Scenic, pure and wholesome Vermont

Beloved, beautiful and bucolic, Vermont is the state that New England vacation dreams are made of -- find out to make the most of your Vermont travels here

by Eric H.

There's something special about Vermont. The classic small villages with tall church steeples, dramatic but gentle green mountains, pleasing rolling hills and the overall laid back feeling from a gentler era make Vermont a prime New England vacation destination.

Conservative New England, long-haired hippies, transplanted New Yorkers looking for a better life, leftist politics, farmers and more walks-of-life co-exist in this state where almost everywhere you turn looks like a picture perfect postcard. Diversity may be the way of the people, but cows still outnumber the human population.

Best known for world-class alpine skiing and its stunning fall foliage, Vermont is just as good in the spring and summer when the sweet mountain air, swimming, boating and hiking opportunities and spectacular winding country drives create instant memories. Of course, a Ben and Jerry's ice cream is good at any time of the season, as well as a tour of its revered home facility in Waterbury, Vt.

Burlington is Vermont's biggest city, and it pleases the visitors in big time ways. Situated on Lake Champlain, some say it looks like a mini San Francisco. That's debatable, but the bottom line is that Burlington is a colorful city, especially at Church Street Marketplace where a four block pedestrian area features hundreds of shops, restaurants, bars, cafe, galleries, shops and street vendors and entertainers. The lakefront area is beautiful and also features dining, a park and a ferry to Port Kent, N.Y. (seasonal).

Communities like Stowe, Woodstock, Dorset and Weston are extraordinarily beautiful, the types of places you'd expect of Vermont -- loaded with charm, small-town life, interesting little shops, and unparalleled New England mountain and rural scenery.

The 360,000 acre Green Mountain National Forest is a scenic gem, where visitors can take a nice, picturesque drive or for the more adventurous, hike the 260 mile Long Trail. The Green Mountains and its surrounding areas are perfect for fishing, hunting, swimming,, skiing or just staying at an upscale or rustic resort.

One visit to Vermont forces one to relax . When it's time to leave, the first thought, many times, is to return as soon as possible. It's simply a beautiful state that deserves a visit and many return ones.

ARTICLES ON VERMONT

Vermont's best travel destinations

Check the New England calendar of events section for key Vermont events and news.

Read our New England tourist attractions page for the best things to do in Vermont.

Have a question about visiting Vermont? Ask the experts for all your Vermont trip planning needs!

New England profiles: A Boston Flatlander Who Made It Big in the Vermont Mountains.

Spotlight on Stowe VT -- New England Vacation Destination Summaries.

The Joy of Eating Vermont Cheddar Cheese.

Clean, modern lodging and stunning nearby scenery awaits you at the Comfort Inn and Suites in St. Johnsbury, Vt.

"Leave" it to Stowe, Vt., for great fall foliage.

Smugglers' Notch Resort, in Jeffersonville, Vt. is a classic Vermont lodging destination.

In search of New England specialty foods and lost candy bars in beautiful Weston Vt.

Find Vermont Country Store Vermont products, including aged cheddar cheese, maple syrup, warm vests, foot warmers, and button suspenders.

Vermont's Queen of the Downtowns: Burlington

The Foxfire Inn and Italian Restaurant earns high marks for its charming guest rooms and tremendous Italian cuisine.

Stowe Lodging: warm nights, warmer welcomes.

Archives:

Stowe, Vt., celebrates Summer - a new Festival

Small Vermont Town Makes Independence Day its Town Holiday (July 2005)

Spring specials abound in Stowe, Vermont

Maple syrup season festival events in beautiful Vermont

Find the best Vermont skiing, events, bargains, kid's trails, and more.

MAJOR VERMONT ATTRACTIONS

Among Vermont's Most Popular Visitor Attractions:

o Ben and Jerry's Factory Tour (Waterbury Center) www.benandjerrys.com
o Bennington Museum (Bennington) www.benningtonmuseum.com
o Billings Farms & Museum (Woodstock) www.billingsfarm.org
o Cabot Creamery Factory Tour (Cabot) www.cabotcheese.com
o Church Street Marketplace (Burlington) www.churchstmarketplace.com
o ECHO: Leahy Center For Lake Champlain (Burlington) www.echovermont.org
o Fairbanks Museum (St. Johnsbury) www.fairbanksmuseum.org
o Farm Visits/Agritourism (statewide) www.vermontfarms.org
o Green Mountain National Forest (Central and Southern Vermont) www.fs.fed.us/r9/gmfl/green_mountain/index.htm
o Hildene: The Lincoln family Home (Manchester) www.hildene.org
o King Arthur Flour Baker's Store http://www.kingarthurflour.com
o Kingdom Trails (East Burke) www.kingdomtrails.org
o Lake Champlain Maritime Museum (Vergennes) www.lcmm.org
o Manchester Designer Outlets (Manchester) www.manchesterdesigneroutlets.com
o Montshire Museum (Norwich) www.montshire.org
o New England Maple Museum (Rutland) www.maplemuseum.com
o Quechee Gorge (Quechee) www.vtstateparks.com/htm/quechee.cfm
o Rock of Ages Visitors Center (Barre) www.rockofages.com
o Shelburne Museum (Shelburne) www.shelburnemuseum.org
o Shelburne Farms (Shelburne) www.shelburnefarms.org
o UVM Morgan Horse Farm (Weybridge) www.uvm.edu/morgan
o Vermont Country Store (Weston, Rockingham) www.vermontcountrystore.com
o Vermont Historical Society Museum (Montpelier) www.vermonthistory.org
o Vermont Institute of Natural Science (Quechee) www.vinsweb.org
o Vermont State Historic Sites (statewide) www.historicvermont.org
o Vermont State House (Montpelier) www.vermont.gov
o Vermont State Parks (statewide) www.vtstateparks.com
o Vermont Ski Museum (Stowe) www.vermontskimuseum.org
o Vermont Teddy Bear Factory (Shelburne) www.vermonteddybear.com
o Vermont Wildflower Farm (Charlotte) www.vermontwildflowerfarm.com

For a complete list of Vermont attractions, go to the Travel Planner portion of the official Vermont tourism website www.VermontVacation.com.

VERMONT FACTS

Nickname: The Green Mountain State

Motto: Freedom and Unity

Entered Union: March 4, 1791 as the 14th state

Land Area: 9,615 sq. mi. (24,903 sq. km.) ­ Ranks 43rd ­ Approximately 75 percent of Vermont is covered by forests. Vermont has 14 counties: Addison, Bennington, Caledonia, Chittenden, Essex, Franklin, Grand Isle, Lamoille, Orange, Orleans, Rutland, Washington, Windham, and Windsor.

Population: 608,827 (2000 Census) ­ Ranks 49th (largest city is Burlington, population 38,889)

Mountains: Vermont has more than 200 mountains over 2,000 feet in elevation. Mount Mansfield is the highest at 4,394 feet. Mountain Ranges: Green Mountain, Appalachian, Hoosac, and Taconic.

Lakes and Ponds: Vermont has more than 800 lakes and ponds. Vermont's largest body of water is Lake Champlain which covers 435 square miles and which is the sixth largest freshwater body in the United States. Lake Champlain is just over 120 miles long and 12 miles wide at its widest point. Other major bodies of water include Lake Memphramagog, Lake Bomoseen, Harriman Reservoir, Seymour Lake and Lake Willoughby.

Rivers: Vermont has more than 7,000 miles of rivers and streams. The Connecticut River makes up the Vermont's eastern border with New Hampshire. At 407 miles in length, it is the longest river in New England. Other major Vermont rivers include the Battenkill River, the Missisquoi River, the Lamoille River, the Otter Creek, the West River, the White River, and the Winooski River.

Government: James H. Douglas, (R) Middlebury, became Governor in January 2002. Vermont has a bi-cameral citizen Legislature that convenes in January and typically adjourns in May or early June. It is comprised of 150 Representatives and 30 Senators. Vermont is also famous for its tradition of 'Town Meeting Day' in which citizens gather to discuss and vote on municipal and school budgets and other items of town business.

Economy: Vermont has a diverse economy that includes manufacturing, services, tourism, agriculture, wood products, mining, publishing, finance, and insurance. Vermont is particularly well known for being a national leader in the production of granite and marble as well as the nation's leader in the production of maple syrup. More than 80 percent of Vermont's agricultural economy is related to dairy production including both fluid milk and award-winning cheeses.

Famous Vermonters: Chester Arthur, 21st US President; Calvin Coolidge, 30th US President; Mormon leaders Joseph Smith and Brigham Young; Spanish American War Naval hero Admiral George Dewey; Thomas Davenport (inventor of the electric motor); farm machinery pioneer John Deere; passenger elevator pioneer Elisha Graves Otis, professional golfer Patty Sheehan, and Olympic medalists, Andrea Mead Lawrence, Billy Kidd, Billy Koch, Barbara Cochran, Ross Powers and Kelly Clark.