Over the last year, I have been able to go up to Vermont twice. It was a place I had never been to previously but was looking forward to seeing. It lived up to the hype, Vermont is a beautiful state full of fun activities, beautiful scenery, and nice people. They were exciting trips with fun people and here are some of the highlights that everyone should go see.
1. Burlington Farmers Market
Claire Leek
Fresh foods, artsy homeware, exciting entertainment, and homemade care items are just some of the things you will find here. I left with a delicious pumpkin scone and some beautiful artwork.
2. Lake Champlain
Claire Leek
Just walking by the water made me automatically want to get on a boat/kayak/paddleboard and go out further. The water is surrounded by a beautiful park, as well as trails and food vendors. It has a calming effect, which makes it very relaxing to sit by.
3. Beautiful Hikes and Nature
Claire Leek
This photo was taken on the top of a mountain near Killington on Deer Leap Trail. To get to the top we had to hike a steady incline, one steep enough that non-hikers were working pretty hard, especially by the end. The trail is beautiful and the view on the top even more so. Vermont has many trails for people to hike, ranging from hikes for beginners to hikes for experts. There is nature all around is beautiful and is a nature lovers paradise.
4. Church Street Market
Burlington, Vermont's biggest city has the cutest street where a lot of the festivities go on. There are a multitude of shops as well as plenty to eat and the University of Vermont School Store. Activities are present on the street, ranging from street performers to streetside yoga, to Fire Truck Pulls that benefits LGTBQ youth.
5. Aroma Med
I have spent multiple hours in this store and I've only been in the town of Montpelier a handful of times. The woman who runs it is a registered nurse and sells all different forms of aromatherapy to promote health. Products range from basic essential oils and chakra scents to CBD oils and creams. They are very knowledgeable about their products and can tell you almost anything you need to know about them.
6. Ben and Jerry's Factory and Tour
Rachel Norris
This place was a bit of a surprise for me, as I was not expecting this to be as interesting as it was. The factory has a scoop shop, and gift shop, a flavor graveyard (for all the nonpopular or discontinued flavors), and a tour area. The tour gives you a look into the history of Ben and Jerry's and then proceeds to show you the steps on how the ice cream is made.
7. The Skinny Pancake
Let me start out by assuring that it's okay to be unsure about a place that specializes in crepes. Everyone I told it about was confused as to how it could be so good. Once they tried them, it all made sense. Their menu includes sweet and savory options, as well as combinations for a more breakfast or lunch meal, whichever you prefer. Everyone left there satisfied and impressed.
8. Maple Syrup
Those who like "breakfast syrup" over Maple syrup are monsters, plain and simple. This stuff is delicious just writing about it makes me want a pancake with warm Vermont maple syrup.
9. Locavore Culture
In all their stores, restaurants, and cafes they promote and advertise their food that is made local and all natural or organic. The state is big on growing and supporting what is local and keeping such agriculture clean and natural for the consumer.
10. Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders is a celebrity in Vermont. Every store has some kind of merchandise involving him, whether they are shot glasses, clothing, coffee mugs, stickers, jewelry, or pictures You'd be hard-pressed to go shopping without running across something that incorporates him. The people just love their senator.
11. Creemees
Yes, it's pretty much just soft serve ice cream, but they make special maple flavored ones with Vermont maple syrup. These are a popular dessert all around Vermont.
12. Fresh Spring Water
Rachel Norris
Water can literally be collected through tubes such as the one above and can then by drunk right away. It's clean and pure and many will stop by when such are visible from the road and fill up.
13. The State is Super Accepting
You can walk down the street of the Vermont capital, Montpelier and see two churches on either side of the main street. They look like pretty average churches, except each has on either side of their front door a "Black Lives Matter" flag and a rainbow gay pride flag. They stress that they accept everyone as they are and love everyone, no matter ethnicity, race, gender, or orientation. In other parts of the state, you can see many other signs of acceptance such as rainbow stickers on their doors to posters stating how all are accepted.
14. Microbreweries
Vermont is known to have quite a few breweries around and everyone has their favorite, some extremely so. All over the state, you can find different breweries, microbreweries, and nano breweries.
15. Cabot Cheese
This cheese is delicious. Headquarters in Waitsfield and founded in Cabot, Vermont in 1919, they use dairy by real farmers throughout the New England area. They have a wide variety of different types of cheeses to satisfy any cheese-lover.
