In the southeastern corner of Vermont, the large town of Bennington is perhaps best known for the Revolutionary War battle that shares its name. Ironic, then, that the actual battle took place eight miles farther west over the New York border. (The clash is named for the storehouses in Bennington that were the object of the British troops.) In more recent years, Bennington has become better known for the small liberal arts college that is one of the artsiest (and most expensive) colleges in the country.

Despite these promising attributes, the town declined in recent decades due to a lack of industry, and the old brick downtown became depressed and uninviting. It’s only in the past few years that Bennington has been looking up, taking a page from nearby Vermont towns to accentuate the art and culture generated by the college.

That’s a good thing, since both the town and the surrounding villages have a number of attractions worth a visit, including those paying homage to famous Vermonters Robert Frost and Grandma Moses.