Vermont doesn’t clamor for your attention—it quietly earns it. From rolling green hills and historic barns to ski slopes, artisan markets, and maple-scented mornings, it’s a place where time seems to slow on purpose. Whether you're exploring the halls of a Lincoln family estate or watching hawks glide above the forest at VINS, Vermont offers not just beauty, but a sense of belonging. These are the places that make you pause, breathe deeply, and remember what stillness feels like.
Best Things to Do in Vermont
Pastoral rhythms at Billings Farm and Museum
Wandering through Billings Farm felt like opening a well-loved storybook—wooden barns, golden hay, and slow afternoons under maple trees. The cows moved calmly in their stalls, children giggled over baby goats, and everywhere, there was a sense of intention. I remember walking through the farmhouse kitchen with its butter churn and sunlit lace curtains, thinking, “This is what it means to live close to the land.” It wasn’t just about farming—it was about values you could feel.
What I Loved Most: Watching a cheese-making demonstration and chatting with a staff member who spoke about dairy traditions with quiet pride—it made the experience personal and alive.
My highlights? A Vermont cheddar grilled cheese and apple cider at the Farmhouse Café just down the road—crisp, gooey, and deeply satisfying after a chilly morning with the animals.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT
- Hours: Daily 10 AM – 5 PM (seasonal)
- Cost: $17 adults; $10 children
- Vibe: Educational, hands-on, nostalgic
- Good For: Families, farm lovers, heritage travelers
Echoes of legacy at Hildene
The path wound through meadows and formal gardens before opening up to the quiet grandeur of Hildene. Inside the Georgian Revival mansion, sunlight caught on antique woodwork and heirloom linens. I remember pausing beside Abraham Lincoln’s son’s desk and thinking, “History lives best in the quiet spaces.” Outside, the Green Mountains cradled the estate like a protective arm, and the pull of history felt soft but steady.
What I Loved Most: Touring the Pullman rail car—seeing the stark contrast between elegance and labor, and realizing how layered the Lincoln family story really is.
My highlights? A lunch of Vermont ham and sharp cheddar on homemade bread from The Dorset Bakery, enjoyed picnic-style in the garden behind the house. It felt like something Mary Todd Lincoln herself might’ve prepared.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester, VT
- Hours: Daily 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Cost: $23 adults; $6 children
- Vibe: Historic, contemplative, elegant
- Good For: History lovers, garden wanderers, Lincoln enthusiasts
Working landscapes and quiet wonder at Shelburne Farms
Shelburne Farms unfolded slowly—past stone gates, over a winding drive, and into rolling hills dotted with heritage cows and distant views of Lake Champlain. It felt both noble and nurturing. I remember walking into the massive barn, sunlight streaming through beams, and thinking, “This place was built with purpose and care.” Everything from the woodwork to the whey-fed pigs spoke of stewardship.
What I Loved Most: Touring the cheesemaking room and seeing fresh cheddar formed by hand, then stepping outside to smell hay and hear the low hum of cows—it was the kind of balance only a place like Vermont could pull off.
My highlights? A creamy farmstead cheddar omelet with herbs and crusty toast at the Farm Cart Café. Every bite tasted of the land and the labor that shaped it.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne, VT
- Hours: Daily, 9 AM – 5:30 PM (seasonal)
- Cost: $8–$15 suggested donation for entry
- Vibe: Sustainable, tranquil, educational
- Good For: Families, farm-to-table fans, architecture lovers
Brick paths and local buzz at Church Street Marketplace
The energy of Church Street felt like a heartbeat—steady, welcoming, full of life. Cobblestone walkways, open-air cafes, and buskers strumming tunes beneath twinkling lights created a kind of rhythm that invited lingering. I remember sipping coffee on a bench and thinking, “This is where a town shows you who it really is.” People smiled more here. Maybe it was the mountain air or the sense that something delightful was always just around the corner.
What I Loved Most: Ducking into independent bookstores and artisan shops, and catching a street performance that made the whole block stop and sway for a moment.
My highlights? A maple latte and warm cinnamon sugar donut from August First Bakery. I sat on a quiet side street, shoes off, watching the world go by.
Travel Tips:
- Location: Church Street, Burlington, VT
- Hours: Shops typically open 10 AM – 6 PM
- Cost: Free to explore; dining and shopping vary
- Vibe: Lively, local, inviting
- Good For: Shoppers, coffee seekers, casual strollers
Americana and artistry at Shelburne Museum
The Shelburne Museum didn’t feel like one place—it felt like a dozen stories unfolding across an open-air campus. There was a lighthouse, a circus collection, impressionist paintings, and a steamboat moored in the grass. I remember walking through the old general store and thinking, “This is the kind of museum you don’t just visit—you wander.” It was whimsical and serious, historic and artistic, all at once.
What I Loved Most: Stepping inside the restored steamship Ticonderoga and imagining the hum of engines and ripple of water underfoot—it transported me more than I expected.
My highlights? A picnic lunch from the museum café: turkey and cranberry sandwich with Vermont sharp cheddar, plus a rhubarb lemonade. I found a quiet bench near the carousel and let the breeze do the talking.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 6000 Shelburne Rd, Shelburne, VT
- Hours: May–Oct, 10 AM – 5 PM
- Cost: $25 adults; $14 youth
- Vibe: Eclectic, interactive, uniquely New England
- Good For: Families, art lovers, curious wanderers
Legacy and landscape at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller
The air was cool and pine-scented, and every path through the forest felt like a gentle reminder to pay attention. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park was more than just trees and trails—it was a story about conservation told through roots, stone, and legacy. I remember walking past the mansion’s wraparound porch and thinking, “This is where care for the land became a mission.” The quiet here wasn’t empty—it was full of meaning.
What I Loved Most: The forest trails layered in fallen leaves, and the way the sunlight moved through old-growth hemlocks, like a soft spotlight on something sacred.
My highlights? A local cheddar and apple sandwich with honey mustard from Mon Vert Café in Woodstock—tangy, sweet, and the perfect companion to a trail-side picnic.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 54 Elm St, Woodstock, VT
- Hours: Visitor center and mansion: 10 AM – 5 PM (seasonal); trails open year-round
- Cost: Free for trails; $9 for mansion tour
- Vibe: Reflective, wooded, historically rich
- Good For: Nature walkers, history lovers, quiet thinkers
Powder turns and mountaintop views at Killington
Killington had a pulse to it—one made of crisp mountain air, adrenaline, and laughter that echoed through snow-covered pines. Whether I was gliding down a groomer or just standing still at the summit, I felt something lift. I remember catching my breath between runs and thinking, “This is what winter is supposed to feel like.” The cold didn’t bite—it awakened.
What I Loved Most: The gondola ride to the peak, where the sky stretched endlessly and the world below looked soft and quiet under a blanket of snow.
My highlights? A warm bowl of chili and cornbread at K-1 Lodge with a local IPA. My face was still rosy from the wind, and it all tasted like reward.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 3861 Killington Rd, Killington, VT
- Hours: Varies by season; typically 9 AM – 4 PM
- Cost: Lift tickets ~$100+; rental packages available
- Vibe: Energetic, scenic, quintessential Vermont winter
- Good For: Skiers, snowboarders, winter enthusiasts
Feathers, forests, and quiet awe at VINS Nature Center
Tucked into the trees in Quechee, VINS felt like a gentle sanctuary—for raptors, for learning, and for slowing down. I wandered through forested trails and watched an owl blink slowly from its perch. I remember standing beneath the canopy walk and thinking, “This is what education looks like when it breathes.” It was immersive, hands-on, and surprisingly emotional.
What I Loved Most: The live raptor demonstration—watching a red-tailed hawk spread its wings just feet away made the forest feel charged with presence.
My highlights? A picnic from Chef Brad's Crazy Side: turkey and Vermont cheddar sandwich with maple mustard, eaten at a wooden table beneath a canopy of birch and birdsong.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 149 Natures Way, Quechee, VT
- Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 5 PM
- Cost: $18 adults; $14 youth; kids under 4 free
- Vibe: Educational, natural, quietly inspiring
- Good For: Families, bird lovers, nature-minded travelers
Whimsy and wonder at Santa’s Land
It was part nostalgia, part magic. Santa’s Land felt like a time capsule from childhood, where Christmas never ended and every corner sparkled. I rode the candy-cane-colored train past toy soldiers and twinkling trees, and I remember thinking, “This is joy in its purest, most unapologetic form.” It wasn’t slick or modern—but that’s what made it so charming.
What I Loved Most: Watching little kids’ eyes light up as they met Santa in July, and hearing Christmas music drifting through the trees even in the heat of summer.
My highlights? A warm cider donut and hot cocoa from the park’s old-fashioned snack bar, eaten on a candy-striped bench while fake snow floated through the air.
Travel Tips:
- Location: 655 Bellows Falls Rd, Putney, VT
- Hours: Seasonal; typically open summer through December
- Cost: ~$15 per person; kids under 2 free
- Vibe: Whimsical, retro, holiday cheer all year
- Good For: Families, nostalgia seekers, Christmas lovers
Conclusion:
The charm of Vermont lies not in spectacle, but in the spaces in between—a quiet trail, a handmade sign, a porch light flickering at dusk. It's in the warmth of small-town hospitality and the way nature never seems to be in a rush. Whether you’re traveling through snow or summer sun, the feeling is the same: Vermont welcomes you exactly as you are and reminds you to take your time.
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