Summer transforms The Wilburton into a Vermont mountain retreat where long daylight hours, warm evenings, and endless green valleys invite you to slow down and savor the season. Our 30-acre hilltop estate becomes your private basecamp for Manchester's summer adventures - from morning swims in the heated outdoor pool to sunset tennis matches with mountain backdrops, sculpture garden strolls to farm-fresh breakfasts on the terrace.
June through August delivers Vermont at its most vibrant. The Green Mountains live up to their name with lush forest canopies. The Battenkill River flows perfect for tubing and fly fishing. Manchester Music Festival concerts fill summer evenings with classical music. Hildene's gardens bloom in full glory. And The Wilburton's grounds offer the space and amenities to enjoy it all at your own pace - whether that's active exploration or simply settling into an Adirondack chair with a Vermont craft beer and watching the light change across distant peaks. This is Vermont at it's summer finest.
On-Property Summer Pleasures Your Private Vermont Playground The Wilburton's 30 acres become your summer sanctuary. Start mornings with laps in our heated outdoor pool - mountain views from every stroke. Challenge family to tennis matches on our courts where the Green Mountains provide the ultimate backdrop. Wander sculpture trails through woodland gardens where art installations surprise around every bend. Visit Earth Sky Time Farm to see what's growing and snag fresh-baked sourdough still warm from the wood-fired oven.
Lawn games sprawl across open meadows. Basketball hoops welcome pickup games. Hammocks sway between century-old maples. Kids bike safely on estate roads while adults sip coffee on mansion terraces. Summer evenings bring bonfires under the stars, conversations that stretch until midnight, and that rare commodity - space to breathe deeply and be present.
Water Adventures on the Battenkill Float, Fish, and Paddle Vermont's Legendary River The Battenkill River - one of America's premier trout streams - flows through the valley below The Wilburton, offering endless summer water adventures. Tube down gentle currents with friends on lazy afternoon floats (Battenkill Valley Outdoors provides rentals and shuttle service). Rent kayaks or canoes from local outfitters for peaceful paddling past Vermont farmland and covered bridges. Try fly fishing where Orvis built their fly fishing empire - the Battenkill's legendary hatches and wild trout make it a bucket-list destination for anglers.
Beyond the Battenkill, Emerald Lake offers family-friendly swimming and paddleboat rentals. The historic Dorset Marble Quarry - Vermont's oldest - now serves as a swimming hole where you can cliff-jump 20 feet into crystal-clear water surrounded by white marble walls.
Mountain Hiking and Outdoor Exploration Summer hiking around Manchester ranges from easy nature walks to challenging mountain summits. The Equinox Pond loop provides a flat, dog-friendly 45-minute walk with peaceful water views - park on West Union Street behind The Equinox hotel. More ambitious hikers tackle Mount Equinox's summit trail (three hours up, panoramic Green Mountain views) or drive the hairpin turns of Skyline Drive to the monastery at the peak.
Lye Brook Falls offers one of the area's best moderate hikes - steady uphill through Vermont forest to spectacular waterfall payoff. The Appalachian Trail/Long Trail passes through nearby - access it via Stratton Mountain gondola for summer ridge walks. Closer to home, The Wilburton's own trail system winds through 30 acres of sculpture gardens, meadows, and woodland - perfect for morning walks before the day's bigger adventures begin.
Bromley Mountain Summer Adventures Just 8 miles from The Wilburton, Bromley Mountain transforms from winter ski resort to summer adventure park. The Alpine Slide - Vermont's longest - sends you careening down the mountain on a thrilling track you control. Zip through the forest canopy on zip line courses. Ride the Sun Mountain Flyer - a chairlift-style aerial adventure. The Adventure Zone includes activities for all ages, from gentle rides for young kids to adrenaline-pumping experiences for teens and adults. After mountain excitement, return to The Wilburton's pool and quiet grounds to decompress and relive the day's thrills.
Arts, Culture, and Music Manchester's cultural offerings flourish in summer. The Manchester Music Festival presents classical concerts throughout the season at venues across town - world-class performances in intimate Vermont settings. Southern Vermont Arts Center showcases rotating gallery exhibitions, sculpture gardens spanning 100 acres, and their popular Friday Night Live concert series featuring diverse musical genres.
Visit Hildene - Robert Todd Lincoln's 412-acre estate - for historic home tours, formal gardens at peak bloom, and working farm experiences including cheese-making demonstrations. The American Museum of Fly Fishing preserves angling history with fascinating exhibits. Dorset Players and Weston Playhouse offer summer theater from community productions to Broadway touring shows. Art galleries including Helmholz Fine Art, Epoch 18 Vermont Artisans Gallery, and Three Pears Gallery in Dorset provide afternoon browsing opportunities between outdoor adventures.
Manchester Village Summer Charm Shopping, Dining, and Village Life Manchester Village shines in summer. Browse the famous Manchester Designer Outlets featuring over 100 stores including Armani, Brooks Brothers, J.Crew, and Ralph Lauren - air-conditioned shopping relief on hot afternoons. Northshire Bookstore - one of America's great independent bookstores - offers enchanting browsing with an excellent café and outstanding children's section.
Farmers markets bring Vermont's harvest to you: Thursday afternoons in Manchester (3-6pm, May through October) and Sunday mornings in Dorset (10am-2pm year-round). Manchester's restaurant scene ranges from casual farm-to-table bistros to elegant fine dining. One mile from The Wilburton, the village provides everything you need without sacrificing the hilltop tranquility you return to each evening.
