There is no other community in Vermont that has evolved more dramatically in recent decades than Manchester. It has been a favorite summer resort since the Civil War, and Presidents Taft, Grant, and Theodore Roosevelt have all stayed in the area. More recently, Manchester has become a popular place to stay in the winter while skiing at nearby Stratton and Bromley Mountains, or on southern Vermont's finest cross-country trails. Manchester Bed and Breakfast Inns are some of the finest in the area, offering a variety of amenities ranging from in-room two person whirlpools, fireplaces, and sweeping views of both the Green and Taconic Mountains. The area offers a wide range of excellent restaurants, from cafes and casual dining, to upscale restaurants and a French Bistro. Manchester boasts upwards of 50 outlet stores, including Banana Republic, Yves Delorme, Coach, J. Crew, and many more. In additional to the outlets, there are also many specialty stores and unique Vermont-based business. These include The Northshire Bookstore, an independently owned bookstore complete with an entire floor for children, a music department, and a café, and Frog Hollow, a gallery of artwork, sculptures, glasswork and more from Vermont's finest artists. Manchester Bed and Breakfast Inns offer visitors a unique place to stay while in the area. The town’s lodging invites visitors to come into their homes just as they would their own and many say “they come home to Vermont.” Most Inns and Bed and Breakfasts are within two miles of town, and in additional to shopping there are a myriad amount of activities for the culture lovers. The Southern Vermont Arts Center, a Georgian Revival Mansion, is home to an impressive collection of art works and also showcases many talented artists from all over, as well as special exhibits which change yearly. Also, visitors can enjoy a variety of summer concerts at the Riley Rink at Hunter Park, or visit one of the state’s two premier theaters, the Dorset Playhouse and the Weston Playhouse. Many Manchester Bed and Breakfast Inns offer itineraries of driving tours, antiquing routes, hikes, or off the map spots for a swim. Some other area activities include, but are not limited to, golfing at the renowned Equinox Golf Course, the only public course in the area, driving to the top of Mount Equinox, the summit of which is 3825 feet, canoing down the BattenKill river, or taking a Back Road Discovery Tour of southern Vermont, learning about local history and other interesting little-known facts about the area.