Three Perfect Days: A trip to Vermont

Things to do and see

Sail on Lake Champlain

If you’ve grown up near the Great Lakes, you know there’s no better way to start the day than sailing. The freshwater breeze. The way a boat can effortlessly cut through gentle waves. It's magical. On Lake Champlain, the sprawling Adirondack Mountains will loom large on the horizon. Breeze north to the limestone cliffs of Rock Point, then head south for a panoramic view of Burlington, where buildings poke through the trees.

For those new to sailing, hire an instructor from the nonprofit Lake Champlain Community Sailing Center. The sailing center aims to keep the sport accessible by offering lessons to anyone interested.

Leahy Center for Lake

Leahy is a center devoted to the lake’s ecology and a great place to bring the family. Watch the staff feed the sculpin, a lake fish known to hop rather than swim, or visit the gray tree frogs, red-spotted newts and various species of turtles.

Ethan Allen Homestead Museum

This historic house museum walks visitors through indoor and outdoor exhibits that share the legacy of Vermont’s founding father, Ethan Allen. There’s also a recreated Indigenous Abenaki hunting village and the gardens of Fanny Allen, Allen’s wife and Vermont’s first botanist.

Church Street Marketplace

This four-block strip is an award-winning pedestrian mall with over 100 stores, restaurants and galleries. Browse local vendors and artist collections or have a bite at one of the many restaurants. If you’re looking for a souvenir unique to Vermont, come here.

Waterfront Park

Everyone deserves to see a Burlington sunset. So, after weaving through stores and shops, head to Waterfront Park and find a comfortable bench or join others on the boardwalk as the sun sinks beyond Lake Champlain, filling the sky with streaks of blush.

Where to eat

Poppy Cafe

This homey lunch spot in Burlington’s Old North End is run by sisters Emily and Abby Portman. They’re known for sandwiches piled high with a rotating menu of unexpected but delicious seasonal ingredients.

Hen of the Wood

For dinner, this acclaimed, open-kitchen restaurant is a must. The restaurant aims to give diners a true taste of Vermont, highlighting the region’s most vibrant food. Spoiler: they do.

Not sure where to stay in Vermont? Check out United Hotels.

20 minutes outside Burlington you’ll end up deep in farm country, where the roadside is dotted with dairy barns, maple syrup shacks and covered bridges. Winding down these country roads will eventually bring you to Vermont’s famous rolling mountains.

Things to do and see

Green Mountain & Finger Lakes National Forests

This national park offers countless recreational activities throughout every season. Here’s what we recommend:

• Hike the over 900 miles of trails maintained in both summer and winter.
• Try a longer adventure like the Long Trail, the nation’s first long-distance trail, which takes about 30 days to complete.
• Explore Sterling Pond for panoramic views.
• Explore one of the eight designated wilderness areas.

Mount Mansfield

Mount Mansfield is the highest mountain in Vermont. If you drive up Toll Road (only accessible in summer months), you'll get to a breathtaking 3,850-foot view.

Trapp Family Lodge

Almost all of us grew up watching "The Sound of Music." So, meeting a living von Trapp qualifies as a peak celebrity experience. Sam von Trapp helps run the family’s Stowe-based businesses, the Trapp Family Lodge (opened in 1950) and von Trapp Brewing.

At the brewery, enjoy pints of pilsner surrounded by timber beams decorated with hanging beer banners and a wall of windows that perfectly frame Mount Mansfield.

Where to eat

The Grey Jay

For breakfast, try this acclaimed Eastern Mediterranean restaurant by Chef Cara Tobin. Her cozy café, with its 34-seat storefront warmed by Moroccan pendant lamps, brings a worldly perspective to breakfast and lunch.

Burlington Beer Company

This spot is a 14,000-square-foot warehouse turned brewery. We recommend the indulgent Korean nachos paired with the brewery’s signature double IPA, It’s Complicated Being a Wizard.

The Roost

Located in Topnotch Resort, this restaurant has the perfect view of Mansfield with a menu curated from local organic ingredients and sustainably raised meats.

Things to do and see

Waterbury Village Historic District

Hidden within Vermont’s rolling hills, this historic village is highlighted by hip-roofed Victorian mansions, a Gothic revival church and the Old Stagecoach Inn, built in 1826 and still hosting visitors today. Wander through the village center and pop into eclectic shops and craft-inspired restaurants. This is a foodie and recreational heaven.

Vermont Dairy

Vermont has a rich history of dairy farming and is where the iconic world-famous ice cream brand Ben and Jerry’s got its start. You can’t come to Vermont without sampling its delicacies. You can’t try it all, but here’s where we recommend you start:

• Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory: This is a Waterbury must-see. The 24/7 operation churns out over 350,000 pints daily and offers tours similar to Willy Wonka. This is the only factory open to the public. Of course, you must stop at the small ice-cream shop at the end.
• Cabot Creamery: Founded in Vermont in 1919, the brand is now a working cooperative spanning over 500 family farms across New England. The experimental shop has plenty of cheese tastings, from creamy one-years to kicky five-year cheddars. They also sell a variety of other Vermont specialty foods.
• Shelburne Farms: Running along Lake Champlain, this is an educational nonprofit on a 1,400-acre working farm. Through a glass wall in the cheesemaking room, watch blocks of cheddar that have been pressed from 580 pounds of cheese curds. Or visit the animals roaming the fields and leave with a fresh half gallon of milk.

Montpelier

Vermont’s capital and the nation’s smallest state capital, Montpelier, is the home of America’s fourth President, James Madison. Check out:

• The State House: A stunning example of Greek Revival architecture where you can wander the halls of power and view the impressive art collection.
• Vermont History Museum: Here, you can learn about the state’s environmental movement and the rise of its cheese production and tourism industry. Explore Vermont’s history from 1600 to the present.

Where to eat

Salt & Rind

Here, the oysters steal the show. But the restaurant's vibrant food and drink menu includes cheese and charcuterie, local draft beer, custom cocktails and more. Come experience Waterbury’s hidden culinary gem.

Sarducci’s

A classic Italian restaurant serving the Montpelier community for over 20 years. This is comfort food and friendly service right in the heart of Vermont’s picturesque scenery.

Although Vermont hides in America’s northeastern corner, it's a state brimming with history, artisanal communities and unexpected adventures. And the best part? This twist of nature and culture is all within a footprint so tiny that you barely need a quarter tank of gas to have the perfect three days. The best things really do come in small packages.