

Dorset Farmers Market

Summer Market : HN Williams General Store2732 Vt. Route 30, Dorset, VT.

Winter Market : JK Adams Kitchen Store 1430 Vt. Rt 30, Dorset, VT

Sundays 10am-2pm

West River Farmer's Market

Londonderry, VT

Saturdays Memorial Day to Columbus Day 9am-1pm

Wildwood Berry Farm -PYO

2977 Mad Tom Road, East Dorset, VT

Opening July 13, 9am-5pm

North Meadow Farm

726 North Rd, Manchester, VT Open 7 days a week

Offering fresh eggs, cheese, and raw milk. Plus a petting zoo and playground for the kids to visit.

Earth Sky Time

1873-1951 VT-7A Manchester, VT Open Sunday-Friday

Farm Store & Bakery

Kid Friendly Museums

Wonderfeet

11 Center St, Rutland, VT

Fridays 10am-2pm, Saturdays 10am-2pm, Sundays 12-4

The Montshire Museum of Science

One Montshire Road, Norwich, VT

Wednesdays-Sundays 10am-4pm

Vermont Institute of Natural Science

149 Natures Way, Quechee, VT 

10am-5pm Daily

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