We toured the southwest corner of the Green Mountain State from Brattleboro to Bennington along the Molly Stark Byway, and then north along Scenic Route 7a to Manchester, Route 30 to Poultney, and then the excellent Route 22a up the Champlain Valley as far as Vergennes. In Vergennes, we stopped for an excellent dinner at the Black Sheep Bistro, and then we set out across the mountains. We watched the supermoon rise over the mountains east of Mad River Glen, and took Rte 100 up to I-89 just as it got dark.

The Champlain Valley  is justly famous as a touring destination, but the lower stretch of that side of the state has its own hilly and rural charms, from populist Bennington to patrician Manchester to scenic Lake St. Catherine and onward to Poultney. The towns are small and the hills can be rugged, but Routes 7a and 30 are lightly traveled and have enough turns and hills to keep the scenery changing. We drive it at least once every year. 

My favorite place on this trip was Vermont Kitchen Supply in Manchester. This is my idea of the perfect cook's store: lots of high-quality merchandise, and virtually all of it useful. I don't like wasting my time in so-called "cook's stores" that have a dozen kinds of animal-shaped vegetable peelers and colorful mushroom scrubbers but not a single good knife or cutting board. Vermont Kitchen Supply supports online shopping, but it really is worth the trip to enjoy exploring southwestern Vermont.