Vermont is the top producer of maple syrup in the country because of the maple trees that transform the state's autumnal landscape into a riot of color. From late February to early April, when the sugar houses are fully boiled and you can taste the golden syrup being created, is the best time to visit for the whole maple experience. Parties centered around "sugaring off" and the snow-covered chewy sweets are popular during that time. Many farms offer horse-drawn sled or wagon rides into the grove, sometimes known as a sugar bush, and others offer hot cider and fresh cider doughnuts.

Two of these farms are open all year round for visitors to explore, learn about the procedure, and sample syrup and other maple-derived goods. You may sample maple products and view exhibits on tapping trees and manufacturing syrup at the 8th-generation family-owned Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks in Montpelier. A variety of maple treats and other goods created in Vermont are available in the gift store. Additionally, there is an outdoor museum of Vermont farm life. You may sample cheese and maple syrup, two traditional Vermont goods, at Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock. Both are manufactured at a third-generation farm, and you can observe the cheesemaking process if it is happening in the dairy. Samples of jams, mustards, smoked meats, and other locally produced treats are also available in the shop. Views from the hilltop location are stunning.

Guided tours begin in the woodshed theater, where colorful videos and live presentations give guests the history of Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, and end with a delicious sweet treat. Visitors will also be able to walk along their nature trail, check out whimsical carved folklife figures created by Burr Morse, and explore the outdoor Vermont farm life museum and country store.

Location: 1168 County Road, Montpelier, VT

Website: https://thevermontmaplefarm.myshopify.com/

Phone: (802) 222-1654

TripAdvisor Rating: 5.0/5.0

After the War of 1812, Barre saw the establishment of granite quarries, which are still in use today. You can tour the Rock of Ages quarry, the largest quarry in the world at 450 feet deep, 550 feet long, and a quarter of a mile wide. The incredibly fine grain of barre granite makes it the stone of choice for intricate, long-lasting exterior sculpture, such as monuments and architectural details. While there, in addition to visiting the quarry and workshops, you may bowl on what is thought to be the only outdoor granite lane in the world and sandblast your own granite keepsake.

Many of the skilled stone carvers that came to Barre were from Italy, as might be expected, and you can see examples of their work in Hope Cemetery and public statues. This is covered in intricate carvings made by stonecutters in the early 20th century, emphasized by some amazingly lifelike sculptures and by images representing occupations or hobbies, such as a soccer ball, an oil tanker, or an outdoor scene with a fishing pole.

Address: 558 Graniteville Road, Graniteville, Vermont

Phone: +1 802-476-6245

Google rating: 4.8/5.0

The massive National Forest of Vermont is divided into two parts by the mountain range that runs through the middle of the state, making it difficult to travel from east to west. Nearly all of the routes that traverse these mountains pass through gaps, which are better for admiring the landscape than for winter travel. Some of these roads are even completely closed throughout the winter. For the remainder of the year, use them to find waterfalls, campgrounds in national forests, picturesque spots for picnics, hiking routes, and a world of nature. The Long Trail traverses the mountain range the entire length of the state, from the Canadian to the Massachusetts border. The Appalachian Trail passes through the southern portion of the National Forest.

The "Skiers' Highway," also known as Route 100, connects many of Vermont's ski resorts, from Mount Snow to Stowe and Jay Peak, as it winds its way north through the mountains. Route 73 travels over Brandon Gap, Route 125 goes over Middlebury Gap (passing Texas Falls), and Route 17 ascends Appalachian Gap, the highest pass that is open in the winter at 2,356 feet. Route 9 travels through the Green Mountains in the south.

Location: 231 N Main St, Rutland, VT 05701

Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/gmfl

Phone: +1 802-747-6700

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

The museum, endowed by the proprietor of Fairbanks Scales, covers topics ranging from Vermont wildflowers to the mysteries of the universe while exuding all the charm and curiosity of an old-time Victorian museum without the mustiness. The National Register of Historic Places-designated 1891 structure houses many of the expected displays, such as mounted birds and animals, Native American stone tools, and Civil War artifacts, in addition to a number of surprising surprises. Consider the odd assortment of Victorian pictures of Washington, Lincoln, and other figures that are made completely of insects and beetles.

The live broadcast studio for Vermonters' preferred weather program, Eye on the Sky, is a popular tourist destination. A hands-on nature center with wasp hives, frogs, iguanas, and other spooky creatures that kids enjoy is located downstairs. Programs in the planetarium look at the sky above St. Johnsbury and beyond. The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, which is across the street, has the oldest art gallery in the country that is still in its original shape thanks to the 1873 addition of its Art Gallery. American and European artists from the late 18th to the middle of the 19th century are represented in the collection. A walking tour map of Main Street, which is available at the museum, describes these and other exceptional examples of Victorian architecture.

Location: 1302 Main Street, St. Johnsbury, Vermont

Website: https://www.fairbanksmuseum.org/

Phone: +1 802-748-2372

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Lake Champlain, which sits primarily in Vermont and stretches 120 miles between Vermont and New York with its northern point in Canada, is popular with tourists because of its recreational opportunities, wildlife, and historical attractions. More than 8,000 square miles make up its watershed. Its 587 miles of shoreline, most of which are unspoiled, are a haven for animals and one of the best spots in Vermont to go sailing, canoeing, or kayaking. 318 different bird species depend on Lake Champlain in Vermont, while 81 different fish species inhabit its waters.

A 20-foot serpent-like creature is also said to swim in the lake, according to Samuel de Champlain, after whom the lake was named. His was the first documented sighting of what is now known as "Champy," but it was by no means the last. From one of the many lake cruises, or even from one of the three ferries that travel from Charlotte, Burlington, and Grand Isle to the New York side, you might be able to see it.

Its shore and surrounding wetlands are protected by a number of wildlife reserves, notably the Dead Creek WMA, where tens of thousands of migratory snow geese stop to rest in late October. At the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center on Burlington's waterfront, you may learn more about ecology. The Lake Champlain Maritime Museum in Vergennes, which has a view of Basin Harbor, examines the lake's significance to the American Revolution and the War of 1812. Visit Mount Independence as well, a significant sister fort to Fort Ticonderoga in New York across the lake that was assaulted in July 1777. Discover more in the visitor center, then use the trail maps with historical information to explore the 400-acre park.

Location: New York/Vermont in the United States; and Quebec in Canada

Website: https://www.lakechamplainregion.com/

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

The functioning farm and the Victorian home on the hill above are both included in the only national park in America that focuses on land stewardship, and they are both surrounded by formal gardens created by some of the country's top landscape architects. The finest examples of Victorian art, such as Tiffany & Co. stained glass windows and embossed wallpaper, are used to embellish the Queen Anne-style palace. The Rockefellers' collection of Hudson River School artists' works is also on exhibit at the home.

Frederick Billings, a rail mogul, and subsequently the Rockefellers, who shared their commitment to land conservation, both used this site to carry out their plans. You can hike the trails of Mount Tom, where park rangers can describe forestry procedures and assist with identifying flora and trees near the routes. Themes like gardening, forestry, and their connection to conservation are included in tours of the Rockefeller mansion and grounds, which are packed with artwork. Woosdtock's 506 On The River Inn, which is reasonably priced and welcoming to families, includes contemporary rooms and verandahs with views of its six-acre gardens.

Visitors can take part in a wide range of seasonal activities, including as ranger-led tours of the mansion and park, interactive workshops in the forests, and year-round special events like ones that explore connections to the Underground Railroad. Visitors can take in the breathtaking scenery by walking, hiking, skiing, or snowshoeing through sugar maple groves, along Mount Tom's mild slopes, next to a mysterious pond, or along carriage paths through the woods.

Location: River Road, Woodstock, Vermont

Phone: +1 802-457-3368

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

The "Little Grand Canyon of Vermont" views of the Ottauquechee River are breathtaking. There are hiking and walking trails. Buying anything from our Gorge Gift Shop. Exit 1 off of I-89. Go on Route 4 three miles west. The gorge is the deepest gorge in Vermont at 165 feet. It is a well-liked tourist destination in Quechee State Park and is seen from a trail and the US Route 4 bridge. The Ottauquechee River, which runs through the gorge's bottom, is a well-liked swimming spot.

The lowest portion of the gorge can be seen from the water level at the bottom of the gorge, where a trail descends through the forest next to the rim. The wonderful Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences (VINS), a wildlife facility where injured raptors are treated and released back into the wild, is close to the gorge and is also located on Route 4.

Visit Quechee Gorge Gifts and Sportswear, one of Vermont's oldest and most prestigious family-owned and run gift shops, to honor your loved ones, friends, and traditions. You can buy souvenirs from Vermont, such as glassware, novelty bear, moose, and deer statues, as well as stuffed animals and an entire section of children's toys. Additionally, there is a wide selection of clothing for the entire family, including t-shirts and sweatshirts. There are Minnetonka moccasins in every size and color.

Location: Route 4, Quechee, Vermont

Phone: (802) 295-6852

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

The president's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, traveled to Manchester with his mother just before his father was killed. In the early 20th century, after he had been named president of the Pullman Company, he went back to start the Georgian Revival Hildene as his country residence. Hildene is decorated with a number of items from Mrs. Lincoln's family and serves as a great illustration of residences constructed as getaways for the families of wealthy magnates. His renowned stovepipe hat is among President Lincoln's personal items.

The beautiful dining room with Queen Anne-style furnishings and the operating, 1,000-pipe Aeolian organ from 1908 are other attractions. The house's original furnishings and artifacts were kept because the Lincoln family owned it until 1975. Using photographs of the original plantings, the formal gardens on the terrace overlooking the wide valley have been rebuilt.

You can stay in one of the numerous opulent mansions wealthy businessmen in Manchester have erected in Manchester. The Ormsby Hill Inn, close to Hildene, is now a posh bed and breakfast.

The magnificent 400-acre grounds, which contain the mansion and 13 historic structures, can now be seen independently or with a guide. The formal garden, a 1903 Pullman car, an observatory, a facility for creating goat cheese and dairy products using solar power, and a historic carriage barn were among the attractions. The numerous walking trails that wind throughout the property will undoubtedly appeal to visitors.

Location: 1005 Hildene Road, Manchester, Vermont

Phone: +1 802-362-1788

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

A working farm, forest, and National Historic Landmark totaling 1,400 acres, Shelburne Farms serves as the site for a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting education for a sustainable future. They offer young people the chance to learn about the requirements for building a sustainable society.

Visitors can take advantage of the property's year-round walking trails, onsite inn, and environmental education programs in addition to visiting the property. Between May and October, there are guided tours of the property available. Additionally, visitors can participate in cheese manufacturing, see the historic farm barn, which includes a seasonal children's farmyard, and have lunch at the Farm Cart. One of the top Vermont attractions is Shelburne Farms.

Location: 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT

Phone: 1 802-985-8686

Google rating: 4.7/5.0

Stowe Mountain Road ascends past Stowe Mountain Resort, where a gondola transports skiers and tourists to the summit, then up the shoulder of Mount Mansfield as it leaves Stowe. Beyond the resort, the road becomes narrower as it winds through one of Vermont's most captivating natural landmarks, Smugglers' Notch. Only one car can get around several curves on the road that winds upward through this pass between Mount Mansfield and Spruce Peak because it is so narrow and winding.

When the road closes shortly after the ski area in the winter, snowplows cannot pass through it. Throughout the remaining months of the year, you can leave your car parked, explore the paths that wind through this enormous pile of glacial granite, and find the caverns where 19th-century smugglers once hid. The glacier paused here during the previous ice age, breaking the mountain ledges and sending them into the notch, where they were sculpted and tumbled by additional glacial action. This is how the caves and enormous boulders were created.

Mansfield is Vermont's tallest mountain, and at the peak you may hike beyond treeline for more than two miles while taking in the expansive vistas. There are just two locations in Vermont where the unusual arctic-alpine tundra can be found. There are several ways to get to its summit. At the base of Smugglers' Notch, the Long Trail crosses Route 108 before beginning a steady ascent of 2.3 miles to the ridgeline. Topnotch Resort, with mountain vistas, three pools, a full-service spa, and a fine-dining restaurant, is a magnificent base for exploring the area close to where the Long Trail crosses Route 108 at the base of Smugglers' Notch.

Location: Lamoille County, Vermont

Website: https://vtstateparks.com/smugglers.html

TripAdvisor Rating: 4.6/5.0

The 306 feet 4 and 1/2-inch-tall Bennington Battle Monument was finished and dedicated in 1891. It is made of magnesian limestone, which is a light blue color. The Battle of Bennington, which took place on August 16, 1777, and is regarded as the turning point in the Revolutionary War, is commemorated by the monument, which was erected in its honor. It is owned by the State of Vermont and supported by a volunteer non-profit organization called The Friends of the Monument. The public is invited to a number of events that are planned at the monument each year.

This triumph for the Americans was thereby made possible. It is one of the best things to do in Vermont. By taking an elevator to the summit for views, you can avoid climbing the monument's 412 stairs. The adjacent Bennington Museum is primarily recognized for its sizable collection of Grandma Moses' schoolhouse painting workshop and early folk art creations. The museum's holdings of Bennington ceramics, furniture, toys, American glassware, and Victorian quilts are also particularly impressive. Fine art and artifacts from the Colonial and Civil Wars are also present.

The ground-breaking museum is also renowned for housing the most comprehensive biographical and genealogical research library in the area focused on Vermont and New England families. Visitors can also enjoy the 235-foot-long, planted George Aiken Wildflower Trail in Hadwen Woods, which is close to the museum.

Location: Route 9, Bennington, Vermont

Website: http://www.benningtonbattlemonument.com/

Phone: +1 802-447-0550

Google rating: 4.6/5.0

One of the best outdoor history museums in the nation, Billings Farm & Museum is a short, picturesque stroll from the heart of Woodstock, Vermont. Billings Farm & Museum is dedicated to delivering education and fun to visitors of all ages by combining a fully-operating Jersey dairy farm with educational exhibits, interactive programs, and events.

The Billings Farm & Museum, which spans the broad, level terrain of the Ottauquechee River valley, continues the educational purpose of Frederick Billings, a former owner of the farm and the woodlands above it that are now a part of the national park. Billings established the farm to show the value of ethical environmental measures in livestock husbandry.

The operating farm still teaches visitors about Vermont farming and rural living in the past, before much of the work was done by modern machinery. You can take a tour of the farm manager's home and dairy, go to livestock barns, observe cows being milked, create your own butter, and take part in interactive activities to learn other traditional rural skills. Modern exhibits on ice harvesting, maple sugaring, and other farm activities are spread throughout the museum building.

Visitors can take in the thorough exhibits of artifacts, images, and oral histories that depict the seasonal activities that shaped the history and culture of rural Vermonters inside. Visitors will also get the opportunity to interact with the farm's award-winning draft horses, sheep, and Jersey dairy cows.

Location: 69 Old River Road, Woodstock, Vermont

Website: https://billingsfarm.org/

Phone: +1 802-457-2355

Google rating: 4.6/5.0

The farmers' market in Brattleboro, Vermont, is the model for others in a region noted for its small farms and agriculture. Southern Vermonters use it as more than just a location to buy freshly harvested produce from small independent local farmers; it serves as a social gathering spot, a meeting spot, a Saturday lunch stop, and a regular part of their weekend schedule. Along with flowers, artisanal breads, farm cheeses, handcrafted soap, local honey, maple syrup, pottery, jewelry, fashionable scarves, and French pastries, you'll discover both your old favorites and all the newest trendy varieties of vegetables. Be sure to arrive around noon, when there is almost always live music and possibly Morris dancers on the shady grass.

For consumption at picnic tables among the trees, several vendors provide cooked delicacies. Savory stews from Mali, Thai noodles, Lebanese dolmas, and even Breton crepes might be available. The market relocates to a Main Street location indoors during the winter. One of the few industrial towns in Vermont, Brattleboro is a cultural and social phenomenon. It was also where back-to-the-landers settled in the 1960s and '70s and never left. Here, the arts are thriving, and you may choose from a variety of gallery openings, plays, classes, community action meetings, concerts, public forums, and other events every night of the week.

Location: Route 9, West Brattleboro, Vermont

Website: https://www.brattleboroareafarmersmarket.com/

TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5/5.0

Stowe is everyone's idea of Vermont thanks to its covered bridge, white-spired church, worn-out farms, and ski trails that descend the mountainside. It is one of the best things to do in Vermont. It is also the town that best exemplifies the heyday of Vermont's early ski industry, a tradition that is examined here in the Vermont Ski Museum. It is located at the foot of Mt. Mansfield and in the center of the state's snow belt.

Even though a rope tow was erected in 1937 and passionate skiers had ascended the mountain long before that, the first chairlift was opened in 1940, which is when things truly took off. You'll discover stores and boutiques, art galleries, food options, and lodging of various kinds; it's not just about skiing. The Helen Day Art Center displays artwork by Vermont-based artists. The 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path is a paved multi-use path through meadows and woods alongside the river with stunning views of Mt. Mansfield. You can rent bicycles to ride along it, or you can stroll or skate along it. Stowe Mountain Resort is still one of New England's top ski resorts, and in the summer and fall, tourists can ride the gondola that brings skiers to the summit for additional views. This place offers activities throughout the year.

Location: Lamoille County, Vermont.

Website: https://www.stowe.com/

Phone: 802.253.3000

TripAdvisor Rating: 4.5/5.0

Skiing is available across Vermont, from Jay Peak in the north to the slopes of Mount Snow in the south. It is one of the best things to do in Vermont. The state's roughly two dozen ski mountains offer downhill skiing experiences for everyone, from young children and beginners to pros practicing for the Olympics. Some of the best ski resorts in the east are located here. From December through March, slopes and trails are kept in top condition by cutting-edge snowmaking and grooming.

However, you may enjoy Vermont's ski resorts all year round. The larger ones offer year-round on-mountain activities, including mountain biking, ropes courses, mountain slides, and picturesque lift rides that take skiers to the summits in the winter. In resorts near the base, there are spas, swimming pools, Segway tours, golf courses, and kid-friendly activities.

The Timber Ripper Mountain Coaster, a spa, a mountain bike park, beautiful chairlift rides, disc and miniature golf, and the Haulback Challenge Course, an aerial course that takes you from tree to tree, are all available at Okemo Mountain Resort. The Beast Mountain Coaster, a ropes course, and an adventure center are all located at Killington Ski Resort. Visitors can get to the top of Mt. Mansfield on the Toll Road or use the state's only gondola lift from Stowe Mountain Resort. A 27-hole championship golf course and a mountain bike park may be found at Stratton Mountain.

With attractions like the Skyeride, a 600-foot-long, 100-foot-high, 30-mph glider that offers unbeatable views, and the Beast Mountain Coaster, a 4,800-foot-long alpine coaster that whips and winds through the woods and offers riders 360-degree corkscrew thrills, visitors can experience high-flying fun during the summer.

Location: from Jay Peak in the North to the slopes of Mount Snow in the South.