The Upper Connecticut River Valley evokes the way things used to be; visitors feel like they are home. Historic architecture dots the path along the Connecticut River Scenic Byway. Many buildings remain unchanged, although they were built over one hundred years ago. Museums aplenty line the byway, each offering different exhibits. Complementary to the charm of neighboring historic communities, the byway landscape boasts the beauty of the Connecticut River.
Historic sites dot the byway landscape, each beckoning you to stop and visit. See Vermont's Rockingham Meeting House, a National Historic Landmark that is practically unchanged. Cross the Connecticut River and explore Fort No. 4, where you can create 18th Century crafts and experience reenactments of Revolutionary War battles. Meander through Claremont, a historic shopping district. Traverse the prominent Cornish-Windsor Covered Bridge back to Windsor, the birthplace of Vermont. Continue on to White River Junction, home to a historic railroad station and Old 494, a restored train engine.
While in White River Junction, visit the New England Transportation Museum, which details the region's railroading history. In St. Johnsbury, the Fairbanks Museum features one of New England's foremost science collections and an impressive planetarium. Crossing back into New Hampshire, the Littleton Grist Mill sits on the banks of the Ammonoosuc River. This recently restored working museum still operates, grinding grain in the style of the 19th Century. In Hanover, visit New Hampshire's oldest college and its museum, Dartmouth College and Hood Museum of Art. A prestigious Ivy League college, Dartmouth features a beautiful campus that includes one of the nation's largest college museums. Along with historic qualities, striking scenery scatters the area near the byway. In Brattleboro, view the Connecticut River, set in front of Mount Wantastiquet, in all its glory. Travel into Cornish and explore the magnificent former home of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens; stroll through 150 acres of lush gardens and greenery. Traveling north, the landscape changes; more dramatic vistas frame the quaint villages and farmlands. The Connecticut River reflects the serrated outlines of the White and Green Mountains. Continuing into the Great North Woods Region, note that the landscape becomes increasingly rugged.
Rich and exciting, New England history enhances the byway experience. Museums and historical sites yearn to tell tales hundreds of years old. Architectural gems glitter like the waters of the Connecticut River. In autumn, brilliant foliage provides for spectacular photos. Between the adventures of the past and the escapades of the present, the Connecticut River Scenic Byway proves to be anything but dull.
Shopping for New England Charm on the Connecticut River Byway 
Birds of the Connecticut River Byway
The Appalachian Trail