Plummer’s Sugar House

After a visit to the Grafton Village Cheese Company, Vermont’s other famous foodstuff can be found down the road apiece at Plummer’s Sugar House (Townshend Rd., Grafton, 802/843-2207, www.plummerssugarhouse.com), where sugar from 10,000 trees is turned into maple syrup every February and March. The proprietors, John and Debe Plummer, are happy to give tours of the syrup-making process in exchange for a purchase.

Nature Museum

Grafton is also home to a small Nature Museum (186 Townshend Rd., Grafton, 802/843-2111, www.nature-museum.org, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Sat.–Sun.), which is filled with dioramas and stuffed examples of the local fauna. While some of the exhibits are a bit mangy, the museum is worth a look for its impressive catamount, the name for now-extinct mountain lions in these parts.

Mary Meyer Museum of Stuffed Toys

Stuffed animals of a different sort can be viewed at Mary Meyer Museum of Stuffed Toys (Rte. 30, 2 mi. north of Rte. 25, Townshend, 802/365-4160 or 888/758-2327, www.bigblackbear.com, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.Mon. and Tues.; 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Wed.; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Thurs.–Sat.; 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun., free), a fun and informative museum at the site of a toy company that dates back to the 1930s. Kids will enjoy learning how their stuffed animals are made; parents should be warned, however, that they are unlikely to escape without a new addition to the menagerie.

Covered Bridges

Also in the area is the Scott Covered Bridge (Rte. 30, west of Townshend), which at 166 feet is the longest in Vermont (though not open to vehicle traffic). In all, seven covered bridges are scattered throughout Windham County region, including the oldest bridge in the state—the 118-foot-long Williamsburg Bridge (Dover Rd., South Newfane). The Virtual Vermont website is an excellent resource for information on Vermont’s covered bridges.