"Known for Vermont's largest Labor Day Celebration, Northfield was once the headquarters of the Central Vermont Railway. Norwich University, the country's oldest private military college, is home to Kreitzberg Arena, a modern intercollegiate facility that has served as the host site for the NCAA Division III men's ice hockey champions in 1999, 2003, and 2004. Hockey is big in Northfield, and not only can you catch the 2000/2003 National Champion Cadets playing, but the local leagues play at the arena as well, and all are open to the public. Montpelier, the state capitol, is just 15 miles up the road, and offers many choices for shopping and dining, from coffee shops and bakeries to ethnic and gourmet restaurants. "

The Green Mountain National Forest, just 20 miles to the west is home to the Appalachian and Long Trails, and several downhill ski areas. Brookfield to our south, offers sightseers, nature lovers and sportsmen many options, such as the Floating Bridge, Allis State Park and Baker's Pond, with dining choices as well. Drive 10 minutes into Barre to the east, and you can explore and learn about the Granite Quarries, or catch the latest production at the Opera House.

Granite Quarries and Covered Bridges

"Vermont has the greatest concentration of covered bridges in the country, and in the recent past has become dedicated to their preservation. Vermont law now protects all covered bridges and none can be torn down without the permission of the Governor and the Board of Historic Sites.."

From covered bridges to historic and unusual headstones, Northfield, Vermont and its neighbors have many sights for you to see. Northfield Falls is home to four covered bridges, and a scenic drive over the foothills to Moretown and onto the famous and spectacular Route 100 with its pulloffs and side roads along the Green Mountain National Forest. To see some impressive granite sculptures and workmanship, you can visit the Hope Cemetery and Sculpture Center in Barre, or you can also tour the World's Largest Granite Quarries at Rock of Ages in Barre, and watch the quarriers wrest titan blocks from the earth's depths.

Head south on VT-12, and you can get to Brookfield and drive across the floating bridge, a "don't miss" for avid sightseers! Northfield's own, Ellie's Farm Market and Gift Shop' s Annual Great Green Mountain Pumpkin Show is a free feast for the eyes. During the evenings surrounding Halloween, there are displayed in the woods adjacent to the shop over 1500 carved and lit Jack-O-Lanterns, and Knight's Spider Web Farm in Williamstown is a fun and educational treat for anyone, where real spider webs are turned into art. To satisfy your quest for arts and entertainment, the Barre Opera House is an historic 650 seat theatre in the heart of Barre offering performances and events throughout the year, and Northfield's Paine Mountain Arts Council sponsors music performances and art shows at various locations around town.

The Vermont Granite Museum on the Barre-Montpelier Road is a museum dedicated to Vermont's unique granite heritage and a Stone Arts School to train students for industry and art. The Northfield Country Club is a public, 9-hole golf course, and there's always Thunder Road International Speed Bowl, Barre's short-track, high-banked, motor speedway -- racing street stock, late model stock and Flying Tigers series events.

Are you an outdoor enthusiast? Did you know the Northfield area is also one of those places that sometimes gets heavy localized snowfall, especially at higher elevations? This makes it ideal for snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross country skiing. Why not stay in a cabin like this an enjoy a weekend or a week away from it all.

Information for this artice was supplied by The Woods at Wihakowi— Cottages/Cabins