Cheap and Fun Vacation Ideas in Vermont with Kids

Proudly owned by a nonprofit educational organization, Shelburne Farms is a 1,400-acre working farm that actively works to educate the public about sustainable farming practices and food systems. The Visitor Center and Farm Store are open year-round, but the best time to visit is between the middle of May and the middle of October when the Farm Barn is open. Visitors can take a guided tour of the property in an open-air wagon, but families will particularly love the Children's Farmyard, where kids can learn about farm life by participating in activities like cow milking, donkey grooming, and gardening.

1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne, VT 05482, Phone: 802-985-8686

If your kids go crazy for ice cream, the Ben and Jerry’s Factory Tour is undoubtedly one of the best things you can do in Vermont. During the standard 30-minute tour, visitors will learn about the company's history before being shown the production room, where the guide will explain how the manufacturing process takes place from start to finish. If you book a VIP tour, you'll also get to spend some time in the Flavor Lab making your own ice cream masterpiece. After your tour, don't forget to stop by the Scoop Shop to sample a new flavor or indulge in an old favorite.

1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, VT-100, Waterbury, VT 05676, Phone: 866-258-6877

Not far from the charming village of Woodstock, the Billings Farm and Museum is a working dairy farm with a wonderful outdoor museum on the property. The historic farmhouse is open for tours, and there are plenty of exhibits detailing what life was like on a farm during the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you want to learn even more about farm life, there are often live demonstrations of butter churning, and cheese making. The farm also hosts regular meet-and-greets with cows, sheep, and chickens, and visitors are welcome to stop by the livestock barns to see the dairy cows, horses, and oxen.

69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, VT 05091, Phone: 802-457-2355

Home to an impressive collection of approximately 500 lifelike bird carvings, the Birds of Vermont Museum was established by a local naturalist who wanted to educate the public about the important role birds play in the planet's ecosystem. Many of the carvings are displayed in dioramas designed to replicate a variety of different habitats, and there's also a room dedicated to showcasing extinct and endangered species. There are several places you can spot live birds as well, including a tree house, a viewing window, and a network of outdoor walking trails. Guided bird walks are held on the last Saturday of every month.

900 Sherman Hollow Rd, Huntington, VT 05462, Phone: 802-434-2167

Located at the Bromley Mountain ski resort, the Bromley Sun Mountain Adventure Park is an exciting summer destination that offers fun for the whole family. Among other things, visitors can play mini golf, take a scenic chairlift ride up the mountain, or zip down the enormous alpine slide. If you're looking for an even bigger adrenaline rush, you can take a ride on the Sun Mountain Flyer, a half-mile zipline that can reach speeds of up to 50 miles per hour. The park is open between the end of May and mid-October, and tickets can be purchased online or in person.

3984 VT-11, Peru, VT 05152, Phone: 802-824-5522

The peaceful mountain community of Jeffersonville has been attracting talented landscape painters for more than a century, and at the Bryan Memorial Art Gallery, visitors can see a marvelous collection of beautiful paintings inspired by the scenery of Vermont. The exhibits are best suited to older children and adults, but they're rotated on a regular basis to feature both new and returning artists, so there's always something new and exciting to see. If your kids have a serious interest in painting, you can even enroll them in one of the painting workshops held at the gallery from time to time.

180 S Vermont 108, Jeffersonville, VT 05464, Phone: 802-644-5100

Encompassing more than 250 acres on the shore of Lake Champlain, Button Bay State Park is a four-season destination for outdoor recreation. The lake is perfectly suited to boating, swimming, and fishing, but there's also an outdoor swimming pool for visitors to use. The fishing access road is plowed in the winter for ice fishing. A family-friendly hiking trail meanders through the park, and during the summer, there's a park interpreter who hosts evening campfire programs, arts and crafts activities, and guide hikes. If you want to stay the night, you can choose between cabins, campsites, and lean-tos.

5 Button Bay State Park, Vergennes, VT 05491, Phone: 802-475-2377

Owned and operated by a local fisherman who has his fly-fishing instructor certification, Catamount Fishing Adventures invites visitors to come enjoy the incredible fishing around Stowe. Fishing excursions are offered year-round; fly fishing and spin fishing are popular during the spring, summer, and fall, but the company also offers ice fishing trips during the winter. Anglers of all ages and abilities are welcome, and all equipment is typically provided if needed. Trips usually last either four or eight hours, but shorter trips can sometimes be arranged if you have small children or are on a tight schedule.

699 Glen Brook Rd, Stowe, VT 05672, Phone: 802-253-8500

Conveniently located right on the Burlington waterfront, the ECHO Science Center is a marine-themed children's museum with a focus on Lake Champlain. The main exhibit features a replica of a historic ship called The General Butler and an aquarium full of freshwater fish, but there are also exhibits covering topics like the geology and history of the Champlain Valley, the ways in which the watershed affects to ecosystem, and the culture of the local indigenous people. Many of the exhibits feature hands-on aspects designed to keep kids entertained, and the center also features a 3D theater that regularly plays educational films.

1 College St, Burlington, VT 05401, Phone: 802-864-1848

Established in 1891, the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium is a family-friendly natural history museum where kids and adults alike can learn about the wondrous world we live in. The collection boasts more than 30,000 objects taken from all over the world, but the museum has a strong hands-on focus as well, and visitors can learn about various aspects of the natural world by tinkering around in the Exploration Station. Other highlights include a living display of local, seasonal plants and flowers, a unique collection of mosaic art made from insects, and a butterfly house that's open during the summer. Planetarium shows are held every day.

1302 Main St, St Johnsbury, VT 05819, Phone: 802-748-2372