Do you like nature and in particular the avian kind? Do you also appreciate the fine art of wood carving? If the answers to these questions are yes and yes, then a visit to the Birds of Vermont Museum is a must. Even if you’re not a fan of birds or wood carving, a visit to this local museum will not disappoint.
The Birds of Vermont Museum is a collection of the bird carvings of artist Bob Spears. Bob started out focusing his craft on birds native to Vermont, later expanding to birds whose migratory paths transit Vermont. What makes Bob’s carvings special is the intricacy and attention to detail. The birds appear so lifelike you may think that they are stuffed instead of carved from wood. The museum’s second floor features dioramas that mimic the birds’ natural environments. Bob consistently used materials that are either natural or handmade and enhance the life-like look of the birds.
The museum is 17 miles (about 30 minutes) from the rally site. I recommend heading east on VT 15 to VT 117 to Richmond, then continue south on Huntington Road to Sherman Hollow Road. The last 0.9 miles is a well-maintained dirt/gravel road. Allow yourself from 90 minutes to two hours for your tour. Visit the museum website for additional information and hours.
Other things to do
Either before or after you visit the Birds of Vermont museum, you can stop by Sweet Simone’s for breakfast or lunch. It’s a bakery and coffeehouse in the town of Richmond.
You could also head south through Huntington and take the fun and twisty VT 17 over the Appalachian Gap, then hop on scenic VT 100. Go north on VT 100 to explore the area around Stowe (Ben & Jerry’s, the Von Trapp Family Lodge, Smugglers’ Notch). Go south on VT 100 and hit more passes over the mountain—Lincoln Gap, Middlebury Gap and Brandon Gap.
For the more adventurous and physically fit, consider a hike to Camel’s Hump about nine miles from the museum, southeast of Huntington. Camel’s Hump is the third-highest peak in Vermont and is known for its distinctive double-humped profile. There are numerous trails in Camel’s Hump State Park. The hike to the peak can be strenuous, but the view is worth the effort.
