• Grafton: Just a few decades ago, Grafton was a down-at-the-heels mountain town slowly being reclaimed by termites and the elements. A wealthy family took on the town as a pet project, lovingly restoring it to the way it once was -- even burying electric lines to reclaim the landscape. It doesn't feel like a living history museum; it just feels right.

  • Woodstock: Woodstock has a stunning village green, a range of 19th-century homes, woodland walks just outside town, and a settled, old-money air. This is a good place to explore by foot or bike, or to just sit on a porch and watch summer unfold.

  • Montpelier: This is the way all state capitals should be -- slow-paced, small enough that you can walk everywhere, and home to lots of shops selling wrenches and strapping tape. Montpelier also has a more sophisticated edge, with its culinary institute, a theater showing art-house films, and several fine bookshops. However, at heart, it's a small town where you could run into the governor buying duct tape at a corner store.

  • Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.