Welcome to the bigroads.com travel guide to Vermont! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Vermont.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
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Just about everyone loves Vermont for one reason or another. It's a beautiful state, renown for its green forests, ski areas, waterfalls, swimming holes, and progressive cities. Just about every highway seems like a scenic highway in the state. I might just retire there.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN VERMONT
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Vermont? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Vermont, in no particular order:
✮ Stay in or near Stowe and enjoy its hiking trails, paved bike path, waterfalls, shops, and restaurants
✮ Ski Killington Resort, the largest ski resort in Vermont and one of New England's best
✮ Drive as much of VT 100 / Route 100 as possible in early October to see prime fall foliage
✮ Explore Burlington, one of America's favorite medium-sized cities
✮ Visit the Shelburne Museum, an outstanding American history museum with several buildings (and a steamboat) full of exhibits
✮ Hike a portion of the 270+ mile Long Trail
✮ Take a factory tour at Ben & Jerry's in Waterbury
✮ Find some of Vermont's secret swimming holes
✮ Go mountain biking on the Kingdom Trails in East Burke
✮ Walk around Woodstock, one of New England's prettiest towns
For a list of 10 great attractions in each U.S. state, click here.
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN VERMONT
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Vermont. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Vermont bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern Vermont (including Burlington, Shelburne, Stowe, and Waterbury)
✮ Alchemist Brewery, Stowe - one of Vermont's most famous breweries
✮ ArborTrek Canopy Adventures, Stowe - awesome aerial adventure park
✮ Ben & Jerry's Waterbury Factor Tour & Ice Cream Shop, Waterbury - home of the famous ice cream chain; don't miss the flavor graveyard
✮ Bingham Falls, Stowe - one of the most picturesque waterfalls in New England; short but at times steep hike required
✮ Burlington - one of America's best small cities; great waterfront, tons of parks and bicycling trails; many nearby breweries
✮ Camel's Hump - some of the best and most challenging hiking in Vermont; Vermont's finest undeveloped alpine summit
✮ Church Street Marketplace, Burlington - outdoor pedestrian shopping & dining mall
✮ Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Waterbury Center - famous bakery selling all sorts of Vermont goods (e.g. cider donuts, fresh-pressed cider, etc.)
✮ Cold Hollow Sculpture Park, Enosburg Falls - a growing but already impressive outdoor sculpture park
✮ Island Line Rail Trail / Colchester Causeway, Burlington - this is arguably Vermont's best cycling trail; views of Lake Champlain
✮ Moss Glen Falls, Stowe - one of the best waterfalls in Vermont; a short hike with one semi-steep section is required
✮ Mount Mansfield, Stowe - hike to the highest point in Vermont; the hike can be shortened if you drive up an auto road in season
✮ Shelburne Farms, Shelburne - excellent working farm / educational center
✮ Shelburne Museum, Shelburne - perhaps the finest "Americana" history museum in the U.S.; of one of my favorite museums in New England
✮ Smugglers Notch State Park, Stowe - scenic drive with access to boulder caves, hiking trails, and remote ponds
✮ Stowe - Vermont's most famous town; awesome skiing and hiking; surrounded by beautiful Vermont mountains
✮ Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe - Vermont's most elite ski/snowboard resort; gondola rides in summers
✮ Stowe Recreation Path, Stowe - attractive paved bike path that cuts through the heart of Stowe
✮ Sunset Drive-In Theatre, Colchester - one of the last and best drive-in movie theaters in New England
✮ Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe - famous Austrian-inspired mountain resort
✮ Vermont Teddy Bear Company, Shelburne - store and experience selling extremely high-quality teddy bears
✮ VT 100 Highway - Vermont's most scenic drive; drives along the spine of the Green Mountains; many attractions en route
✮ VT 108 Highway - scenic drive from Stowe to Jeffersonville through Smuggler's Notch (open seasonally)
✮ World's Tallest Filing Cabinet, Burlington - famous roadside attraction of a tall colorful stack of filing cabinets
✮ Waterfront Park, Burlington - boardwalk, sailing lessons & kayak & canoe rentals; close to the tourist areas of Burlington
Northeastern Vermont (including Jay and St. Johnsbury)
✮ Cabot Visitor Center & Tours, Cabot - tour this famous cheese factory and consume some samples
✮ Craftsbury Outdoor Center - some of the best cross-country skiing in New England
✮ Dog Chapel, St. Johnsbury - a dog-themed chapel; dogs are welcome here and it's pretty much heaven for them
✮ Jay Peak, Jay - one of the best ski resorts in New England; there's also a huge indoor water park
✮ Jay Peak Pump House, Jay - arguably the best indoor water park in New England
✮ Lake Willoughby, Westmore - Vermont's prettiest big lake; hike up Mt. Pisgah for fantastic views
✮ Mountain biking the Kingdom Trails, East Burke - one of the best places in the U.S. to go mountain biking
Central Vermont (including Middlebury, Montpelier, Rutland, and Woodstock)
✮ Ascutney State Park, Windsor - awesome hiking to scenic views atop Mt. Ascutney; a hang-gliding hot spot; has a campground with lean-tos
✮ Barlett Falls, Bristol - one of New England's most famous swimming holes; it's huge and there's room for all
✮ Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock - working dairy farm with various animal and farming history exhibits
✮ Camels Hump State Park - this undeveloped mountain has excellent hiking trails; the 360-degree view from the summit is amazing
✮ Harpoon Brewery, Windsor - one of Vermont's most famous breweries
✮ Killington Resort, Killington - the largest ski resort in Vermont, and many would say the best one too
✮ Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, Woodstock - historic mansion tours and hiking trails
✮ Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich - very good science museum with many hands-on exhibits
✮ Moosalamoo National Recreation Area - don't miss hiking to the Falls of Lana and Silver Lake
✮ Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Montpelier - one of Vermont's most famous maple farms
✮ Moss Glen Falls, Granville - the most photogenic waterfall in Vermont; viewable from roadside
✮ Otter Creek Brewing, Middlebury - one of Vermont's most famous breweries
✮ Quechee Gorge, Quechee - the most famous canyon in Vermont; good views from a bridge over the canyon; several tourist shops next to it
✮ Quechee Gorge Village Antique Mall, Quechee - my favorite antique shop in Vermont (and one of the best antique malls in New England)
✮ Rock of Ages Visitor Center & Quarry Tours, Barre - tour the largest operating deep-hole, dimension granite quarry in the world
✮ Simon Pearce Restaurant and Mill at Quechee - famous restaurant and home decor store in a 19th century mill that overlooks a dam/waterfall
✮ Sugarbush Farm, Woodstock - working cheese factory and maple syrup sugar house
✮ Sugarbush Resort, Warren - one of Vermont's best ski/snowboard resorts
✮ Texas Falls, Hancock - short walk to scenic gorge with waterfalls
✮ Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), Quechee - 47-acre nature center with live bird programs; great for kids
✮ Vermont Toy Museum, Quechee - one of the best toy museums in the U.S.; nostalgia runs strong here!
✮ VT 100 / Route 100 - Vermont's most scenic drive; drives along the spine of the Green Mountains; many attractions en route
✮ Woodstock - widely considered one of America's prettiest towns; great restaurants and shops; close to Quechee Gorge
Southern Vermont (including Brattleboro and Manchester)
✮ Bennington Battle Monument & Museum, Bennington - 306-foot monument with an observation deck that provides views of three states
✮ Downtown Brattleboro - historic downtown with boutique shops, art galleries, and several great restaurants
✮ Fly-fishing near Manchester - some of the best fly-fishing in New England
✮ Hildene, Manchester - tours of the lavish home of the son of Abraham Lincoln
✮ Land Rover Experience, Manchester - off-roading driving in a Land Rover; this activity is offered by the Equinox Resort
✮ Lye Brook Falls - one of Vermont's best waterfalls; moderate hike required
✮ Manchester - has an attractive downtown area with shops and restaurants; upscale resorts; great hiking and fly-fishing nearby
✮ Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, Stratton - European-village style ski/snowboard resort; the best ski resort in southern Vermont
✮ Vermont Country Store, Rockingham - famous and very large country store
✮ VT 100 / Route 100, Rockingham - Vermont's most scenic drive; drives along the spine of the Green Mountains; many attractions en route
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Vermont? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
For a list of 5-star attractions in neighboring states, click on any of these links:
MA |
NH |
NY
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN VERMONT
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These towns and cities in Vermont are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Brattleboro - a small town that has a lively historic downtown area with several shops, restaurants, and art galleries
✮ Burlington - a medium-sized city on Lake Champlain that is famous for its hip/eclectic college-town atmosphere, breweries, bike paths
✮ Manchester - an upscale small town with a lively downtown that has several shops and restaurants; a famous fly-fishing destination
✮ Middlebury - a small college town with an attractive historic downtown area; several breweries; access to Green Mountain National Forest
✮ Stowe - an awesome small ski town with great scenery, hiking, and skiing/snowboarding; has a nice paved bike path; close to many breweries
✮ Woodstock - a quaint small town with many Federal and Georgian-style homes; has a lively downtown area with shops and restaurants
My favorite city in Vermont is Burlington - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
My favorite small town in Vermont is Stowe - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there
If you like waterfalls, visit Stowe.
If you like breweries, visit Burlington.
If you like mountain biking, visit East Burke or any one of Vermont's ski resorts that have mountain biking trails (many do).
If you like skiing, visit Jay, Killington, Manchester, or Stowe.
If you like fly-fishing, visit Manchester.
If you like waterfalls, visit Stowe.
If I could select only one place to visit in Vermont, I would choose either Stowe or Burlington. It's simply too difficult to pick one or the other since they are so different. Stowe is fantastic if you love the outdoors (e.g. hiking, waterfalls, etc.). Burlington is one of the best small cities in the U.S.
Click here if you'd like to see a complete list of towns and cities that I find interesting across the entire USA.
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WHAT IS VERMONT FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Vermont is famous or well-known for:
✮ breweries
✮ cheese
✮ clapboard houses
✮ covered bridges
✮ fall foliage
✮ green mountains
✮ hippies
✮ maple syrup / maple sugar
✮ marble
✮ mountain biking (e.g. Northeast Kingdom trails)
✮ no billboards allowed on highways law
✮ red barns
✮ skiing/snowboarding
✮ swimming holes
✮ waterfalls
✮ white churches
Click here if you'd like to explore what other U.S. states are famous for.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN VERMONT
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There are no national parks or national monuments in Vermont. There are some other federally-managed parks and properties though, including:
National Recreation Areas
✮ Moosalamoo National Recreation Area - don't miss hiking to the Falls of Lana and Silver Lake
✮ Robert T. Stafford White Rocks National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Green Mountain National Forest - many of the best hiking trails in Vermont are found within this national forest
National Wildlife Refuges
✮ Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Appalachian National Scenic Trail
✮ Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
For more information on Vermont's national parks, visit the Vermont page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all U.S. national parks, click here.
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Vermont has more than 50 state parks, and they are exceptionally well-managed by the state. Many would agree that these represent Vermont's finest state parks:
Flagship / Premier State Parks:
✮ Camel's Hump State Park, Duxbury - undeveloped state park with excellent (but challenging) hiking trails to the best mtn summit in Vermont
✮ Mount Ascutney State Park, Windsor - great hiking trails to scenic views and waterfalls; a hang-gliding hot spot; campground with lean-tos
✮ Quechee State Park, Quechee - Vermont's most famous canyon; trails lead up and down the river
✮ Smugglers' Notch State Park, Stowe - narrow passage through the Green Mountains; access to great hiking and some boulder caves
Other Notable State Parks:
✮ Jamaica State Park, Jamaica - hiking and biking trails along the beautiful West River; hike to Hamilton Falls; campground w/lean-tos
✮ Mt. Philo State Park, Charlotte - scenic views of Lake Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains of NH; small campground w/lean-tos
✮ Underhill State Park, Underhill - great hiking trails to the summit of Mt. Mansfield, the highpoint of Vermont; small campground w/lean-tos
My favorite state park in Vermont is Smuggler's Notch State Park. Some of the best hiking trails in the state stem from this state park (such as Sterling Pond and the super-steep Hell Brook Trail to Mt. Mansfield).
There are many state parks in Vermont that are situated alongside beautiful lakes and ponds. Some of these have nice swimming beaches. I haven't listed any of these state parks in the lists above, simply because there are many of them. Branbury State Park, Elmore State Park, and Silver Lake State Park are three great parks that come to mind, but there are more.
One of my favorite things about the Vermont state parks are the campgrounds. They are some of the nicest, cleanest, and quietest campgrounds anywhere. And most offer many lean-to shelter sites, which are very popular. If you've never camped in a lean-to before, it's something you should definitely try. It takes the worst part of camping...rain...out of the equation.
To see my list of the top 100 state parks in the country, click here.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN VERMONT
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Vermont has several hundred natural waterfalls. Here are many of the best waterfalls in Vermont:
Northern Vermont
✮ Bingham Falls, Stowe
✮ Bolton Potholes, Bolton
✮ Moss Glen Falls, Stowe
Central Vermont
✮ Barlett Falls, Bristol
✮ Buttermilk Falls, Ludlow
✮ Falls of Lana, Salisbury
✮ Glen Falls, Fairlee
✮ Moss Glen Falls, Granville
✮ Old City Falls, Strafford
✮ Texas Falls, Hancock
✮ Thundering Brook Falls, Killington
✮ Warren Falls, Warren
Southern Vermont
✮ Hamilton Falls, Jamaica
✮ Lye Brook Falls, Manchester
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Vermont, visit the World Waterfall Database or the New England Waterfalls website.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN VERMONT
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Vermont:
✮ Auto Toll Road, Stowe - a seasonal 4.5-mile dirt/gravel road that climbs up most of Mt. Mansfield; you can continue on foot to the summit
✮ VT-100 - a 217-mile paved route along the spine of the Green Mountains; this is Vermont's most scenic drive; many attractions are en route
✮ VT-108 - a seasonal 18-mile paved road from Stowe to Jeffersonville through Smuggler's Notch; don't miss Bingham Falls and Sterling Pond
For a list of great scenic drives in each U.S. state, click here.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN VERMONT
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Vermont has several great rail trails (or paths that are similar to rail trails) for cycling and walking, including:
✮ Island Line Rail Trail / Colchester Causeway in northern Vermont (including Burlington)
✮ Lamoille Valley Rail Trail in northern Vermont
✮ Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail in northern Vermont
✮ Stowe Recreation Path in Stowe (northern Vermont)
For more information on rail trails in Vermont, visit the website of the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN VERMONT
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Vermont only has a limited number of amusement parks. These amusements parks include:
✮ Jay Peak Pump House, Jay - giant indoor water park
✮ Santa's Land USA, Putney - small holiday-themed park
For a great list of amusement parks in all the New England states, visit the Yankee Magazine website.
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Vermont has several excellent museums. The best museums in Vermont include:
✮ American Precision Museum, Windsor - historical machines and tools in a former armory
✮ Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock - working dairy farm with various animal and farming history exhibits
✮ Hildene, Manchester - tours of the lavish home of the son of Abraham Lincoln
✮ Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, Woodstock - historic mansion tours and hiking trails
✮ Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich - very good science museum with many hands-on exhibits
✮ Rock of Ages Visitor Center & Quarry Tours, Barre - tour the largest operating deep-hole, dimension granite quarry in the world
✮ Shelburne Museum, Shelburne - perhaps the finest "Americana" history museum in the U.S.; of one of my favorite museums in New England
✮ Vermont Marble Museum, Proctor - world's largest marble exhibit
✮ Vermont Toy Museum, Quechee - one of the best toy museums in the U.S.; the nostalgia will run strong here!
In my opinion, the best museum in Vermont is the Shelburne Museum. I think it's one of the finest American history museum in the U.S. At this museum, you walk through various historic buildings and a steamboat on beautiful grounds. It's a can't-miss Vermont attraction.
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BEST DAY HIKES IN VERMONT
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Vermont has hundreds of miles of hiking trails, and there is good hiking to be found all over the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Vermont:
Northern Vermont (including Stowe)
✮ Bingham Falls, Mount Mansfield State Forest, Stowe - short hike to a beautiful waterfall; hike requires descending a steep rock staircase
✮ Camel's Hump, Camel's Hump State Park, Duxbury - several challenging trails elevate you to Vermont's best undeveloped mountain summit
✮ Mount Elmore, Elmore State Park, Elmore - great views from a firetower (hike required)
✮ Mount Hunger, C.C. Putnam State Forest, Stowe - moderately challenging hike to one of the best views in the state
✮ Mount Mansfield, Stowe - the highpoint of Vermont; several challenging trails lead to the summer (most difficult = Hell Brook Trail)
✮ Mount Pisgah, Willoughby State Forest, Sutton - stunning views of Lake Willoughby, Vermont's prettiest big lake
✮ Sterling Pond, Smugglers' Notch State Park, Stowe - moderate hike to a beautiful remote pond
✮ Stowe Pinnacle, C.C. Putnam State Forest, Stowe - great moderate hike to scenic views of the town of Stowe; Stowe's best moderate day hike
✮ Wheeler Mountain, Willoughby State Forest, Sutton - stunning views from rock ledges
Central Vermont
✮ Killington Peak, Green Mountain National Forest - hike up to scenic views on one of Vermont's 4000-footers
✮ Mount Abraham, Green Mountain National Forest - great views from one of Vermont's 4000-footers
✮ Mount Ascutney, Mount Ascutney State Park, Windsor - moderately hike to scenic views from a observation platform
✮ Mount Philo, Mount Philo State Park, Charlotte - scenic views of Lake Champlain Valley and the Adirondack Mountains of NH
✮ Sunset Ledge, Breadloaf Wilderness - hike the Long Trail to gorgeous views; moderate rock scrambles required
Southern Vermont
✮ Hamilton Falls, Jamaica State Park, Jamaica - moderate hike to one of Vermont's best waterfalls
✮ Lye Brook Falls, Green Mountain National Forest - moderate hike to one of Vermont's best waterfalls
✮ Stratton Mountain & Stratton Pond, Green Mountain National Forest - challenging day hike to scenic views and a remote pond; can be backpacked
The highpoint of Vermont is Mt. Mansfield (4,395'). Reaching this summit requires a challenging but rewarding day hike. There are several trails to the top, including trails that start from Smugglers' Notch State Park (on the east side) and Underhill State Park (on the west side). For an easier journey to the summit, you can drive the Auto Toll Road ($$) in Stowe partway up the mountain and then hike to the top from there.
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN VERMONT
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Vermont offers excellent backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Vermont include:
✮ Appalachian Trail (the entire 150-miles within the state or just part of it; the first 100 miles coincides with the Long Trail)
✮ Long Trail (the entire 272-miles or one of 15 commonly defined sections of it; the first 100 miles coincides with the Appalachian Trail)
✮ Lye Brook Wilderness near Manchester
For more information on backpacking in Vermont, visit the New England Waterfalls website.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN VERMONT
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Vermont offers many excellent adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backcountry skiing in Bolton Valley
✮ Backcountry skiing in Willoughby State Forest
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Long Trail (the entire 272-miles or one of 15 commonly defined sections of it)
✮ Backpacking the Lye Brook Wilderness / Stratton Pond
✮ Bouldering in Smuggler's Notch State Park
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Connecticut River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Lamoille River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Missisquoi River
✮ Canoe/kayak camping in Green River Reservoir State Park
✮ Cross-country skiing the Catamount Trail
✮ Cross-country skiing the Craftsbury Outdoor Center in Craftsbury
✮ Cross-country skiing to the huts of the Vermont Huts Association
✮ Cross-country skiing Timber Creek
✮ Cycling the Island Line Rail Trail / Colchester Causeway near Burlington
✮ Cycling the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Missisquoi Valley Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Stowe Recreation Path
✮ Day hiking Camel's Hump
✮ Day hiking Mount Mansfield
✮ Dog-sledding in Eden Mills
✮ Driving around and searching for some of Vermont's many covered bridges
✮ Driving around and searching for some of Vermont's many secret swimming holes
✮ Hang-gliding in Ascutney State Park in Windsor
✮ Hot air ballooning in Essex
✮ Ice climbing in Lake Willoughby State Forest / Mount Pisgah
✮ Ice climbing in Smugglers' Notch State Park
✮ Kayaking Lake Champlain in or near Burlington
✮ Mountain biking the Bolton Valley Resort trails
✮ Mountain biking the Green Mountain Trails near Pittsfield
✮ Mountain biking the Killington Resort trails
✮ Mountain biking the Kingdom Trails & Mount Burke (in the "Northeast Kingdom" region)
✮ Mountain biking the Mount Snow Bike Park
✮ Rock climbing the Bolton Crags
✮ Rock climbing Deer Leap in Killington
✮ Sailing Lake Champlain in/near Burlington
✮ Snowmobiling in the Northeast Kingdom
✮ Snowmobiling in Plymouth
✮ Whitewater rafting the West River
✮ Whitewater kayaking the White River
Vermont is one of the best places to go mountain biking in the U.S. Many of the ski resorts offer lift-serviced trails, and the Kingdom Trails in the Northeast Kingdom are legendary.
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There are many excellent ski resorts in Vermont, and some are among the finest ski resorts in the eastern U.S. These ski resorts are generally considered the best in Vermont:
Premier Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Jay Peak, Jay - 81 trails; 2,153ft vertical drop; 3,968ft summit
✮ Killington Ski Resort - 155 trails; 3,050ft vertical drop; 4,241ft summit
✮ Mount Snow Ski Resort - 86 trails; 1,700ft vertical drop; 3,600ft summit
✮ Okemo Mountain - 119 trails; 2,200ft vertical drop; 3,344ft summit
✮ Smugglers Notch - 78 trails; 2,610ft vertical drop; 3,640ft summit
✮ Stowe Mountain - 116 trails; 2,160ft vertical drop; 3,719ft summit
✮ Stratton Mountain - 99 trails; 2,003ft vertical drop; 3,875ft summit
✮ Sugarbush Resort - 111 trails; 2,600ft vertical drop; 4,083ft summit
Other Notable Ski/Snowboard Resorts:
✮ Bolton Valley - 71 trails; 1,654ft vertical drop; 3,150ft summit
✮ Burke Mountain - 50 trails; 2,011ft vertical drop; 3,267ft summit
✮ Mad River Glen - 45 trails; 2,037ft vertical drop; 3,637ft summit
Killington is considered by many to be the best ski resort in the state, but it can get insanely crowded on weekends and holiday weeks. I personally like Stowe Mountain the best, although I have only skied about half of the resorts you see listed above so far.
Mad River Glen feels like a million miles from anywhere and is famous for its mostly ungroomed expert terrain.
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For offbeat and unique Vermont attractions, visit one or both of these amazing websites: Atlas Obscura and Roadside America
If you want to visit Vermont for the first time, and you have a full week to spend, I would consider following this plan/route (in this exact order) and visiting somewhere between July and mid-October:
✮ Start in Burlington
✮ Explore Burlington and Shelburne - 2-3 days
✮ Drive this route: Take US -7 south from Burlington/Shelburne; turn left onto VT 125 and drive east to Hancock; turn left and take VT 100 north to Waterbury and Stowe. Along the way, visit the town of Middlebury and stop to see these great waterfalls: Texas Falls, Moss Glen Falls-Granville, and Warren Falls - 1-2 days
✮ Explore Waterbury, Stowe, and Smuggler's Notch State Park - 2-3 days
✮ Finish in Burlington
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN VERMONT
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Vermont:
✮ cheddar cheese apple pie
✮ cremees (maple-flavored soft serve ice cream)
✮ maple syrup / maple sugar
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Vermont (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each of the 50 U.S. states, click here.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Vermont (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY VERMONT INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Vermont:
State Capital:
Montpelier
Major Airports:
Burlington International Airport (BTV)
Largest Cities:
Burlington (45,209), South Burlington (20,770), Rutland (15,669), Essex Junction (10,854), Bennington (8,739), Barre (8,379), Winooski (8,143)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-89, I-91, I-93
State Highpoint:
Mount Mansfield (4,395') in northern Vermont; a challenging day is hike required; an auto-road is open seasonally and although it doesn't drive all the way to the top of the mountain, it does make the hike significantly shorter & easier)
Professional Sports Teams:
None
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Satans Kingdom
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Moss Glen Falls in Granville, Vermont (visible from highway VT 100)
Ben & Jerry's Waterbury Factor Tour in Waterbury, Vermont
Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont
near the summit of Camel's Hump, Vermont
steamship at the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne, Vermont
many of Vermont's state parks offer these awesome lean-to camping sites, Vermont
one of many covered bridges in Vermont
Bingham Falls in Stowe, Vermont
views from the firetower in Allis State Park, Vermont
bowling ball pyramid roadside attraction on VT 58 in Lowell, Vermont
one of several awesome "creemee" stands in Vermont (this one is in Bristol)
Branbury State Park in Salisbury, Vermont
Island Line Rail Trail near Burlington, Vermont
giant stack of filing cabinets in Burlington, Vermont
In addition to the information found on my website, I personally recommend purchasing these road trip/travel-related guidebooks. Click on any book cover to read reviews and/or purchase these books on Amazon.com.
 
 
 
 
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MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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