Gloria & Staff's Local Guide

Explore the Northeast Kingdom

A National Geographic–designated sustainable geotourism destination, right outside your door

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Gloria & Staff's Personal Recommendations

After 50+ years in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, Gloria and Staff know every back road, swimming hole, hidden trail, and local gem worth visiting. This guide represents the places they genuinely love and recommend to guests. When in doubt — just ask at the inn.

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Right Here: Barnet & McIndoe Falls

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Goodwillie House Museum

~10 min · Barnet Center

Local History Museum · Underground Railroad · Open by Appointment

Built in 1791, the Goodwillie House is one of the oldest surviving homes in Barnet — the residence of Reverend David Goodwillie, the community's first minister and a central figure in shaping the Scottish Presbyterian character of early Barnet. Goodwillie arrived in 1790, helped formally establish the Barnet Center Cemetery in 1791, and became the spiritual anchor of the settler community for generations.

The house holds a remarkable secret: a hidden room in the basement believed to have served as a hiding place for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. Today the Barnet Historical Society maintains the home as a museum filled with handmade linens, period furniture, kitchen wares, and domestic tools that bring 18th-century Vermont life vividly to life.

📍26 Goodwillie Road, Barnet Center, VT
🕐Open by appointment — contact the Barnet Historical Society
🌐barnetvt.org
Gloria & Staff's tip: Call ahead to arrange a visit — it's well worth it. The hidden Underground Railroad room alone makes this one of the most quietly remarkable places in the Northeast Kingdom.
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Karmê Chöling Meditation Center

~5 min

Mindfulness & Retreat · Personal Connection

One of the world's foremost Buddhist meditation centers, located just minutes from the inn. Founded in 1970 by Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche — originally known as Tail of the Tiger — Karmê Chöling offers year-round programs and retreats open to the public, from weekend introductions to extended residential study. The grounds and shrine rooms are breathtaking.

The inn has a personal connection to this remarkable place: Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche stayed with us at McIndoe Falls Inn while he was establishing the center here in Barnet. One of our inn bedrooms — Rinpoche's Room — is where he actually stayed. Guests who come to the inn for retreats at Karmê Chöling are, in a quiet way, walking in very distinguished footsteps.

📍369 Patneaude Lane, Barnet, VT 05821
🌐www.karmecholing.org
Gloria & Staff's tip: Many guests come to the inn specifically to attend retreats at Karmê Chöling. If you're interested in Rinpoche's Room, ask us when you book — it's a one-of-a-kind stay. Check the program calendar well in advance as popular retreats fill up.
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Milarepa Center

~10 min

Tibetan Buddhist Retreat

A Tibetan Buddhist meditation retreat center set on beautiful Barnet hillside land. Milarepa offers classes and live-in retreats for anyone, regardless of background or experience. The center's peaceful, contemplative setting makes it a destination in itself — even for those who come simply to walk the grounds and enjoy the stillness of the Vermont countryside.

🌐milarepacenter.org
Gloria & Staff's tip: Both Karmê Chöling and Milarepa Center are within the same small area — a remarkable concentration of contemplative practice in one Vermont valley.
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McIndoes Reservoir & Connecticut River

Steps away

Swimming · Fishing · Kayaking

The McIndoe Falls dam on the Connecticut River creates the McIndoes Reservoir right in the village — a beautiful stretch of water for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. The Connecticut River forms Vermont's border with New Hampshire here, and the river views are stunning in every season. Locals know the best access points — just ask Gloria and Staff.

📍In McIndoe Falls village, along US Route 5
Gloria & Staff's tip: Ask us about the best local swimming spots and fishing holes — some of them aren't on any map.
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McIndoes Academy

In the village

Historic Landmark · National Register

Opened in 1853 and operating as a community school until 1969, McIndoes Academy is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building stands as a reminder of an era when this small village supported a major educational institution — a testament to the ambition and community spirit of 19th-century McIndoe Falls at the height of its lumber industry prosperity.

📍McIndoe Falls village, Barnet, VT
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Harvey's Lake Public Beach

~20 min

Swimming · Boating · Fishing

One of Vermont's most beautiful natural lakes — a clear, spring-fed glacial lake in West Barnet with a lovely public beach and boat launch. Harvey's Lake is wonderfully uncrowded, clean, and peaceful. A perfect summer afternoon: bring a picnic, a kayak, and a fishing rod. The surrounding hills reflect in the water on calm mornings in a way that will make you want to stay forever.

📍West Barnet, VT — ~20 min from the inn
🕐Open seasonally · Free public access
Gloria & Staff's tip: Go on a weekday morning for the full peaceful experience. Bring your own canoe or kayak — the lake is glorious for paddling.
Peacham Corner Historic District, Vermont
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Peacham Corner Historic District

~20 min

National Historic District · Film Location · Self-Guided

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, Peacham Corner is one of the most beautifully preserved 18th and 19th-century village centers in all of New England. First settled in 1776 along the Bayley-Hazen Military Road — built during the Revolutionary War — the village grew through the early 1800s and then, remarkably, stopped. No Victorian sprawl, no modern intrusion. The result is a village frozen in time: a graceful Congregational Church (completed 1806), the historic Peacham Academy (founded 1797, one of Vermont's first secondary schools), Federal and Greek Revival homes lining quiet roads, and a hillside cemetery with sweeping Northeast Kingdom views.

Hollywood has noticed. Peacham's timeless New England character has made it one of Vermont's most-filmed locations:

🎬Ethan Frome (1992) — Peacham stood in for the fictional Starkfield in this Edith Wharton adaptation
🎬The Spitfire Grill (1996) — Nearly the entire film was shot here; the fictional town of "Gilead" is Peacham
🎬Where the Rivers Flow North (1993) — Starring Rip Torn, set in 1927 Northeast Kingdom Vermont
🎬A Return to Salem's Lot (1987) — Peacham provided the eerie New England backdrop
📍Peacham Corner, Peacham, VT 05862 · ~20 min west of the inn
Gloria & Staff's tip: Walk the village green, visit the church, and stroll to the hilltop cemetery for a view that will stop you cold. In October, this may be the most beautiful half-mile walk in Vermont.
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Nature & Outdoors

Fishing on the Connecticut River near McIndoe Falls, Vermont
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Fishing: Rivers & Lakes

Steps away

Fishing · Kayaking · Paddling

The Connecticut River, Passumpsic River, and Stevens River all flow through Barnet — offering exceptional fishing for trout, bass, and other species. Harvey's Lake and Sarah Moore Pond add still-water options. The rivers are also excellent for kayaking and canoeing, with miles of scenic paddling accessible right from the village.

Gloria & Staff's tip: Vermont fishing licenses required — available at local sporting goods stores in St. Johnsbury and Wells River. Ask us about the best local spots — some of them aren't on any map.
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Kingdom Trails — Burke

~30 min

Mountain Biking & Hiking · 100+ Miles

One of the premier trail networks in the entire Northeast. Kingdom Trails maintains over 100 miles of world-class mountain biking and hiking trails through the hills surrounding East Burke. Consistently ranked among the best trail systems in North America, the network weaves through private farmland, forests, and hilltops with views that will stop you cold. Trail passes available seasonally.

📍East Burke, VT (near Burke Mountain)
🌐www.kingdomtrails.org
Gloria & Staff's tip: This is world-class biking — bring your own bike or rent in Burke village. Fall is spectacular on these trails.
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Roy Mountain & Local Hiking

~15 min

Hiking & Wildlife

Roy Mountain (2,103 ft) rises above Barnet and offers sweeping views across the Northeast Kingdom — a rewarding hike at any time of year. Roy Mountain Wildlife Management Area provides excellent birdwatching and wildlife viewing. Garland Hill (Bogie Mountain) and Barnet Center back roads offer quieter walks through Vermont's hill farms and forest edges.

📍Barnet, VT — ask Gloria and Staff for trailhead directions
Gloria & Staff's tip: The hill farm roads around Barnet Center are wonderful for walking — quiet, scenic, and far from the tourist trail.
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Fall Foliage Drives

All around you

Scenic Drives · September–October

Vermont's Northeast Kingdom is widely regarded as one of the finest fall foliage destinations in the world. The back roads through Barnet, Peacham, Cabot, Groton, and East Burke ignite with color in late September and early October. Route 2 east, the Peacham Road, and the East Burke loop are among Gloria and Staff's personal favorites for a perfect foliage day.

🕐Peak color typically late September – mid October
Gloria & Staff's tip: Ask us for our current foliage route — it changes a little each year. We track the color daily during peak season.
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Dog Mountain & the Dog Chapel

~15 min · St. Johnsbury

Art Gallery · Hiking · Dogs Welcome · Free Admission

One of the most unexpectedly moving places in Vermont — and one of the most unique in the entire country. Dog Mountain is a 150-acre hilltop property in St. Johnsbury, created by folk artist Stephen Huneck as a celebration of the bond between people and their dogs. The centerpiece is the Dog Chapel — a beautifully crafted small Vermont church whose interior walls are covered floor to ceiling with handwritten notes, photos, and drawings left by visitors in memory of beloved dogs they've lost. People come and weep. People come and laugh. Everyone leaves moved.

The grounds are open dawn to dusk, free of charge, to people and their dogs. There are hiking trails with sweeping Northeast Kingdom views, open fields, ponds and streams, a dog agility course, a fenced play area, and the Stephen Huneck Gallery featuring his distinctive woodcut prints and folk art sculptures.

📍143 Parks Road, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
🕐Grounds open dawn to dusk, 7 days · Gallery hours vary — check website
💰Free admission — dogs welcome on leash
🌐www.dogmt.com
Gloria & Staff's tip: Bring your dog and a box of tissues. The Dog Chapel is unlike anything you've ever experienced — a truly one-of-a-kind place that stays with you long after you leave Vermont.
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History, Heritage & Culture

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Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium

~15 min · St. Johnsbury

Natural History Museum

An eclectic, wonderful Victorian-era natural history museum in St. Johnsbury — home to taxidermy animals, historical artifacts, meteorological displays, and Vermont's only public planetarium. Daily planetarium shows explore the night sky. The building itself, opened in 1891, is a jaw-dropping piece of Victorian architecture.

📍1302 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT
🌐www.fairbanksmuseum.org
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St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

~15 min · St. Johnsbury

National Historic Landmark · Art Gallery & Library

One of only 15 libraries in the United States declared a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1871, the Athenaeum houses an extraordinary art gallery — including a monumental landscape painting by Albert Bierstadt — alongside a beautifully preserved Victorian reading room. Free to visit. Not to be missed.

📍1171 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, VT
🌐www.stjathenaeum.org
Gloria & Staff's tip: The Athenaeum and Fairbanks Museum are both on Main Street, just a short walk down the street from each other — do both in the same afternoon.
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Maple Grove Farms

~15 min · St. Johnsbury

Vermont Maple · Factory Tour & Shop

Home of the world's largest maple candy factory. Tour the facility, learn about the maple sugaring process, and sample Vermont's most iconic product in its many forms — syrup, candy, granules, and more. A genuinely fun and delicious stop for all ages.

📍1052 Portland Street, St. Johnsbury, VT
🌐www.maplegrove.com
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Peacham Village

~20 min

Quintessential Vermont Village

One of Vermont's most photographed and beloved villages — a white-steepled church, general store, historic library, and rolling farmland views that look unchanged since the 1800s. The annual Peacham Fall Foliage Festival draws visitors from around New England. The Peacham Café is a local gem for a simple, honest meal.

📍Peacham, VT (~20 min west)
Gloria & Staff's tip: Peacham in October is beyond description. Make the drive even if it's just to have a cup of coffee and walk the village green.
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Dining & Local Food

Wells River · ~10 min

P&H Truck Stop

A Vermont legend — and a genuine American institution. This Food Network–featured diner (one of their "Top 10 Best Truck Stops in the US") has been serving truckers, locals, and travelers since 1980. Famous for the cinnamon raisin bread, maple cream pie, Big Rig burgers, and daily specials like chicken and biscuits. Go for the pie.

📍 2886 Route 302, Wells River, VT
🕐 Open daily 5 AM – 11 PM
🌐 Facebook Page
Gloria & Staff's top pick — don't leave the Northeast Kingdom without stopping here. And make sure you pick up a Maple Cream Pie.
St. Johnsbury · ~15 min · Mediterranean

Salt Bistro

One of the finest restaurants in the Northeast Kingdom — a Mediterranean-inspired bistro serving beautifully crafted seafood, steaks, and pasta in a warm, welcoming setting. Salt Bistro is the kind of place that makes you forget you're in a small Vermont city. Perfect for a special dinner out.

📍 94 Eastern Ave, St. Johnsbury, VT
🕐 Tue–Thu 4–8:30 PM · Fri–Sat 4–9 PM · Closed Sun–Mon
🌐 saltbistrovt.com
St. Johnsbury · ~15 min · American

Anthony's Diner

Over 40 years of history in St. Johnsbury. This is the quintessential small-town American diner — honest food, generous portions, and the kind of atmosphere where everybody knows everybody. A perfect spot for a casual lunch after a morning at the Fairbanks Museum.

📍 50 Railroad St, St. Johnsbury, VT
🕐 Mon 8AM–2PM · Tue closed · Wed 8AM–4PM · Thu–Fri 8AM–8PM · Sat–Sun 8AM–4PM
🌐 Facebook Page
Gloria & Staff's tip — don't leave without trying the Woodsman Burger. It's one of our favorites.
St. Johnsbury · ~15 min · Bakery & Coffee

Boule Bakery

A beloved St. Johnsbury gem and the place to go for exceptional coffee and handcrafted baked goods. Everything is made from scratch — 100% naturally leavened sourdough breads, flaky sourdough croissants (plain, chocolate, and ham & cheddar), cardamom buns, seasonal pastries, and breakfast sandwiches. Open seven days a week from 7 AM — perfect before a morning at the Fairbanks Museum or Athenaeum.

📍 462 Railroad Street, St. Johnsbury, VT
🕐 Open daily 7 AM — call ahead to confirm closing time
🌐 boulebakery.com
Gloria & Staff's tip — get there early on weekends. The sourdough croissants sell out fast.
Peacham · ~20 min · Café

Peacham Café

A community-supported café using simple, high-quality, super-local ingredients. The food is excellent — but honestly, the drive through the Northeast Kingdom hills to get there is worth it all on its own.

📍 643 Bayley Hazen Rd, Peacham, VT
🕐 Fri 12–8 PM · Sat–Mon 9 AM–2 PM · Closed Tue–Thu
🌐 peachamcafe.org
Monroe, NH · ~5 min · Pizza

Farm To Fire

Wood-fired pizza made with locally sourced ingredients — and practically in our backyard. Just cross the bridge over the Connecticut River into Monroe, New Hampshire, less than a half mile from the inn, right in the heart of the village. A perfect easy dinner after a day exploring the Kingdom.

📍 51 Main St, Monroe, New Hampshire
🕐 Thu–Sat 4–8 PM · Closed Sun–Wed
🌐 farmtofire.pizza
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St. Johnsbury — The Kingdom Capital (~15 min)

St. Johnsbury — known locally as "St. J" — is the Northeast Kingdom's largest city and cultural hub. A 15-minute drive from the inn, it offers everything from world-class museums to craft breweries, excellent restaurants, and a thriving arts scene in a beautifully preserved Victorian downtown.

  • 🔭 Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium — Vermont's only public planetarium; Victorian natural history collection
  • 📚 St. Johnsbury Athenaeum — National Historic Landmark library & art gallery; the Bierstadt painting alone is worth the trip
  • 🍁 Maple Grove Farms — world's largest maple candy factory; tours and tastings
  • 🐕 Dog Mountain & the Dog Chapel — 150 acres of hilltop trails, ponds, and fields; Stephen Huneck's folk art gallery; the one-of-a-kind Dog Chapel where visitors leave tributes to lost pets. Free, dogs welcome, open dawn to dusk. Bring tissues.
  • ☕ Boule Bakery — 462 Railroad St; handcrafted sourdough, flaky croissants, and excellent coffee. Open 7 AM daily — perfect before a morning at the museums
  • 🍺 Craft Brewing — St. J's growing craft brewery scene features local favorites worth exploring
  • 🛒 Farmers Markets & Local Shops — locally made goods, Vermont food producers, and independent retail
St. Johnsbury, Vermont downtown

Getting there: St. Johnsbury is 15 minutes north on I-91 (Exit 20). Park on Main Street and walk — the Athenaeum, Fairbanks Museum, and Maple Grove Farms are all within a short distance of each other.

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Day Trips Worth the Drive

Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro, Vermont
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Hill Farmstead Brewery

~35 min

Craft Brewery · Must-Visit · Greensboro, VT

Widely regarded as one of the greatest breweries in the entire world — and it's right here in the Northeast Kingdom. Founded by Shaun Hill on his family's 220-year-old farm in Greensboro, Hill Farmstead has been ranked the best brewery in the world by RateBeer, and beer writers across the country call it a dynasty. Their beers are brewed in tiny batches, available only at the brewery and a handful of Vermont accounts. The drive through the Northeast Kingdom hills to get there is beautiful in any season.

Our personal favorite — and one of the most beloved — is Edward, a luminous American Pale Ale named for Shaun's grandfather, brewed with American barley and hops and water from Edward's own well. Aromatic, citrusy, and perfectly crafted. It is as good as beer gets.

📍403 Hill Road, Greensboro, VT 05841
🕐Wed–Fri 12–5 PM  ·  Sat–Sun 11 AM–5 PM · Check website — hours vary seasonally
🌐hillfarmstead.com
Gloria & Staff's tip: Go early — popular releases sell out fast. The taproom is small and the setting is pure Vermont. Check their website before you go for current hours and what's on tap.
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Quechee Gorge — Vermont's "Little Grand Canyon"

~50 min

State Park · Hiking · Natural Wonder · Free

Vermont's deepest gorge — 165 feet straight down to the rushing Ottauquechee River below — carved by the retreating glaciers of the last Ice Age 13,000 years ago. Standing on the bridge above it stops you cold. The Quechee Gorge Trail is an easy 1.3-mile walk through the woods along the rim and down to the river's edge. A wonderful half-day trip, especially beautiful in fall foliage season. The Quechee State Park visitor center, picnic areas, and the Vermont Institute of Natural Science raptor center are all nearby.

📍5800 Woodstock Road (US Route 4), Quechee, VT 05059
🕐Open year-round · Free to view from bridge · State Park day-use fee for trails
🌐vtstateparks.com/quechee
Gloria & Staff's tip: Pair it with a stop at the Simon Pearce glass studio and restaurant in Quechee village — watching glassblowers work over a roaring furnace is unforgettable.
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Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour

~60 min · Waterbury

Factory Tour · Ice Cream · All Ages

The only Ben & Jerry's factory open to the public — and the one that started it all. A 30-minute guided tour takes you to a glassed-in mezzanine overlooking the production floor (350,000 pints a day), followed by a sample of whatever flavor they're making that day. The legendary Flavor Graveyard up the hill pays granite-headstone tribute to every discontinued flavor with witty epitaphs. A must for families and anyone who has ever loved a pint of Cherry Garcia.

📍1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury, VT 05676
🕐Daily 10 AM – 6 PM · Last tour 5 PM · Book tickets online in advance
🌐benjerry.com/factory-tours
Gloria & Staff's tip: Book tickets online ahead of time — they sell out, especially on summer weekends. While you're in Waterbury, the Cold Hollow Cider Mill is right down the road.
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Von Trapp Family Lodge & Stowe

~65 min · Stowe

Resort · Village · Skiing · Austrian Heritage

The real von Trapp family — yes, that von Trapp family from The Sound of Music — built their lodge on 2,500 acres of hillside above Stowe in 1950, and their descendants run it to this day. The Austrian-style architecture, mountain views, cross-country ski trails, and on-site von Trapp Brewing make it one of the most unique destinations in all of New England. The village of Stowe itself — with its white church steeple, boutiques, and world-class restaurants — is one of Vermont's most beloved towns. Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak, rises right behind it.

📍700 Trapp Hill Road, Stowe, VT 05672
🕐Open year-round · History tours available · Restaurant and brewery on site
🌐trappfamily.com
Gloria & Staff's tip: Even if you don't stay or tour, drive up to the lodge for the mountain views and a beer at von Trapp Brewing. Then walk the village of Stowe on your way back.
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Jay Peak Resort

~60 min · Jay, VT

Skiing · Golf · Indoor Water Park · Four Seasons

Vermont's snowiest mountain and one of the most complete resorts in the Northeast. Jay Peak sits just 8 miles from the Canadian border and receives more natural snowfall than any other resort in the East — the terrain is wild, the runs are long, and the crowds are thin compared to southern Vermont resorts. But Jay Peak is far more than just a ski mountain. In summer and fall the resort comes alive with a championship golf course winding through the hillside, and year-round, the extraordinary Pump House Indoor Waterpark — Vermont's first and largest, a 50,000-square-foot facility with water slides, a FlowRider surf simulator, a lazy river, and an AquaLoop — makes it a destination for the whole family in any season.

📍830 Jay Peak Road, Jay, VT 05859
⛷️Skiing: late November through April (conditions dependent)
⛳Golf: seasonally spring through fall
🏊Pump House Waterpark: open year-round
🌐jaypeakresort.com
Gloria & Staff's tip: If you're visiting with kids, the Pump House alone is worth the drive in any season. For skiers, Jay's snowfall record and lack of crowds make it a special mountain — very different from the Stowe or Killington experience.

Four Seasons

When to Come & What to Expect

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Spring (May–June)

  • Wildflowers & green hills
  • Fishing season opens
  • Ben's Mill opens late May
  • Birding at its best
  • Quiet roads & trails
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Summer (July–Aug)

  • Harvey's Lake swimming
  • Connecticut River kayaking
  • Kingdom Trails mountain biking
  • Farmers markets
  • Long Vermont evenings
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Fall (Sept–Oct)

  • World-class foliage
  • Peacham & Burke drives
  • Caledonia County Fair
  • Cooler hiking weather
  • Peak Kingdom Trails season
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Winter (nearby)

  • Burke Mountain skiing
  • Jay Peak skiing & water park
  • VAST snowmobile trails
  • Snowshoeing & XC skiing
  • (Inn closed Nov 1)
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Getting to McIndoe Falls Inn

✈️ Flying In

Several airports serve the Northeast Kingdom — and since Vermont is best explored by car, we recommend renting one at whichever airport you fly into.

Boston Logan (BOS) — ~3 hrs south via I-93 N & I-91 N
Montréal-Trudeau (YUL) — ~2 hrs north via Hwy 10 E & I-91 S
Manchester-Boston Regional (MHT) — ~2.5 hrs south via I-93 N & I-91 N
Burlington International (BTV) — ~1.5 hrs west via I-89 E & I-91 N

🚗 Driving to the Inn

From whichever direction you're coming, I-91 is your road.

Take I-91 to Exit 18 (Barnet). Head south on US Route 5 for approximately 2.5 miles. The inn is at 4586 US Route 5 on your right.

Free on-site parking. Verizon has the best cell coverage in this area.

Ready to Explore the Kingdom?

Book your room and let Gloria and Staff show you the Vermont they know and love.

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