The Green Mountain State
What comes to mind when you think about Vermont? Pristine Green Mountains, fresh air, maple syrup, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, cows, farms, small communities, winter skiing and riding, the Long Trail, artisan food, cheese, wine and micro beer...Vermont is indeed a little slice of heaven. What you might not think about, however, are the award-winning family programs, exciting kid-friendly attractions, and fun, natural environments for outdoor recreation.
Vermont is uniquely poised within a day’s drive from metro Boston, New York, Montreal, and major cities on the eastern seaboard, and the state has family fun from top to bottom! Whether you are looking for an outdoor camping adventure getaway, or a relaxing, all-inclusive resort indulgence, Vermont has a vacation waiting just for you and your family. Here is a sampling of how families can enjoy the best of what Vermont has to offer in a three-day trip. Spend three days at one location, or break up your trip to experience a day in each region.
Looking for a resort that has received numerous accolades as a family resort destination? Look no further than northern Vermont’s Smugglers’ Notch Resort, voted the #1 Family Resort in the Northeast by Family Fun Magazine, a Disney Publication, and the #1 Family Resort in the U.S. by independenttraveler.com. Located in the heart of Smugglers’ Notch, a famous mountain pass with gorgeous views of Mt. Mansfield, Smugglers’ Notch Resort provides the all-inclusive vacation of your dreams. With award-winning kids’ programs, beautiful views, activities from yoga to kayaking, eight pools, four waterslides, and daily guided mountain hikes and walks, your vacation is all but waiting for you to plant yourself here.
Once you are at Smuggs, take advantage of the FunMeister’s family fun itinerary, accessible from the resort’s website (www.smuggs.com), or enjoy excursions to one of the many nearby attractions. Visit the famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory in Waterbury. Experience the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, with interactive exhibits and live animals, on the waterfront in Burlington. See where cuddly teddy bears are born, and even make your own, at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company factory in Shelburne. Spend lots of time outdoors learning and exploring history and Vermont traditions at the Shelburne Museum and Shelburne Farms in Shelburne. Feel the wind in your hair with a cruise on Lake Champlain with the Spirit of Ethan Allen Cruises in Burlington. And, indulge your little chocoholics at Lake Champlain Chocolates in Burlington. Any of these family-oriented attractions, with hands-on activities and free samples, are fun no matter where you lodge.
In central Vermont, a lodging option that is kid-friendly yet geared toward the farm experience rather than the resort experience, is Hollister Hill Farm Bed & Breakfast. Near Montpelier, Vermont’s capital, Hollister Hill is a small, intimate, 1825 farmhouse on a 200-acre diversified farm. A vacation here will have your family feeding the chickens, playing with puppies, squealing with piglets, calling the cows, lapping up maple syrup from the sugarhouse, and breathing in the fresh air of the country. Since Hollister Hill Farm B&B is small, be sure to call ahead to see when their family suite is available (www.hollisterhillfarm.com or 802-454-7725).
Nearby attractions for family fun days in central Vermont include: Cabot Creamery in Cabot, where the best cheddar in the world is made; Morse Farm Sugarworks, Vermont’s oldest maple family in Montpelier; or the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry, Factory & Sandblast, where you can experience bowling with granite and create your own souvenir, in Graniteville, the “Granite Capital of the World.”
Does your family love the great outdoors? Are you looking to reconnect with nature and introduce your kids to the beautiful mountains of Vermont? If yes, then a Vermont camping trip is more your style. Vermont boasts over fifty State Parks throughout the state, with family-friendly campgrounds throughout the state. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks, & Recreation, after polling visitors and campers, have designated the five best Vermont State Parks for family camping. These campgrounds are: Half Moon State Park, Brighton State Park, Jamaica State Park, Stillwater State Park, and Grand Isle State Park.
What makes these state parks so family-friendly? Enjoy kids’ programs, nature centers, playgrounds, nature museums, activities, games, events, and more, in addition to the trails, rivers, ponds, lakes, beaches, and wildlife you will encounter.
The northern Vermont campgrounds include Grand Isle, located on the largest island of Lake Champlain, which offers swimming, biking, paddling, boat rentals, volleyball, horseshoes, trails, play area, concerts and dances, all framed by the Adirondack Mountains, and with over 4,000 feet of shoreline on Lake Champlain. Contact Grand Isle State Park directly at 802-372-4300. Brighton State Park, in Island Pond in the “Northeast Kingdom,” is especially for families seeking a quiet, semi-remote, pure Vermont experience. Here you will find loons on Spectacle Pond, nature programs, boat rentals, a campers’ beach, a nature museum, and a wooden amphitheater hidden in the woods. Contact Brighton State Park directly at 802-723-4360.
The central Vermont campgrounds include Half Moon State Park in Hubbardton, with easy access to trails for short walks or full-day hikes, rentals for kayaks, canoes, pedal boats and rowboats, and fishing for all ages. Half Moon Pond is home to white-tailed deer and the occasional moose, and is an ideal location for sunbathing and swimming. Contact Half Moon directly at 802-273-2848. Stillwater State Park is also in central Vermont, and is part of the 26,000-acre Groton Forest. Stillwater is known for its family programs, including a bike parade, pancake breakfasts, and live raptor shows. The trail network here is one of the best in the state, with access to the kid-friendly hike to Owl’s Head. Contact Stillwater State Park directly at 802-584-3822.
If you are looking for camping fun in Southern Vermont, visit Jamaica State Park, in Jamaica, VT. Located on the bend of the West River, this state park has a playground, a trail along the river that is ideal for family hiking or biking, interpretive programs, and pet-friendly tent and lean-to camping. The spectacular Hamilton Falls waterfall is accessible from a foot trail from Jamaica State Park. Contact this park directly at 802-874-4600.
With so many vacation opportunities for family fun in the Green Mountain State, from sophisticated resorts, the down-home bed and breakfast, and the natural campgrounds, to the myriad of attractions ready to welcome visiting families, you will have a memorable vacation in Vermont.
Resources to help plan your Vermont Family Vacation
Kids VT Family Newspaper
Complete resources on family attractions, recreation and more.
Comprehensive day-by-day calendar of events.
The Vermont Hospitality Council
www.VisitVT.com or 802-223-3443
Receive free Vacation Guidebooks, maps, and brochures.
The Vermont Attractions Association
www.vtattractions.org or 802-229-4581
Receive free maps and information on 70 of Vermont’s finest attractions.
The Vermont Dept. of Tourism & Marketing
www.VermontVacation.com or 1-800-VERMONT
Receive free Vacation Guidebooks, maps, and brochures.
Vermont State Parks
www.vtstateparks.com toll free at 888-409-7579 or 802-241-3655
Information and reservations for over 50 Vermont State Parks.
Vermont Campground Association
Information on 72 private and 39 Vermont state campgrounds and receive free VT Campground Guide.
Vermont Farms! Association
www.vtfarms.org or 1-866-348-FARM
Information and free brochure on Vermont farm vacations and agritourism.
Samantha Kolber works for the Vermont Hospitality Council and lives in Montpelier with her seven-year-old son. Their favorite place to hike is Owl’s Head, their favorite activity is anything outdoors, and their favorite snack is maple creemees!