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
Places to Eat and Drink In Vermont
Food in Vermont is never far from its source. Farmstands and country cafés keep meals tied to the land, while mountain towns serve hearty plates after long days outdoors. In the cities, breweries, markets, and restaurants balance tradition with new ideas, often with a nod to what’s seasonal. Whether you’re sipping cider on a hillside, sharing pie at a diner counter, or waiting in line for ice cream on a summer night, eating in Vermont feels both grounded and neighborly.
Family-Friendly Favorites
Country cafés with wide tables, market stalls where kids can pick their own snacks, and roadside kitchens that keep the menu simple.
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Mon Vert Café – Woodstock, VT
A bright, easygoing café known for good coffee, hearty breakfasts, and a steady stream of familiar faces. Mornings here feel relaxed and neighborly, even when the line stretches a bit.
Roadside Classics
Diners with chrome stools, barns-turned-eateries, and small-town counters that make you feel like a regular.
Date-Worthy & Romantic
Candlelit meals in village inns, cozy taverns with fireplaces, and patios overlooking rolling hills or lakes.
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The Prince & The Pauper Restaurant – Woodstock, VT
A warm, intimate restaurant serving thoughtful Vermont dishes under soft light and polished wood beams. It’s easy to see why locals keep it to themselves.
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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.
Wineries & Breweries
Cider houses tucked into orchards, breweries in old barns, and vineyards with sweeping mountain views.
Sweet Spots
Ice cream stands with lines out the door, bakeries that smell like butter and maple, and candy shops that feel like stepping back in time.
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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.