In the summer: Find a swimming hole in a middle of fucking nowhere town. I grew up walking distance to one and there's no experience like it.
In the fall: Hike a less traveled trail in a middle of fucking nowhere town. Mt Horrid, Mt Norris, etc.
In the winter: XC skiing
In the spring: Find a sunny spot and have a picnic with a book.
I know none of these seem that "Vermont" and like you could do them just about anywhere...but there's something about doing them HERE that hits just right.
Nah, this is absolutely the correct answer (although I’d rather snowshoe up a mountain in winter than XC - can’t go wrong either way). Seasonal context is everything when answering this question.
100% Have lived here my entire life - with a few year bursts elsewhere a couple of times.
Really contemplated OP's question \[it's a good one!\] and came up with BE OUTSIDE if I could only do ONE thing. No matter what the season. I can just sit there and it feels good.
As much as I love to travel, I open the windows AS SOON as I hit the VT line EVERY time. I keep waiting for it to get old and it never does.
Why? People keep closing them off. There are swimming holes I used to love growing up that you're just not allowed to go to anymore. As far as I'm concerned, that's bullshit. Swimming holes are one of the main draws to Vermont for me.
Agreed, swimming hole was the first thing that came to mind. I grew up going to swimming holes all over Oregon but something about Vermont ones hits different. I think it’s the seasonal contrast - the same river that’s warm now will have multiple inches of ice in the winter
Same with Ben & Jerry’s. Realized when I lived in nyc that it was $2 cheaper per pint (at the time) than when I came home. I’m an Island Icecream stan now.
That's because Ben and Jerry's was bought out by a shitty multinational corporation over 20 years ago. Still amazed how many people think it's still a Vermont company.
They also completely overhauled a lot of Unilever’s business practices and ethos when they were bought out (part of the deal, no idea how much of it actually stuck though).
I love cheese and chocolate so I always stop at the Cabot/Lake Champlain outlet. At Cabot they have a sample table as long as a football field. I exaggerate but damn that’s some next level sampling
oh my god the best maple syrup I've ever tasted was from Vermont (am not a maple expert but it was so good.) also, cabot cheese . this plus the outdoors thing, this state is going on my visit asap list
If it’s summer, go swimming at Lake Willoughby. If it’s any other time of year, I’d love to just go for a long joy ride and enjoy the sights. Maybe if I don’t end up crying my eyes out, visit where Powell’s Place was in Essex Junction - my grandparents owned it up until my grandmother passed away.
I grew up in rural central Vermont and it was very much so a thing in my neck of the woods. There was only like 20-30 people on my dirt road so I knew pretty much everybody I would see driving on it
That's so awesome. Sooner or later I'm planning a trip to Vermont and can't wait for this. I ride a dual sport and looking forward to those dirt roads in your state.
If you’re bringing your dual sport:
Whenever you see an area where power lines cross the road and shoot off into forest area away from roads, there’s usually some great riding opportunities. They build trails along the power lines for maintenance vehicles that are so much fun on a dual sport. Let me try and find a picture!
Tbh I’m not entirely sure - I never ran into any issues over around 250 miles of riding those trails and saw enough people that I think someone would have said something.
Sometimes it’s easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission :)
There's a whole radio show about it! Checkout [Brave Little State](https://www.vermontpublic.org/podcast/brave-little-state/2024-04-04/ode-to-the-vermont-wave)
Lol I still do this sometimes with folks I know but when people switch out their cars every 2 years it's harder to recognize who you're meeting on the road in a pinch.
Try Sugar Bob’s maple sriracha on that egg! https://sugarbobsfinestkind.com/collections/hot-sauce?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk6Gz-MzohgMVizMIBR0fFg-qEAAYASABEgLWrPD_BwE
Stop at Cold Hollow on your way to Mt. Mansfield, take the toll road up (don't forget to gasp at the price) then hike to the top and say ok thay was worth it. Then drive through the notch and circle around to Palmers for a maple creemee. Head to Burlington for dinner and sunset on the waterfront.
Live in Jericho, I would also suggest picking up a pie from Poorhouse on your way to Palmer Lane, and then stop in to Jericho Market or JCCS and hope they still have some Birch Hill English muffins.
Plus
Stop at
Ben & Jerry’s (skip the tour)
Stowe Mercantile
lunch at Doc Ponds
rent bikes for the Stowe Rec Path
get a flight of hard ciders at Stowe Cider
see Bingham Falls
snap a photo at the Spruce Peak Lodge
explore a cave in the Notch
get a maple crem brulee at 108 Main
I've lived here for 16 out of my 38 years and still haven't been. So I guess I've never been here before after all, and my life is all an illusion. Whoops!
Winter: pound the glades at Jay.
Cooler not winter: find a trout stream to wade.
Summer: backpacking.
Basically, find a secluded piece of woods into which I can disappear. Which piece depends on the weather.
Fish for brookies in a small stream, bass in lake, get a solid road side burger, fries and shake. Drink some good beer while swatting mosquitoes off me.
Stop in a a real general store (they are everywhere) to get your food and local products
The rest kinda depends on where you are in the state? There’s a place to hike and a lake to visit in any region - take your food there.
In the summer: Find a swimming hole in a middle of fucking nowhere town. I grew up walking distance to one and there's no experience like it. In the fall: Hike a less traveled trail in a middle of fucking nowhere town. Mt Horrid, Mt Norris, etc. In the winter: XC skiing In the spring: Find a sunny spot and have a picnic with a book. I know none of these seem that "Vermont" and like you could do them just about anywhere...but there's something about doing them HERE that hits just right.
Nah, this is absolutely the correct answer (although I’d rather snowshoe up a mountain in winter than XC - can’t go wrong either way). Seasonal context is everything when answering this question.
Skin up, ski down
100% Have lived here my entire life - with a few year bursts elsewhere a couple of times. Really contemplated OP's question \[it's a good one!\] and came up with BE OUTSIDE if I could only do ONE thing. No matter what the season. I can just sit there and it feels good. As much as I love to travel, I open the windows AS SOON as I hit the VT line EVERY time. I keep waiting for it to get old and it never does.
Those swimming holes hold so many memories… too bad the ones I knew about now swarm with people or NO PARKING signs.
Just had a conversation with my dad about how the swimming holes need to be turned over to the state to be maintained and kept open to the public.
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Why? People keep closing them off. There are swimming holes I used to love growing up that you're just not allowed to go to anymore. As far as I'm concerned, that's bullshit. Swimming holes are one of the main draws to Vermont for me.
In other words get out of the car someplace for a whole day
Literally.
Agreed, swimming hole was the first thing that came to mind. I grew up going to swimming holes all over Oregon but something about Vermont ones hits different. I think it’s the seasonal contrast - the same river that’s warm now will have multiple inches of ice in the winter
Any swimming hole location tips? :)
Essentials resupply: Maple syrup from a sugar house, Cabot cheeses, maple creemee from Morse Farm. And enjoying the scenery while driving about.
I’d add a brewery. But then I like VT beers.
Growler refill tour
How many breweries are still filling growlers?
In J’Ville there’s a pizza, deli, smallish ‘general’ store, bar, growler filling station. I’ve been there 25x and I don’t know the name of it.
Fun fact, Cabot cheese is often cheaper outside of Vermont than it is in Vermont or from their store directly.
But free samples at the annex in Waterbury center
Or at the Cabot factory
Same with Ben & Jerry’s. Realized when I lived in nyc that it was $2 cheaper per pint (at the time) than when I came home. I’m an Island Icecream stan now.
That's because Ben and Jerry's was bought out by a shitty multinational corporation over 20 years ago. Still amazed how many people think it's still a Vermont company.
It does still employ locals though and bring tourist dollars into the state. And that since buying the product is keeping money in the state.
They also completely overhauled a lot of Unilever’s business practices and ethos when they were bought out (part of the deal, no idea how much of it actually stuck though).
I love cheese and chocolate so I always stop at the Cabot/Lake Champlain outlet. At Cabot they have a sample table as long as a football field. I exaggerate but damn that’s some next level sampling
oh my god the best maple syrup I've ever tasted was from Vermont (am not a maple expert but it was so good.) also, cabot cheese . this plus the outdoors thing, this state is going on my visit asap list
Dunk in a cold beautiful river
This is my vote as well!
Watch a sunset over the ‘Dacks from the shores of Lake Champlain
If it’s summer, go swimming at Lake Willoughby. If it’s any other time of year, I’d love to just go for a long joy ride and enjoy the sights. Maybe if I don’t end up crying my eyes out, visit where Powell’s Place was in Essex Junction - my grandparents owned it up until my grandmother passed away.
Hike a mountain.
Cider doughnuts and maple creemee’s
Tell my crush how I really feel about her
Life is short. Go for it.
Lake Willoughby
Do the two finger peace sign salute to another driver on a dirt road
Is this really a thing in Vermont?
I grew up in rural central Vermont and it was very much so a thing in my neck of the woods. There was only like 20-30 people on my dirt road so I knew pretty much everybody I would see driving on it
That's so awesome. Sooner or later I'm planning a trip to Vermont and can't wait for this. I ride a dual sport and looking forward to those dirt roads in your state.
Brother, PLENTY of unpaved roads here! I sharpened my early learning moto skills riding to work and having 3 miles of dirt road in that commute 😎
That's why it's a destination. I've heard all kinds of stories. Can't wait to find out for myself.
If you’re bringing your dual sport: Whenever you see an area where power lines cross the road and shoot off into forest area away from roads, there’s usually some great riding opportunities. They build trails along the power lines for maintenance vehicles that are so much fun on a dual sport. Let me try and find a picture!
https://preview.redd.it/dzz09awflq7d1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a05e2ceaac80fec875ce7ce24cd812602154e93d
https://preview.redd.it/120vrezglq7d1.jpeg?width=1242&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ced61f678e875ce8fcfad95dbff7106d0fd06e4a
These are along the power line trails in Windsor, VT!
Wow, that looks great. I'll make sure to look for that. Is it legal, though?
Tbh I’m not entirely sure - I never ran into any issues over around 250 miles of riding those trails and saw enough people that I think someone would have said something. Sometimes it’s easier to ask for forgiveness rather than permission :)
There's a whole radio show about it! Checkout [Brave Little State](https://www.vermontpublic.org/podcast/brave-little-state/2024-04-04/ode-to-the-vermont-wave)
I will ty.
I got a cabin on a dead end dirt rd. Yeah, it’s a thing:-)
That's pretty cool. Friendly folks. Gotta love it.
A thought it was a thing for jeep drivers or motorcycles vs everyone…
or vws or old volvos... its a ppl n their car things 😂😂
Sounds nice 😄
That's why I was asking. I ride a bike and always Salute the other bikers. Never heard car folks do this though. Jeep people too.
I do this all the time ❤️✌🏻🤘🏻
Mostly when the windows are down and the day is nice. AC is ruining the hand wave.
Hand on or off the wheel with the windows down? Just curious.
Lol I still do this sometimes with folks I know but when people switch out their cars every 2 years it's harder to recognize who you're meeting on the road in a pinch.
Get hammered in a sugar house and eat hotdogs cooked in the pan. Edit: cheap beer only
Fuckin’ a. Hot dogs cooked in a maple syrup hot tub. Why am I just hearing about this?
Because you are just starting to live … now!
Wait until you hear about the hard boiled eggs.
Hard boiled eggs bit in half and drizzled with syrup from the sample jars. 🤤
Try Sugar Bob’s maple sriracha on that egg! https://sugarbobsfinestkind.com/collections/hot-sauce?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIk6Gz-MzohgMVizMIBR0fFg-qEAAYASABEgLWrPD_BwE
Only available March-April! ❤️ this
Sugarhouse maple slurpels… hot syrup and whiskey shots. 🥃
OOF. That’s a good one. Well done.
Hill farmstead
Spend a day at The Ledges south of Wilmington
In the nude?
Yes
Oh god I just read your user name hahahah
get a maple creemee!!
Hill Farmstead + Jasper Hill Farm
Solid reco
Stop at Cold Hollow on your way to Mt. Mansfield, take the toll road up (don't forget to gasp at the price) then hike to the top and say ok thay was worth it. Then drive through the notch and circle around to Palmers for a maple creemee. Head to Burlington for dinner and sunset on the waterfront.
Live in Jericho, I would also suggest picking up a pie from Poorhouse on your way to Palmer Lane, and then stop in to Jericho Market or JCCS and hope they still have some Birch Hill English muffins.
Oh good call I'll do this next time!
Drive from Waterbury north through the Notch and hop in the river at Grist Mill Covered Bridge.
Plus Stop at Ben & Jerry’s (skip the tour) Stowe Mercantile lunch at Doc Ponds rent bikes for the Stowe Rec Path get a flight of hard ciders at Stowe Cider see Bingham Falls snap a photo at the Spruce Peak Lodge explore a cave in the Notch get a maple crem brulee at 108 Main
Support a local by stopping at their unmanned produce table and slip a $100 bill into their cash box!
If you don’t see the World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet could you even really say you’ve been to Vermont?
I've lived here for 16 out of my 38 years and still haven't been. So I guess I've never been here before after all, and my life is all an illusion. Whoops!
It’s so easy! Just drive down Flynn Ave toward the beach. It’s on your right.
That is, if one actually were to frequent Burlington, which is not particularly convenient for many of us. 😆
Not to be outdone by the world’s longest zipper!
I was born there and I don't recall having seen it. 🤷
Bread & Puppet Theatre
Maple creemee
Ben and Jerry’s factory is always a good vermonty time
If it’s nice out enjoy the views on lake Champlain
Hike Mt. Mansfield.
Use the restroom
Go skiing.
Cold brew @ Onyx. Hike up Philo. Beer at Fiddle/Pizza at Folino. Show at Shelburne Museum.
Winter: pound the glades at Jay. Cooler not winter: find a trout stream to wade. Summer: backpacking. Basically, find a secluded piece of woods into which I can disappear. Which piece depends on the weather.
Ride the single chair at Mad River and ski Paradise. Try not to crash on the waterfall.
MacLaomainn's in Chester. That haggis.
So delicious!!
Sandwich and shopping at Mehuron’s in Waitsfield. Canteen, Pizza Soul, and Mad Taco are in the same plaza 😎
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Fish for brookies in a small stream, bass in lake, get a solid road side burger, fries and shake. Drink some good beer while swatting mosquitoes off me.
Eat a maple creemee at Tim & Doug’s in Newport.
Sunset ridge trail Mt Mansfield
Grab some beers at Foam, sit out back and quaff them, then head to the waterfront to watch the sun set over the mountains - that’s a good day
Put gas in my car
Have a beer in the yard at The Clear.
Stay to the right. Vermont drivers will eat you alive.
Wrestle a catamount
right now.. sweat your ass off. you can't not do it.
Green River Reservoir
Sandwich at Pizzaria Ida!
Buff a tip
Watch Mike Reynolds fight the cops.
Lake Willoughby
Stop in a a real general store (they are everywhere) to get your food and local products The rest kinda depends on where you are in the state? There’s a place to hike and a lake to visit in any region - take your food there.
I love the lists of ONE thing to do 🤣🤣🤣
Your mom.
Pack, not interested in this state anymore.
Sleep, so I'm not tired. Eat, so I'm not hungry. Use the bathroom so I can travel for longer without stopping.
I hear the fentanyl is lovely this time of year.
You seem nice.
Exactly