The State of Vermont is located in the northeastern region of the US. Its picturesque landscape and over 100 19th century wooden bridges make Vermont a beautiful place to visit.

Vermont is probably best known for two things: maple syrup production and cows! Vermont is the perfect place to vacation. It’s less than 4 hours away from many major metropolitan centers including New York and Boston.

Here is our curated list of ‘must see’ places in Vermont:

Lake Champlain

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The 120 mile lake derives its name from Samuel de Champlain. Although it stretches through New York and Canada, most of the lake lies in Vermont.

With a surface area of more than 8,000 miles, the lake’s rich wildlife diversity attracts tourists for water sports and fishing. The shoreline is rimmed with untouched forests and fields making a perfect spot for kayakers, canoeists, and boaters.
Visit the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum opposite Vergennes’ Basin Harbor to learn about the lake’s role in the war of 1812.

Stowe

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Stowe is a beauty to behold, nestled in the Green Mountains. No visit to Vermont is complete without a visit to Stowe. It has a British colonial bridge, lots of weathered barns, skiing and some of the best zip lines in the state.

Stowe is home to the Vermont Ski Museum. The museum pays homage to Vermont’s long history as a premier northeast ski destination.

Stowe’s beauty is underscored by natural autumn colors, snow, and numerous shops and boutiques. Resort facilities and art galleries abound in this quaint Vermont town.

Shelburne Museum

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Shelburne is an open-air museum housing America’s fine art traditions and unique relics from Vermont’s fabled history. The Stowe museum is best known for it’s round barn where you’ll find wagons and antique carriage. The museum also features a pint shop, and intricate American quilts.

Several Vermont dairy farms are just a short distance away. Visit the local dairies to experience their locally produced milk, cheese and ice cream.

Mount Mansfield and Smugglers Notch

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Mansfield is the tallest mountain in Vermont. The mountain features some of the best hiking trails.

Mount Mansfield skiers are treated to some of Vermont’s best scenic views aboard the gondola that whisks them to the top of the mountain. The gongola is open year round and is available to skiers and non-skiers alike.

During the summer months, no trip to Mount Mansfield is complete without adrive through Smugglers Notch. In the notch, you’ll slowly pick your way along a road that winds among trees and boulders. There are several opportunities to park and hike.

Here is a fun fact: The ‘notches’ at Smugglers’ notch are the result of glacial formation activities that carved caves in the mountain rocks. 19th-century smugglers used these caves as hiding places.

Ben and Jerry’s

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No trip to Vermont is complete without a stop at the Ben and Jerry’s factory in Waterbury. You’ll be treated to a free 30-minute educational tour. At the end of the tour, you will have an opportunity to sample the flavor of the day and purchase some of your favorites.

The Hildene

Image Credit: J. Miers – Wikimedia

The picturesque property is an excellent example of a vacation home built by wealthy ruling families before the 20th century. It was built by Robert T. Lincoln, son to President Abraham Lincoln after he fell in love on a visit to Manchester.

The building and its lovely flower gardens house artifacts from Abraham Lincoln’s family. One famous belonging is Lincoln’s stovepipe hat.

Vermont is a truly unique year-round tourist destination. It’s landscape is dotted with quaint towns, towering ski mountains, and iconic covered bridges. It offers a little something for everyone in the family to enjoy. No trip to Vermont is complete without a stay at one of our luxurious properties in southern Vermont. Check us out at www.stargazerstays.com.

Southern Vermont’s natural beauty make it a bucket list item for hikers of all abilities. Star Gazer Farm is conveniently located to several hiking hot spots. Over the years, we have had hundreds of hikers use Star Gazer Farm as their home-base while tackling the area’s iconic day hikes. Here is our guest-curated list of hiking the Best Southern Vermont hikes:

#1. Lye Brook Falls

Lye Brook falls trailhead in Manchester, VT is about 15 minutes from Star Gazer Farm. This is a 5-mile loop hike…at the end, you are rewarded with a view of the tallest waterfall in Vermont. This hike can be done in about ½ a day. It is easy to moderate in difficulty level. More information about Lye Brook Falls trail is available on the Forest Service Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gmfl/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=75341&actid=50

#2 Dorset Quarries

VT is famous for its marble quarries. In the nearby town of Dorset (20 min drive) there are numerous hikes that lead to abandoned quarries. These a popular choice for our guests because of how intriguing it is to explore the abandoned quarries. Visiting the quarries is like stepping back in time. Along the way to the quarries, you are likely to encounter other interesting abandoned structures. Several of the hikes offer scenic vistas at the destination or along the way. Pick your perfect quarry hike from the Town of Dorset’s dedicated hiking website: http://dorsetvt.org/hike.html. These hikes cover a broad range of ability levels. Please see the Dorset hiking website for specific information on difficulty and length.

#3. Equinox Mountain and Lookout Rock

The is a strenuous 6.3-mile hike, but it’s worth it! At the end, and along the way, you are rewarded with fantastic vistas of the valley that runs north/south along Route 7. The trail is best when there is no snow on the ground. Mount Equinox is the highest mountain in the Taconic range. At the summit, there is a visitor’s center and monastery. Lookout rock is just 2/10 of a mile away and has views of Manchester Village and features a marble bench for weary hikers to rest upon. The All Trails website has more information on this hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/vermont/equinox-mountain-and-lookout-rock

#4. Grout Pond

Grout Pond is located roughly 15 miles from Star Gazer Farm. You’ll access the trail from Kelly-Stand Rd. in Sunderland, VT. You can canoe, kayak or hike. There are no rentals available. There is a total of 12 miles of trail at Grout Pond. It’s not uncommon to see moose and bear roaming the woods around the pond. Information on the Grout Pond trails can be found on the Forest Service Website: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gmfl/recreation/hiking/recarea/?recid=64913&actid=50

#5. Lake Shaftsbury State Park

Image Credit: Jen Rypkema – Pinterest

Shaftsbury State Park boasts a lovely recreational pond encircled by easy hiking trails. It’s just 8 minutes from Star Gazer Farm. This is a perfect hike for families with small children. There is a playground and quaint swimming area with sandy beach. The park also has grills and picnic tables. Canoes, kayaks, pedal boats and stand-up paddle boards are available to rent. This is an enjoyable family outing. More information on Lake Shaftsbury State Park is available on their website at: https://www.vtstateparks.com/shaftsbury.html

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