Vermont - 30 Great Things To Do in Vermont in Central

Stone Valley Byway Traverses
Mountain Slopes and Rural Landscapes

Vermont Route 30, spanning Manchester to Poultney through the Mettawee Valley, is now the Stone Valley Scenic Byway. Traveling the byway takes you through an area with a rich history in slate and marble production. You'll also be traveling through beautiful scenery with a wealth of recreational, and cultural amenities. Historic, picturesque towns dot the valley floor, and rich agricultural soils have accumulated alongside the free-flowing Mettawee and Poultney Rivers. See Map.

Tea and Roses in Old-Fashioned Comfort

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Rose Arbor bed-and-breakfast and gift shop and tea room at 55 School Street in Chester recalls a pace of life from an earlier and gentler era. The restaurant serves lunch as well as a formal afternoon tea, described as a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds. The dessert teas served here have won rave reviews from international travel writers and tea aficionados. Scones are always on the menu, along with an assortment of homemade desserts. Lunch or tea at the Rose Arbor is a fun and genteel way to celebrate with friends and family. Phone: 802-875-4767.

Vermont and New Hampshire Both
Host this Scenic National Byway

The Connecticut River National Byway is a two-state byway spanning the east and west shores of the Connecticut River in Vermont and New Hampshire. Along this byway, you may drive across a covered bridge built in 1866, visit a museum of machine tools, and wander through restored historic railroad stations. Comfortably spaced along the byway are Waypoint Centers that provide a wealth of information to travelers. This byway starts at its south end on U.S. 91 at the Massachusetts-Vermont border and follows the river northward for about 120 miles to St. Johnsbury, where U.S. 91 turns northwest, away from the river. See map.

A Stirring Show of Freedom and Unity

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The Vermont History Museum’s award-winning permanent exhibit, “Freedom and Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories,” is a multimedia exhibit that displays Vermont's history from 1600 to the present, fills 5,000 square feet in the Pavilion building at 109 State Street in Montpelier. Visitors see a full-sized Abenaki wigwam, a re-creation of the Catamount Tavern where Ethan Allen's Green Mountain Boys gathered, a railroad station complete with a working telegraph and a WWII living room furnished with period music and magazines. Open year-round, Tuesday-Friday. Phone: 802- 828-2180.

A Store Brimming with Food, Gifts,
and Vermont Tradition

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Deli, wine shop, bakery, general store, overall friendly place. The Warren Store on Main Street in Warren Village has been described as “…not just a store; it's a living, breathing, Vermont spirit." Open 363 and one-half days a year, Warrne Store serves food, of course, and tempts shoppers at the upstairs “More Store,” packed with quirky toys for kids of all ages, clothing for men and women, jewelry, cards, gifts, and house wares. Hours: Opens at 8 a.m.; closes at 6 or 7 p.m. Phone: 802-496-3864.

Artwork With Soul in the Vermont Heartland

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Studio Place Art is a vibrant community center for the visual arts, offering workshops, classes, and a gallery of changing exhibits that is open to the public. The gallery is housed in a restored historic building on North Main Street in Barre. The geography and culture of central Vermont are integral to the art shown here. To see art that expresses the heart of central Vermont, visit here. Hours: Year-round, Tuesday-Saturday. Phone: 802-479-7069.

Corn Maze provides “Food for Thought”

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Boasting Vermont’s largest corn maze, Hathaway Farm Corn Maze on Prospect Hill Road in Rutland is all about about buying local and eating clean. There will be some clues scattered throughout the maze. Also, watch for the opportunity to search for eight hole punches of different shapes. The grassy meadow is in the maze again this year, with Adirondack chairs to sit down, relax and enjoy the mountain views. On Saturday nights during Moonlight Madness, visitors may view the night sky. Moonlight Madness is every Saturday night. The Mini-Maze is a much shorter adventure designed for toddlers and young folks to have fun exploring paths and finding their way through a smaller place than the big maze. Open through October 31, 2010. Cost: adults, $10; children, $8. Phone: 802-775-2624.

Grand View; Great Taste

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Grand View Winery on Route 100 in Waterbury Center is a family-owned farm winery that produces grape wines and wines from fruits that grow easily and naturally in Vermont. While focusing on fruits that grow easily in Vermont, Grand View produces wines that are not overly sweet. The vineyard’s Strawberry Rhubarb Wine was featured on the NBC Today Show. Moreover, the vineyard is set amid 50-mile views, and replete with flower gardens. Take a lunch to enjoy with a selected wine while sitting outside. The retail shop and tasting room, at the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, are open daily, year round. Phone: 802-456-7012

Great Waterfalls: Falls of Lana

Replete with dramatic twists and turns, the Falls of Lana in Salisbury, Vermont have been likened to a giant staircase and bannister made of stone. The drop totals 160 feet in all, and this breathtaking cascade makes it worthwhile to those brave enough to climb the steep terrain leading up to the viewpoint. To Find It: Take Route 7 south from Middlebury to Salisbury, where you will turn east on Route 53 heading to Lake Dunmore. Follow Route 53 for about 3 miles, until you cross Sucker Brook, and you'll see a powerhouse on your right. Park here in an unobtrusive way. Follow the penstock up the hill until you see a wire fence on your left. This is the cliff-top viewpoint of the middle tier.

Have Rolling Pin, Will Travel

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King Arthur Flour in Norwich is about much more than just producing and selling flour. Its headquarters on Route 5 is the home of the company’s school, bakery, and retail store. The Baker’s Store is packed with everything you need for your very best baking, from hard-to-find ingredients, innovative gadgets, and top-quality pans, to easy mixes and a huge selection of baking basics. Grab a cup of coffee and pastry from the café as you browse the aisles; relax and check your email on free WiFi. Open daily. The company also offers plenty of classes for bakes who want to rise in the craft. Phone: 800-827-6836.

Independent Bookseller
Welcomes Book-Loving Public

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Bear Pond Books on Main Street in Montpelier presents a slogan “Celebrating 35 years of independent book selling in central Vermont,” and it takes pride in every word. The business opened in 1973 and has endured flooding, a major move to a beautiful historic building, and other ups and down. It offers customers a well-read staff, public readings by authors, a communal gathering place, a resource for children’s literacy, and a useful website. Book lovers who are in or near Montpelier really must visit the store; you will feel right at home. Open daily. Phone: 802-229-0774..

Mad River; Lovely Byway

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Among the country’s wonderful National Scenic Byways is the Mad River Byway, which travels along two of Vermont's most scenic roads, Routes 100 and 100B. Towns and villages along this byway include Middlesex Village (Route 2); Moretown (Route 100B); Waitsfield, Warren, Granville Gulf Reservation (Route 100); Fayston, and Buels Gore to the top of the Appalachian Gap (Route 17). The byway is heavily salted with classic New England landscape and architecture - mountain ridgelines, a winding river, hillside farms, and steepled villages. See map for overview.