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Are you heading to Vermont and want to know what to do while you’re there? You’ve come to the perfect place!
All the New England states are beautiful and have plenty to offer but I have to admit that Vermont is my favorite. There is just so much to do and it’s such a peaceful place!
Between the mountains, the food, the small towns and the scenery, the Green Mountain State has so much to offer.
In this article, you’ll find 16 of the best things to do in Vermont as well as travel tips.
⛪ 1. Explore the town of Stowe
Stowe is the town most people picture when they think of Vermont, so it’s a great place to start.
You can see it on most Vermont postcards and for good reason, it’s beautiful.
Walk along Main Street and pop into the old-fashioned stores like Shaw’s General Store and Stowe Mercantile.
Head to the viewpoint to see the white Stowe Community Church against the mountains, then, if you have time, hire a bike and ride the Stowe Recreation Path.
You can also visit the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum and go to the ‘Welcome to Stowe’ mural for photos.
You’ll also find the Giles W. Dewey Memorial Bridge which is a pedestrian covered bridge.
🚗 2. Drive Route 100
If you only do one drive in Vermont, make it Route 100.
Nicknamed the state’s “Main Street,” it runs almost the full length of Vermont through the Green Mountains, past small towns, farms, waterfalls and creemee stands.
It’s absolutely stunning during the fall but it’s great all year round.
You don’t have to drive the whole thing, just a few sections will already show you how pretty it is.
📸 3. Wander around Woodstock
Woodstock is one of the towns Vermont is best known for, and it’s a lovely place to explore.
Park near the green and walk to the Middle Covered Bridge, then browse the shops along Central Street and grab a creemee.
There are also loads of nice food options here including the Mont Vert Café.
Just outside the center, the Billings Farm & Museum is a working dairy farm that’s well worth a visit.
PRO TIP: Try to get there early as the shops close quite early in Vermont and there are loads of cute ones you’ll want to check out.
🏛️ 4. Tour the State House in Montpelier
Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the US, and its gold-domed State House is the main sight.
You can take a free tour inside to learn about Vermont’s history and politics, which is genuinely interesting.
Afterwards, wander downtown, or hike up through Hubbard Park to the stone observation tower for the view.
🏔️ 5. Drive Smugglers’ Notch
Smugglers’ Notch (Route 108), just past Stowe Mountain Resort, climbs through a pass squeezed between huge boulders and cliffs.
It’s one of the most scenic roads in Vermont, especially in the fall and it’s much smaller and shorter than Route 100, making it the perfect short scenic drive in Vermont.
The road is narrow and closes in winter, so save it for the warmer months. Please note that some of these bends are very narrow so when you get to Stowe Mountain Village, you’ll find speed bumps that ‘recreate’ the narrowness of the road that’s to come.
If you can’t get through these, you won’t be able to go through Smugglers’ Notch so please bear that in mind.
🍦 6. Tour the Ben & Jerry’s Factory
The Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury is one of the most popular attractions in Vermont.
The famous ice cream brand was originally founded in Burlington but the main factory is now in Waterbury and it has loads to offer including a shop (for ice cream and merch), a factory tour, kids activities, playground and more.
The tour only costs $6 and it’s well worth it. You will go around the factory so you can see how it’s made and packed. You will also be given frozen cookie dough as well as a scoop of the flavor of the day.
Make sure to also check out the Flavor Graveyard (next to the playground) which is where you can find retired flavors with their own headstones.
🚡 7. Ride the Gondola SkyRide in Stowe
Located in Stowe Mountain Resort, the Gondola SkyRide takes visitors all the way up Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in Vermont.
It usually runs from mid-June to mid-October, and the views over the mountains are stunning, especially during the fall foliage.
If you’d rather not take the gondola, you can also drive up the toll road to the top.
🌆 8. Explore in Burlington
Burlington sits on Lake Champlain and is the biggest city in the state which means that’s probably where you will land if you fly to Vermont.
You can walk around the pedestrian Church Street Marketplace for the shops, cafes and street performers, then head down to the waterfront for lovely views across the lake to the Adirondacks (it’s beautiful at sunset).
While you’re there, ECHO, the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, is a fun science and nature center right on the water, especially if you’re traveling with kids.
Burlington also has a great food and craft beer scene, so it’s a good place to stop for dinner.
🐮 9. Meet the highland cows at the von Trapp Family Lodge
Just outside Stowe, the von Trapp Family Lodge is run by the Sound of Music family and built in an Austrian style.
It’s very unique and you will truly feel like you’ve teleported to Austria for a second.
There are loads of walk opportunities here but you can also meet highland cows. They are so cute and kids love them!
You can usually find them in the field near the cafe but don’t hesitate to ask the staff at the shop in case of doubt.
After that, stop at the von Trapp Bierhall for an Austrian-style lager and a bite.
🍎 10. Grab apple cider donuts at Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center is famous for its apple cider donuts, and it’s right on Route 100 between Ben & Jerry’s and Stowe, making it an easy stop on any Vermont road trip.
Here you can watch the cider being pressed, taste it at the tasting tank in the back, and get warm apple cider donuts.
In autumn, pair them with a hot mulled cider. In summer, try a dreemee, which is a creemee inside an apple cider donut.
🛖 11. Stay at the Vikings Villages
For somewhere different to stay, book a night at the Vikings Villages in southern Vermont.
It’s a cluster of Viking-style wooden houses down little dirt roads, with goats wandering the grounds.
We stayed here and loved how tucked-away and unusual it felt. It’s a really fun, memorable place to spend a night.
🧸 12. Tour the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory
In Shelburne, the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory runs fun tours showing how its bears are made. There is also a large shop with all sorts of teddies.
It’s a great stop with kids, but plenty of adults enjoy it too (I did!), and it’s a handy place to pick up a gift.
At the entrance, you’ll also find a mural which is a “Bernie’s Mittens” tribute to the Bernie Sanders meme. Great photo spot as well!
🌉 13. Track down the covered bridges
Vermont has around 100 covered bridges, and tracking a few down is a nice way to get off the main roads.
Look out for the Middle Covered Bridge in Woodstock, the pretty red Taftsville bridge nearby, and the ones around the Mad River Valley.
Keep your camera handy, they make gorgeous photos.
🏞️ 14. See Quechee Gorge
Quechee Gorge, near Woodstock, is the deepest gorge in the state at around 165 feet.
You can look down into it from the bridge on Route 4 in a couple of minutes, or take the trail down to the river for a closer view.
While you’re here, stop at the Simon Pearce mill to watch the glassblowers at work and grab lunch right over the river.
🍁 15. Try a maple creemee
A maple creemee is Vermont’s soft-serve made with local maple syrup, and it’s an absolute must.
You’ll find them at farm stands, general stores and roadside creemee stands all over the state.
Get it in a waffle cone, you won’t regret it.
🧀 16. Visit Shelburne Farms and the vineyard
Shelburne Farms, just south of Burlington, is a 1,400-acre working farm on Lake Champlain, known for its cheddar and its lovely walking trails.
Pair it with a tasting at the nearby Shelburne Vineyard, or a pint at Fiddlehead Brewing next door.
Together they’re a great introduction to Vermont’s farm-to-table side.
🗺️ Map of the best things to do in Vermont
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