Activities Grafton Area Attractions
Grafton Area Attractions
Misc. Attractions & Activities
No visit to Grafton is complete without a visit to our sister company Grafton Village Cheese Co. Grafton Village Cheese handcrafts aged Vermont cheddar in many varieties to satisfy all palates. Its headquarters is located just 1/2 mile from the Inn on Townshend Road, and houses the artisanal cheese operation as well as a fine gift shop that features its cheese and all the accompaniments perfect for picnics, gifts or packing up to take home. Cheese is made daily, and there is a viewing area that allows visitors to observe the process. A helpful video explaining the art of making cheese from the milk stage to the final product is featured in the welcome lobby.
The Scoop ice cream stand: There’s nothing like a refreshing ice cream cone on a hot summer day. Head down on Route 121 (go right at the center of town - about 2 miles). Part of Idyll Acres Farm, they serve ice cream Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 2 – 8 p.m. On Sunday, they do hotdogs starting at 5 p.m. Summertime only.
Grafton Ponds Nordic Ski & Mountain Bike Center. Part of The Old Tavern, Grafton Ponds offers year-round recreational fun for all ages. Visit our Grafton Ponds page for more on this wonderful recreation center.
Museums and Exhibits
Grafton is a living and working rural Vermont town, but it also has a history and sense of cultural pride that it likes to display. Down Townshend Road is one of the most wonderful natural history museums, in the Grafton Nature Museum. It's great for all ages and especially delightful for children.
Across the road, behind the Windham Foundation offices on Townshend Road, a sheep exhibit explains the importance of the sheep industry to Grafton. Oh, don't forget to go into the adjoining barn to pet the lambs.
Across from the Grafton Village Store on Main Street is the Grafton History Museum. It can give you a glimpse of Grafton life when the Civil War was big news. It has a wide variety of Grafton memorabilia as well as ever-changing displays.
The Grafton Blacksmith Shop allows visitors to step back in time to when the blacksmith was one of the most important craftsmen in the community. A large collection of antique wrought iron work and tools are on display. The shop also has items for purchase including fireplace tools, lighting and more. Custom orders are welcome. Hours of operation: Wednesdays through Sundays from 10 am - 5 pm, with Demonstrations from 11 am - 12 pm and 1 - 2 pm. Located on School Street, the shop is typically open from Memorial Day Weekend through Columbus Day Weekend.
Around the corner from the Blacksmith Shop on Pleasant Street is the Vermont Museum of Mining and Minerals (802-875-3562) to experience a beautiful collection of Vermont and other worldy minerals.
Shopping, Art & Galleries
Grafton boasts a variety of shopping options for browsers or serious art collectors. Grafton Seasons (843-2499) features items reflecting the seasons of Vermont. Gifts, wine, clothing and more fill this store located on Main Street. Since 1975, Gallery North Star on Townshend Road (843-2465) has presented the finest works of Vermont's professional artists in via oils, watercolors, sculpture and prints. The Jud Hartmann Gallery (843-2018) on Main Street boasts a limited edition of bronze sculptures entitled "The Woodland Tribes of the Northeast," along with oils, watercolors and pastels. Located next door to The Old Tavern is Hunter Gallery of Fine Art (843-1440), featuring a gallery of East Coast artists in pastels, watercolors, Oriental brush paintings and more.
Be sure to click on Area Attractions for links to nearby towns, like Brattleboro, etc. for wonderful nearby art communities.
Antiquing
Antiquers have two local gems in Sylvan Hill Antiques (875-3954), located on Pleasant Street, offering English and American furniture, paintings and more, and Gathering Place Antiques (875-2309), located on Eastman Road, offering country and period furniture accessories in a two-story barn.
Be sure to visit our local chambers of commerce page for links to nearby towns, like Chester and Weston, home to the famous annual Weston Antique Show.
More Information
Please be sure to visit the Grafton Promotional Association’s website at www.graftonvermont.org for the most complete info. Also, be sure to stop by Hunter Art Works, located adjacent to Daniels Cafe for maps, brochures and general good advice.