Great Things to Do in Vermont

Vermont > State > Things to Do and See > 30 Great Things To Do in Vermont

Find fun things to do and places to visit on your Vermont vacation. VT offers attractions for adults, families with kids, and more, like farm and winery visits; nature museums and parks; shopping for Vermont crafts, food, and art; bookstores; mountain walks and scenic drives; maple gifts; skiing and snow sports. Find a cozy B&B and explore! Call ahead to check on scheduling details, especially for outdoor activities.

Follow these links for : Museums & Galleries - Outdoor Adventures - Beach Areas - State & Local Parks

Basin Harbor

4800 Basin Harbor Road Vergennes, VT, 05491 Phone: 802-475-2311 Toll-Free: 800-622-4000

So many fun things to do at this resort by the lake that you’ll have to come back!

There are so many things to do at the Basin Harbor resort that you may have to keep coming back until you’ve done them all! Start with all the water-centric activities at this resort on Lake Champlain: sailing out on a Sunfish or tubing or waterskiing behind a power boat, fishing from a floating dock, paddleboarding or kayaking. Add in the lawn games, from croquet and badminton to giant chess. And the sports, including golf, tennis, basketball, soccer, pickleball. Oh, and there’s a kid’s camp, too. Don’t forget nearby activities: hiking, biking, touring vineyards and breweries, going to ball games, visiting museums. You can relax after your busy day in your private cottage or spacious guestroom. Please review our COVID policies before placing your reservation.

Waterfront & Flowers - Discover Newport, VT

Discover Newport Vermont

So much to do, indoors and out, in Newport Vermont

Deep lakes, scenic mountains, a vibrant downtown and activities to please vacationers all four seasons of the year. Located on Lake Memphremagog, the only New England lake shared with Canada, Newport has great sailing and boating all summer long. Visitors often book a scenic shoreline cruise or Sunday brunch out on water. A new waterfront recreation path offers plenty of outdoor adventures including biking, walking, running, birdwatching or just exploring nature. Take a break in the shade under a lakeside picnic pavilion or head to Prouty Beach for a game of tennis, basketball, or disc golf. Listen to live music near the gazebo or dine and shop downtown at independently-owned shops and art galleries. In winter, Newport, VT offers a variety of outdoor activities including ice fishing, skiing and snowmobiling.

Lake Morey Resort

82 Clubhouse Road Fairlee, VT, 05045 Phone: 802-333-4311 Toll-Free: 800-423-1211

One vacation is not enough to enjoy all the activities at this Vermont lake resort

There are so many fun things to do at the classic Lake Morey Resort, you just may have to keep coming back! On-site activities include kayaking, canoeing and paddle boarding on the lake, as well as pontoon boat tours, water skiing and tubing. (In the winter, you can ice skate on a path along its shore.) Go biking and hiking or, in the winter, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Stroll in a garden, play lawn games, bocce, tennis or pickle ball. Schedule a tee time at the 18-hole championship golf course or plan to swim in the indoor pool or relax in the sauna. There’s a movie theater and billiards room, trivia and live entertainment in the pub and in-season organized kids’ activities.

Scott Farm

707 Kipling Road Dummerston, VT, 05301 Phone: 802-254-6868

Down on the farm, they’re up for some fun-filled activities this year and next

There’s a lot happening down on the farm! At the Scott Farm, there’s everything from monthly crepe nights to movies and concerts (check the website for dates and times), as well as Heirloom Apple Day on Oct. 8. And, of course, starting in 2024, the farm will once again be the happy site for picking your own apples, peaches and pumpkins. In the meantime, stop by the farm’s store, where offerings include fine fruits, homemade baked goods and cider as well as Vermont products from cheese, maple syrup and honey to pottery and wooden cutting boards. Plan for lunch or just a pleasant break at Pippin’s Cafe, where the menu includes sweet and hard cider, coffee, baked goods, sandwiches and, sometimes, even delicious open-faced pies.

Come for the View, Stay for the Experience - Mountain Top Inn - Chittenden, VT

Campers Inn RV - Your Trusted Source Since 1966! Click Here to Explore.

Harpoon Oktoberfest in Boston - September 29-30, 2023 at Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA! Click here for more info & tickets

Spring View - Mountain Top Inn & Resort - Chittenden, VT

Mountain Top Resort

195 Mountain Top Road Chittenden, VT, 05737 Phone: 802-483-2311

Start to make your activities list now if you’re planning a vacation to this full-service resort

You’ll want to start your list of fun things to do now if you are planning a vacation at the Mountain Top Resort, high atop a mountain in central Vermont. Lake and beach activities alone could fill several days: Kayaks, canoes and paddle boards are complementary (grab a lounge chair at the beach shed and a towel at the front desk). There’s also fishing in the lake and the kid’s pond and pontoon boat rides. There’s a nine-hole disc golf course; 60 kilometers of hiking (or, in winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing) trails; tennis, pickle ball and volleyball courts; a heated outdoor pool and year-round hot tub; and horseback riding. Winter activities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, sledding and ice skating

Liberty Hill Farm & Inn

511 Liberty Hill Road Rochester, VT, 05767 Phone: 802-767-3926

Milk a cow, pick berries, ski in the winter or swim in summer: Lots to do at this year-round inn

At the Liberty Hill Farm & Inn, they like to say a visit is like going to your cool grandma’s house: You’ve never slept better, meals are a time to cherish, and there’s a new adventure every day. Milk one of the working dairy farm’s 270 Holsteins, bottle-feed a newborn calf or cuddle with kittens. Pick veggies from the garden or berries from the bushes, reel in a trout or salmon, go for a swim in the summer or build a snowman in winter. The farm’s endless trails beckon cross-country ski and snowshoe fans (local rentals are available, in case you need gear); in the warmer months, visitors go hiking and mountain-biking, stroll through wildflower meadows – or star-gaze at night from a porch rocking chair.

Long Trail Brewery

5520 US Route 4 Bridgewater Corners, VT, 05035 Phone: 802-672-5011

After a day hard at work or play, a riverside brewery that's a great place to unwind

After a long day at work or a fun day spent in the wonderful wilds of Vermont, is there anything better than a frosty glass of beer in the cheerful atmosphere of a local brewery? Long Trail Brewery, on the banks of the Ottauquechee River, is the perfect place to celebrate or just to relax; with a variety of its beers on tap including seasonal selections and limited releases as well as hard cider, wine and soft drinks. In the warmer months you can bring your dog to the outdoor beer garden or settle in with friends in one of the four heated sugar shacks in the winter. And, yes, there is food! A rotating seasonal menu, featuring locally sourced ingredients, includes everything from hearty soups and fresh salads to entrees like turkey Reubens, shrimp po' boys and burgers.

Lake Diving - Northeast Kingdom VT Travel and Tourism Association - Get NEKed

Vermont's Northeast Kingdom

There’s an adventure for absolutely everyone in this exciting region of Vermont

Exciting adventures await in the Northeast Kingdom, home to breathtaking scenery and a hub for outdoor recreation, arts and culture and a growing foodie scene. Ski, snowshoe, bike or hike the region’s gorgeous woodland, lakefront and mountain trails. Spend an afternoon at a farmer’s market (do not leave without maple syrup), in the Museum of Everyday Life or in the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium. Catch a Circus Smirkus or Bread and Puppet performance or an outdoor concert. Go water skiing, fishing, swimming, kayaking or paddle boarding in a pristine lake, take a covered-bridge tour, visit a county fair, go golfing or check out the wide range of dining options, from farm-to-table restaurants to award-winning breweries and old-fashioned diners.

Harpoon Vermont Brewery

336 Ruth Carney Drive Windsor, VT, 05089 Phone: 802-674-5491

Looking for a fun time? Head on over to this brewery, taproom and beer garden

Spend a fun afternoon or evening at the Harpoon Brewery Taproom & Beer Garden in Windsor, VT. Enjoy delicious food and great brews in the inviting taproom or outdoors in the spacious beer garden. Dine on handmade pretzels, wings, burgers, and barbeque with a menu that changes seasonally. Pair them with delicious beers ranging from New England IPAs to stouts from Harpoon, UFO, Clown Shoes, and more. During the winter months, guests can reserve a private outdoor heated hut that seat 6-12 people and features a call light for service, Bluetooth speaker, and group games to enjoy. Look out for special events like live music, ticketed events, and more! You can also rent out private space for your special occasion.

Montshire Museum of Science - Norwich, VT

Play on the Trails, in the Water, at Montshire

Montshire Museum of Science, in the Vermont town of Norwich on the Vermont/New Hampshire border, offers lots of outdoor and nature-enhanced learning for families. Visit to hike the nature trails, which include the Planet Walk, where you can skip among the Sun, the planets, and asteroid belt. Splash in the water play areas of the David Goudy Science Park. Frolic at the The Play Grove. See museum website for hours.

Enjoy Views of the Mountains from Dover

The Dover Town Forest Trail, located near Dover and on the eastern edge of the Green Mountain National Forest, offers an east, three-mile walk along a well-maintained trail that follows an old roadbed along a ridge to the Rock River. The trail offers views of Mount Snow and Haystack Mountain to the west and East Dover and South Newfane to the east. From the center of West Dover, take Valley View Road to Cooper Hill Road. Just before the Cooper Hill Inn turn onto Rice Hill Road. Parking and entry to the forest can be found at the end of Rice Hill Road.

Knight Point Park Is Pure Vermont, With Water Vistas

Expansive lawns are the center piece of the lovely Knight Point State Park in North Hero, on Lake Champlain. 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, a navigable Route with plenty of boat traffic to watch. The facilities include a sandy swimming beach, boat rentals, picnic areas, and grills. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Elegant Consignments, Décor with Pizza, Local Art

Manchester is a place of high culture and good taste, applying across the tableau of vacation experiences, including usually mundane fun like consignment shopping and pizza. For instance, Perfectpiece Consignments on Maine Street in Manchester Village presents high-quality furniture, rugs, and accessories. Choose from 15,000 items in many styles and periods. Open daily. At Depot 62 bistro + café in the Depot District display high-end collectibles, art, and rugs. At Helmolz Art Gallery, the newest member of the Manchester Designer Outlets, artwork from near and far is carefully chosen for your enjoyment.

Trail Foliage - Kingdom Trails - East Burke, Vermont

Kingdom Trails Open All Year to Skiers, Bikers, You Name It

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. In snowy months, bring your cross-country skis or snowshoes and have at it. Fatbiking is big, too! Open year-round but call ahead for temporary restrictions between seasons, when trails are protected.

Lavender Essentials in Northern Vermont

Lavender Essentials of Vermont is a mountain-top lavender farm at 2103 Herrick Road in Derby that invites visitors to enjoy the beauty of farm fields in the Northeast Kingdom along with a palette of sensual pleasures. That includes picking your own lavender; relaxing o tent-covered patios and sampling local chocolates, cheeses, and drinks; and shopping for lavender products at the farm’s retail barn. And that’s just the beginning. The farmers host high tea on Sunday afternoons, yoga classes, wine and cheese tastings, star gazing, children’s parties and scavenger hunts. All lavender-scened, of course. How blissful! Open June-September.

Forest Canopy Walk at VINS

Vermont Institute of Natural Science, or VINS, at 149 Natures Way in Quechee presents a new exhibit Forest Canopy Walk that accommodates people of all physical abilities. Because the VINS property drops in elevation as it slopes toward the backwater of the Ottauquechee River, the boardwalk to the canopy walk remains mostly level while the land drops away beneath. At the highest points, visitors will be 65 feet above the forest floor, sharing the space in the tree tops with birds, squirrels and other treetop life. The canopy walk includes a giant spider’s web and an eagle’s nest. VINS is open year-round, daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Call for canopy walk hours.

Stone Valley Byway Traverses Mountain Slopes

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. A trip on the Stone Valley Byway is highlighted by mountain slopes that provide a dramatic backdrop to the rural landscape and provide access to a host of recreational opportunities. Historic, picturesque towns dot the valley floor, and rich agricultural soils have accumulated alongside the free-flowing Mettawee and Poultney Rivers. Lake St. Catherine, a state park, golf course and many smaller water bodies along the byway corridor are exceptional natural, scenic, and recreational resources.

Beautiful Place, Refined Pottery

The town of Woodstock is as close as you can get to an idyllic New England small town, and it’s all a genuine, working community, with plenty of interesting fun for visitors. The fun includes shopping, because the town and nearby neighbor are home to two refined pottery makers: Farmhouse Pottery, headquartered in Woodstock, and Miranda Thomas Pottery in nearby Bridgewater. Farmhouse describes itself as a place of “old-world potters with simple tools and strong beliefs in process and authenticity.” Its products – like the best-selling bowls, crocks, and candlesticks – are simple and exquisite (802-457-7486). It offers “clay dates,” where guests may work alongside a potter to create their own memento from the studio, Miranda Thomas Pottery in Bridgewater is a traditional workshop studio of experts making and decorating pots by hand. (802-672-5175)

Mad River Antler – How Wild Does That Sound?

If you want to go home from your Vermont vacation with a really Vermont-y artifact, consider a chandelier, lamp, candle holders, or wine rack made from antlers of moose, elk or deer. The artists of Mad River Antler hastily note that that antlers used in these artworks are shed naturally by animals and later retrieved from the forest floor. And the artworks are beautiful. Tour the retail space at Bridge Street Trading Co., 40 Bridge Street in Waitsfield to enjoy this melding of nature and artistry.

Southern Vermont Art Center - Manchester, VT

Wonderful Artwork and Trails for Natural Beauty

The Southern Vermont Arts Center at 930 Southern Vermont Arts Center Drive in Manchester is a respite of natural beauty and human artistry. Located within 100 acres of forest in the Green Mountains, the Center offers a changing exhibitions, a sculpture park, woodland hiking on the Boswell Botany Trail, and live music in the summer at the Arkell Pavilion. Art is on display in the 28-room Yester House Gallery (formerly a mansion) and three other galleries. On the grounds: hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Prepare to be dazzled.

Independent Bookseller Welcomes Book-Loving Folks

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, events such as public readings by authors, a communal gathering place, a resource for children’s literacy, and a useful website. Book lovers looking for things to do who are in or near Montpelier really must visit the store; you will feel right at home. Open daily.

Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm - Waitsfield, VT

Ride the Trails on an Icelandic Horse

The tireless movement of the Icelandic Horse makes it the ideal saddle horse, and you can take a trail ride on the Icelandic at the Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm at 3061 North Fayston Road in Waitsfield, in the heart of the Sugarbush area. The farm hosts full-day and half-day trail rides as well as two- to six-day treks. In winter, the Icelandic Horse is at its best, growing a shaggy coat and reveling in the snow. Rides accommodate all levels of riding skill, including novices. Children over 10 years old with riding experience are welcome.

Spectacular Views, Hikes, Exploration at Merck Forest

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. Visit the farm, explore the forest or stay overnight in a rustic cabin or lean-to. With 30 miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and horseback riding Merck Forest has a multitude of recreational opportunities. Open daily, from dawn to dusk, year-round.

Ranges Upon 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. Begin at the Toll House on Route 7A in Sunderland. As Skyline Drive winds up the mountain, you can see panoramic views of lakes, rivers and towns below. There are many vistas and areas for picnics along the 5.2 mile drive. The road is open end of May to October – closed in winter.

Meet Vermont's Covered Bridges

Few structures in America combine architectural ingenuity, economic necessity, and romantic idealism better than the covered bridge. Covered bridges flourished in the United States in the 19th century. Pennsylvania has the greatest number of covered bridges, and Vermont, with about 104 covered bridges, has the highest number relative to the state’s size. In Southern Vermont, some highlights of the many covered bridges include the Bridge at the Green (Arlington Bridge) in Arlington and the Henry / Burt Bridge in Bennington, which is a short distance from the rebuilt Paper Mill Bridge and the Silk Bridge. Covered bridges offer a wonderful opportunity to stop, take pictures, dip your feet in the river, and even to picnic.

Dive Into the Life of the Mind at the Athenaeum

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum at 1171 Main Street in the northern Vermont town of St. Johnsbury has many great daily activities for adults and kids who want to explore the life of the mind. One example is the Frist Wednesdays series, where experts ramble about interesting topics. Recent topics were Vincent Van Gogh and the Books He Read and Bierstadt’s “Domes of Yosemite,” and the Creation of an American Icon. You can ekep uo with many other topical or quirky subjects by watching the Athenaeum’s Events page.

Mad River; Lovely Byway

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.

Molly Stark Trail - Wilmington, VT - Photo Credit Brattleboro VT Chamber of Commerce

Byway Follows Victory Route of Colonial General

Molly Stark Byway traverses southern Vermont along Route 9 from Brattleboro to Bennington. The byway is named after the wife of General John Stark who led the Colonial militia to a victory at the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777. The Molly Stark Byway winds through valleys and past historic villages, busy downtowns, and the spectacular Green Mountain National Forrest. It is anchored at either end by vibrant historic town centers in Brattleboro and Bennington, and including a classic New England crossroads village in Wilmington in between. (photo: Brattleboro VT chamber of Commerce)

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