Guest Column - Vicki Wilson

Oct 1, 2018

When I was a kid, there was a jingle that went like this: Be wise, exercise/Move around/have some fun... /Move it and you'll feel better! Now, I'm no athlete, but one of the things I love about our area is the fact that on almost any given day, there are a number of opportunities to get outside and get moving. On a pretty regular basis and for the most part with little or no regard for the weather, my friend Beth and I do a 3+/- mile walk from downtown Bennington up to Old Bennington and around the Monument. It's great exercise and a really lovely walk. The Town of Bennington website even offers maps of walking tours of Old Bennington and Downtown Bennington… they are great for people who have just moved to the area and want to familiarize themselves with their new hometown and just as much fun for those of us who have been around for a while!

Another place for a nice walk is the Mile Around Woods, which is owned by the Fund for North Bennington and was originally a part of the Park-McCullough Estate. Originally a carriage road laid out by Trenor Park, it is now a wonderful walking trail, great for all levels of ability… and you can bring along your dog! If you are up for an even longer (but still fairly easy) walk, head over to Lake Paran where you can pick up another trail that the Fund for North Bennington has established. It winds around the lake for awhile before ending up over at the Robert Frost Museum on Route 7A in Shaftsbury.

Add to that the fact that there are innumerable country roads all throughout our area that are great for walking, running and biking, and there's virtually no excuse not to get on out there…. Move it and you'll feel better!

Author: Vicki Wilson
Sally Sugarman (Club Member & Windmill Editor)