By Molly Triffin
Stunning natural beauty, thoughtful farm-to-table food, rich and eclectic culture—the Green Mountain state has it all. And while there’s plenty to do in Stowe itself, for those who wish to venture further, we curated a list of one of a kind excursions within about an hour’s drive.
Whether you’re craving adventure, culinary inspiration, or an artistic endeavor, check out three different day trips that spotlight the best of Vermont.
Shred the Kingdom Trails
LOCATION • East Burke
Fuel up with a cappuccino and breakfast sandwich at Lotti’s Espresso Bar (cafelottivt. com). The space is cozy and bright, and everything’s homemade.
Rent mountain bikes at East Burke Sports (eastburkesports.com), and then roll through the spectacular Kingdom Trails mountain biking trail network (kingdomtrails.org). With more than 100 miles of paths–from flowy single track studded with fun features to pastoral country roads—there’s terrain for every skill level. For a guided experience, join a mountain bike clinic or sign up for a private lesson with a certified coach through Dynamic Cycling Adventures (dynamiccyclingadventures.com).
The best place to apres-MTB is family-friendly Mike’s Tiki Bar (mikestikibar.com)–featuring a wraparound outdoor bar, food trucks, live music, and a gorgeous setting in the foothills of the Green Mountains. Seating is limited so you might want to bring long a blanket to sprawl out on.
Paddle the Green
River Reservoir
LOCATION • Hyde Park, Morrisville
Locals swear by the handmade donuts at North Country Donuts (northcountrydonuts.com), on the way to your destination. Fan favorites include maple-glazed and apple fritters.
Launch a kayak into the pristine 653-acre Green River Reservoir (vtstateparks.com/grriver), dotted with tiny islands and hidden inlets. As is a designated “quiet” lake, there are no noisy motorboats to disturb the water and wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled for great blue herons and loons, whose ethereal calls can occasionally be heard echoing across the expanse. Rent a kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddle board through Up North Canoe (upnorthcanoe.com)—they’ll deliver it to the reservoir and you can pick it up right on the bank.
Post-paddle, dig into brisket poutine (fries smothered in house-smoked brisket, gravy, and local cheese curds) and maple habanero chicken wings at Black Diamond Barbeque (blackdiamondbarbeque.com).
Dive into the Action at
Lake Champlain
LOCATION • Burlington
Grab breakfast at The Spot (thespotvt.com), a surf-inspired joint in a refurbished 1950’s gas station, with a chill vibe and fresh menu. Or try their sister location, The Spot on the Dock, located right on the water in the marina.
Sign up for a lesson at Burlington Surf Club (burlingtonsurfclub.com), situated on an expansive stretch of sandy beach on the Lake Champlain waterfront. Their certified instructors can train people of all skill levels in water sports like windsurfing, winging (windsurfing meets kiteboarding), and Lift eFoil (surfing with an electric surfboard).
Now it’s time for some R&R. Kick back at Savu (savu.cc), a pop-up sauna and cold plunge adjacent to the Surf Club. Book the hour during sunset for maximum viewing pleasure.
Wrap up the day with cheese and charcuterie, washed down with a craft IPA, at Foam Brewers (foambrewers.com), a lively lakeside taproom.
Pick Your Own
LOCATION • Richmond and Burlington
Start off the day with a mushroom hunting workshop or tour. The Mushroom Forager (themushroomforager.com) will teach you how to source wild edible fungi like hen of the wood, lion’s mane, and coveted black trumpets.
Next, gather berries at Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm (owlsheadfarm.com). This sustainable, family-run operation boasts 3,000 bushes stretched out over five acres of bucolic hillside. Tip: Go on a Tuesday night and pack a picnic. From 6-8PM, they feature live music.
Sit down to a memorable meal at one of Vermont’s tastiest restaurants, the James Beard-nominated Honey Road (honeyroadrestaurant.com). Women owned and operated, Honey Road specializes in Eastern Mediterranean mezze.
Sharpen Your
Cocktail Skills
LOCATION • Middlesex, Montpelier, and Waterbury
Head to Red Hen Baking Co. (redhenbaking. com) for a breakfast of flakey scones, melt-in-your-mouth croissants, and fluffy muffins. Be sure to check out the bakers in action through the picture window, and don’t forget to take home a loaf of their famous bread–baked using ancient techniques and locally-grown wheat milled in their stone mill.
Visit the Barr Hill distillery and cocktail bar (barhill.com) for a guided behind-the-scenes tour and tasting. (They use raw honey to craft their renowned spirits.) If you want to take your know-how a step further, sign up for one of their on-site mixology classes. Then enjoy food trucks and live music as you sip a cocktail outside by the Winooski River.
You can’t miss dinner at legendary farm-to-table restaurant Hen of the Wood (henofthewood.com). Their new, modern space in downtown Waterbury has comfy banquette seating and a large patio decked out with lush flowers and greenery.
Get a Taste of the
Kingdom
LOCATION • Greensboro
Take in sweeping views during a drive through Vermont’s remote yet stunning Northeast Kingdom, en route to acclaimed Hill Farmstead Brewery (hillfarmstead.com). Founded by an eighth-generation Vermonter, it’s widely considered one of the world’s best beers.
Explore medicinal plants and herbal medicine at Wilson Farm Market and Apothecary (Wilsonherbfarm.com). In addition to hand-crafted teas, tonics, and elixirs, they also sell local produce, dried herbs, and ice cream.
Pop into Willy’s General Store, a homey, throwback shop that carries a little bit of everything—including artisanal Vermont products, like award-winning Jasper Hill cheese, fresh baked bread, grass-fed meat, and hard cider.
Expand Your Horizons
LOCATION • Greensboro
Enjoy a meandering drive through the Northeast Kingdom and make a stop at Miller’s Thumb Gallery (millersthumbgallery. com), which features handmade creations by Vermont artists.
Get tickets for a show at Highland Center for the Arts (HCA) (highlandartsvt.org), a performing arts venue where you can experience everything from live music to theater to dance to circus arts. Arrive early to give yourself time to peruse the sunlit art gallery and nibble a light lunch or picnic dinner at the HCA Cafe. For a more hands-on way to get your creative juices flowing, the HCA offers classes (think: qigong, watercolors, and ecstatic dance).
Awaken Your Inner Artist
LOCATION • Waitsfield
Kick off the day sipping small-batch coffee by the banks of Mad River at Sweet Spot (sweetspot.com), dishing up organic, locally-sourced bites.
Discover the Bauhaus-inspired Bundy Modern (bundymodern.com). Part architectural masterpiece, part art and design gallery, and part outdoor sculpture garden, it’s nestled on 30 acres with mountain views and a parabolic reflecting pool.
Get messy! Sign up for a creative workshop. You can try glassmaking at Salt & Sand Studios (saltandsandstudios.com), pottery at Blockhouse Studio (blockhousestudio.com), or painting at Moosewalk Studios & Gallery (moosewalkstudio.com).
There’s a reason why locals and visitors alike flock to Mad Taco (themadtaco.com), featuring flavorful ingredients and handmade tortillas. Next door, satisfy your sweet tooth with a maple creemee from Canteen Creemee Company (canteencreemee.com)—arguably the best in Vermont.
Go Gallery Hopping
LOCATION • Burlington
Chow down for an art-filled day! On Saturdays, swing by the Burlington Farmer’s Market (burlingtonfarmersmarket.org) for a glass of ice-cold lemonade and freshly-baked pastries. Or head to Speeder and Earle’s (speederandearles. com), a family-run coffee shop.
Hit gallery row. Pine Street in the South End Arts District is packed with studios featuring regional and national up-and-coming artists. Start at Burlington City Arts (burlingtoncityarts.org), the heart of the city’s arts scene with three floors of exhibition space. Next, pop over to the artist collective S.P.A.C.E. Gallery (spacegalleryvt. com) and contemporary gallery Soapbox Arts (soapboxarts.com). Finally, check out Arts Riot (artsriot.com), a performing arts venue.
After getting your art fix, pull up a seat at Paradiso (paradisohifi.com), an intimate restaurant serving small plates, cocktails, and DJ beats.
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