Poultney is just minutes away from the New York border and approximately a 30-minute drive southwest of Rutland. It sits in a valley at the base of the Taconic Mountain Range and is in the Lakes Region of Rutland County.

Green Mountain College’s beautiful campus contributes to the quaint downtown Main Street lined with charming shops, friendly eateries, a historical society, and a library. One of Vermont's designated downtowns, the Village of Poultney and the Poultney Downtown Revitalization Committee, is implementing a long term program to restore the historic look and feel of the downtown.

Visitors can also enjoy local performers at outdoor concerts or play golf at the nearby Lake St. Catherine Country Club. On Thursdays during the growing season, the farmer's market offers the best from local farms.

The area that makes up the present-day towns of Poultney and Wells was once claimed by New York and was known as St. Catherine's. Today Lake St. Catherine still bears the area’s former name, and approximately one-third of the lake is located within the Poultney town limits. It is one of Vermont’s most beautiful lakes. It is a great place for fishing, boating and other water sports. A short drive north is Lake Bomoseen, another prominent destination for boaters for over a century.

Both Poultney and East Poultney are listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. The Poultney Historical Society offers guided tours of many of the important historical buildings. Among these are the Union Academy dating to 1791, the Melodeon Factory built in 1840, and the 1896 Victorian School House.

Visitors can also tour one of the museums in East Poultney to learn the history of the slate valley, a history that includes the site of Vermont’s first library, the family of Ethan Allen, and the publishing pioneers George Jones and Horace Greeley. Green Mountain College contributes to the art scene with art shows, plays, and concerts. A visit to the general store in East Poultney is also a must.

The Poultney area is very popular during the fall where visitors can view the spectacular colors along Routes 30, 31 and 140. Green Mountain College hosts a craft fair, a Welsh heritage celebration, and other great events. In early October, the town gears up for the Chili Cook-off and Town-Wide Yard Sale with concerts at Green Mountain College.