9 Best Things to Do in Dover, VT

March 27, 2020 - Updated

The town of Dover, Vermont is situated in the Southern Vermont Region in the Mount Snow Valley and was first settled back in 1779. The town was originally a summer destination until the Mount Snow Ski Area was developed on Mount Pisgah in 1953, which is now also known as Mount Snow. Dover is now a place to visit throughout the year, whether people are looking to explore the Southern Vermont’s highest mountains or the deepwater lakes. There are also museums, restaurants, shops, and several other things to do in town besides Mount Snow.

1.Mount Snow Resort

The Mount Snow Resort, formerly called Mount Pisgah, is a ski area and resort within the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. Mount Snow is the closest big mountain in the state to several metropolitan areas in the Northeast. The mountain resort area boasts the Bluebird Express as well, the first six-passenger bubble lift located in the eastern United States. Numerous hotels, inns, and established B&Bs can be found within the Mount Snow Valley. Skiing and snowboarding are obviously popular activities in the winter, however, there’s plenty to do during the warmer months, such as scenic chairlift rides, hiking, and mountain biking.

39 Mount Snow Rd, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 800-245-7669

2.Southern Vermont Natural History Museum

The Southern Vermont Natural History Museum is located just outside of Dover, Vermont at the state’s Hogback Mountain Scenic Overlook. Surrounded by a conservation area, protecting more than six hundred acres of forest, the museum’s located offers views of three different states. Founded in 1996, the natural history museum is home to one of the Northeast’s largest collections of native mammals and bird, featuring around 250 species. Exhibits include the taxidermy collection, along with an array of smaller hands-on exhibits geared towards children, many different native live animals, environment science and natural history programs, and a mineralogy exhibit.

7599 Route 9 East, Marlboro, VT 05363, Phone: 802-464-0048

3.Equipe Sport

Equipe Sport boasts a mission “to be the very best outdoor sport shop,” striving to provide the highest levels of expertise and customer service in the outdoor and on-snow industry. Equipe Sport offers the broadest selection of outdoor gear in the southern region of Vermont for every season, as well as some of the best trained staff made up of outdoor enthusiasts who field test the products themselves every day. Equipe Sport offers outdoor equipment for both purchase and rent, as well as advice on hiking, kayaking, riding, skiing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and many other activities.

21 S. Access Rd, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 802-464-2222

4.High Mountain Massage

High Mountain Massage in Dover, Vermont offers bulk spices and herbs alongside natural and holistic healthcare products, the majority of which are handcrafted locally in the area. Other items and gifts designed to help with both spiritual and physical well-being are available at the High Mountain Massage and Dandelion’s Apothecary as well. Clinic and massage appointment are offered Tuesday through Saturday with specific massage and store hours posted each week on social media, the business website, and the front door. When the flag is out, High Mountain Massage is open with its sign saying “You Need A Massage.”

78 VT-100, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 802-464-1678

5.Two Tannery Road

Two Tannery Road is housed inside of a rather authentically old building and has its own unique history to match its charm. The building was relocated piece-by-piece from Marlboro in Massachusetts to Dover during the 1700’s and is the town’s oldest frame building. The building was later purchased by the son of President Theodore and his wife during the early 1900’s. President Theodore Roosevelt was known for visiting Two Tannery Road himself on a number of occasions. The famous antique bar at the Two Tannery Road tavern is a part of New York City’s original Waldorf-Astoria.

2 Tannery Rd, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 802-464-2707

6.Deer Hill Inn Restaurant

The Deer Hill Inn Restaurant is a great spot for a meal in Dover, Vermont, whether diners are staying at the inn, local residents, or just travelers passing through. Aiming to provide guests with “friendly fine dining,” the restaurant at Deer Hill Inn serves a menu featuring fish and meat from trustworthy suppliers and local fresh produce, offering dishes free of preservatives, additives, or hormones. The Deer Hill Inn Restaurant provides satisfying, healthy, and innovative dishes with a strong focus on seasonality, all made in the on-site kitchen from scratch, along with house-made desserts and local handpicked cheeses.

14 Valley View Rd, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 802-464-3100

7.TC's Restaurant

TC’s Restaurant was established back in 1979 in Dover, Vermont and is the Mount Snow Valley’s longest continually operated dining establishment, family-owned and operated for more than forty years. Locals and visitors of Dover alike can come and enjoy a meal at the home of Kelly Clark, an Olympian Gold Medalist, as well as take a look at the present and past snowboarding memorabilia. TC’s Restaurant is a family-friendly, casual eatery that serves American bistro fare with an Italian twist, including salads, hamburgers, steaks, pasta, and flatbread pizzas. The restaurant opens at 4:00pm on weekdays and 12:00pm on weekends.

178 Route 100 North, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 802-464-5900

8.West Dover Joe's

West Dover Joe's was opened originally as the Butcher Chop by Chef Brett Sewing and his wife in 1991. The restaurant is moderately prices and features prepared foods to-go, a market and deli, and a full-service bar in addition to in-house dining. Brett Sewing graduated in 1981 from Hyde Park, New York’s Culinary Institute of America, after which he traveled throughout the south working in an array of private clubs, hotels, and country clubs before his love for the mountains brought him to Dover in 1989. West Dover Joe’s is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 6:00am until 9:00pm.

271 Route 100, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 802-464-2422

9.Snowmobile Vermont

Snowmobile Vermont is one of the most experienced, largest, and oldest snowmobile tour operators in New England, operating for more than twenty-five years with locations in the towns of Stowe, Mount Snow, Okemo, and Killington, Vermont. Snowmobile tours with Snowmobile Vermont include a wide variety of riding options, providing appealing tours to nearly anyone of any skill or experience level. New riders are provided with all of the instruction they need before heading out on the tour. Guests can take a ride along the scenic trails of Vermont on Mount Snow or through a state park or forest.

33 Mt Snow Rd, West Dover, VT 05356, Phone: 802-464-7100