If you're looking for something a little off the beaten path in Vermont, this list is your ticket. There are loads of amazing secrets VT has to offer, and quirky delights that will have you longing to find more hidden gems throughout the state.
1. The flying monkeys of Burlington.
These monkeys have become an iconic part of the city and are loved by all. The first monkey was commissioned by a furniture store called Emerald City and was designed to look like the famous flying monkeys from the Wizard Of Oz.
2. Take an adventure at Naulakha in Dummerston.
You can visit - or stay - in Naulakha, the home of Rudyard Kipling. This is where he wrote the Jungle Book and other classic tales.
3. Pay your respects at the Dog Chapel in St. Johnsbury.
Located on Dog Mountain there is a chapel where you can leave notes of remembrance to your favorite four legged friend. Bring your dog and enjoy the day!
4. Visit the grave with a view.
The graveyard in New Haven has a window. Timothy Clark Smith feared being buried alive, so he arranged for a square of glass in the ground to lead straight down to his face.
5. See the life sized puppets at the Bread and Puppet theater.
These aren’t cute, little fuzzy puppets you’d find in a toy store. No, these are life sized puppets who often were used to display political agendas. The puppets were eventually moved to a 150 year old farm where both the barn and its contents are highly flammable, as noted by the plethora of "No Smoking" signs. The sign out front says "Enter at your own risk" and they’re not kidding! Old puppets, paper, glue, scrap lumber and stray animals are housed in this barn.
6. Lord’s Prayer Rock in Bristol.
In 1891, Joseph C. Greene hired a carver to engrave the Lord’s Prayer on a giant rock. Some believe that Greene always said a prayer when reaching this point on the dangerous road when he worked as a log deliverer. Others say Greene was upset by the cursing and swearing of passing wagon drivers so he had the prayer carved so the drivers would think before taking the Lord’s name in vain.
7. The birthplace of Ted Bundy.
Ted Bundy was born in a women’s shelter in Burlington in 1946. While the building has been replaced by a six story office building, the dark past will never be forgotten.
8. See for yourself that the Whispering Statue actually works!
This statue in Barre, also known as Youth Triumphant, has a strange phenomena. If you sit at one end of the rounded bench and whisper, the person at the opposite end can hear you as clearly as if they were sitting at your side.
9. Go bowling at the Rock of Ages quarry in Barre.
You can tour the quarry and end with a game of bowling here. The pins are plastic, but in the 1950's they had granite lanes and more but the idea never took off. Yabba Dabba Doo!
10. A beach with barking sand?
Somewhere between Cumberland Head and South Hero, there is a beach where the sand is said to make dog noises. Supposedly, if you fill 2 zip lock bags together with sand from this beach, and bang them together, the result is supposed to resemble a dog barking. Oh, and once you leave the beach, this strange phenomenon is said to stop working.
For even more places to explore, check out these 11 hidden gems in Vermont.
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