Maple products, historic bridges, and trails through forest and waterscapes offer different ways to experience Vermont. Those exploring the region can focus on culture, nature, or local traditions—or give these themes different weight according to their own preferences. Maple culture in particular shows how many different experiences can revolve around a single product.
Discover maple culture in different ways
The Maple Meander includes sugarhouses, tastings of maple products at local restaurants, maple-inspired cocktails, and shops. Its offerings range from production to culinary experiences and shopping. The Maple Meander Passport offers year-round experiences centered on Vermont’s maple products. Those interested in regional food culture will find a distinct focus for planning their trip, without having to limit their visit to a single type of experience.
Experience collections and agriculture
Art, Americana, and agriculture each represent different aspects of Vermont’s cultural offerings. The Shelburne Museum’s art and Americana collections span four centuries. This breadth of time makes the museum a destination for visitors interested in different eras and their collections. At Billings Farm & Museum, by contrast, a fully operational Jersey dairy farm sits alongside educational exhibits, as well as interactive programs and events. The comparison highlights two distinct perspectives: collections spanning a long period and a working farm connected with educational offerings.
Forest trails and nature experiences
Vermont’s hiking trails range from challenging mountain climbs to accessible paths through lush forests. Groton State Forest has more than 17 miles of trails. Mount Tom Forest, meanwhile, is considered the oldest continuously managed scientific forest in the United States. Hikers most interested in the trails themselves can consider the wide range of options across the state; those interested in forest history will find a special point of reference at Mount Tom Forest. These interests do not need to be combined into a fixed itinerary—they simply offer different reasons to explore the landscape.
Bike trails, bridges, and scenic drives
For cyclists and mountain bikers, including users of adaptive equipment, Vermont offers scenic routes through the landscape. Rail trails provide scenic and accessible routes through downtowns and regions. There are scenic options for driving, too: Vermont’s scenic drives include ten federally designated Scenic Byways.
Historic bridges add a distinctive note. Pulp Mill Covered Bridge is considered Vermont’s oldest covered bridge. Fisher Covered Bridge was the last covered railroad bridge in operation in Vermont; it is part of the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. The two bridges represent different aspects of transportation and engineering: one for its age among Vermont’s covered bridges, the other for its historic role as a railroad bridge and its connection to the rail trail.
Water and seasonal activities
Vermont’s lakes and winding rivers are suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Swimming is possible in lakes, ponds, and natural swimming areas. One specific example of swimming facilities is Ricker Pond State Park: it has a designated swimming area and a small sandy beach, and borders the Montpelier-Wells Rail Trail, also called the Cross Vermont Trail. Water activities offer another way to explore the region, alongside its trails and routes.
Winter activities are also part of Vermont’s offerings, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and ice skating. When planning your trip, consider which of these experiences best match your interests and which season suits the activities you want to enjoy. When choosing a hotel in Vermont, you can first decide what you want to focus on—from maple culture and collections to hiking, biking, and water activities.
Discover more destinations
Discover 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.
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