An idyllic New England town can be found nestled right in Bennington County, Vermont: Manchester.

From an estate the likes of which President Lincoln’s son once called home, to a luxury resort and a quaint downtown filled with shops, restaurants, and a river walk, Manchester, Vermont, has no shortage of offerings for every traveler.  In Manchester Center, visitors will find a charming village with business names such as Northshire Bookstore and The Mountain Goat, as well as Mystico Cucina Italiana and The Copper Grouse.

In the early 20th century, President Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert, and his wife Mary, built their summer homestead on a piece of land in Manchester overlooking the Taconic Mountains and the Green Mountains.  Today, the estate is a popular tourist destination and can be toured from the turn-of-the-century architecture to the lavish gardens in the backyard.  This garden also offers sweeping vistas of the valleys that dip between mountains.

Downtown, Mystico Cucina Italiana serves authentic Italian cuisine with a Vermont influence, from homemade pasta dishes to seafood.  For those craving Italian, opt for the rigatoni Alla carbonara, a pasta entree fusing together an egg-based sauce, guanciale, pecorino, and black pepper.  For a lighter meal, the caprese sandwich makes wonderful use of heirloom tomatoes, fresh-cut mozzarella, basil, and olive oil, all pressed together in a ciabatta roll for a flavorful culinary experience.

Approximately thirty minutes south of Manchester is Bennington County’s other shire town: Bennington.  Perhaps most well-known for its 306-foot-tall monument, Bennington is home to the Bennington Battle Monument, commemorating the Battle of Bennington.  It is the tallest man-made structure in the state, and was constructed in the late 19th century following the American Revolutionary War battle, which actually took place 10 miles away in the town of Walloomsac, New York.  Visitors to the monument can ride an elevator to the top and take in the sprawling green landscape.

Manchester should be at the top of every Vermont visitor’s list for its delightful mix of history, modern culture, natural beauty, and culinary scene.  The Equinox Resort is a top-tier hotel for the area and has made a name for itself by not only its amenities, but also its guests, the likes of whom include Mary Todd Lincoln and her son Robert Todd Lincoln.