Vermont - 30 Great Things To Do in Vermont

Balloons of Vermont Offers Memorable Thrill Ride

The spectacular Quechee Gorge in Central Vermont – sometime called the Grand Canyon of the East – attracts spectators of all kinds. One heart-stopping way to see the gorge and the vast, forested beauty of its surroundings is from a hot air balloon. This is really the adventure of a lifetime. Balloons of Vermont , among other businesses, will take intrepid travelers above the treetops over the Ottauquechee River and the upper valley region for an unforgettable show in the most serene, majestic flying machine knows to man. The Quechee Balloon Festival, with lots of non-ballooning fun, like music, crafts, and children’s activities, takes place June 13-15, 2008, and ballooning will be a central theme, but Balloons of Vermont takes people up over the gorge year-round. It is a thrill. Phone: 802-291-4887.

Buddha and Others Celebrate at Path of Life Garden

The Path of Life is a public sculpture garden in Windsor that tells the story of the great circle of life. Eighteen works of art symbolize the human journey from birth to death and beyond. The garden is located on 14 acres of trails, wildflowers and open spaces on the banks of the Connecticut River. The garden is the creation of Terry McDonnell, whose model for the garden was The Life of Man, a Japanese garden in Kildare, Ireland. Among the objects that McDonnell has assembled for the garden are hemlock trees that compose the maze of Adventure, a large granite Buddha for Contemplation, and a five-piece, 25-foot-tall, band representing Creativity, made from driftwood from California’s Russian River. Come wander, rest, and enjoy a truly Vermont experience. Open year round. Phone: 802-345-5616.

Cheese, Glorious Cheese
 

Cheesehounds, take note. The Cabot Cheese Production plant in Cabot offers a guided tour that allows you to see award-winning cheese being made. You'll learn about cheesemaking, Cabot's history, Vermont agriculture. Following the tour, guests may taste Cabot’s many varieties of cheeses. The tour includes a retail shop, weekly specials on selected cheese products, activity book for kids, and more. www.cabotcheese.com

Have Rolling Pin, Will Travel
 

King Arthur Flour in Norwich does not only produce and sell flour, oh no. At its Baking Education Center, King Arthur teaches classes in baking special delicacies. The Knights of the Round Table never had it so sweet.

Only 32 Rooms?
 

With its majestic mountains, Vermont is a natural home for a castle, and Wilson Castle in Center Rutland is the place. The architectural masterpiece known as Wilson Castle is located on a 115-acre estate. Its 32 rooms are highlighted with 84 stained glass windows and 13 fireplaces finished with imported tiles and bronze. Tours offered late May to late October.

Peaceful Sculpture Garden
 

No, it is not morose to tour a cemetery, especially when the quality of the craftsmanship on display there makes it almost like visiting an art museum devoted to granite sculpture. Situated in the Granite Capital of the World, Hope Cemetery in Barre presents a rich and distinguished history of memorial art in stone.

Prettier Than the Postcard
 

Drive to the town of Weston, park near the town green and simply walk. Tucked away in a valley deep in the spine of Vermont's Green Mountains is a charming village that still takes pride in the time-honored old ways. From the sparkling white churches to the Village Green, the warm inns and the charming shops, Weston is a jewel to be found and enjoyed. Yhis lovely village seems to be virtually untouched by time; in fact, the entire village is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Ribbet
 

Wonderful artwork with a very Vermont-y sensibility can be enjoyed at the Frog Hollow Vermont State Craft Center in Middlebury, located in a historic former mill building that looks out over the Otter Creek Falls. The center features art from artists throughout the state, from pewter and glassware to high-end oil paintings and furniture. Open year-round.

Walk in the Forest
 

The moderate-level hike to Deer Leap at Sherburne Pass at Gifford Woods State Park in Killington should not be missed. The trail leads to a rock outcrop with amazing panoramic views of Coolidge Range, Sherburne Pass, and Pico Mountain.

Wine, Flowers, and Artwork, Too
 

Make a visit to the aptly named Grandview winery in East Calais for wine tasting against a backdrop of flower gardens and displays of work by Vermont artists. Tour the wine making learning center to see the process that turns grapes and simple fruits into distinctive wines.

Antiques Alley
 

Antique hunters need to skip up to the Lake Champlain Islands, where Route 2, which traverses islands, meanders past many, many intriguing shops spilling antiques and other great old things. Two favorites, the local people say, are Tinker’s Barn in South Hero Village and The Back Chamber in North Hero Village.

Cedars Encircle Lovely Grounds of This Park

Expansive lawns are the center piece of the lovely Knight Point State Park in North Hero, on Lake Champlain. The lawn becomes a meadow west of the developed area, where clusters of cedar trees enhance the beauty of the area. The cobbled shoreline west of the swimming beach is home to a diverse group of rare plants. A trail loops around the point to offer scenic lake and shore vistas. The land south of Knight Point is Grand Isle and the channel between the islands is known as The Gut, a navigable route between the main body of Lake Champlain and the lake's inland sea. There is usually plenty of boat traffic to watch. The facilities include a sandy swimming beach, boat rentals, picnic areas, nd cooking grills. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day. Phone: 802-372-8389.

Cottage Gardens Are Home to Flowers, Woods, and More

The colorful, rambling, informal feel of English cottage gardens is perennially popular. The Kingdom Cottage Gardens of Danville are perennial gardens open to the public for free tours on four acres with 1860 Greek Revival farmhouse and guest cottage. These extensive gardens host over 450 varieties of zone hardy plants in beds tucked into wooded areas, open fields, bordering stone walls and in the shade of 200-year-old maple trees. A shady screen house offers a relaxing respite and an 8-foot high bench offers overviews of the gardens and distant mountain vistas. Open May 15 to September 30. Phone: 802-748-4096.

Covered Bridges Galore
 

Vermont has the greatest density of covered bridges in the United States, and the town of Montgomery holds bragging rights as the single town with the most covered bridges. The Montgomery bridges (some with multiple names) are: the Comstock; the Creamery / West Hill / Crystal Springs; the Fuller / Black Falls; the Hectorville / Gibou; Hutchins Bridge; and the Longley / Harnois / Head.

Dogs, Yes; Dogmas, No.
 

After surviving a life-threatening illness, artist Stephen Huneck built a chapel on his mountainside farm in St. Johnsbury dedicated to the love of our dogs. The Dog Chapel is topped with a sculpture of a winged Labrador Retriever that proclaims this place has a special affinity with dogs. Dogs and owners are welcome. Open year-round.

Everything But the Reindeer
 

Vermont is rich with independently owned general stores, and one of the biggest is Willey’s Store in Greensboro, where you can buy anything from ammo to sewing notions to vet supplies (don’t miss the rack of beautiful sleigh harnesses festooned with bells). Willey’s is close to the Barr Hill Nature Preserve, a primo place for hiking, and Caspian Lake, another site for outdoor sport. The store’s own advertising highlights its supplies of “thread pipe, cut screen, 140 styles of winter boots, tees from 40 bendors, and rugged clothing.” Even if your bendor supplies are in good shape, go check it out.

Lucerne of America
 

Take a scenic drive from Lyndonville to Derby in the Northeast Kingdom where you'll see the fjord-like Lake Willoughby, sometimes called the Lake Lucerne of America after a beautiful Swiss lake of that name. Willoughby is long, narrow, deep, and rimmed by mountains, offering spectacular views.

Sip a Little; Stomp a Little
 

Sample some Vermont wine at local winery. In Cambridge, look for Boyden Valley Winery , which is part of a fourth-generation farm in the pastoral Lamoille River Valley. The winery turns Vermont apples and grapes into wines and hard ciders. Plan a visit for the annual harvest festival and stomp a grape for fun the fun of it.

Two Wheels Welcome
 

One of the top-rated regions in the country for mountain biking can be found at and around Burke Mountain and Darling Hill near East Burke. Kingdom Trails is 110 miles of recreational, non-motorized trails through farmland and forest for bicycling and cross-country skiing, designed for people of all levels of ability. Open year-round.

Urban Chic, Outdoors
 

Church Street Marketplace in Burlington, an outdoor pedestrian mall covering four historic blocks in downtown Burlington, offers casual strolling to serious shopping, dining of every description, street vendors, and lots of public events. The shopping and dining are great; strolling and people-watching are entertainment all by themselves.

A Range of Ranges
 

Where can you see panoramic views of the Green, White, Adirondack, Berkshire and Taconic mountain ranges in one trip? Easy. Take a drive up Skyline Drive to the top of Equinox Mountain near Sunderland for a spectacular sunset over the Adirondack Mountains to the west. The route starts at historic Route 7A.

Cookery Store Welcomes Vacationers

You may not have to cook while you’re on vacation, but that doesn’t mean you cannot think about it. J.K. Adams Kitchen Store in Dorset is a three-level cornucopia of tools and resources for the home chef. The staff of 12 people can tell you anything you want to know about cheeses from the neighboring farms to the intricacies of the newest coffee brewer. Throughout the year, J.K. Adams offers tastings of products and demonstrations of the latest gadgets. From time to time, the store sponsors themed cooking workshops offering techniques for home cooks. During the cold months, the Dorset Farmers Market operates an indoor market in this store’s facilities. Phone: 866-362-4422.

Count the Horsetails
 

Moss Glen Falls on Route 100 in Granville is classified as a “horsetail” falls, a description for the many individual streams that create arcs of cascading water around rounded rocks. The falls is photographed in endless guidebooks, but don’t cheat yourself. Take your camera and see the real thing.

Covered Bridge Secrets Unveiled at This Museum

Vermont Covered Bridge Museum in Bennington is the place to peer in, around, and through these small, brilliant gems of early-19th century New England engineering. There is more to a covered bridge – structurally and historically – than meets the eye, and Vermont is the place to learn it. This first and only covered bridge museum in the world opened in 2003 at the Bennington Center for the Natural and Cultural Arts. Topics that the museum explores include The Kissing Bridge, Evolution of Bridges, Truss Designs, A Natural Habitat, Phone: 802-442-7158.

Food as Art
 

Southern Vermont has become increasingly well known as for its fine wines and cuisine. Here are some primo destinations for good cuisine: La Dolce Vita, McNeills Brew Pub, and the Common Ground restaurant, all in Brattleboro; Boccelli’s in Bellows Falls; Maple Leaf Malt & Brewing and Adams Farm , both in Wilmington; Grafton Village Cheese Company and the Old Tavern in Grafton. Grab your napkin.

Gallery Walk
 

Brattleboro is a lovely and artistically hip small town with a classic Victorian Main Street. On the first Friday of each month Main Street turns into a moving party and celebration of the arts during the monthly Gallery Walk. The town's many art galleries are open, street musicians make outdoor music, stores stay open late, and cafes and restaurants fill with art lovers.

Sip Among 360-Degree Views
 

Wine tasting in southern Vermont means a visit to the Honora Winery & Vineyard in the Green Mountains near West Halifax and the North River Winery in Jacksonville, where the winemaker’s art produces 11 wines, including Vermont Harvest, which contains cinnamon and maple syrup, and a rhubarb wine. Open year-round.

Spectacular Sunsets for Hikers and Skiiers
 

Located on top of Rupert Mountain, off Route 315 on Rupert, Merck Forest and Farmland Center is thousands of acres of open land available for hikes and other activities. Parts of the property are actively farmed, with concentration on organic, sustainable agriculture. Wonderful views -- and spectacular sunsets -- for winter hikes and cross-country skiing.

The Name Says It All
 

Basketville in Putney is a browser’s paradise stuffed with vast collections of baskets, wicker furniture, silk flowers and home accents at outlet prices. The place pure Vermont: big, barn-like, and bursting with interesting stuff from country baskets to Nantucket baskets and Shaker reproduction baskets. Many Vermont vacationers make an annual pilgrimage to this historic store. Once you go in, it’s hard not to get hooked.