7 Best Towns in Vermont to Visit in 2024
The Green Mountain State is every bit as lush, lofty, and alluring as the nickname connotes. Part of the New England collective in the Northeastern United States, Vermont benefits from four distinct seasons, and all the beautiful sights and activities that correspond with turning the calendar. And given that this is the second-least populous state, there are nothing but lovable small towns to be found between New York and New Hampshire. These quaint, historic, maple-syrup-loving communities are tough to narrow down, but these seven might just be the best of the best. Let's begin our 2024 tour in a rather unexpected spot.
Montpelier
It might be unorthodox to start off a small-town list with a state capital, but with a population of only 8,000 (as of 2020) Montpelier is the smallest capital in the United States. This modest city was settled in 1787, at the fork of the Winooski River. Named after the French city, the Vermont version is every bit as charming – thanks to its gold-domed, restored Greek-revival State House, collection of surrounding spired churches, and refreshing New England surroundings. Get a bird-eye-view of the historic downtown by hiking to the top of Hubbard Park (located right in the heart of Montpelier), and then delve into its riverside streets, lapping up the cool book, record, clothing, and coffee shops (note: Montpelier is the only state capital to pass on Walmart, McDonald's, and Starbucks). Follow up the self-guided tour with a nourishing farm-to-table meal at one of the esteemed local restaurants. And before venturing westward to our next destination, make sure to pop out to Bragg Farm Sugarhouse & Gift Shop to grab some premier maple syrup from the eighth-generation family farm.
Stowe
Skiing, hiking, and all kinds of outdoor exploration awaits just 20 miles Northwest of Montpelier. People go to Stowe, first and foremost, to ski down Mount Mansfield (i.e. Vermont's highest peak). Named one of the "Top 10 Best Ski Towns in America" by Forbes, and the #1 Ski Town for Foodies in the United States by Fodor's Travel, this Lamoille County resort town not only excels in downhill thrills (and good eating afterwards), but also nordic/cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, dog-sledding, fat-biking, skating, ice climbing, ice fishing, and sleigh rides. Even when the snows melt, the combined playgrounds of Mount Mansfield State Forest, CC Putnam State Forest, and Camel's Hump State Park (which form a triangle around Stowe) shine year-round.
Shelburne
This Southern suburb of Burlington sits on the Eastern shore of Lake Champlain. 120 miles in length, 12 miles across, with a maximum depth of 400 feet, an estimated total volume of 6.8 trillion gallons of fresh water, and 587 miles of shoreline, Champlain was once recognized as the sixth member of the Great Lakes, and is large enough to maintain the "Champ" legend (i.e. America's Loch Ness Monster). Shelburne, with its bayside park, pebbly beach, shoreline trails at Shelburne Farms, and peninsula marina is one of Vermont's best places from which to explore the juggernaut lake. Inland, this Chittenden County town's big highlight is the Shelburne Museum, which includes the landlocked 220-foot Ticonderoga steamboat, the round red barn, a rare, 168-foot, two-lane covered bridge, the Lake Champlain Lighthouse, and other retired and relocated colonial structures showcasing artifacts from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Manchester
Nestled in the Battenkill River Valley, with the Green Mountains all around, Manchester, on the one hand, is another downhill ski and snowboard destination, and on the other, an idyllic New England community. There are three mountain resorts within a half-hour's drive of this Bennington County town, and another two can be reached within an hour. These same venues provide outlets for summer fun, but hikers and mountain bikers don't even need to stray that far from Manchester. The short and soothing Lye Brook Falls Trail lies just across Highway 7, the Long Trail trailhead and part of the Appalachian Trail can be reached in just less than four miles, and the challenging, but rewarding trail to the summit of Equinox Mountain starts on the West side of town. Those with a propensity for culture and history will be delighted by the Hildene – a Georgian Revival estate where the Lincoln family spent their summers, and the Southern Vermont Arts Center – a large indoor gallery and outdoor sculpture garden.
Brattleboro
Plunked beside the Connecticut River (across from New Hampshire), just below where it converges with the West River, and slightly North of the Massachusetts border, Brattleboro is an attractive, social, and fun-loving town. This Windham County community is all about good food, creativity, downtown shopping, and (since this is New England, after all), a healthy dose of outdoor recreation. Most of Brattleboro retailers are locally-owned businesses, making this a great place to top up your book collection, pick up some funky art (or buy the goods to make your own), or deck yourself out with some hip seasonal outfits. Within these same few blocks there are scores of farm-to-table restaurants, artisanal cafes and bakeries, communal taverns and craft tasting rooms.
Quechee
Elegant, unspoilt natural beauty, a dramatic gorge, a quaint village with a turbine-powered glassblowing workshop, and a sky full of colorful hot air balloons: such is the scene in Quechee – an unincorporated community within the town of Hartford. This Windsor County gem is bisected by the Ottauquechee River, and surrounded by enchanting parks. On the East side of town, Quechee State Park offers astonishing views of the namesake gorge, either from the dizzying bridge above, or riverside below. On your way back into the town proper, stop by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science – filled with informative indoor exhibits, a large aviary, a reptile room, hiking trails and a forest canopy walk. Right in the thick of Queechee, the riverside Green Park provides an everyday space to enjoy nature, but also the site for the annual Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival. While there are local operators who will take tourists up on any given day, the colorful collage is extra special on Father's Day.
Woodstock
Just seven miles West of Quechee, Woodstock is a wonderful way to wrap up a memorable weekend – and our list. Also on the banks of the tranquil Ottauquechee River, and still within Windsor County, this town hits many of the best beats Vermont has to offer. Palpable colonial heritage? Check. Four-season outdoor activities, including skiing? Check (thanks to the Woodstock Nordic Center and the Saskadena Six resort). Well-maintained green spaces? You bet. Check out Billings and Faulkner Park in the heart of town, and the botanical explosion at Eshqua Bog Natural Area (just a few minutes drive to the South). Museums? Absolutely. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park and BIllings Farm & Museum are side by side on the North end. Adorable, mom n' pop shop-lined downtown strip? Delicious cheese and maple syrup? Antiquitous covered bridges? Check, check, and triple check (there are three).
Vermont is cozy, natural, and full of nation-shaping history. Devoid of big cities, the Green Mountain State is perfectly-suited for fans of small towns. These seven settlements (towns, cities, and villages) are sure to be the best outlets for a relaxing vacation this year, or stepping stones for big adventures in the mountains, perusing the local and state parks, and, when the time comes, getting out on the water (for even though Vermont is the only landlocked member of New England, it has more than its share of rivers and lakes).
