Things to do while in Vermont
We are lucky to live in such a beautiful state. While you will not be hitting us at peak foliage, if you can take a road trip to Northern Vermont or stay around for a few days after the wedding you should see lots of color.
A Driving Tour of Central and Northern Vermont
ROCHESTER
The little town of Rochester where our wedding will be held is a gem of a Vermont village. Be sure to stop by Sandy’s Books and Bakery for some Vermont Coffee Company coffee and fabulous baked goods and light fare. The Huntington House Inn has a nice restaurant and pub and The School Street Cafe is a lovely place to grab a bite.
WAITSFIELD
Head north on route 100 for about 30 minutes you will land in Waitsfield. This charming town features lots of unique artisan shops, unforgettable Vermont scenery, covered bridges and excellent restaurants. At the junctions of two Vermont scenic-byways, Route 17 and Route 100 the town boasts four notable driving “gaps” – the Appalachian, Middlebury, Lincoln and Roxbury Gaps- that cross the mountains in this area and offering amazing vistas and scenery.
MONTPELIER
Follow route 100a to go through Mooretown and end up in Montpelier. With its magnificent gold-domed State House, Vermont’s State Capital is home to the New England Culinary Institute which maintains three excellent restaurants. The main streets of the town are also home to many other wonderful places to dine and shop. Popular near-by Vermont attractions include Vermont Historical Museum, Cabot Cheese Creamery, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Hope Cemetery and Rock of Ages.
WATERBURY & STOWE
From Montpelier, take route 12 north through Middlesex to Waterbury. Home to Ben & Jerry’s, Vermont’s No. 1 top tourist attraction, and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Waterbury is home for our business Edgeworks Creative (right on Main Street across from the Fire Department). A hip spot for Beer Tourism, Waterbury boasts lots of wonderful places to eat including Arvads, which we rebranded, along with Pro Pig, The Reservoir, The Blue Stone Pizza, Cork - a wine bar- and for truly fine dining both Michael’s on the HIll and Hen of the wood are outstanding local favorites. Be sure to stop by Craft Beer Cellars while you are there to pick up a four pack of Waterbury’s own Heady Topper, voted best beer in the world.
Drive east from Waterbury on route 100 and if the lines aren’t too long, stop by Ben and Jerry’s for a taste of the famous ice cream but locals know you also don’t want to miss The Cider Mill and their Vermont foodie gifts and fabulous cider donuts. If you have an afternoon free, be sure to go to the Reservoir, one of the most scenic spots in the State where you can picnic and rent kayaks to paddle across the water while soaking in the view. Continue east to end up in Stowe, a bustling Vermont tourist town with numerous shops, restaurants and lots of activity.
BURLINGTON
If you head back to Waterbury and then take route 89 north you can visit the metropolis of Vermont, Burlington. A college town and the center of Vermont commerce, Burlington sits on the shores of beautiful Lake Champlain. Popular attractions include the Lake Champlain waterfront, Church Street, Shelburne Farms & Museum, Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, Magic Hat Brewery and Lake Champlain Chocolates.
LAKE CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS
From Burlington take route 89 north to route 2 to head to the beautiful Lake Champlain Islands. You will start i South Hero, continue on to Grand Isle, home of Grand Isle State Park and truly some beautiful views of Lake Champlain, then on to North Hero and eventually you will land in Alburg near the Canadian border. From Alburg you can take route 78 east to get back onto route 89 to head back south again.