Cherry Garcia, Phish Food, Chunky Monkey, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cake Batter, Mint Chocolate Cookie, Half Baked…the list goes on and on. Ever since 1978, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company has been serving some of the best ice cream in the country. Started by lifelong friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in Burlington Vermont, the ice cream company has expanded globally and now has seven factories around the world, two of which are in Vermont.
The Ben & Jerry’s factory of South Burlington is the number one tourist destination in Vermont. A notable addition to your Vermont bucket list, the factory tour is a once in a lifetime experience. The tour starts with a short video about the company’s founders and how they got started. Guests are then taken to a glass enclosed viewing gallery over the main production floor. You get a firsthand look at how the ice cream you love is manufactured. If you visit on a day when no production is in progress, they show you a short video that explains the process. Continue Reading »
Road travel provides access to Vermont’s valleys and peaks, serving as most Vermontans primary method of transportation. Despite the state’s mountainous terrain, which one would think might be difficult to navigate by automobile; Vermont had the third fewest vehicular related deaths in 2009. In total, Vermont is serviced by 2,843 miles of highway, including 3 major interstates. Interstate 89 cuts diagonally across the state, with access to both the state’s capital city of Montpelier and its largest city, Burlington. Spanning from Massachusetts up to Canada, Interstate 91 connects Brattleboro with White River Junction, St. Johnsbury and Newport, serving as the eastern border for the southern part of the state. Interstate 93, ending at its northernmost point in St. Johnsbury, runs southwest providing passage to the state of New Hampshire. Vermont’s drivers will notice relatively convenient interstate commute free of oversized trucks, as vehicles weighing more than 80,000 lbs. are restricted to Vermont’s secondary roads.
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A home in Vermont, for many families, provides the perfect setting for a home away from home. Just under 15% of houses in Vermont are vacant the majority of the year, serving as vacation or seasonal homes for their residents. The appeal of the state’s quaint lifestyle and its proximity to the nation’s most hustling and bustling urban centers, place Vermont second only to Maine in highest percentage of houses classified for “seasonal, recreational or occasional use.” Cities such as Ludlow, Manchester and Stowe boast extraordinarily high figures of out-of-town residents, with 84% of Ludlow’s homeowners listing other states as their primary address. Whether it’s a weekend reprieve from the stresses of city life or a summer-long getaway for the entire family, a Vermont vacation home can replenish your spirits and provide a beautiful backdrop for lasting memories.
Among the biggest draws to tourists and vacationers is Vermont’s scenic landscape, with endless options for outdoor enthusiasts. Area vacation homes can serve a variety of purposes depending on the location ranging from waterfront properties on Lake Champlain, bound to satisfy avid anglers, to Ski Resort condos on one of the state’s famed mountain peaks. The numerous chalets and cabins that grace Vermont’s streams and slopes offer an enchanting escape for romantic escapades and can rekindle even the faintest of flames.
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In the state of Vermont, maple syrup is more than the sugary substance that complements waffles and pancakes. Maple syrup is an economic and cultural staple that has helped to shape the identity of the state. Vermont’s syrup is no less than 100% natural, a point both residents and lawmakers take pride in, as Vermont was the first state to pass legislation regulating both the purity and quality of every bottle.
The dense forests that augment Vermont’s scenic beauty led to the rise in maple syrup production across the state. Taking care not to harm the tree, sap is collected by drilling “tapholes” in the tree’s trunk. These holes are generally shallow, rarely drilling more than 2 inches into the tree. In order to reduce the effects on Vermont’s natural resources and keep maple syrup production at its most efficient, the number of tapholes will depend on the size of the three. Trees with trunks ranging from 10 to 18 inches in diameter are limited to just one taphole, while larger trees likely fashion two to three. Spouts are attached to the trees so when the time is right, sap will drip down into a bucket or plastic tubing and can be easily transported to sugarhouses where it is transformed into the store-ready syrup.
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Vermont has been made famous by its unparalleled maple syrup industry, but the state itself actually has a rich history dating back to the colonial era. First encountered by Europeans in 1535, when Jacques Carter stumbled upon the mountainous region as part of his exploration of the St. Lawrence River, native Vermontan families can trace their history across an array of inhabiting cultures and nationalities.
In 1609, Samuel de Champlain, for whom Vermont’s Lake Champlain was named, claimed the area as part of “New France.” De Champlain proceeded to found the first European settlement in Vermont. It was not long before Europe’s other superpowers laid claim upon the state. Just over seventy years later, in 1690, Dutch and British settlers united to form trading post known as “Chimney Point,” where Addison County lies today. The first British permanent British settlement in the area, Fort Dummer, was erected not long after in 1724. However, the region continued to be most heavily dominated by the French, who added forts and settlements across the state. French control lasted until 1959, when a legion of 12,000 British troops finally ousted the French military, after many failed attempts by Great Britain throughout the 1750’s. The Treaty of Paris, marking the defeat of France in the French and Indian War, brought an official end to the French reign and secured British rule.
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Vermont, though the nation’s second least populated state, can provide the ideal vacation for temporary visitors, complete with an abundance of natural resources available for your enjoyment. Here is a look at the top reasons tourists choose to frequent Vermont across every season.
- Skiing – Vermont offers a full array of slopes, lodging and family friendly fun for skiers of all ages and skill levels, from black diamond veterans and bunny hill first-timers. Most ski resorts provide ski school classes, freeing up parents to enjoy more challenging paths. For adults who might be more hesitant to try their hand at ski school, private lessons are usually available on site with savvy ski instructors. Vermont is the home of many fabled ski resorts including Smuggler’s Notch, Burke Mountain, Jay Peak and Mount Snow. Though skiing is their primary purpose, these locations bring in many tourists during the less crowded spring and summer months as well, as their towering peaks provide a picturesque setting for a quiet getaway. Continue Reading »