6 Idyllic Small Towns In Vermont To Visit In 2025
Situated in the northern reaches of New England and the northeastern United States, the Green Mountain State of Vermont abounds in gorgeous Appalachian landscapes and quaint small towns full of incredible surprises. Across this state, you can find everything from world-famous farms making delectable treats to locally beloved hiking trails in the mountains. Of course, Vermont has a few ski towns that have grown a reputation as the best on the East Coast. But if you know where to go, it’s also possible to discover solitude and serenity in the wilderness.
Whether you aim to ascend to new peaks, calm down at your new favorite quiet place, or fill your belly with great grub, these are six idyllic small towns in Vermont you will want to visit in 2025.
Cabot
If you’ve ever dipped your hands into the American artisan cheese scene, then you’ve likely heard of Cabot. Though Cabot Creamery’s cheese plant in town is closed to visitors, you can drive out to the Cabot Creamery at the Yellow Barn to peruse their selection of gourmet cheeses and specialty merchandise. Or, you can stay in town and check the selection of locally made foods and goods at Cabot Village Store. And if you’re in town in late September, stick around for the Cabot Cheese and Culture Festival, where you can taste some delicious creations from various Vermont cheesemakers, butchers, winemakers, and many more artisans.
If you’re really hoping to visit a local farm, head out to Goodrich's Maple Farm for pure, unadulterated, and award-winning maple syrup, along with locally made jams, jellies, candies, and even pancake mixes. When you’re craving even more quality time at a local farm, you can book a stay at the nearby Fruitlands Bed & Breakfast and spend the night at a certified organic farm that grows blueberries and raspberries on site.
Stowe
Home to Vermont’s tallest mountain and most celebrated ski slopes, the village of Stowe might just be the United States’ most charming ski town (or, at least, the best one east of the Rocky Mountains). At Stowe Mountain Resort, you can hike or drive your way to the 4,395-foot summit of Mount Mansfield during the warmer months, or ski and snowboard some 116 trails across 485 skiable acres during winter. If you crave even more adventures in the mountains, try your luck on the East Coast’s only triple black diamond ski run at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, or simply do the drive and enjoy the views at Smugglers’ Notch State Park.
In town, you can hit up the Cady Hill Forest for a year-round multi-use nature preserve that’s great for hiking and biking in the warmer seasons, as well as Nordic skiing and snowshoeing during winter. Once you’re ready to call it a day, make your way to Stowe's own Topnotch Resort, a sleek yet inviting luxury resort and spa where you will feel right at home doing as much (or as little) as you like.
Shelburne
Shelburne may only be about nine miles south of Burlington, yet this is a small town with some of Vermont’s biggest attractions. At the Shelburne Museum, you can peruse their collection of over 100,000 works of folk and decorative art spanning four centuries, from French Impressionist paintings to vintage textiles and toys. While at the museum, you can also catch music concerts on the grounds, and you can even tour the Ticonderoga steamboat that was built here in 1906 and served as a day boat on Lake Champlain.
Just down the road from the museum, discover the flavorful world of Vermont wines and ciders at Shelburne Vineyard. And for the ultimate in Vermont farm culture and farm-to-table cuisine, make sure to visit Shelburne Farms, a local institution dedicated to sustainable living that may easily keep you on their campus all day with beautiful walking trails, curated farm tours, cheesemaking demonstrations, kid-friendly farm activities, and a farm store that’s always stocked with locally made cheeses, maple syrups, and other goodies. To complete your Shelburne experience, book a stay at Heart of the Village Inn, a locally run bed-and-breakfast housed in a historic Victorian home at a prime location near the farm, the museum, and so much more.
Middlebury
Middlebury may be best known as a college town, but this is no ordinary college town. Since Middlebury sits just to the west of Green Mountain National Forest, this town makes a great “base camp” to explore the mountains, experience the unique beauty of Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, and access the Long Trail that traverses Vermont’s tallest mountains across the full length of the state. And though Middlebury may not be New England’s most famous ski town, Middlebury College’s Middlebury Snowbowl is an underrated gem that offers trails suitable for skiers at all levels and up to a 1,000-foot vertical drop during the winter season.
Back in town, there’s plenty more to explore, including the United States’ oldest community history museum at the Henry Sheldon Museum, which has an amazing array of Vermont historic artifacts and a kid-friendly Makerspace that lets folks get hands-on with local culture and create their own woodworks, woven goods, digital art, and more. From there, head over to Swift House Inn to experience a cozy and comfy bed-and-breakfast with the award-winning Jessica’s restaurant on site.
Woodstock
Located a mere 141 miles northwest of Boston (Massachusetts), Woodstock has some of Vermont’s most iconic landscapes and landmarks, including the “Little Grand Canyon” formed by a glacier some 13,000 years ago. Speaking of this canyon, the Quechee Gorge is a must-see with its massive bluffs that drop as much as 165 feet to the banks of the Ottauquechee River. In town, there’s plenty more nature to wander into at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park with its 25 miles of trails in the Mount Tom Forest.
Just across the street from the national park lies Billings Farm & Museum, one of the nation’s premier outdoor museums with one of the country’s oldest registered Jersey dairy farms, ample opportunities to meet more of the animals on site (including horses, sheep, and chickens), and interactive workshops for guests of all ages. To experience another side of Woodstock, pop over to Pentangle Arts’ Woodstock Town Hall Theatre, a stately opera house that first opened in 1900 and now hosts a number of moving performing arts events. Then, check into the legendary Woodstock Inn & Resort, a warm and inviting Vermont-style luxury resort with restaurants focused on creating the finest locally sourced cuisine, an eco-conscious spa featuring treatments with locally made products, and classically elegant rooms and suites.
Manchester
Situated between the Green Mountains and the Taconic Range in southern Vermont, about 62 miles east of Albany (New York), Manchester is a town rich in American history, natural beauty, and unique culture. Head down to Hildene to tour the family home built by Robert Todd Lincoln (the son of President Abraham Lincoln) in 1905, that’s since evolved into a living museum with estate tours, a sustainable goat dairy farm, a network of gorgeous nature trails, and even a fully restored 1903 Pullman car. Also check out the Southern Vermont Arts Center to view works by artists near and far, and to catch some interactive art classes, workshops, music concerts, and other events they host year-round.
During summer and fall, you can do the Mount Equinox Skyline Drive to reach the summit of the Taconic Range (at 3,848 feet above sea level) and enjoy panoramic views of the northern Appalachian region from New York all the way to Quebec (Canada) on a clear day. For more mountain-top excitement, hit up Stratton Mountain Resort for year-round fun and games ranging from golf and mountain biking during summer to skiing and snowboarding in winter. No matter what you end up doing in and around Manchester, feel free to rest, relax, and recharge at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel, a chic yet comfortable boutique hotel that really goes the distance to make you feel right at home.
You Can Do the Ideal Trip at These Lovely Small Towns in Vermont
When you seek idyllic small towns to visit on a future New England trip, don’t miss out on these wonderful small towns across Vermont. Head to Stowe to experience the beauty and charm of one of the East Coast’s premier ski towns, and try Middlebury for a more low-key town that’s right by some of the Green Mountains’ finest wilderness treasures. Go to Shelburne to learn all about real-life farm life in Vermont, and make your way to Manchester for plenty of historic gems and timeless mountain scenery. Whether you aim to enjoy some top-notch autumn leaf peeping, ski down some epic slopes during winter, or simply taste some grade-A locally made maple syrup and cheese, these idyllic small towns in Vermont really can make your vacation dreams come true.
