Things to Do in Vermont
Ten stops running from an ice cream factory tour that ends with real free samples to a covered bridge count that runs higher per square mile than almost anywhere else in the country.
Vermont runs a proper depth beyond what the quiz already covers, this list heads toward a working ice cream factory, a lake shared with both New York and Canada, and a fall foliage season that draws visitors from well beyond New England specifically to watch it happen. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour
The original Ben & Jerry's factory, still in active production, runs guided tours covering the ice cream-making process, ending with a real sample of whatever flavour happens to be running that day. The Flavor Graveyard, a small hillside plot with mock tombstones for discontinued flavours, complete with properly witty epitaphs, remains a proper, free stop beyond the paid factory tour itself.
This runs particularly well for kids, the factory viewing windows and the free sample at the end both hold attention considerably longer than a standard factory tour would.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-7pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury, VT
Stowe & Smugglers' Notch
Stowe runs as one of Vermont's most established ski towns, home to Mount Mansfield, the state's tallest peak, alongside a properly charming village centre that predates the ski industry by well over a century. Smugglers' Notch, a narrow mountain pass nearby, winds through dramatic rock formations tight enough that larger vehicles are banned entirely, a proper scenic drive during the warmer months when it's open.
This works well across seasons, skiing through winter and hiking or driving the Notch through summer, check current road conditions given the pass closes entirely with snow.
Best time Winter for skiing; June-October for the Notch road
Address Stowe, VT
Shelburne Museum
A properly unusual museum spread across 45 acres, 39 historic buildings relocated here from across New England, including a real steamboat, a round barn, and a full 1890s general store, alongside a substantial folk art and quilt collection. This runs considerably larger than most visitors expect, allow a full day given how much ground the campus actually covers.
The steamboat Ticonderoga, moved here entirely overland in an engineering feat of its own, remains one of the museum's most significant single artefacts, prioritise it if time is limited.
Hours Seasonal, roughly May-October, check current schedule
Address 6000 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT
Vermont's Covered Bridges
Vermont holds one of the highest concentrations of covered bridges anywhere in the country, over 100 still standing, several dating back to the 19th century and still carrying regular vehicle traffic today rather than existing purely as museum pieces. The Cornish-Windsor Bridge, the longest two-span covered bridge in the country, connects Vermont to New Hampshire directly across the Connecticut River.
A self-guided driving route can link together several bridges in a single day, plan a loop through the state's central counties if the bridges themselves are the draw.
Best time October for foliage framing the bridges
Address Covered bridges statewide
Lake Champlain
A large lake forming much of Vermont's western border, shared with New York and extending north into Quebec, considerably less crowded than similarly sized lakes elsewhere in the country. Ferries cross regularly between Vermont and New York, a proper, scenic way to experience the lake directly rather than only viewing it from shore.
The Lake Champlain Islands, a chain of islands connected by causeways, run a considerably quieter, more rural stretch that rewards exploring if you'd rather avoid the busier Burlington waterfront.
Best time June-August for swimming and boating
Address Lake Champlain, VT
Vermont Cheese Trail
Vermont runs a properly significant dairy and cheesemaking tradition, over 200 farms and creameries producing cheese across the state, several small enough to offer tastings directly on the farm rather than through a retail middleman. Cabot Creamery, the state's most widely recognised name, runs a factory tour covering the production process at a considerably larger commercial scale than the smaller farms.
This trail runs well as a self-guided driving route, pick a handful of stops within a manageable radius rather than attempting the whole trail in a single visit.
Address Vermont Cheese Trail, statewide
Church Street Marketplace, Burlington
Burlington's main pedestrian shopping street, closed to vehicle traffic and lined with independent shops, restaurants, and street performers, a proper lively centre for Vermont's largest city, itself still a properly small city by national standards. This runs well for an evening stroll and dinner, considerably more urban energy than most of the rest of the state offers.
The waterfront, a short walk from Church Street, runs a proper bike path along Lake Champlain, a good combination with a marketplace visit and a walk down to the water if the weather cooperates.
Address Church Street Marketplace, Burlington, VT
Vermont's Fall Foliage
Vermont's autumn foliage draws visitors from well beyond New England specifically to see it, sugar maples in particular turning properly vivid shades of red and orange across the state's rolling hills each late September into October. Scenic byways like Route 100, running the length of the state through several ski towns, offer some of the more reliable, well-regarded driving routes for the display.
Book accommodation months ahead if visiting during peak foliage weeks, this remains one of the busiest, most heavily booked periods anywhere in Vermont's tourism calendar.
Best time Late September-mid-October, timing shifts slightly year to year
Address Route 100, statewide
Montshire Museum of Science
A properly hands-on science museum overlooking the Connecticut River, exhibits covering natural science and physics through direct, interactive experimentation rather than passive viewing, an outdoor science park extends the exhibits into the surrounding woods and riverbank. This runs well for a full family day, considerably more nature-integrated than a typical indoor science museum.
This works particularly well for a range of ages, the outdoor trails and water-based exhibits hold attention for younger kids while the physics demonstrations engage older visitors too.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-5pm
Address 1 Montshire Rd, Norwich, VT
Green Mountain National Forest
A vast protected forest running much of the length of Vermont, roughly 400,000 acres of hiking trails, including a significant stretch of the Appalachian Trail and the state's own Long Trail, the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the country. This runs well for hikers of a range of abilities, short day hikes to swimming holes sit alongside considerably more demanding multi-day backcountry routes.
Texas Falls, a scenic, easily accessible waterfall within the forest, offers a proper short hike payoff without requiring serious backcountry experience.
Best time June-September for the fullest trail access; October for foliage
Address Green Mountain National Forest, VT
Best time to visit Vermont
June through October covers the most comfortable window for the majority of this list, mild enough for the outdoor stops without winter's real cold.
Late September through mid-October specifically suits the state's fall foliage, plan well ahead if that's the priority for your trip, this remains the busiest booking period statewide.
Getting around Vermont
A car is essential, the distances between Burlington, Stowe, and the southern part of the state run into a couple of hours each, this is a state best covered with your own transport.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Vermont worth visiting beyond maple syrup?
- Yes, easily, the fall foliage, the covered bridges, and Lake Champlain all offer a completely different picture of the state than syrup alone.
- How many days do you need in Vermont?
- Five days gives a comfortable pace to cover Burlington, Stowe, and either the covered bridge route or Lake Champlain.
- Is Vermont expensive to visit?
- Moderate, accommodation runs considerably pricier during peak foliage season specifically, though the rest of the year stays reasonably affordable.
- What's the best Vermont trip for kids?
- The Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour and the Montshire Museum of Science both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state that runs considerably deeper than its maple syrup reputation.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
