MANCHESTER, Vt. — Mattie and Bev, both in their mid-70s, are my life-of-the-party parents, but they also help care for a 95-year-old relative. It’s physically and emotionally taxing, leaving less time for their own light-hearted shenanigans. They deserved some hard-earned rejuvenation, so I planned a long weekend in Manchester, Vt., complete with outlet shopping, bistro fare, historic sites, and pops of whimsy, like a vintage pinball arcade.
My parents were tired and they’re not alone, according to a 2020 study by the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Approximately 41.8 million Americans provide unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older, and Baby Boomers represent 34 percent of those caregivers.
To achieve optimal relaxation, location and strategy were both important. As spritely as they are, age-related considerations remain a factor — from their lovingly unyielding penchant for a relaxed pace, to my mother’s preference to limit the use of steep stairs. Before the trip, I researched activities that are naturally accommodating since my parents would prefer that I not “make a fuss.”
In other words, I had to pre-fuss — secretly — and Manchester checked all the boxes.
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Most importantly, my parents are maple-syrup-in-the-veins New Englanders, so Manchester is as appealing as it is senior-friendly. At less than 4 square miles, it offers Burlington-level fun in a pocket-village-size package — a compact, choose-your-own-adventure paradise on the Battenkill River between the Green Mountains and the Taconics.
Clocking in with 2.5- and 3.5-hour drivetimes from Hartford and Boston, respectively, the last hour gifts travelers with relaxed river views along Route 30, complete with covered bridges, general stores, and a smoked meat shop.
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We arrived late morning and dropped our bags at Kimpton Taconic Hotel. The staff gave us a fun map and coupon brochures for the Manchester Designer Outlets, and all 20-plus stores are within a half mile of Zoey’s Deli. Here, bread is made in-house; the sandwiches are plump; often-warm cookies are as big as your face, and potato chips are fried on-site (salted transcendence). Plus, you’ve got a good chance of meeting Zoey’s beloved, Ja-Beep Bopp, who feels that Manchester “has always been a draw to people because of the slower pace.” As evidence, he points out that there’s only one traffic light in town, quietly signaling bucolic bliss.
After lunch, the travel day’s itinerary was light and loose, but I pre-mapped a variety of activities, all within 5 northern miles of the hotel, to minimize the low-key but ever-present stress of navigating and getting in and out of the car. My parents are Olympic-level shoppers, so we spent the afternoon scouring the outlet racks for deals.
Shopping aside, this area of town boasts elder-portion sip samples at Smuggler’s Notch Distillery Tasting Room, the famed Northshire Bookstore, and the bling-ding symphony of pure pinball joy at Pastime Pinball, a playable pinball museum.
On the way back to the hotel? The American Museum of Fly Fishing and all things Orvis, including their celebrated Fly-Fishing School, are a mile from home base. We wrapped up our first day with locally inspired plates at the hotel’s Copper Grouse, but the elevated BBQ fare at Pearl’s Pantry is also an option, a topic of frequent lusty-gastro reminiscence with my husband, a holdover from our 2024 visit.
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Leaning into spontaneity, day two’s adventures checked off three of the seven potential spots I scouted, starting with Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, two miles south of the hotel. The property features a grand estate, a goat dairy, a working farm, formal gardens, trails, and a pristinely restored 1903 wooden Pullman palace car, the Sunbeam. As a bonus, they offer seasonal on-site trams.
Next, we called an audible and headed a few miles north for a leisurely brunch at Southern Vermont Arts Center’s bistro, curATE, where we devoured local mushroom flatbread, vadouvan curry mussels, and shrimp and grits with sublime celery dressing. It’s also where my mom discovered her love for the local Green State Lager, so she was delighted that Dutton Farm Stand carries it. Dutton’s sprawling market offers endless Vermont goodies, including the state’s iconic maple creamees or, I suppose, you could go rogue with the mixed berry version.
Other day-two gems, including Mount Equinox Skyline Drive, and Rablogan Castle of Scotland (think dreamy woolen goods, proper meat pies, and Scottish charcuterie heaven), are lined up just past Hildene. If grandma and grandpa prefer a day of golf, no worries. The Equinox Golf Course is a few doors down from the hotel.
Across the street from the hotel, you’ll find one of my favorite Manchester restaurants, The Crooked Ram. Wizardry might be the only explanation for how the dishes often echo Michelin-star composition, yet the indoor-outdoor experience remains casually jaunty. If you’re gluten-free, like me, prepare to be rendered speechless. The gluten-free focaccia, alone, is reason enough to make the wee pilgrimage to Manchester.
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Early on at the hotel, we met a lovely couple from Saratoga, traveling with their dog. In fact, we met lots of dogs since the property has a generous pet policy. We bumped into our new friends again on our final morning. We sipped coffee and topped off our dog-snuggle tanks before heading back to Zoey’s so my folks could grab some bread to bring home.
Manchester is abuzz with the arts year-round, but summer is special with Shakespeare in the Woods (Aug. 13-31), the Manchester Music Festival (July 10-Aug. 7), Green Mountain Bluegrass & Roots Festival (Aug. 14-17), and Earth Sky Time Community Farm’s summer concerts. Further deepen your visit via Manchester Historical Society’s self-guided walking tour, which is where I learned that Louis Armstrong once stayed at the Northshire Bookstore, when it was a guesthouse.
Round out your getaway by shopping for local art at Squirrel Art & Gathered Goods. They carry plenty of small, souvenir-worthy pieces. Otherwise, embrace nature with a flat, well-maintained half-mile woodsy stroll along Flatlanders Pass at the Equinox Preservation Trust or take foraging classes and shop the handmade tinctures at Hazel & Bee Organics. While most businesses are open daily, a few operate on a reduced schedule (typically Thursday–Sunday). So, it’s best to check hours in advance.
Check Kimpton Taconic’s website for local collaboration packages, like the Land Rover off-roading driving experience. It’s surprisingly perfect for older relatives. The pace? A snail’s crawl, compared to some Jeep Wrangler experiences, but the thrill is top-notch. Each reservation also comes with beverage tickets for the daily social hour, optional guestroom plants, and complimentary adult tickets to Hildene. Standard rooms offer a modest footprint with splashes of New England charm, while the cottages encourage full-family sprawl.
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In their 70-plus years, my folks have zigged and zagged throughout New England, on countless trips. When Dad mentioned that this hotel “represents New England at its best,” I felt like I’d redeemed myself (a micro-smidgen) for having switched loyalties from the Yankees to the Red Sox.
Senior resident Anthony MacLaurin captures Manchester’s magic best, explaining that “folks still hold the door for you at the post office; drivers are courteous, and people wave hello like they always have.” Mom insists that it’s so bountiful we may have missed something, and I don’t mind one bit. I’d happily pre-fuss, again, for an encore of our time together in Manchester.
Melanie Carden can be reached at [email protected].