Jamaica State Park

Top choice


With trails and campsites directly adjacent to the rushing West River, and hiking access to 125ft Hamilton Falls, this is one of only two riverside state parks in Vermont. It's especially popular with kayakers and rafters for its annual white-water weekends in May and September. It's 27 miles north of Brattleboro off VT 30.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. American Museum of Fly Fishing

15.46 MILES

This museum has perhaps the world's best display of fly-fishing equipment, including fly collections and rods used by Ernest Hemingway, Babe Ruth, Bing…

2. Hildene

15.75 MILES

The ancestral home of Mary and Robert Lincoln, who was the son of Abraham Lincoln and Mary Todd Lincoln, 412- acre Hildene is a working farm, museum and…

3. Southern Vermont Arts Center

16.29 MILES

In addition to excellent outdoor sculptures, this center's 10 galleries of classic and contemporary art feature touring shows of sculpture, paintings,…

4. Robb Family Farm

18.47 MILES

Run by the same family for more than a century, this 400-acre farm hosts maple-sugaring demonstrations in early spring; it also offers free sugar-house…

6. Retreat Farm

19.72 MILES

Pet, groom and say hello to over four dozen barnyard animals at this farm 1 mile north of town on VT 30. Look for the large cluster of red barns (or…

7. Brattleboro Farmers Market

20.01 MILES

Offering a crash course in Vermont food, the market has more than 50 local vendors selling cheese, free-range beef and lamb, honey, pastries, maple syrup,…

8. Fort at No 4

20.14 MILES

Named for a 1700s land grant, the original fort here was built in the 1740s to protect pioneer farmers from the French and Native Americans, but was no…