| In recent years, the grand houses on the hills around QUECHEE, six miles east of Woodstock, have been joined by a proliferation of new condos and second homes. It's all reasonably well landscaped, but a shame nonetheless, and adds nothing to the environs of Quechee State Park, which was created in time to spare the splendors of the Quechee Gorge. A delicate bridge spans the 165ft chasm of the Ottauquechee River, and hiking trails lead down to the park through the fir trees, where you'll find Quechee Gorge State Park, one of Vermont's many state-run campgrounds (tel 802/295-2990 or 1-800/299-3071, www.vtstateparks.com/quechee; $12–19 per night). The Quality Inn, on Hwy-4 between Quechee Gorge and the Timber Village antiques mart (tel 802/295-7600 or 1-800/732-4376, www.choicehotels.com; $75–100), offers the best value accommodation. A waterfall on the river turns the turbines of the Simon Pearce Glass Mill (daily 9am–9pm), housed in a former woolen mill along Rte-4 in Quechee itself. Here, you can watch bowls and pots being made and then eat off them at the on-site restaurant, which serves shepherd's pie and beef-and-Guinness stew for around $12, among other dishes; reservations recommended (tel 802/295-1470).
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