10 Ways to Have Fun at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science in Quechee, VT

| | | | | |

The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) in Quechee, Vermont is a 47 acre complex that includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, the Forest Canopy Walk, three hiking trails, a Meadow Walk, a Center for Wild Bird Rehabilitation, adventure playscape, and plenty of classrooms and exhibition spaces. Opened in 1972, the programs featured at VINS focus on conservation, preservation, and rehabilitation of wildlife. The center is the perfect, family friendly way to explore nature and learn about the local wildlife.

Travel Tips:

  • VINS is open seven days a week from 10am-4pm; information on admission pricing and various discounts and promotions can be found here. 
  • There is plenty of free parking and restrooms are located near the admission desk and gift shop, by the Raptor Enclosures, and in the Administration building
  • Leave the stroller in the car- kids will want to walk and have easy access to the Canopy Walk (the main path is handicap accessible). The hiking trails are cleared but rough (and slippery in the winter), except for the McKnight Trail, which is stroller and handicap accessible. See the full site map here.
  • Wear sneakers or closed toe shoes.
  • The Nature Store gift shop sells  drinks, snacks, and plenty of souvenirs related to the wildlife and animals showcased in the exhibits.
  • Information on special events here and camps here.
  • No dining facilities on site but check out this index and this index of nearby restaurants in Woodstock and Quechee. If you’re coming from the Hanover, New Hampshire area, we highly recommend King Arthur Baking Company Cafe. 
  • Plan on 2-3 hours to fully explore the exhibits, Raptor Enclosures, Forest Canopy Walk, and a couple of the hiking trails.

10 Ways to Have Fun at VINS:

  1. Meet up to 30 raptors, many of whom are injured, including hawks, owls, falcons, and eagles in the Raptor Enclosures. Each raptor has their own space with various structures for exercise and engagement. There are signs explaining the biography of each raptor and their personal history. Be sure to grab a scavenger hunt to complete .
  2. Test your grip strength against various birds (owls, eagles, and hawks) and compare your wingspan against a raptor.
  3. Hike one- or all- three hiking trails, totally over 1.5 miles. The trails guide visitors to great views of Ottauquechee River and Dewey’s Pond. Some of the trails also connect to trails that are part of Quechee State Forest that lead to Quechee Gorge. See the trail map here.
  4. Follow the Meadow Walk and learn about flowers and plants that grow on the property.
  5. Get up close to wood turtles and corn snakes in the Reptile Room.

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later.

6. Act like a spider and spin your own web in the giant rope web suspended in the Forest Canopy Walk. There is even an additional platform six feet above to look down into the web.
7. Climb 99 steps to the very top of the observation tower in the Forest Canopy Walk and check out beautiful views of Dewey’s Pond. At the highest point, guests are 65 feet above the ground, truly making it a birds eye view of the landscape. The entire boardwalk is handicap and stroller accessible, remaining fairly level even as the land slopes.
8. Check out the indoor Forest Exhibit, which includes interactive quizzes, a leaf rubbing station, costume corner, and a second floor slide that takes kids (and kids at heart) outside to the lower ground.
9. Play aboard the outdoor Adventure Playscape and create your own adventure.
10. Check out the daily calendar for activities like Raptors Up Close.

Looking for more fun in Woodstock? Check out our full Woodstock City Guide, our dining guide to Woodstock, and our post featuring the Montshire Museum of Science. And follow along on our adventures on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest

Disclaimer: My family was given a media pass to explore VINS- All opinions expressed are my own.

New England based, part high school English teacher, part non profit founder, part road tripper who LOVES hopping in the family SUV to explore America. Our bucket list includes National Parks, MLB stadiums, presidential libraries, and eating wherever the locals eat!

Similar Posts

  • Our Top Social Media Posts of 2024

    Somehow the year 2024 is quickly coming to a close. Our family had a wonderful year with many adventures- we’ll be sharing an annual Highlights post next week on the blog (check out 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017). This week, we spent some time delving into the interwebs of our analytics for our top social media posts. We thought it would be fun to take a look back in a separate post. Here are our posts with the most engagement throughout 2024:

  • | | | | | |

    The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss, Springfield, MA

    Springfield, Massachusetts, located about 90 minutes west of Boston, is known as the birthplace of basketball and is home to the Basketball Hall of Fame; a post on the Hall of Fame is coming soon. However, there are plenty of other places to visit if you’re in town; especially if you’re visiting with young children.   

    Since 2002, the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden has been a popular spot for children to enjoy climbing and exploring 14 Seuss-themed sculptures.  Featured in a grassy “quad”, the sculptures are surrounded by five museums: the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts, the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, and the brand new Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum.  Purchasing one ticket (or a membership) will allow you to explore all five museums and there is lots of free parking in nearby parking lots. 

  • | | | | |

    Playing “I Spy” at Buckman Tavern in Lexington, Massachusetts

    Massachusetts is filled with memorable historic sites and important dates in America’s history, and one of the most famous is April 19, 1775. On the early hours of April 19th, Paul Revere and William Dawes’ rode to Lexington, Massachusetts to warn John Hancock, Samuel Adams, and other “Minute Men” that 850 British soldiers, also known as “Redcoats”, were coming to nearby Concord to steal the their supply of weapons and ammunition. The Minute Men, a group of local militia, waited at Buckman Tavern for the arrival of the British Redcoats. With the firing of a shot from an unknown source (it’s still debated today who fired the first shot), the American Revolution began.

  • | | |

    Five Ways to Explore the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & Museum in Jupiter, Florida

    We’ve explored Palm Beach County, Florida many times when visiting family in Delray Beach. This past trip, we finally had time to stop at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum that we’ve passed several times and enjoyed exploring the ever expanding complex.

    Operated by the Loxahatchee River Historical Society, the first lighthouse museum opened in 1973 and now welcomes over 800,000 visitors to the complex each year. The nonprofit manages the 1860 Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Oil House, 1892 George Washington Tindall House, 1929 Lighthouse Keeper’s Workshop, and 1940 Naval Housing Building (currently closed due to nearby bridge construction). The lighthouse and museums are located on a complex, owned by the town of Jupiter, which also include large sports fields, nature trails, and a large playground. 

  • | |

    Exploring the Kohler Design Center in Kohler, Wisconsin

    We recently spent the Christmas holiday in Kohler, Wisconsin and had a wonderful few days exploring the beautiful village of Kohler and its many amenities, restaurants, and daily activities at the American Club. One highlight of our stay was our visit to the Kohler Design Center, in the heart of the village and next door to the Five Star Kohler Waters Spa.

  • | | | |

    Playing “I Spy” at the Connecticut State Capitol

    Visiting state capitol buildings is one of the first things we do when visiting the capital city. It’s a little ironic that it took our family, who has lived in Connecticut for almost 20 years, this long, but we recently, finally made it to the CT Capitol for a tour.

    Connecticut was founded in 1662 and is known as the Constitution State, as it was the first state to adopt a constitution.  Built in 1878, the Connecticut Capitol building, located in downtown Hartford, was designed by Richard M. Upjohn to replicate a Victorian Gothic style. The building overlooks Bushnell Memorial Park’s 41 acres in the heart of Hartford and was restored in the 1980s to the original colors and design. The addition of the Legislative Office Building (LOB), which opened in 1988, allowed for office space for Connecticut’s 151 Representatives (each representing approximately 25,000 constituents)  and 36 State Senators (each representing approximately 90,000-100,000 constituents). The “LOB” also allows for more public meeting spaces and opportunities for state officials to meet as committees and with public interest groups. The first and second floors of the LOB and the first floor of the Capitol are both open to the public; upper level floors house private offices and chambers and guests must be accompanied by officials. 

6 Comments

  1. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science looks really fun. Vermont is really beautiful. Love the picture in from of the Eagle wings.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *