Vermont

Vermont is in the New England region of the United States. The Green Mountain State is known for its beautiful fall foliage and its maple syrup. It is a popular destination for hiking and skiing. Tourism is a very large industry in Vermont, as skiers travel to ski resorts up and down the Green Mountain spine during the winter. In summer, the many bed and breakfasts fill up with couples and families wanting to visit the state's small towns and wild areas. Vermont's autumn foliage is known for being the most spectacular in the country, and possibly the world. It occurs quite early — usually mid-September to mid-October.

Regions
 Northeast Kingdom (Caledonia, Essex, Orleans)
Heavily forested and sparsely populated. The way Vermont used to be.
 Northwest Vermont (Chittenden, Franklin, Grand Isle County)
Includes the Vermont part of the Champlain Valley. Home of Burlington, the University of Vermont, and many dairy farms.
 Central Vermont (Addison, Orange, Washington)
Exquisite ice cream, amazing skiing, and the world’s tallest granite quarry.
 Southern Vermont (Bennington, Rutland, Windham, Windsor)
Ski resorts, quaint villages, and old mill towns.

Cities
  • 🌍 Montpelier — the minuscule capital of Vermont
  • 🌍 Bennington — famous for the Bennington Battle Memorial, a 300' Washington Monument lookalike
  • 🌍 Brattleboro — artsy college town looking for a college
  • 🌍 Burlington — Vermont's largest city and thriving college town
  • 🌍 Hartford — the crossroads of Vermont
  • 🌍 Manchester — upscale outlet shopping destination
  • 🌍 Middlebury — refined college town
  • 🌍 Rutland — built by the marble industry, sustained by visitors to Killington Resort
  • 🌍 Stowe — the "Aspen of the East," Vermont's most famous ski town.

Other destinations

Understand

Orientation

Vermont is the second smallest state in terms of population (it has 626,431 residents) and the sixth smallest in geographic area. Lake Champlain, the nation's ninth-largest natural freshwater body lies at the northwest border with New York State and Canada. The state is split north-south by the Green Mountains, which are popular for recreational activities. The eastern border with New Hampshire is defined by the Connecticut River. Vermont is the only landlocked state in New England which leads to its often being short-changed in guides to the region. Its highest point is Mount Mansfield at 4,393 ft, and its lowest point is Lake Champlain, at 95 feet.

The state is extremely rural and green, its valleys littered with farms. Its largest city is Burlington, pop. 42,417. Among the state's major exports are cheese, maple syrup, marble, slate, and granite.

The only time that the visitor might try to plan around is "Mud Season" (March-April), when unpaved ground becomes undriveable during the thaw. Even Mud Season has its charms, though.

History

Vermont was the 14th state admitted to the United States. It was not among the original 13 colonies because of a border dispute between New Hampshire and New York which was originally resolved in New York's favor. Vermont residents, led by Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys, fought New York's land claims tooth and nail until declaring independence and soon thereafter being admitted to the union.

Vermont attracted settlers during the early 19th century, but the population remained stagnant as flatter land to the West grew in favor. Significantly deforested by upland sheep farming during the 1800s, the forest has regrown (now covering 80% of the state) since dairy became the predominant form of agriculture.

Vermont's urban areas have always been minuscule compared to the Northeast; the rural state, long the nation's most reliable Republican stronghold, is now considered politically independent, progressive and protective of its environment and rural character.

Natural history

The Appalachian Mountains that enfold Vermont were most likely created during the Taconic Orogeny, when the North American plate collided with the African plate approximately 550 to 440 million years ago. The mountains have subsequently been eroded by ice, water, and wind, such that they are rather humble in their current state (they are suspected of having reached the heights of the Himalayas). Today Vermont is home to many wild habitats and their constituent flora and fauna, including northern deciduous forests, coniferous forests, wetlands, farmlands, powerline greenways, and patches of tundra (most notably on Mount Mansfield). Notable fauna include the black bear, moose, and the pileated woodpecker.

Organization

Vermont is like the rest of New England in that town governments fulfill many of the same functions as cities. The distinction can sometimes be confusing for visitors. Barre, for instance might tout itself as the fourth largest city in Vermont. However if all cities and towns are considered together, Barre wouldn't even make the top ten. Some of the largest and most interesting places in Vermont such as Bennington and Brattleboro are actually towns.

Tourist information

Talk

The conservative (traditional) Vermont dialect uses broad “a” and “e” sounds for vowels. Also, words that end with “r” get an “uh” sound, and one-syllable words are turned into two syllables. Here are some examples of Vermont speak: that is “tha-at”, there would sound like “they-uh” and idea is “oi-dea”. This dialect has lost ground in recent decades, except in the Northeast Kingdom. If you are not a native Vermonter, you will likely be called a “flatlander”. Visitors to Vermont may also be called a "white plater," a reference to the state's green license plates compared with the white license plates of surrounding states. Native Vermonters are also known as "woodchucks." In most of the state, it's unlikely you will come across someone with a strong Vermont accent except for seniors, but it is still possible in the Northeast Kingdom.

A dialect of French that's similar to Quebecois French is spoken as a native language in some areas near the Canadian border.

Get in

By plane
  • There are flights from Atlanta, Chicago (O'Hare), New York City (LaGuardia, Kennedy), Newark, Orlando, Philadelphia, Washington DC (Dulles and National), and Detroit to the Burlington International Airport (BTV). It is a small airport, which mostly serves regional jets and turboprops for civilian passenger use.
  • Rutland State Airport (RUT) has three flights a day to and from Boston Logan.
  • Another alternative is the Manchester Airport (MHT) in New Hampshire as it serves as an alternate hub for all of northern New England and is a 3 hour or less drive to just about anywhere in Vermont.
  • Montreal's Pierre Elliott Trudeau Airport (YUL IATA) (formerly Dorval Airport) is another alternative.

By train
See also: Rail travel in the United States

Two Amtrak routes serves Vermont. There are no trains from Canada to the state, but during summer the Adirondack train between Montreal and New York calls at Port Kent, a short ferry ride from Burlington. Off-season, the nearest stop on this route is in Plattsburgh.

By car
  • Driving access to Vermont is Interstate 91 that runs north-south and Interstate 89 that runs northwest-southeast.

By bus

By boat
  • Ferry service is available from three locations in Vermont that provides access to New York across Lake Champlain from Burlington,VT to Port Kent, NY, Grand Isle, VT to Plattsburgh, NY and Charlotte, VT to Essex, NY.

Get around

You will need a car to reach most places in Vermont.

Information on Vermont Transit can be found here.

Vermont Agency of Transportation and Vermont Translines have information of long distance bus routes.

Public transportation can be used in Northwest Vermont using Green Mountain Transit and its commuter services. From Burlington you can reach Montpelier, Waterbury, St. Albans, Middlebury, Vergennes, and Bristol.

Regional transit agencies for other regions are Tri-Valley Transit (Addison County, Orange County, Northern Windsor County), The Bus (Rutland County), Green Mountain Community Network (Bennington County), MOOver (Windham and Southern Windsor County) and Rural Community Transportation (Northeast Kingdom).

Greyhound and Amtrak could be used to travel between some of the larger towns in the state, however service is infrequent and very slow compared with driving.

See

As a predominantly rural state, most of Vermont's sightseeing opportunities are of natural origin. Most of the terrain consists of mountains and valleys so scenic views are around every corner. The Champlain Valley is by far the largest and you can find some pretty flat agricultural areas here. Many people drive up to Vermont from points south to view the fall foliage.

Vermont is an excellent place for fans of wildlife photography. Moose can be found all over the state, but are easiest to find in the wetlands of the Northeast Kingdom. Canada geese are another draw. Large flocks often rest in fields around the state on their way south. The most famous viewing opportunity can be found in Addison where thousands of Canada geese gather all at once.

Vermont's cities, towns, and villages are also a scenic attraction in their own right. The state was a part of the original 13 colonies (although whether New Hampshire or New York owned it was up for debate) and is home to some of the oldest buildings in the country. Federalist architecture can be found around much of the state, but particularly in Bennington. Most of the small towns will have a charming town common surrounded by 200 year old churches and town halls. Covered bridges are another man-made attraction and can be found concentrated in the Upper Valley of the Connecticut River.

Vermont is dotted with art galleries and museums. The largest concentrations can be found in Burlington and Brattleboro. South of Burlington, you will find the Shelburne Museum, the largest collection of Americana in the country.

  • Vermont State House, 115 State St. Montpelier. This golden-domed building is the most notable in the capital and is the meeting-place of the Vermont Legislature. The building is open to the public. 
  • Burlington Waterfront and Church Street, Burlington. This charming pedestrian and waterfront area along Lake Champlain is home to galleries, shops, and restaurants where you can find live music, an excellent sampling of local micro-brews, and great people-watching. Home to what may be Vermont's only "urban" nightlife.
  • Fall foliage During September and October, Vermont's wooded mountains burst into fiery color. Hotels, restaurants, and roads fill quickly during this season, so make reservations early. Columbus Day weekend is usually the most crowded. The small geographical size and rural character of the state make it easy to view foliage from almost any location. Bus and bicycle tours will often guide tourists to the best foliage-viewing areas. Several ski resorts in the region offer foliage-viewing ski-lift rides to mountaintop overlooks. Foliage season begins in mid to late September, with color increasing day by day until "peak" around the first or second week of October. During peak, most deciduous trees will display some color change. Maples will blaze orange and red; birches, ash, and aspen will glow yellow; and oaks will turn a warm purplish-brown. After peak, the leaves drop and color quickly fades from the hillsides over the next week or so. Foliage change is partially triggered by cold, so "peak" will arrive sooner in the north of the state and at higher elevations, moving south and down during the season. Bring warm clothing and an umbrella, as the New England weather can be unpredictable.
  • Manchester Center is a town in southern Vermont, nestled at the foot of 3,816-foot Mount Equinox. It's a shopper's paradise that is completely different from the village with its signs, sights and many shops. Manchester is also home to Hildene, Robert Todd Lincoln's 412-acre summer estate
  • Vermont Toy & Train Museum, Quechee Gorge Village, Quechee. This wonderful collection of more than 100,000 toys is the result of one man’s dream.

Do

Outdoor activities abound in the Green Mountain State. Excellent hiking can be found along the spine of the Green Mountains in the center of the state. Smaller mountains to the east or west of the main range also offer good hiking opportunities.

Camping is another popular activity. Campsites can be found in the numerous state parks and more rustic sites can be found along some of the popular hiking trails.

Vermont is home to many lakes, the largest being Lake Champlain. Boating, swimming, kayaking, and fishing are all popular lake activities. In the winter, you can try your hand at ice fishing or take a high speed snowmobile ride across the ice. Be sure to check the thickness of the ice beforehand.

Skiing and mountain activities

This is what brings most visitors to Vermont. Vermont has some of the finest skiing conditions in the country. The state's ski areas range from small family operations with a single lift to some of the largest resorts in the country. Vermont is home to the most popular ski resorts in the eastern United States.

Stargazing

As a rural state with little light pollution, Vermont is also a great place to watch the night sky. Particularly in the winter, there is also a chance of seeing the Northern Lights, though you shouldn't expect them every night.

Eat

Maple syrup products and cheddar cheeses are the foods for which Vermont is most famous.

Creamees: Basically soft serve ice cream. Try a maple one.

Sugar on Snow: Maple syrup poured on chunks of snow so it forms a taffy like substance. Often served with a pickle.

Ben & Jerry's: The world famous ice cream maker is based in Waterbury.

Vermonter sandwich: Many delis will serve a sandwich called a Vermonter, usually consisting of maple ham, sharp cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and hot honey mustard.

Michigans: A hot dog topped with a slightly spicy meat sauce, onions, and mustard.

There are many outstanding restaurants throughout Vermont that use local produce. Burlington, the largest population center in the state, has the greatest variety of restaurants, but there are gems hidden even in the smallest towns, like Hardwick and Plainfield. Montpelier, the Route 100 corridor from the Mad River Valley through Stowe, and Manchester are other areas with high concentrations of quality restaurants. Vermont also offers a variety of ways to see the farm to table connection, from guided tours of the people and places behind the flavors of Vermont to on-farm lodging.

Drink

Microbreweries

Vermont is home to some very original and high quality breweries. When in the Green Mountain State, stop by for a tour or look for titles from some of these fine companies:

Vineyards and Wineries

Vermont is also home to a growing number of vineyards and wineries. Although the climate is very cold, winemakers have found ways to make quality wines with cold hardy grapes. Vineyards located in the Champlain Valley can take advantage of a slightly milder climate due to the presence of a large lake.

Cider

Vermont is home to a number of both regular and hard cider producers including Woodchuck, the largest hard cider producer in the U.S.

Stay safe

Vermont has one of the lowest crime rates of any state in the country. Outdoor hazards are much more common. Avoid wilderness areas during hunting seasons (November) when accidental shootings can occur. Always stay on marked ski trails while skiing. The areas around resorts may be trackless wilderness, and the cold is potentially deadly. Use good outdoor safety practices when hiking, boating, and biking.

Vermont does not require licenses for the open or concealed carry of handguns. Visitors to Vermont who wish to bring handguns to the state are advised to avoid New York State entirely. This advice is especially valid for air travelers, because Albany International Airport in New York serves travelers going to and from Vermont.

Go next

The northern part of Vermont is close to Montreal. There are also nearby mountainous areas in New York (the Adirondacks), New Hampshire (the White Mountains), Massachusetts (the Berkshires), and Maine (the Speckled Mountains), all of which have their unique charms.

  • New Hampshire - Vermont's eastern neighbor is a fiercely independent state that offers the rugged White Mountains, idyllic lakes, and a handful of ocean resorts.
  • Massachusetts - The birthplace of America's revolution, the state's southern neighbor is home to historical towns, the vacation hotspot of Cape Cod, and the always-interesting city of Boston. The Berkshires are a southerly continuation of the Green Mountains, and Berkshire County shares much in common with southern Vermont.
  • New York - Upstate New York is home to the Adirondack Mountains, due west across Lake Champlain from northwestern Vermont. Conversely, the upper reaches of the Hudson Valley are a short drive to the west of southwestern Vermont. Further south are the bright lights of New York City. Quite a bit to the west, the Finger Lakes region is a popular outdoor and wine-growing area.
  • Quebec - Vermont's northern neighbor is Canada's French-speaking province, home to a unique culture, distinctly European feel - and even more maple syrup.
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