Vermont Travel Days Blog
“Every photograph that’s taken here is from the summer.” – Noah Kahan
I mean, he isn’t wrong. Summer is a beautiful time in Vermont. But honestly, I think any season, even stick season, would be a great time to visit. We still have so much to discover in the Green Mountain State!
When planning this trip, we had a few ideas but needed some inspiration. So naturally, I went to TikTok. Let’s just say… I found some help (and a few distractions), but I did come away with great suggestions. If you’re looking for a fun summer or fall itinerary, this one is a keeper. You can also listen to our adventure via our podcast link HERE.
Day 1 – Road Trip & Maple Magic
Time to hit the road!
We knew we wanted to visit the VIN Center, and if you have any bird fans or nature lovers in your group, this is the spot. You’ll see incredible owls, bald eagles, and enjoy a beautiful walking trail. If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably a nature lover too, so trust me, go visit. You’ll love it.
Before exploring too much, we had to fuel up (pun intended) and grabbed lunch at Worthy Burger. Not to be dramatic, but it might’ve been one of the best burgers and fries I’ve ever had. The vibes? Also immaculate.
After lunch, we headed down scenic Route 100, highly recommend this drive. Along the way, we found Sandy’s Books, now called The Bookery, in Rochester. What a gem! I could have spent hours in there. We even picked up a hiking book for future adventures. Right next door was a mix of a coffee shop and bookstore naturally, we had to stop there too.
Lesson of the day: always take the backroads.
Next up, a not-so-hidden gem: Warren Falls. Wow. Photos don’t do it justice. Vermont’s watering holes are pure magic.
To wrap up the day, we continued along Route 100 until we reached Cold Hollow Cider Mill, where we tried our very first Maple Creemee. Want to know more about those? Read Mike’s blog and then head straight to Vermont to try one. You’ll thank me later.
Day 2 – Hiking, History, and Good Beer
Hiking day number one! The weather was perfect, and the trail was gorgeous, a great family-friendly hike too. We stayed in Williston, just outside Burlington, which turned out to be the perfect base for hiking, biking, and shopping. You can also hear all about this day via out Podcast LINK.
We started the morning hiking Mt. Philo in Charlotte, about 30 minutes away. The drive itself was beautiful, so green and peaceful.
Stats for Mt. Philo:
2 miles round trip
692 ft elevation gain
10/10 for views
2/10 for difficulty
Family friendly
Porta potties at the trailhead
Dog-friendly (just leash and clean up!)
The hike took us about an hour and a half, including a break at the top to enjoy the view.
Next stop: Shelburne Museum; a 45-acre wonderland with 39 unique buildings. If you’re a history lover, this is your place.
I had big plans to rent bikes after that, but after hiking and walking the museum, we were wiped. Instead, we relaxed at the hotel before heading out to dinner at an old favorite Zero Gravity. We discovered it in the winter and fell in love. The food is delicious, the beer is top-notch, and they even have their own non-alcoholic beer, love that!!
Day 3 – Bikes, Pizza, and Bear Country Bound
Here’s where flexibility (and planning ahead) comes in.
I had my heart set on a Ben & Jerry’s tour, but apparently, I wasn’t the only one with that idea. Tickets were sold out. (Who knew summer would be busy? Everyone but me, apparently.)
Plan B turned out even better: we rented e-bikes from Local Motion in Burlington. I’d been dreaming of this ride, and it did not disappoint! Luckily, they had three e-bikes left , score!
We rode about 20 miles round trip from Burlington to Colchester along the stunning Lake Champlain Causeway. You can even take a bike ferry across to South Hero. How cool is that? We turned around at the 10-mile mark, ready for food and the next leg of our adventure.
After a little traffic detour (Burlington construction, we meet again), we headed to American Flatbread in Stowe. The pizza, vibes, and service? All 10/10. American Flatbread is a pizza chain that started in Vermont, we love them and will stop anytime we see one from now on!
Stowe itself was gorgeous but packed, so we didn’t linger too long. We had our sights set on the Northeast Kingdom, where we checked into a charming Airbnb surrounded by woods. We didn’t spot any wildlife that night, but just wait for tomorrow.
Day 4 – The Big Hike, Maple Creemees & Bears (Yes, Really)
This was our big hiking day: Mt. Pisgah!
Quick Mt Pisgah Stats:
4.5 miles out and back
1,660 ft elevation gain
9/10 for views
6.5/10 for difficulty (a few steep spots)
Family friendly if you’ve hiked before
Dog-friendly (leash and clean up)
No bathrooms at trailhead
The summit itself doesn’t have a view, but several overlooks do — with stunning sights of Lake Willoughby, Vermont’s second deepest lake. We ate lunch on a big rock with views of Burke Mountain and one very feisty squirrel who was way too interested in our snacks. (Friendly PSA: don’t feed wildlife, no matter how cute they look!)
On the way back, we were dreaming of maple creemees when Mike suddenly stopped, he’d spotted a bear! Our daughter saw it too, a young one running off into the woods. I, of course, was too busy thinking about the maple creemee and missed it.
We grabbed our well-earned creemees at the Lake Willoughby Store, took a dip in the crystal-clear lake, and even saw a bald eagle chilling nearby. It was one of those perfect Vermont days we’ll never forget.
Dinner was at Parker Pie Company, a recommendation from one of my Instagram friends. Excellent call, pizza, sunshine, and good vibes all around. We had gotten there early. Hiking will make you want an early dinner after all. The place got busy fast, but we gave our table to another family and took a sunset drive in search of moose. No moose, but another bear sighting! (My first of the trip.) He was just hanging out in someone’s yard!! The perfect ending to our last Vermont evening.
Day 5 – Ice Cream and Goodbyes
Time to head home (sad face), but not before that Ben & Jerry’s tour we rescheduled. Tickets were $6 each and included a short factory tour and a sample at the end. Naturally, we followed that up with more ice cream and a stroll through the Flavor Graveyard.
On the drive home, I had a whole list of places I wanted to stop — but they’ll have to wait for next time. We did make one last stop in Quechee, wandered through a few gift shops, and said goodbye to the Green Mountain State… for now.
Vermont Travel Highlights
VIN Center (Woodstock) – Affordable, family-friendly, and full of incredible raptors and songbirds.
Worthy Burger (South Royalton) – Some of the best fries of the trip. The burgers and vibes? Also top-tier.
Warren Falls – A not-so-hidden gem. Vermont’s watering holes are breathtaking.
Cold Hollow Cider Mill (Waterbury) – Maple creemees, cider donuts, and Vermont goodies galore.
Mt. Philo (Charlotte) – The perfect family hike with big views for minimal effort.
Northeast Kingdom – Peaceful, scenic, and full of small-town charm.
Local Motion (Burlington) – E-bike rentals with one of the most scenic bike paths ever.
Burlington – Don’t believe the online negativity; the food and brewery scenes are great, and the people are so friendly. I love the shops here as well.
Backroad Gems – Skip the highway! From The Bookery in Rochester to Baird Farm maple syrup, Vermont’s charm shines brightest off the beaten path. We discovered Baird Farm in the spring during Maple Weekend LISTEN HERE for all the details! It was so fun!
Our Vermont trip was everything we love about travel; a mix of planned adventures, unexpected detours, good food, and plenty of laughs along the way. Whether it was a perfect maple creemee, a scenic backroad we stumbled onto, or a bear that decided to make a surprise cameo, every moment reminded us why we keep exploring. Vermont, we’ll definitely be back!! Next time maybe we’ll even spot that moose!