The Travelers’ Field Guide toVermont
Discover Vermont’s Hidden Gems and Unique Attractions
Vermont feels like a state built for slowing down. Country roads twist through covered bridges and rolling hills, villages gather around church steeples and general stores, and mountains frame the horizon in every direction. You’ll find trails that lead to overlooks, farmstands that feel like community hubs, and small-town festivals that seem to bring everyone out to the green. From winding backroads to crisp mountain air, the Green Mountain State turns everyday moments into part of the trip.
UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2025
Things to Do In Vermont
Vermont is small in size but rich in variety. You can spend the morning wandering farmers’ markets or art galleries, hike a mountain trail by afternoon, and end the day around a woodstove or firepit. Each season brings its own rhythm—maple runs in spring, lake days in summer, leaf-peeping drives in fall, and snowy slopes in winter. Whether you’re after art, shopping, festivals, or the outdoors, Vermont makes it easy to slow down and stay present.
Arts & Culture
Barns turned into theaters, galleries tucked into village greens, and craft fairs that make art feel neighborly.
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Billings Farm & Museum – Woodstock, VT
A working dairy farm where Vermont’s agricultural past is still very much alive. Between the historic barns, grazing Jersey cows, and seasonal programs, it offers an easygoing look at rural life in every season.
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Simon Pearce – Quechee, VT
A working glassblowing studio where craftsmanship unfolds in real time above the Ottauquechee River. Between the glow of the furnaces, the steady rush of the waterfall, and the thoughtfully designed gallery and restaurant, it’s a stop that feels both creative and grounding.
Shopping
Country stores with creaky floors, roadside stands piled with local goods, and downtown shops filled with handmade treasures.
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Simon Pearce – Quechee, VT
A working glassblowing studio where craftsmanship unfolds in real time above the Ottauquechee River. Between the glow of the furnaces, the steady rush of the waterfall, and the thoughtfully designed gallery and restaurant, it’s a stop that feels both creative and grounding.
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F.H. Gillingham & Sons – Woodstock, VT
A classic Vermont general store where everyday provisions and local specialties share the same well-worn shelves. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, browse a little longer, and leave with something you didn’t plan to buy.
Events
Fairs on town greens, harvest suppers, music festivals, and winter carnivals—traditions that carry from one season to the next.
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Simon Pearce – Quechee, VT
A working glassblowing studio where craftsmanship unfolds in real time above the Ottauquechee River. Between the glow of the furnaces, the steady rush of the waterfall, and the thoughtfully designed gallery and restaurant, it’s a stop that feels both creative and grounding.
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F.H. Gillingham & Sons – Woodstock, VT
A classic Vermont general store where everyday provisions and local specialties share the same well-worn shelves. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, browse a little longer, and leave with something you didn’t plan to buy.
Outdoor Adventure
Ski slopes, hiking ridgelines, bike paths, and quiet lakes—all part of Vermont’s year-round connection to the outdoors.
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Simon Pearce – Quechee, VT
A working glassblowing studio where craftsmanship unfolds in real time above the Ottauquechee River. Between the glow of the furnaces, the steady rush of the waterfall, and the thoughtfully designed gallery and restaurant, it’s a stop that feels both creative and grounding.
-
F.H. Gillingham & Sons – Woodstock, VT
A classic Vermont general store where everyday provisions and local specialties share the same well-worn shelves. It’s the kind of place that invites you to slow down, browse a little longer, and leave with something you didn’t plan to buy.