Vermont

[tammyandtommy]

Hey everyone! We are leaving early Friday morning to go to vermont! Is there anything I need to make sure we dont miss?
So far we have Vt teddy bear, Ben and Jerrys, possible maple syrup place?, and we are gonna try to see the quechee balloon festival! We are staying in Waterbury. Oh and is there any good places to eat that are teen friendly? So far I found alchemist pub and ciderhouse bbq, and possibly the reservior? I am planning last minute sp any help is greatly appreciated. If the balloon fest gets rained out what else can we do?

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

on weekends there is a awesome craft fair in Waitsfild (over mountains rt 100)
and I would do the Cabot creamery tour! that was fun also! aahh, I so miss living there!!

 

[bballmom56]

If your kids are at all interested in horses, you can visit the Morgan Horse Farm in Middlebury. Also go into Burlington which is a cool city and very much a college town.

 

[Sorsha]

Shelburne farms - it was very cool. A working farm with a wagon tour, etc

If you enjoy museums go see Shelburne Museum - This is a "must see" museum - one of the best collections of Americana anywhere.

If you can get down into Burlington be sure to visit Church Street. We were there on a Saturday morning and it was wonderful - like a farmer's market, open air mall/food fair... the teens would love it.

 

[mickeyboat]

Waterbury is right next to Stowe, and there are lots of things to do there - especially hiking and biking.

As for the balloon festival, the balloons go up at 6AM and 6PM and only stay in the air for about an hour or so - so make sure you are at the festival at the right time to see them inflate and take off. There is often times a tethered balloon there where you can get a little ride. It is fun to follow the balloons, too and help them deflate the balloons and pack them up.

There is a nice, short hike at the Quechee Gorge. There is an information booth right across the street from the Gorge that might help you figure out what to do.

It has been cool and overcast around here lately - so make sure you bring a light jacket.

 

[goofyernmost]

Since you are going to be in the Waterbury/Stowe area take a drive up route 108 to the base lodge at Mt. Mansfield and ride the gondola to the top of the mountain. You get to see some pretty fantastic views from there. Or you can drive up the toll road, a twisting, winding road to nearly the top where you can park you car and hike the mile and a half across the mountain ridge to the summit of Mt. Mansfield.

Then, from the base lodge you can drive up through Smugglers Notch. A very scenic and exciting ride.

If you are going to the Vt. Teddy Bear Co. you will be almost next door to the Shelburne Museum, as stated before a must see. You can spend some time at the Burlington Water Front (Lake Champlain) or Church Street Market place and walk a block down toward the lake on College Street and see the plaque on the ground showing were the original Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop was. Where it all started.

Drive the back roads of rural Vt. and see where in some places time has practically stood still.

Funny thing is that we locals hardly ever go to these places. Not because there is anything wrong with them it is just that we see it everyday so we go to Florida or Maine.

 

[perla75]

If you are staying in Waterbury, don't forget to stop by the Von Trapp Family Lodge!! It is run by the Von Trapp family (from the Sound of Music) & it is a wonderful place to visit! Lots of family history, beautiful gardens & walking trails, take a horse drawn carriage ride, have some tea or Austrian baked goodies, they just opened up their own brewery.....it's a beautiful place to stay and to visit! It's only about 10 minutes from Ben & Jerry's.

http://www.trappfamily.com/

We also like to visit the Cold Hollow Cider Mill. Located between Ben & Jerry's and the Trapp Family Lodge. Yummy cider and cider goods, and they show you how the cider is made. Cute country store as well.

http://www.coldhollow.com/

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

oh, yah, cold Hollow! love that place!!
Shelburne...awesome! Also holds the Big Apple Circus. Depending on when you go! Here is a website to check out....being I have a house on Lake Champlain, I always forget what is really up there!! lol


http://www.waitsfieldvt.us/attractions/index.cfm

 

[mickeyboat]

108 is a great ride.

The gondola was not open last weekend - not sure if it will be this weekend. The toll road does not open until 7/2.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Hey everyone! We are leaving early Friday morning to go to vermont! Is there anything I need to make sure we dont miss?
So far we have Vt teddy bear, Ben and Jerrys, possible maple syrup place?, and we are gonna try to see the quechee balloon festival! We are staying in Waterbury. Oh and is there any good places to eat that are teen friendly? So far I found alchemist pub and ciderhouse bbq, and possibly the reservior? I am planning last minute sp any help is greatly appreciated. If the balloon fest gets rained out what else can we do?

If you have extra time Burlington, VT is a nice place to visit (about 30 minutes from Waterbury). We ate/drank at the Vermont Brewery and walked around the waterfront.

Watch out for moose.

 

[goofyernmost]

108 is a great ride.

The gondola was not open last weekend - not sure if it will be this weekend. The toll road does not open until 7/2.

I told you that I never go there. Too close.

 

[mickeyboat]

I told you that I never go there. Too close.

I hear you. DH and I wanted to take a weekend away from the kids, but didn't want to go too far, so we spent last weekend in Stowe. It is fun to see what everyone else sees in Vermont, and helps us appreciate how lucky we are to live here.

OP if you are interested in breweries, there are a couple near Quechee - Harpoon Brewery in Windsor (also home to Simon Pearce), and Long Trail in Woodstock.

 

[Pikester]

Not from VT, just a next door neighbor. My kids are going to the Bromley Sun Mountain Adventure Park this summer with the local Recreation Dept. This could be a fun place to check out http://www.bromley.com/

Not sure how it relates to Waterbury but maybe someone from the area cold tell us.

 

[goofyernmost]

Not from VT, just a next door neighbor. My kids are going to the Bromley Sun Mountain Adventure Park this summer with the local Recreation Dept. This could be a fun place to check out http://www.bromley.com/

Not sure how it relates to Waterbury but maybe someone from the area cold tell us.

I'm afraid that Bromley is a long way away from Stowe. Stowe is in the center of the state and Bromley is on the southern border.

 

[Pikester]

I'm afraid that Bromley is a long way away from Stowe. Stowe is in the center of the state and Bromley is on the southern border.

Thanks! Just google maped it and saw that it was 2hrs or so from Waterbury. Oh well.

It's not that far from where we are here in NH so I guess my kids won't have to worry about riding on a bus for a really long time.