Last week my husband was reading the NY Times and noticed that there was a front page article (at least in the online version) about our area in VT. This area is a very literary and artistic community and we have had our fair share of authors living and writing here. The article talks about Naulahka, the house that Rudyard Kipling lived in and wrote The Jungle Book.

One of my favorite quotes from the article about this area:
During a trip overseas, he confessed to a friend “a desire to be back on Main Street, Brattleboro Vt. U.S.A. and hear the sody water fizzing in the drugstore ... and get a bottle of lager in the basement of Brooks House and hear the doctor tell fish yarns.”

An epicenter of local culture, Main Street is only four miles from Naulakha and retains the architectural patina of Kipling’s time while offering engaging contemporary diversions. Dragonfly Dry Goods, in the old Brooks House, the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center, the Latchis Art Deco cinema, and innovative boutiques, bookstores and restaurants make for fine excursions.

I didn't grow up in this area (although I do have family from here going back to the 1800's and spent many a vacation here). I grew up in the city, but somehow I turned out a country girl through and through. A couple of years ago though I was wondering about moving, as there aren't exactly many jobs in epidemiology around here and I had a recent Yale degree in hand. I found a site called findyourspot.com where you answer some basic questions about what you like and what's important to you. They give you 10 or so towns or cities and a nice 4 page write-up about each place. And guess where one of my spots was? Brattleboro! ... exactly where I was already living. You can read it here: page 1, 2, 3, 4. Then a few weeks ago, I went and answered the questions again just for the fun of it to see where it would lead me. And same thing! This is a little quote from it:
Framed by towering Mt. Wantastiquet to the east and the foothills of the Green Mountains to the west, Brattleboro exudes New England charm, and has struck a perfect balance between big city culture and small town charm.

Here are some of my photos from around town... my ABC's of Brattleboro (and surrounds) :)

Arts

We have numerous art galleries and on the first Friday evening of every month we have gallery walk, where the shops often have live music playing and sometimes some nice munchies too!

Antiques
Only a few places in town... but lots in the area.

Apples
Lots of orchards, cider-making, apple-cider donuts etc. Yum. This tree was in my yard.

Alpacas
Ok.. this doesn't really symbolize the area... but every year the sugar houses open their doors to the public and one I went to last year has an Alpaca farm too. So cute.

Bikes
This town likes to bike. Every 4th of July, the kids all decorate their bikes for the parade too.

Bridges (Covered)
Our state is known for them

Books
We have at least 3 used book stores and some very nice rare book stores as well. For the last 9 years, we've also had an amazing literary festival. This year its October 1 - 3rd.

Boots
Skiing. Need I say anything more?

Bars
Some great places to chill. Good food, good wine, good beer, good friends.

Beadnicks
One of many very funky stores on Main Street.

Churches
Lots of places to grow spiritually... whether its in one of these buildings or not.

Coffee

Cows
Every year we have a parade called Strolling of the Heifers. I know it sounds strange, but its very fun and brings people from all over. Lots of free ice cream, yogurt, and cheese samples too!