The One Vermont Town Everyone Should Visit At Least Once

You might not find Grafton on a list of the busiest towns in the small state of Vermont, but it is making a splash in a surprising way, with those who find it and explore it all the same. Those looking to explore the beauty of the Green Mountain State are doing so in places like the hills in the southeast, where you will find this small and unassuming village. Despite the preserved appearance that echoes a long-standing history dating back to the mid-1700s, the heart of Grafton is a friendly, active, and supportive community that keeps the town quaint and makes this Vermont location one of the favorites for travelers.

The Seed That Grew Into Grafton

Grafton’s story starts in 1754, right along the Saxtons River. As with so many of the small New England towns that positioned themselves along a body of water like this, mills became a dominant force in the settlement’s economy and growth. Mills of all types took over from sawmills and gristmills, and textile shops. Grafton boomed as these places excelled, but, as was the case for many of them into the 1900s, the mills lost steam and eventually closed. In the mid-1900s, with the help of the Windham Foundation, buildings and homes were repaired and restored, and the community's commitment to its heritage and hard-working past is evident in the village center and quaint stops like MKT: Grafton, part general store and part restaurant with a rustic appeal.

Cheese If You Please

For those who pride themselves on knowing their cheeses, you have certainly caught wind of a variety known as Vermont Cheddar. One of the biggest names in creating authentic cheeses the old way is The Grafton Village Cheese Company. It stands out as one of the most recognizable pieces of this small town, as these products are sold in countries around the world and all across the United States. The cheese is made here, and visitors can watch the process through a large viewing window and enjoy tastings and educational displays. Make it a point not only to pop your head in for the occasional delicious free samples for those perusing the shop, but also for education on how cheese has been made here since 1892.

Food with a Sense of Place

Grafton is not big enough for big franchises to set up locations on busy streets and in shopping plazas, so the restaurants serving the community are doing so with a loyal customer base and built on the back of earnest home cooking. Grafton Inn Restaurant sits at the center, inside one of Vermont’s oldest inns. The menu follows the seasons, working with whatever the local farms have on hand. Simple, honest food that fits the landscape. People have stopped in for a meal or a bed since the 1800s, and that tradition is still alive, from the place to sleep to the popular and exquisite Lamb Chop or Filet Mignon entrees.

Just down the road, find Phelps Barn Pub, a restored barn attached to the inn and operated by the same staff and owners. The place has a whole different feel, and they are open year-round, offering a much more casual dining experience, though reservations are still necessary due to the exclusivity of the available dining here in town.

Community Gatherings That Bring the Town Together

In a town that is as close-knit as this one, it is no great surprise that gatherings and festivals are a time-honored tradition. Vermont Cheese Week is a statewide celebration, with Grafton Village Cheese taking part through special events at its retail locations. Thousands pour in for local food, live music, and hands-on demos, all celebrating the area’s farming background. Cheese is a big deal to the folks in Grafton. It is in all of the food, the entertainment, and in nearly every piece of this celebration

Then December hits, and Grafton Village Holiday Festival flips the village into a winter postcard. Craft fairs set up shop, old-time music drifts through the air, and local groups keep the whole thing buzzing with activities. There are gingerbread house competitions, sugar house tours, raffles, and even a dog parade.

Nearby Towns Worth Visiting

Even with its small size, Grafton is the perfect base of operations for exploring not only the natural wonders and serene rural landscapes of Windham County, but also the nearby towns and communities. To begin, head north to find Chester, ideal for those who enjoy hiking along the Williams River and shopping around niche shops in the town’s Stone Village Historic District.

Weston also has a charm of its own, accessible from Grafton by driving west. Here, find little shops offering home goods and unique treasures like the Vermont Country Store, as well as one of the area’s oldest running theaters, the Weston Playhouse, operating since 1937. Catch summer performances from Weston Theater Company, which now stages its shows primarily at venues like Walker Farm while the historic Weston Playhouse building recovers from flood damage.

Heading further north, find Woodstock. This charming historical village is almost perfectly preserved as a picturesque rural community, with attractions like the Billings Farm & Museum and a haven for some of the county’s top skiing at the Saskadena Six, just a few miles from the town’s center.

Grafton Is a Place You Should See At Least Once

Grafton is a place you will remember the first time you experience it. It isn’t going to give you an endless supply of stores, restaurants, and cultural centers to explore, but the things that are here are the very heart of the town. The fine dining, the cheese makers, and the festivals that celebrate what it means to be small-town Vermont. In short, people are not coming to Grafton because it reinvented the wheel, but because it did not feel the need to keep improving the wheel’s design and instead preserved what worked. If you get the chance, this is a village worth seeing once in your life.