Shopping

Some places are more hangout than store, and The Warren Store (284 Main St., Warren, 802/496-3864, www.warrenstore.com [1], 8 a.m.–7 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Sun.) counts itself among them. Everyone seems to be on a first-name basis at this eclectic provisions shop, full of Vermont-made odds and ends (from pillows to salad bowls). They churn out excellent creative sandwiches from the deli—all on bread baked on-site—and have a nice selection of unusual wines for sale.

Find a trove of folk art and crafts, plus handmade furnishings from Vermont [2] artists at Bradley House (266 Main St., Warren, 802/496-9714, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.). The gallery sprawls in a Greek Revival cottage, which allows plenty of space for the creative merchandise.

A definite do-not-miss: the Granville Bowl Mill (45 Mill Rd., Granville, 800/828-1005, www.bowlmill.com [3], 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Mon.–Sat., 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Sun.), a venerable factory and showroom originally founded in 1857 that makes wooden bowls and cutting boards from Vermont wood the old-fashioned way—on 19th-century equipment, then perfected with 20th-century sanding techniques on the same equipment its been using for over 100 years. While not cheap, the one-of-a-kind bowls come in a multiplicity of shapes, sizes, and woods, including cherry, yellow birch, and sugar maple (some with the hole from the sugar tap still in the wood.)

Step into the Artisans’ Gallery (20 Bridge St., Waitsfield, 802/496-6256, www.vtartisansgallery.com [4], 10 a.m.–5 p.m. daily) in the Old Village area of Waitsfield, and prepare to feel bewildered by the enormous selection. Upwards of 175 local craftspeople sell their goods here, which means you’ll have no problem finding jewelry, wood-block prints, hand-painted wooden bowls, jewelry, and stoneware.

The most respected outdoors outfitter in the area, Clearwater Sports (4147 Main St., Waitsfield, 802/496-2708, www.clearwatersports.com [5], 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Mon.–Fri.; 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sat.; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Sun.), offers scads of gear and all the equipment rentals and guided tours you need to put it to proper use.