Where to stay in Vermont? Check our guide to discover the best places to visit in one of the most beautiful states in New England

Travelling in the Northwestern part of the United States? Discover beautiful towns and the best places to stay in Vermont, this picturesque state in New England.
Vermont is the second least populous state in the country. It is number forty-three in size, with a population is just over nine thousand. Vermont is the first state that was admitted to the Union after the establishment of the Constitution. It is also the first state to officially abolish slavery.

Vermont is the only state in New England without a border on the Atlantic Ocean. It is the nation’s leading producer of granite, marble, talc and of course, maple syrup. The major industries are dairy cow farming and logging. Vermont has rural forests and a natural landscape which draw tourists from all over the world.

Below is a list of popular places to stay in Vermont:

Burlington

Burlington is in Chittenden County, on the banks of Lake Champlain. It is home to the University of Vermont and Champlain College, and the highly populated city in Vermont. Burlington hosts a wide variety of community activities, such as live music festivals and arts and craft shows. It is also a pioneer town in terms of environmental friendliness.

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Burlington has a large selection of restaurants and breweries, as well as ample opportunity for shopping. One of the most popular destinations for residents and tourists alike is the Church Street Marketplace. This is an outdoor shopping center for pedestrians only. The activities in Burlington make of it one of the most attractive places to stay in Vermont.

Church Street has brand name stores like LL Bean, Victoria’s Secret and Macy’s alongside locally owned shops. There is a huge variety of restaurants, pubs and food stands to offer an option for even the most picky eater. Church Street is home to a number of street performers and local musicians. It is the site of many festivals, including the local farmer’s market.

Stowe

Stowe is found in Lamoille County. It hosts the Vermont Renaissance Fair, the Stokeflake Hot Air Balloon Festival, Oktoberfest and other annual events. Stowe offers a variety of outdoor activities for people of all ages. No matter what the season may be, Stowe has something to do.

Skiers and snowboarders flock to the Stowe Mountain Resort. This resort is the only place that offers a chance to experience the fifth largest vertical drop in New England. The summer months have horseback riding and hiking trails galore.  At the end of the day, there are a number of gourmet restaurants, local pubs and pizza parlors to suit every budget.

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Near Stowe, you may also want to visit the Smuggler’s Notch State Park. It is the home of a winding, narrow road with an unique landscape featuring impressive rock formations. Hiking trails are available as well. These trails range from easy to strenuous in ability. This road remains closed during winter.

Manchester

Manchester is a popular destination for shoppers in Bennington County. The town center is full of of local shops and antique stores that are popular. The major draw however, can be found in the designer factory outlets, which feature names like Ralph Lauren, Armani, Kate Spade, Michael Kors and many others.

In the summer, Manchester hosts an annual equestrian festival as well as a town-wide sidewalk sale. It is s the site of a number of cultural experiences as well, in the form of museums, art galleries and nearby covered bridges.

Montpelier

Montpelier, Vermont. Photo by Michel G.Montpelier is the state capital of Vermont and is one of the most preferred choices to stay in Vermont. It is located in Washington County. Even though the town attracts a huge number of daily commuters, it is the least populous state capital. The capital building is a major source of tourism. It is distinguished by its gleaming gold top, as well as the statue of the Roman harvest goddess Ceres on top.

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Montpelier is home to the New England Culinary Institute as well as the Vermont History Museum, the Vermont College of Fine Arts and the Lost Nation and Capitol Theatre. There are a number of excellent restaurants downtown, as well as many local stores and businesses.

Shelburne

Shelburne is a wealthy town near Burlington. It has a number of major tourist attractions, such as the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, the Ethan Allen Homestead and many beautifully maintained local parks.

Shelburne Museum is perhaps the most popular attraction. It has over thirty buildings spread out over forty-five acres that are open for public viewing. Observers learn how a blacksmith shop would operate, as well as the process for spinning wool.

The Shelburne Museum has a lighthouse, round barn and covered bridge open for exploration by museum goers. The most popular attraction is the steamboat Ticonderoga, a national historical landmark that provides the viewer with a glimpse into steamboat life during the 1920’s. The Ticonderoga carried passengers around Lake Champlain for many years before it relocated from the lake to the museum grounds in 1954.

Woodstock

Woodstock is a small town located on Route 4 in Windsor County. It is known as one of the most beautiful towns in the entire state, with is combinations of colonial architecture and maintained landscapes. Woodstock has a covered bridge located downtown that is popular amongst tourists. There are parks available as well, along with restaurants and shops.

Woodstock is extremely popular during the fall foliage season. The town hosts a number of annual festival as well, including a seasonal farmers market and a gathering for local wine-makers.

Woodstock is located a mere twenty-minute drive from Killington, the largest ski resort on the east coast.

Quechee

Quechee is located a few miles drive from Woodstock. It has the most famous attraction in the area, the Quechee Gorge. At over 160 feet, it is the deepest gorge in Vermont. Visitors hike to the bottom of the gorge on a regular basis during the summer, as there is plenty of water canoeing, kayaking and swimming. In the winter, showshoeing is popular in the area.

If you seek a less physical activity, there is the VNIS Nature Center in town. Here, bald eagles and other rare birds of prey are seen up close and personal. The VNIS Nature Center does not capture the birds it has on display. All of the species that live at the center in a state of rehabilitation, as they are unable to survive on their own in the wild
Quechee village is full of local antique shops and restaurants to choose from. Those looking to unwind at the end of the day have their choice of the Long Trail Brewery or the local distillery.

Saint Johnsbury

Saint Johnsbury part of Vermont’s famous Northeast Kingdom, found in Caledonia County. It is the birthplace of Fairbanks Scales, once a major railroad town due to the prime location between Montreal and Boston. The nation’s largest packer of pure maple syrup, Maple Grove Farms, is located on the eastern end of town. It provides tourists with factory tours as well as live demonstrations of syrup making.

Saint Johnsbury Academy is located on Main Street.  A private high school with an impeccable reputation, Saint Johnsbury Academy draws students from all over the world. It boasts Calvin Coolidge as former alumni as well. Other popular attractions include the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, Catamount Arts Theatre, Dog Mountain and the Saint Johnsbury Athenaeum.

During the summer, mountain bikers access Kingdom Trails, located about fifteen minutes away. For winter tourists, the Burke Mountain Ski Area is an approximate twenty-minute drive north, while those looking for a larger mountain make the hour long drive up to Jay Peak.

Bennington

Bennington is located in Bennington County and is a great place to stay in Vermont. It is the third most populous city in Vermont. The town’s most famous landmark is the Bennington Battle Monument. This is a three-hundred-foot-tall stone obelisk built to recognize the Battle of Bennington. The Bennington Museum contains the Grandma Moses gallery. Both Bennington College and Southern Vermont College are located within the town as well.

The grave of poet Robert Frost is open for visits while in town. There are also two beautifully maintained covered bridges for more traditional sightseeing.
Bennington is home to the Madison Brewing Company. There are a number of highly rated restaurants for the choosing as well, including the Blue Benn Diner and the Bennington Station Restaurant.

Best months to travel to Vermont

If you are going to stay in Vermont, the most important question to ask is what you are interested in doing. This will be the deciding factor when you consider the best months visit.

For an avid skier, snowboarder or otherwise a lover of the snow, the spectacular winters provide plenty of powder for the state’s multiple ski resorts. While Killington, Okemo Valley, Mad River Glen, Bolton Valley and Sugarbush are the most popular to stay in Vermont for winter sports, there are many others.

During the summertime, there are a number of lakes and campgrounds, as well as plentiful hiking trails. Vermont is home to the Long Trail, which is the oldest long-distance hiking trail in the United States. It is over two hundred and seventy miles long, and eventually ends in Massachusetts.

Vermont is world famous for its fall foliage. During the autumn months, trees explode into a vivid array of colors. Tourists are drawn from all corners of the world.

Even the most rural areas of Vermont experience at least some amount of tourism during foliage. I is important to keep in mind that normal travel rates are almost always higher at this time of year due to the drastic increase in demand. It is extremely important to make reservations in the fall, as places which normally have openings find themselves completely booked.