Day Trip to Vermont

[webny99]

Hoping to visit Vermont (for the first time) on Columbus Day. Any must sees in the southwestern part of the state?

ETA that our plans got kiboshed by the remains of hurricane Nate. We ended up heading south to Allegany. Oh well, there's always next year 

[froggie]

- Mount Equinox Toll Road.  Equinox is the tallest peak in the Taconics.

- If you can handle several miles of dirt road, Nat'l Forest Road 71 (also named Somerset Rd off VT 9, not far east of VT 8) is quite scenic and passes through some of the highlands along the spine of the Greens.

- Bring a cooler...awesome gouda cheese at Taylor Farm, about a mile west of VT 100 along VT 11 in Londonderry.

- East of Londonderry off VT 11, there is the town-maintained VT 121 which has a lengthy dirt segment and several non-standard shields.  This will also bring you to Grafton, home of the Grafton Village Cheese Company.

[cl94]

If you're into covered bridges, there are several between Bennington and Manchester, inclusive. The immediate North Bennington area has 3. Highly recommend the aforementioned VT 121; that's a roadgeek paradise and one of the longest dirt state routes in the east. Has several of the old-style rectangular VT shields. VT 9 is a great scenic drive across the state, even if it can be slow.

Depending on how you head to/from VT, there's a covered bridge along NY 67 in Buskirk and a historic house on the NY/VT line on NY/VT 67.

[hbelkins]

Is the old traffic signal in downtown Bennington still in use, or has it been replaced?

[cl94]

Is the old traffic signal in downtown Bennington still in use, or has it been replaced?

Assuming you're referring to the two-aspect one at the US 7/VT 9 intersection, it is gone. Sadly, it was replaced a few years ago.