Vermont tips

Ben & Jerry's is very close to downtown Waterbury, where you'll find great lists at Prohibition Pig, Blackback & The Reservoir. Good food at each as well. The Craft Beer Cellar there has a great retail selection, including regular drops of Sip & other sought-afters.

Many previous threads here on good places to hit in VT, of course.

 

Kingdom Taproom in St Johnsbury is pretty legit.

 

30 minutes North/west/east/south of Hill Farmstead?

As mentioned above, Kingdom Taproom in St. J is one of the few craft places in the area. Should be fairly close. Decent food too. Fine for kids, but not totally designed for it. They have some food options kids would like though.

Dependent on which direction you will be staying, you can get on I93 and pop over the border into NH and Littleton has some options. Schilling is a great spot for food and beers. They brew lagers both traditional and a few new takes. Also, for family fun there is Chutter's candy shop. Has Guinness world record longest candy counter. Pretty interesting stop for anyone.

If you are north, Kingdom Brewing is in Newport. They have food and make some pretty decent brews that don't get much distro or discussion. I think they are only Thurs-Sat.

Lost Nation may be close to where you are staying. Great spot for food and some brews. Has a large outdoor seating area.

If you are near Burke/Lyndonville area the Kingdom Trails is a great spot to go for a family bike ride. They have trails for any level of bike rider. Rentals available.

If you are closer to Jay Peak, they have a lot of summer activities including an indoor water slide park.

As others above have mentioned, most of the beer will be centered around Waterbury, Stowe, Burlington.

 

I just noticed another spot in that area. Next Trick brewing in West Burke. I have not been or tried any of their brews. May be worth checking out.
http://www.nexttrickbrewing.com/

 

The biking is world class at Kingdom Trails:
http://kingdomtrails.org/trails/mountain-bike-trails/

Are you coming up I91 or across from upstate NY?

If you are heading to Alchemist. You can stop in Waterbury first and hit the Craft Beer Cellar there. They have most of the VT distributed beers and have a helpful staff. Can grab lunch and a brew at one of the big Waterbury pubs. Near the Alchemist, you can stop at Stowe Beverage https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/17640/?view=ratings
They get all the good stuff and you will find plenty if you don't want to make a stop in Waterbury.

If heading up I91 you can stop in WRJ and hit River Roost and the Crowler Pit at Big Fatty's (in the same parking lot).

Here are some swimming hole ideas, not sure which would be closest:
http://www.swimmingholes.org/ARTICLE_VTSWIM.html

I've been to Bristol Falls and Jeff Falls. I think they would be fine with a toddler. I went a few years ago, so make sure to research that they are still good spots.

If you want more of a sandy beach lake type swimming spot. These are all great:
http://www.vtliving.com/beaches/northeastkingdom/

 

I don't see it as "lazy" because stores, restaurants and breweries are constantly changing. On top of it, you have a toddler, so I get it. So, like you said "a lot of threads seem a couple years old." You asked a legit question and we give you a legit answer, up to date.

And props to @jhavs for continuing to add to this list extremely well! Pretty much agree with everything he said.

Also, if you find yourself going between Morrisville and Burlington, I've been digging on Ten Bends Beer (Hyde Park, Vermont). I haven't been to their brewery yet, as I usually have some buddies that go there and bring back stuff but Wolfmother, in my opinion, was a great English styled barleywine. Their rotating DIPA series has been well done, too.

Good Measure, though out of Northfield, they send their beers to the Burlington area and elsewhere throughout Northern Vermont I think are quite impressive.

What Ales You? is Burlington's greatest little hidden gem that many don't seem to know about just yet. But not a place to take a toddler, though (figured I'd mention at the very least).

 

No problem! Have fun!

 

Flying into Burlington hit healthy living on way to 89, maybe 5 min out of the way. Look for frost (lush, plush) foley bros Burlington beer and ask the beer guys what is fresh and good. Check their site for info on sip and heady deliveries. Wife and kids can get snacks/food while you do important shopping. lost nation is also a good stop b/t alchemist and hillfarmstread
Mountain biking= kingdom trails, Stowe cash hill and Perez hill in Waterbury are all good options their is good riding in jay peak area but You would have to check with local shop.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what town will you be staying in? I'm from Greensboro/East Craftsbury. Happy to put together a list of suggestions in terms of things to do if you want.

 

healthy living = stuff from foley brothers, frost, lost nation, zero gravity, heady, sip, supper session ( check delivery info on last three. + good selection of their stuff that may or maybe "rare " in New York. Sure I'm missing a few breweries too.. you could also go to the bevi in winooski for larger bust faster moving selection

 

Have fun! We love this part of Vermont. I would echo Kingdom as a good stop. They just expanded their tasting area this spring. If you make it all the way across to St. Albans, 14th Star is a great stop as well. Wonderful BBQ place next-door that serve food at their tasting room.

 

Not a whole lot to add on the bar/brewery angle. But you'll be about 15 miles from Lake Willoughby, which is can't miss in my opinion when it comes to best-of natural beauty in Vermont. There's a nice little restaurant called Willoughvale right next to the water.

Newport Ciderhouse had some nice drafts last time I was up that way as well.

 

The thing about that area of Vermont is most of the working farms are pretty damned hardscrabble. My parents live in the NEK and I can't think of a single option up that way. Shelburne Farms is magnificent, but it's a bit of a hike from your home base.

(I'm not sure how you're coming up from NY, but if you do route 4 to 22A N, you could hit Shelburne on Route 7 before getting on the Interstate (or Route 15) towards Irasburg)

http://www.shelburnefarms.org/staydine/inn-restaurant
http://www.shelburnefarms.org/node/58

 

What your range on how far you're willing to drive? Lots of good options, but most of them will be at least an hour from you.