The Upper Valley is one of the rare places where you can enjoy both the benefits of urban and rural living. Nestled in between the White and Green Mountains, the Upper Connecticut River Valley runs along three-quarters of the Vermont / New Hampshire border. Centered in the valley, clustered around the main regional highway and rail junctions are a neatly spaced collection of small towns: Lebanon, Hanover, White River Junction, Hartford, Norwich,… the list goes on.
This cluster of small towns is supported by a wide variety of institutions and industries: an Ivy League college, a regional medical center, civilian and defense industries, and of course, Banwell Architects. Because of this diversity of commerce and culture, the Upper Valley has a rich offering of options for anyone looking to get a little culture, but also a little fresh air. Where else can you see the Metropolitan Opera broadcast live, ride your bike home afterwards, and still have enough time to chop firewood to stoke the wood stove?
Of course, we aren’t immune to the one inescapable fact of working life: commuting. However, we have options. The website, Zimride.com offers support for finding carpools throughout the region. Advance Transit runs an extensive free bus service. Bike commuting is possible for most of the year (year-round for those hardy individuals). I regularly run home along a 5 mile trail though the woods and hills between work and my apartment. Recently, I also realized that I could conceivably paddle home on the Mascoma River. All I need now is a white water kayak.
