Southern

American Museum of Fly Fishing

Route 7A Manchester, VT 05254 Phone: 802-362-3300

Open: Year-round, daily, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed major holidays

The American Museum of Fly Fishing, home to the world’s largest collection of angling art and angling-related items, brings the history of fly fishing alive for anglers and others. The museum contains an impressive exhibit gallery space, a library and reading room, a museum store, and other resources. The exhibit’s opening section contains an illustrated timeline, which takes the visitor from Aelian’s comments on fly fishing in 200 A.D. to the developments and issues surrounding the sport today. Cost: Adults, $5; children over age 10, $3.

Ball Mountain

Jamaica, VT Phone: 802-874-4881

The US Army Corps of Engineers Ball Mountain Dam Flood Control project has mountain and lakeside scenery. Visitors will enjoy hiking and nature trails, and cross-country skiing in the winter. Hunting for big and small game, as well as waterfowl, is permitted.

Southern Vermont Natural History Museum

Route 9 Marlboro, VT 05344 Phone: 802-464-0048

Open: Late October through Memorial Day; hours vary; please call ahead.

This natural history museum in the foothills of the Green Mountains offer mounted specimens of 600 native New England birds and mammals as well as live hawks and owls. The museum presents an amphibian and reptile exhibit and a wildflower exhibit in the summer and fall. A good side trip is a hike up nearby Mount Olga. The museum has one of the largest collections of mounted birds to be found in New England, containing over 600 birds in 100 small dioramas. Raptor center has live exhibits of owls and hawks. Cost: Adults, $5; children, $2; seniors, $3.