8 Most Relaxing Vermont Towns

Vermont is the ultimate hub for relaxation, both indoors and outdoors. Woodstock is home to a resort with a full-service spa just down the road from "Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon." In Jay, there's the Woodshed Lodge that has a beautiful 10-acre lawn with a pond and a hot tub. There is even the opportunity to gaze at the stars at the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, the state’s only public planetarium and museum. For a better idea of where to find this serenity, here are the eight most relaxing Vermont towns.

St. Johnsbury

Often called the town “where rivers and people meet,” St. Johnsbury has ample public lands and special cultural treasures to make for an extra unique kind of Vermont vacation. After all, St. Johnsbury is home to the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, the state’s only public planetarium and a museum with over 30,000 items ranging from ancient artifacts to an extensive collection of bug art. Staying in town, folks can also check out the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum and tour this 1871 Victorian structure, which houses a community library and a non-profit art gallery.

In addition, there’s the St. Johnsbury Town Forest, a 97-acre local park that preserves a verdant slice of hilly forest with a full trail network. And for anyone wanting a longer journey, the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail extends for approximately 95 miles (from St. Johnsbury to Swanton), and it’s perfectly suitable for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and wintertime skiing and snowmobiling. Once one’s ready to call it a day, Cherry House Bed and Breakfast makes a cozy and comfy home base with beautiful guest rooms and a full breakfast served every morning.

Jay

Just below the United States-Canada border lies the village of Jay, a town at “The Top of Vermont” that’s also a top-tier pick for outdoor recreation. A major attraction here is Jay Peak Resort, a 385-acre ski resort with around 80 trails offering up to 2,153 feet in vertical, and the resort keeps busy during the warmer months with hike and bike trails and even live music at the amphitheatre in July. Then, for those wanting a more rugged and rustic experience in the wilderness, Jay State Forest has plenty of terrain for backcountry hiking and skiing, and Big Falls of Missisquoi State Park protects an old-growth hemlock and pine forest with one of the state’s largest undeveloped waterfalls.

Whenever one can use some sustenance after a long day in the mountains, Jay Village Inn & Restaurant works great for a hearty Vermont-style breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And whenever one decides to visit Jay, one can rest assured that The Woodshed Lodge is open to welcome guests to their cozy mountain lodge on 10 acres with gardens, a pond, and even a hot tub.

Stowe

With an idyllic setting at the foot of the state’s tallest mountain, it’s no wonder that Stowe is “The Ski Capital of the East.” For starters, Stowe Mountain Resort includes the state’s highest peak (at 4,395 feet above sea level) at Mount Mansfield, and it offers a total of 126 ski and snowboard trails across 545 acres with up to 2,360 feet of vertical. In case that’s not enough excitement on open snow, it’s a short drive out to Smugglers' Notch Resort, which has 78 trails across 1,000 acres, up to 2,610 feet of vertical, and a full variety of runs alongside an award-winning on-site ski school. And to the south, skiers can also try Bolton Valley Ski Resort, an independent and locally run ski area with 71 trails offering up to 1,704 feet in vertical.

If someone is looking to engage in some indoor activities, there’s plenty more to see and do in town, including The Current, with a wide variety of visual art exhibits. And at Topnotch Resort, guests can enjoy sleek and stylish rooms and suites alongside delectable farm-to-table restaurants, a full-service spa offering over 100 refreshing treatments, and even a full indoor-outdoor heated pool complex.

Montpelier

In Montpelier, it’s easy to escape into the wilderness at local open spaces like Hubbard Park, a 200+ acre park with over seven miles of all-season trails, a tranquil pond, a sledding hill, and even a 54-foot-tall stone observation tower. Just blocks away, the Vermont Historical Society Museum sits right by the state capitol and lets visitors walk through the state’s history from the 17th century to today. Staying in the heart of town, the T.W. Wood Museum is the state’s oldest art museum and one that regularly hosts interactive youth and adult art classes. And a short drive to the northwest, visitors will reach the C.C. Putnam State Forest, a 17,503-acre forest with a wide variety of ecosystems (from northern hardwoods to spruce-fir forest) to explore and trails to hike.

Just outside town, the High Hill Inn places travelers within easy reach of many of Montpelier's best attractions. Even better, the property sports gorgeous Green Mountain views, a lovely collection of plush guest rooms, and a full organic breakfast served every morning.

Middlebury

Around 35 miles south of Burlington, visitors will reach Middlebury, a learned college town that’s also an ideal sporty outdoor adventure destination. On the Middlebury College campus, the Middlebury College Museum of Art functions as the institution’s “largest learning laboratory” with an extensive collection ranging from Ancient Greek pottery to photography. Meanwhile, the nearby Henry Sheldon Museum regularly hosts a fascinating array of exhibits alongside a dedicated family-friendly Makerspace. From there, folks can head out and explore the vast expanse of Green Mountain National Forest, an approximately 400,000-acre nature preserve that protects everything from fascinating Native American historic sites to British Colonial-era subsistence farmsteads and pristine mountain wilderness areas.

Returning to town, the Chipman Hill park is a nice place to hike, spot local wildlife, and simply enjoy a little slice of nature right by Middlebury’s historic downtown. And just down the road from there, the Swift House Inn has 20 well-appointed guest rooms to kick back and relax in, plus it houses the creatively tasty Jessica’s restaurant and ample meeting space for special events like weddings, family reunions, and intimate business conferences.

Woodstock

Just 140 miles northwest of Boston (Massachusetts), the town of Woodstock abounds in some of Vermont’s finest and most easygoing sights and sounds. A short drive east of town, Quechee State Park is the perfect spot to take in the scenery of “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon,” also known as Quechee Gorge, a roughly 13,000-year-old gorge formed by glacial activity where the Ottauquechee River now flows below. Then, heading back into Woodstock, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park lets visitors explore the trails year-round in the nation’s oldest continuously managed scientific forest. And right next to the national park, Billings Farm & Museum is a working farm and outdoor museum where guests can meet the farm animals, tour the gardens and the dairy grounds, and pick up authentic local treats like cheese and maple syrup at the farm store.

Just to the west of town, there’s even more to explore on the Aqueduct Trails, a local network of more than 20 nature trails open year-round for hiking, biking, and (seasonal) skiing. And no matter how much or how little one wants to do in Woodstock, the Woodstock Inn & Resort is the ideal place to experience true Vermont-style luxury, from multiple restaurants and a full-service spa on site to easy access to local winter ski resorts and the summertime Woodstock Country Club for golfing.

Manchester

Down at the southern end of Vermont, the town of Manchester is picture-perfect for experiencing the state’s great outdoors, and for discovering vibrant local culture indoors. Just beyond town, Bromley Mountain Resort provides skiers and snowboarders with 47 trails and a welcoming, family-friendly environment. Also in the area is Stratton Mountain Resort, a 670-acre mountain compound with 99 trails for skiing and snowboarding during winter, and for hiking, biking, and golfing during the summer season. Meanwhile, in town, folks can check out the Southern Vermont Arts Center that showcases works by a wide array of local and international artists, and they can check out the center’s calendar full of classes, workshops, and other special programs. And for some incredible performing arts, visitors can also check Taconic Music’s calendar for upcoming concerts.

Whether one comes to Manchester for the mountaintop activities, the artistic amenities, or the just-plain peaceful and quiet local environment, the Kimpton Taconic Hotel is a wonderful place to stay. This stylish boutique hotel is conveniently located near the center of town, yet it also sports comfy country-style rooms and suites, the flavorful Cropper Grouse bar-restaurant, a fully equipped fitness center, and even the Nomad fashion boutique at the hotel’s lobby.

Brattleboro

Right along the banks of the Connecticut River sits the cool and creative Vermont village of Brattleboro. At the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, visitors can tour this historic train station that now displays a vibrant variety of works by living artists. Then, there’s the Estey Organ Museum, a living testament to what was once one of the world’s most prolific factories of reed organs, pump organs, and pipe organs. Meanwhile, past and present combine in perfect harmony at the Stone Church, a 140-year-old Gothic Revival church that now frequently hosts rock concerts and other musical performances.

For a different taste of Brattleboro life, it’s a short drive up to the Retreat Farm, a unique community collective comprised of some 500 acres of forests, farmlands, trails, and waterways, along with a local market that carries delectable local cheeses, maple syrups, artisan breads, gourmet chocolates, and much more. And for another haven of great taste, guests can stay at The Inn on Putney Road, a nearly century-old historic estate with a fascinating backstory and wonderful present-day hospitality, complete with upscale yet homestyle guest rooms and a deluxe breakfast every morning.

Throughout the Green Mountain State of Vermont, travelers will discover a number of wonderful towns that make it easy to slow down, catch their breath, and take the time to enjoy the immense natural beauty and unique local culture. Jay provides ample opportunities for year-round recreation right by the U.S.-Canada border, while Stowe shines as one of the Northeast’s premier mountain resort destinations. Middlebury effortlessly combines college town sophistication with outgoing outdoorsy vibes, and Woodstock overflows with farm-fresh goodness in a ruggedly beautiful backdrop. No matter how one prefers to kick back and relax, Vermont is the perfect place to ascend to a more soothing state of mind.