vermont trip

the ben & jerry's factory is next door to alchemist. the tour is fun for kids and adults alike.

 

The Warren store gets Lawson's on Thursday (I believe) and is a great spot to get lunch, sit outside, and enjoy the scenery. Just south of there is this neat swimming area...I have no idea of the name but its along route 100 south of Warren. There were tons of families there last summer when I stopped.

 

I haven't been to the Teddy Bear factory in a number of years, and didn't do it with kids, but my memory of it was it was pretty basic and not as good as a Build A Bear in the mall. Based on coming from NJ, you will be passing near the Montshire Museum in Norwich. It is just above White River Junction at the 89/91 split. We took our 6 year old son there in April, it is a really cool place. Almost everything is hands on. The grounds are awesome too, and there are outside water experiments / exhibits (we didn't do those because it was cold and rainy). http://www.montshire.org/
On the way up and back you will also pass within a few minutes of Harpoon's satellite brewery in Windsor VT. Nice outside patio, an ice cream and cheese shop, and a peace / reflecting garden to wander through. There is a distillery there also, but it hadn't opened when we were there in April. There is also a Simon Pearce glass blowing shop there, but I've never been in that one - there is a more rustic one in Quechee VT with a really good restaurant. http://www.simonpearce.com/category/restaurants/quechee.do

 

Hey, Martin.

Check this site: http://www.sec.state.vt.us/kids/places.html

A few of the things are in Burlington, which is about a 30 min drive from Waterbury. They have an aquarium that may have an exhibit on Champ, the monster in Lake Champlain. Eight-year-olds and twenty-eight-year-olds, like me, love that stuff. I am sure that Montpelier has a few cools things as well (20 min away from Waterbury).

- Joe

PS - I did not get my growlers filled on my trip this weekend. So, if you want to save some money on glass, I have 4 - 2L growlers and 4 - 750mL if you like to use them. HF fills any amber/stainless growler. So, you could use just about anything you have.

 

For a hike, you should check out Quechee Gorge. http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/quechee.htm

 

I'll second the recommendation to check out the Harpoon brewery, if you are taking I-91. They provide a nice tour and the food is good. HF might not be the best place for a youngster, as you may end up waiting in line for quite some time without much else to do. (everyone there was quite friendly, so its not a knock on them, just saying it could get boring for a child to stand around). Rock Art Brewery is in between Alchemist and HF, so you could pop in there for a sample flight and grab some merchandise.

 

Don't forget to try some Lost Nation while in town. I don't think they are open to the public yet but you should be able to find their beer at all of the better beer bars in the state. My favorites so far are their Gose and Saison Lomoille.

 

While in Waterbury hit Prohibition Pig and Blackback Pub, if the wife likes wine upstairs from Blackback is Cork(usually they have Heady Topper as well). The Warren store is the place for Lawson's and it is on Thursday according to the guy who answered when I called the other day.

 

Also on your route up in Brattleboro is Whetstone Station, it is a good place to stop off for a rest and meal.

 

Stowe pinnacle is an awesome not too crazy hike. (takes about an hour to walk up). theres also the mt Mansfield toll road which brings you all the way to the top of mt mansfield (highest peak in VT). I highly recommend this while you're in the Waterbury / Stowe area .

 

Shelburne Farms is a good visit, not too far from VT Teddy Bear. Echo Center on the waterfront in Burlington is a great place for kids.

Bingham Falls in Stowe is a great quick spot for hiking to a waterfall. Cold Hollow Cider Mill (mmm cider donuts) and the Cabot Annex - both in Waterbury are great stopping spots.

 

Lake Willoughby has quite a few nice hikes. I was just up there this weekend. Some as short as 2 miles, the longest is 10 miles I think. Groton State Forest is not far. Elmore would be another option. Vermont State Parks website is a good resource.

If you are staying in Waterbury, Camels Hump has a ton of hiking.

 

If you stop in Brattleboro in route, don't forget to check out McNeills- a must see. What way are you coming up from The Garden State?

Good resource for swimming holes: http://www.swimmingholes.org/vt

 

Camels hump and mt mansfield are great hikes with amazing views at the top. I think mansfield probably is an easier hike for a child but mansfield has a 360 view of the surrounding area.

 

Shelburne Farms is great for kids (Fiddlehead Brewing is close by there too). You could also stop by Mt Philo when you're in that area. Nice hike and great views.

In Waterbury, there's the Waterbury Center State Park and Little River State Park which has kayak rentals. There's tons of hiking near Camels Hump and in Stowe. Trapp Lodge also has lots of trails and a Frisbee golf course (near their brewery).

Also, Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory has tours (just simple sit in chair and watch video, not actual tour inside of factory other than seeing through glass window).

Here's a big list of stuff in there area:
http://www.vtbeer.org/2013/06/19/vermonts-ipa-highway/