Ideas for a couple nights in Vermont

[jfoofj]

SO, we were talking with the boys about what we wanted to do over the summer. DS mentioned that he has spent at least a night in every state in New England except Vermont, so he really would like to go to Vermont for a couple nights so he can cross that off his list. We live in central MA so it really isn't that far to get to Vermont, I just don't know where to go in Vermont.... I don't want to spend a ton of money, this will probably be a weekend thing, not a major vacation, we already have plans for time at the beach with extended family for a week in August, and we are doing a trip to Disney in October. I would like to do something "Vermonty", though, so DS can make the most of his Vermont experience.

I asked DSS what he really wanted to do this summer and he said "get an ice cream every single time the ice cream truck goes by the house."

They crack me up.

 

[BunsenH]

Brattleboro is very close to you and qualifies for being 'in Vermont'.

There are B&Bs close to the downtown area. There are enough shops and restaurants to keep you busy for at least one full day. Use the other day for a road trip deeper into VT.

 

[LaNina72]

If your DS likes ice cream then perhaps a jaunt to the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, VT. Then head over to Burlington, VT (about 45-60 min west) and go to Magic Hat for a factory tour and then Lake Champlain Chocolate for yet another factory tour...

Gee it would appear that we enjoy factory tours...

 

[BunsenH]

If your DS likes ice cream then perhaps a jaunt to the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, VT. Then head over to Burlington, VT (about 45-60 min west) and go to Magic Hat for a factory tour and then Lake Champlain Chocolate for yet another factory tour...

Gee it would appear that we enjoy factory tours...

Your road trip suggestion reminds me of one of my favotire summer treats.

A scoop of vanilla ice cream (B&J preferred) in a glass of stout or porter (Magic Hat).

A piece of chocolate afterwards sounds good too!

 

[jfoofj]

Great ideas, thanks!

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

We are going to Vermont Saturday for the long weekend. It is half way between our house and my mom's and she wanted to meet us. The kids were not familiar with Ben and Jerry's but after looking online they are excited to go but we wern't sure what else to do so I am looking forward to this thread.

I don't know what Magic Hat is so I will have to go Google it, but the chocolate tour sounds great since we won't be going to Hershey this year.

 

[npmommie]

If your DS likes ice cream then perhaps a jaunt to the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, VT. Then head over to Burlington, VT (about 45-60 min west) and go to Magic Hat for a factory tour and then Lake Champlain Chocolate for yet another factory tour...

Gee it would appear that we enjoy factory tours...

I second all of this, although I would trade out magic hat for Vermont Teddy Bear tour . Burlington is fun,and there is also the Echo aquarium on the lake.
we have stayed on Hero Island at this place
http://www.shoreacres.com/about/index.html
it was very nice.


have fun!

 

[vicki_c]

There is also a big farm that is not too far from the Teddy Bear Factory (which is great), but we haven't been to the farm. I think it's Shelburne Farms, we always mean to go there but never make it when we go to Vermont. I second the Ben & Jerry's. If you go to Lake Champlain/Burlington, they have an environmental center/museum type thing right on the water that we've been to.

Other ideas - the ski resorts all have summer things going on. We usually stay in southern VT near Stratton Mountain (closest town is Manchester - has all the outlet shopping) and another ski area nearby has the big alpine slide, rock climbing wall, other stuff like that, gondola rides to the top of the mountains and you can hike around. Hiking on the Long Trail is also a cheap idea if you're into that. You can Google any of these things.

 

[ShariVT]

Ben and Jerry's sounds great as does time in burlingtion but for fun and adventure you have to go to Bromley mountain http://summer.bromley.com/attractions/ Lots of fun stuff and a little more action then 3 days of factory not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Not far from the Ben & Jerry's factory is the Alpine Slide in Stowe. Your boys will love it. Take a chair lift ride up the mountain and slide down. You could do that the same day as the Ben & Jerry tour. Stowe also has lots of tiny country style stores to check out and grab some "vermont" merchandise.

Church Street in the heart of Burlington is fun to walk and grab a bite to eat. Right there on the lake is the Echo Aquarium which is fun, not to mention enjoy the atmosphere right there on the lake - boat house where you can grab a drink, bike path - rent bikes.

Plenty of hotels right there in Burlington. To get to Ben & Jerrys from Burlington you are only talking 45 minutes at the most.

I live right in this area so feel free to ask any questions. I'll be happy to help you out

 

[dblr]

There is a very nice inn just outside Wilington near Mt. Snow called Nordic Hills Lodge, very nice place with great owners. You could go to Bromley Ski area from there check them out on the web as they have alot of summer activities to do that your son would like. We use this inn for a ski trip every year with a group of around 30 and they treat us well,but they also cater to families,they also have a web site.

 

[vicki_c]

Ben and Jerry's sounds great as does time in burlingtion but for fun and adventure you have to go to Bromley mountain http://summer.bromley.com/attractions/ Lots of fun stuff and a little more action then 3 days of factory not that there's anything wrong with that.

Thanks - that's what I was referring to but the name was escaping me for the moment! We do summer vacations near Stratton and always go to Bromley with the kids!

 

[npmommie]

Bromley looks fun!

 

[abmitch01]

look on Travelzoo and sign up for top 20 newsletter. We've stayed at at least 3 diff VT hotels from deals we got on there. Of course, off the top of my head, I can't think of the names. I will look back. Often the ski towns in the non-season have good deals. One was so great with a castle, cannot recall the name, arghhh.

 

[LaNina72]

We are going to Vermont Saturday for the long weekend. It is half way between our house and my mom's and she wanted to meet us. The kids were not familiar with Ben and Jerry's but after looking online they are excited to go but we wern't sure what else to do so I am looking forward to this thread.

I don't know what Magic Hat is so I will have to go Google it, but the chocolate tour sounds great since we won't be going to Hershey this year.

The Lake Champlain Chocolate Company is very, very small, but the chocolate is fantastic (read: expensive) and they have lots of samples. We actually stumbled onto it as it is on a side road in Burlington. Church Street it also a fun way to spend a day.

And as PP stated the VT Teddy Bear Factory, isn't far from Burlington and Shelburne Farms too.

If you get to the Manchester, VT area be sure to consider the Vermont Country Store in Weston, VT about 20 minutes east. And yes there is lots of outlet shopping in Manchester. As well as plenty of ski resorts and such.

Enjoy!

 

[abmitch01]

the outlet store for hte Vermont Country store was a fun stop in a small town we drove through, lots of neat stuff, you'd have to google it

thought all day about the farm museum, finally remembered Shelburne museum. Came home and it had been posted, lol. It's fantastic.