A Legacy of Creativity in the
Sugar River Region

Creativity runs deep in the Sugar River Region. On this artistic loop through the region, you’ll start your day in an artisan’s workshop or immersed in a hands-on workshop. Later, wander through sculpture gardens shaped by one of America’s great artists, and step inside a small-town treasure that blends history with imagination. As the sun sets, music rises under a grand tent on a green lawn overlooking the Connecticut River. Whether you’re an artist, an appreciator, or simply curious, this itinerary invites you to follow the threads of inspiration woven through our towns.

Morning:

Watch an Artisan at Work or Be One

Begin your morning at Gibson Pewter, a gorgeous barn-turned workshop in Washington, where Gibson keeps an 18th-century craft alive, turning raw pewter into elegant tableware and ornaments. Or take in an exhibit or a workshop at the friendly Library Arts Center in Newport, where you’ll find the spirit of playfulness and discovery.

Midday:

Step Into a Sculptor’s World

A scenic drive west brings you to Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish, where art, history, and landscape merge. Walk through Augustus Saint-Gaudens’ former home and studios, wander among monumental bronze works that interpret moments of history, and trace pathways through gardens and woods that have inspired generations of artists. Summer brings working sculptors to the grounds through the park’s artist-in-residence program, offering a glimpse of contemporary creativity unfolding in the same spaces where Saint-Gaudens shaped his celebrated works.

Afternoon:

Find Art in Unexpected Places

Continue your creative trail to the Plainfield Town Hall, where the original 1916 Maxfield Parrish–designed stage set captures Mount Ascutney behind a woodland scene. (Visits are by appointment only.) To extend the afternoon, stop in at Five Sisters Farm where Shetland sheep graze and natural and hand-dyed yarn and other sheep-themed gifts and products fill a cozy shop.

Evening:

Let the Music Carry You Into the Night

As the day cools, head to a show at Claremont Opera House, a regional entertainment venue since 1907! Other musical venues include Blow-Me-Down Farm, where Opera North brings music and theater to life each summer under a grand white tent, West Claremont Center for Music and the Arts, the Livery in Sunapee Harbor, and numerous pop-up performances throughout the region.

Inspiration