15 Best Things to Do in Vermont This Fall
Every season is a great season to visit Vermont. In addition to skiing and snowboarding in the winter, outdoor enthusiasts can hike, bike, and fish in the warmer months. Year-round, the state has a thriving cultural scene with performing arts, museums, and galleries.
A founder of the locavore movement, Vermont is a major culinary destination. The Green Mountain State’s farmers and chefs – the proud producers of meat, cheese, ice cream, chocolates, wine, and spirits – create farm-to-table meals that rival anywhere in the US.
You could spend an entire week simply taking scenic drives around the state, absorbing the beautiful scenery, covered bridges, lakes, and state parks. Exploring all of the towns and cities in the state may inspire you to become a member of the 251 Club, an organization celebrating all of Vermont’s 251 towns and cities.
These are the best things to do in Vermont this fall. Let them inspire you to plan your next trip.
1. Visit Shelburne Farms
On the shores of Lake Champlain, Shelburne Farms is one of the most magical places in Vermont. Once the country estate of railroad mogul William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb, this 1400-acre working farm is now open to the public.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2001, the campus encompasses a grass-based dairy of Brown Swiss cows used to make the farm’s award-winning cheddar cheese, as well as an organic garden market, maple sugaring, and lumber operations.
Visitors are welcome to explore the Farm Barn, which houses animals, a bakery, and a cheesemaking facility, as well as the Coach Barn, utilized for events and meetings. Miles of spectacular walking trails take you through the property and down to the waterfront.
Planning tip: You can stay and dine at The Inn, the original summer home of William and Lila, which is now a 24-room hotel, open from May through October.
2. Learn about Vermont’s role in the Underground Railroad
Located in Ferrisburg, the Rokeby Museum is a National Historic Landmark. Four generations of the Robinson family lived and worked on this 90-acre Merino sheep farm for over 200 years.
As abolitionists, the Robinson family provided shelter in the 1830s for two previously enslaved individuals. The museum’s exhibit called “Free and Safe” highlights Vermont’s role in the Underground Railroad.
The historic farmstead includes nine outbuildings, the original family home, and hiking trails spread across 90 acres.
3. Watch out for “Whales Tails”
When driving along Interstate 89, keep an eye out for “Whales Tails” between exits 12 and 13. Carved from 36 tons of African black granite, the sculpture, formally known as Reverence, is easily spotted. You can get up close to the two 13ft-high tails via a 1.3-mile walking path in South Burlington’s Technology Park. During the holiday season, they are illuminated with Christmas lights.
But why do these outdoor sculptures depict whales’ tails in a land-locked state? Vermont’s Champlain Valley was once underwater and part of the Champlain Sea, which was an extension of the ocean. Evidence of whales once inhabiting the area was solidified when a fossil of a beluga whale was found in Charlotte in 1849.
4. Sample a creemee
What’s known as soft-serve ice cream elsewhere in the country is known as a creemee in Vermont. Slightly creamier than hard ice cream, this sweet treat comes in traditional flavors like chocolate and vanilla, but the most sought-after is maple. Follow the Maple Creemee Trail to find the best one in the state.
Creemees can be found at snack shacks, roadside stands, and gas stations — all are delicious. However, some of the best creemees are served at local favorites like Little Gordo in Burlington and the Village Creeme Stand in Bristol.
Local tip: Explore creative options at Canteen Creemee Company in Waitsfield, especially the Bad Larry, a towering cone of maple topped with maple cotton candy.
5. Roll up your sleeves at Billings Farm
Established in 1871, Billings Farm is one of the nation’s oldest registered Jersey dairy farms. Visitors can experience rural farm life at this working farm, which features Jersey cows, draft horses, steers, oxen, sheep, pigs, chickens, and goats.
This outdoor history museum covers 200 acres, so allow half a day to tour the educational exhibits, the barn, and the 1890 Farm Manager’s House. The Dairy Bar is the perfect spot for ice cream or cider donuts and hot apple cider during fall.
6. Stroll in the middle of a lake
It’s rare to find a place where you can stroll into the middle of a lake, but in Vermont, the Colchester Causeway makes this possible. Constructed from white marble, this former railroad bed is now a 10ft-wide gravel path showcasing some of the most scenic views in the state.
The section of the Island Line Trail connecting Colchester to South Hero is excellent for biking or walking. More than halfway out, there’s a 200ft cut that accommodates boat traffic.
7. Buy local produce at weekly farmers markets
Once merely a place to procure local produce, farmers markets have evolved into full-fledged outings. They supply fresh vegetables, meats, cheeses, and baked goods and serve as community gathering spots.
With nearly 85 weekly farmers markets in Vermont, fans of farm-to-table goods can explore open-air markets and sample some of the best food the state has to offer. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet local farmers who grow fresh produce.
8. Sing in the hills at the Trapp Family Lodge
The hills of Stowe are still alive with the sound of music. Over 70 years ago, Georg and Maria von Trapp discovered Vermont and made it their home. Today, the Trapp Family Lodge is an Austrian-style hotel adorned with family memorabilia. Start your visit with a 90-minute history tour that presents the authentic story of the von Trapp family, significantly differing from the Sound of Music version.
Over the years, the resort has expanded and includes a beer hall, a brewery, and a coffee house with freshly baked Austrian pastries. The property features miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.
9. Stop by a Vermont general store
Several historic general stores still exist in Vermont, acting as essential centers for picking up provisions and community gathering spots. One of the most renowned is the Warren Store, established in a building dating back to 1839, stocked with local products and specialty foods.
This is a great place to search for souvenirs, such as maple syrup, hot sauce, cheeses, jams, jellies, craft beer, home goods, and fashion accessories.
10. Explore ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
Just steps from Burlington’s waterfront, ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, is dedicated to understanding Lake Champlain and its wildlife.
This science museum feels like an aquarium, featuring a life-sized recreation of a famous shipwreck, information on hundreds of other wrecks, and an exploration of whether the Legend of Champ is myth or reality.
Visitors can enjoy over 100 interactive exhibits, as well as various species of fishes, reptiles, and amphibians.
11. Drink up Vermont’s craft beer scene
While Vermont isn’t the birthplace of craft beer, it has a rich legacy of tasty home-brewed pints. The opening of Vermont Pub and Brewery in Burlington in 1988 sparked a craft beer movement in the state.
Now, there are over 60 brewpubs, microbreweries, and craft brewers, equating to about 11.5 breweries for every resident — a remarkable feat for a small state.
The challenge, of course, is figuring out how to try them all during your visit. Although well-known names like Magic Hat and Heady Topper are synonymous with Vermont craft beer, many smaller breweries deserve your attention. An exciting way to sample these selections is through a craft brew tour.
12. Discover Vermont’s islands
Although Vermont is renowned for its mountains, it also boasts a collection of islands in Lake Champlain that are worth a visit. These islands are primarily flat, making them ideal for cycling. They are home to several state parks, such as Grand Isle and Knight Point, providing excellent camping options with a waterfront view.
Take Route 2 to South Hero and visit Allenholm Farm, Vermont’s oldest commercial orchard, featuring a petting paddock, maple creemees, and a farm store. Post-visit, discover Snow Farm Vineyard and consider dining at Blue Paddle Bistro.
13. Hit the slopes at Vermont’s Ski and Snowboard Museum
Vermont is famed for producing many Olympic-caliber skiers and snowboarders, so it makes sense that there’s a museum dedicated to these sports’ history. The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum in Stowe boasts over 8000 items, including many skis, snowboards, and bindings along with operational snowmaking equipment.
Exhibits focus on the history of skiing and snowboarding, showcasing the sports’ legends, fashion over the years, and how pastimes have evolved.
14. Sample some maple syrup
Nothing says “made in Vermont” better than maple syrup. With over 1500 sugarhouses, Vermont produces approximately 2 million gallons of syrup annually. If you visit in spring, be sure to stop by a sugarmaker.
Most sugarhouses welcome visitors in March and early April when temperatures rise, and sap flows. They’ll show you how maple syrup is made, teach you about different grades, and provide samples.
Additionally, they serve Sugar on Snow, a delightful treat composed of hot syrup drizzled over packed snow, served with a donut and dill pickle.
15. Tour the Lincoln family’s summer home
Plan a visit to Hildene, the summer home of Abraham Lincoln’s only son who lived to adulthood. This property in Manchester has much to explore. Robert Todd Lincoln, Pullman Company president, and his wife, Mary, built their family estate in the early 1900s.
The home remained in the Lincoln family until 1975, when Abraham Lincoln’s great-granddaughter passed away.
Today, visitors can explore the 8000-sq-ft mansion along with 14 historic buildings, including a carriage barn, a 1903 Pullman car, goat dairy, and a chevre cheese-making facility.
Planning tip: If you love peonies, visit in late spring or early summer when thousands bloom in the formal garden.
