[Nanny Goat]

I'm from the Phoenix area (11 years), but am originally from the Hudson Valley area (30 years +). I lived in Bennington back in the late 70's only for a year and liked it, although looking back I don't recall alot about it (I used to go to NY weekends).

Does Bennington feel somewhat like NY (Albany area)as I've heard?

Is it true that there's very little shopping there-- you have to go to Colonie/Albany? 30 minutes away or more?

How far is the nearest major city, located in Vermont, from Bennington?

Are the winters basically like Albany winters?We had alot of winters that varied between little snow, mostly freezing rain and a few big snowfalls.

The way people are--more NY ish versus Vermont ish? Or not?

Thanks for your opinions.

[vter]

My parents lived in Bennington until recently and my sister still lives there, so I can help answer a few of your questions.

1. Does Bennington feel somewhat like NY-this answer will vary, but to me it does. It certainly has a different feel that northern Vermont, where i grew up. Your TV news/weather comes out of Albany, radio is out of Albany, though there are a few local radio stations.

2. Shopping - Bennington has a Wal Mart, Kmart, Penney's, Home Depot, as well as many small mom & pop stores. If you want mall shopping, most people head to either the Berkshire Mall near Pittsfield MA (which is small) or over to Crossgates in Albany.

3. Nearest major city in Vermont? We don't have any. Burlington, our largest city has about 40,000 people, with it's "metro" area having about 150,000. It's about 3 hours north of Bennington.

4. Winters like Albany -sorry, don't know that answer.

5. People - like everwhere in Vermont, you have a mix of "natives" and "transplants". Seems to be more transplants in the Bennington/Manchester area from the NYC area as it's the closest part of Vermont to the city.

Hope this helps.

4.

[Nanny Goat]

Thanks for your info.

[Alt Dach]

Winters like Albany? Bennington is less than 40 miles from Albany as the crow flies-
same exact weather.Bennington air is quite bad as its downwind from 700.000 people in capitol area.
Truth be known there is little difference anywhere in US anymore.I travel a LOT and
have done so for over 50 yrs.
IMHO the only places in US they are much different culturally are the Upper Peninsula of MI and cajun land of SW-La. Rural central WI has a "old timey" feel to it as it
still has many family farms like VT did 50 -60 years ago.

[goldenband]

Originally Posted by Alt Dach

Bennington air is quite bad as its downwind from 700.000 people in capitol area.

You think so? I lived there for a good while, and never noticed a problem -- far from it. I think saying it's "quite bad" may be overstating things a bit.

As for winters, I think they're among the mildest you'll find in Vermont -- which is to say that things get chilly, but not as bone-chilling as I've seen elsewhere in Vermont and New Hampshire.

[Alt Dach]

[quote=goldenband;4974421]You think so? I lived there for a good while, and never noticed a problem -- far from it. I think saying it's "quite bad" may be overstating things a bit.

I know so ! I lived with a view of Mt.Anthony from my front window-2 hot days in Summer and you could'nt see the Mt. from 2 miles away thru the air pollution.Same in Arlington BTW

[vter]

I have family in Bennington that have lived there for years and have never heard them complain about poor air quality. Sure, you get those days in the summer where everything is hazy/muggy/smoggy, but that happens everywhere. I guess everyone has different tolerances for that kind of thing.

[Alt Dach]

Originally Posted by vter

I have family in Bennington that have lived there for years and have never heard them complain about poor air quality. Sure, you get those days in the summer where everything is hazy/muggy/smoggy, but that happens everywhere. I guess everyone has different tolerances for that kind of thing.

No doubt. I now live in central Wisconsin in a city 10 times the size of
Bennington where the air quality is much better and there are no hazy/smoggy days.

[ckhthankgod]

Shopping - Bennington has a Wal Mart, Kmart, Penney's, Home Depot, as well as many small mom & pop stores. If you want mall shopping, most people head to either the Berkshire Mall near Pittsfield MA (which is small) or over to Crossgates in Albany.

Wouldn't people go to the outlet mall in Glens Falls or Wilton Mall in Saratoga Springs?

[vter]

Glens Falls and Saratoga are farther from Bennington than Albany. People do go there though.