Vermont: Forests, Culture and Maple

Vermont can be explored through a wide range of travel interests: scientifically managed forests, art and Americana collections, covered bridges and maple traditions sit alongside trails and waterways for outdoor activities. When planning, it’s worth first choosing a focus: Should your trip combine nature trails and water, cultural history, or agricultural and culinary experiences? The following themes offer pointers for choosing a hotel and planning your trip.

Forests, Trails and Water

Mount Tom Forest is considered the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the United States. Vermont offers a wide range of hiking, from challenging mountain ascents to accessible trails through lush forests. Groton State Forest has more than 17 miles of hiking trails. This gives you different types of hikes to consider when planning, from demanding ascents to trails through wooded landscapes.

Vermont also offers cyclists and mountain bikers scenic routes through the landscape, including routes for users of adapted equipment. Rail trails connect town centers and regions and also offer scenic, accessible routes. The Ricker Pond State Park is one specific point of reference: the Montpelier-Wells Rail Trail, also known as the Cross Vermont Trail, borders the park. The park also has a designated swimming area and a small sandy beach.

Culture, Bridges and Scenic Byways

The Shelburne Museum’s art and Americana collections span four centuries. The covered bridges offer a different perspective on Vermont’s history: the Pulp Mill Covered Bridge is considered the state’s oldest covered bridge. The Fisher Covered Bridge was the last covered railroad bridge in operation in Vermont; it is part of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Its former role in rail transportation and its connection to a rail trail are two distinct aspects of this structure.

Scenic drives are also part of trip planning. Vermont’s Scenic Byways include ten federally designated routes. When choosing your interests, you can therefore consider not only collections and bridges, but also routes considered scenic.

Water Activities and Winter

Vermont’s lakes and winding rivers are suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Lakes, ponds and natural swimming spots are options for swimming. This selection includes different types of waterways and recreational activities; at Ricker Pond State Park, the designated swimming area and small sandy beach add specific park features to the opportunities available statewide.

Winter activities are also part of Vermont’s offerings: these include skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and ice skating. If you plan your trip around activities, you can choose between experiences on the water and the winter activities listed here, without limiting your plans to just one type of stay.

Agriculture and Maple Culture

Billings Farm & Museum combines a fully operating Jersey dairy farm with educational exhibits, interactive programs and events. Agriculture and learning go hand in hand here. The Maple Meander includes sugarhouses, tastings of maple products at local restaurants, maple-inspired cocktails and shops. The Maple Meander Passport offers year-round experiences featuring Vermont maple products. This gives you both a variety of ways to explore maple culture and a year-round range of experiences centered on these products.

Travel Interests and Choosing a Location

If you’re looking for a hotel in Vermont, it’s best to start with the experiences you want to shape your stay. Trails, waterways and seasonal activities can be prioritized differently from collections, bridges or maple offerings. Consider which of these interests you’d like to combine, then use the linked subregions as the next step in planning your trip.

Explore more destinations: Windham County, Bennington County, Rutland County, Addison County, Washington, Chittenden, Lamoille, Windsor County, Caledonia, Orleans County, Orange, Grand Isle County, Franklin County, Essex County.

For the broader travel overview: USA.