Plymouth, Vermont is perhaps best known for being the birthplace of the 30th President of the United States, Calvin Coolidge. Plymouth is just over 11 miles from Killington to the south/southeast and the entire village and most of the surrounding valley is part of the Plymouth Historic District, a state park, and a designated National Historic Landmark District. If you’re an American history buff, you’ll thoroughly enjoy spending time in Plymouth.
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The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site
The President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site is part of the Plymouth Historic District and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The site includes a visitor’s center, the Coolidge Homestead, a historic one-room school house, a general store, the Farmer’s Museum, and the Coolidge Farm Shop.
The Coolidge Homestead was President Coolidge’s boyhood home, and in August of 1923, just hours after President Harding’s death, Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office in the home’s front parlor. Coolidge and his wife Grace are buried in the historic town cemetery, which is worth a visit too.
Also part of the site is the Plymouth Cheese Factory. Started by Coolidge’s father, it’s the second oldest cheese factory in the country and has been producing award-winning artisan Plymouth cheeses in the same building since 1890. Still operational, the facility offers tours and has a shop so you can take this famous American cheese home with you.
Other Area Attractions and Activities
A popular recreation area, Camp Plymouth State Park sits on the eastern shore of Echo Lake in Plymouth. A rare example of a Floodplain Forest (a Sugar Maple-Ostrich Fern Riverine Floodplain Forest to be exact) exists along part of Buffalo Brook and the shore of Echo Lake and is home to three rare aquatic plants, including Farwell’s milfoil. The forest includes stands of hemlock, sugar and red maples, beech, red spruce, balsam fir, northern red oak, and birch trees. Visitors can enjoy boating and swimming on Lake Echo with the picturesque mountains as a backdrop, hiking through the forest on trails overlooking the Black River Valley, lazing on the beach, volleyball and picnic areas, and geocaching. The park is also a popular spot for gold panners using traditional hand techniques.
Lake Echo is one of a group of lakes called the Plymouth Lakes, and it forms the eastern boundary of Plymouth State Park. Anglers can fish this small scenic lake for largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch, trout, and more. Fly fishing is best in the several brooks designated trout waters. Ice fishing and ice skating are popular winter lake activities.
Quechee State Park, just twenty miles from Plymouth in Hartford, is home to Vermont’s deepest gorge. The breathtaking Quechee Gorge overlooks the Ottauquechee River over 165 feet below the viewing points. The popular and scenic Quechee Gorge Trail is an easy, out-and-back hike with dirt trails leading to the gorge.
Of course, if you enjoy snow-centric activities, there are plenty of great locations in the area to get your fill of skiing, snowboarding, and more. Pico Ski Resort is one of the state’s most popular ski resorts, and offers snowboarding, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and much more. The resort has an indoor climbing center and several restaurants too.
Another popular area ski resort, Killington Resort, has year-round activities for the entire family, including skiing, snowboarding, hiking, golf, and mountain biking, not to mention all the fun things to do at their Snowshed Adventure Center! Take the Express Gondola to the summit of Killington Mountain for amazing views of the surrounding area and those lovely Green Mountains. The view from Killington Peak is amazing, especially when the leaves are turning.
Plymouth Vacation Rentals
Choose from rustic mountain cabins, modern mountain retreats, and more. Nestled in the quiet, forested foothills of the Green Mountains, your vacation rental in Plymouth offers all the comforts of home, but with amazing views, you’ll only find here in Vermont. Warm wood flooring and detailing, high vaulted ceilings, and wide-open floor plans welcome you to your home away from home. Typical amenities include fully equipped kitchens, free Wi-Fi, and soft, comfy linens.
Expansive windows let in the view of the surrounding woods, and it feels like you’re sitting out right out among the trees, even though you’re snuggled up in front of the roaring fireplace. Large decks are perfect for dining al fresco, or just sipping that first morning mug of coffee. Make sure you book one of our vacation rentals in Plymouth with a grill out on the deck to test that new recipe for maple-mustard glazed pork tenderloin (with Vermont raised pork of course), or better yet, a hot tub!
Our helpful staff can suggest a few more historic homes and sites in the area to visit, share the locations of the best-covered bridges, or recommend a restaurant or two. Give us a call today! We’d love to help you find the best vacation rental in Plymouth for your stay.