8 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Vermont
When choosing a long weekend base, travelers gravitate toward small towns and vast natural surroundings, both of which are plentiful in Vermont, the least urbanized state in the US. The Green Mountain Byway travels through Waterbury and Stowe, past open meadows and waterfalls, winding between the northern Green Mountains and the Worcester Range. In addition, Vermont borders nearly the entire eastern shore of Lake Champlain, the premier summer long weekend destination in the state.
Lake Champlain
Long summer weekends are made along the natural, 120-mile-long, freshwater lake, which is one of the nation's largest, forming the border between Vermont and New York, with overwater bridge access. In addition to supplying drinking water for thousands in the region, Lake Champlain quenches your thirst for the outdoors with boating, ice fishing, and parks. Many gravitate towards Burlington's cheaper lodgings or Shelburne's Heart of the Village Inn, in the state's most populous city and a small town, respectively.
Travelers can explore the eastern shore hiking and paddling, or swim from public beaches, like the vast Sand Bar State Park, en route to Grand Isle. The scenic Island Line Trail invites Burlington locals and tourists to cycle between islands on the lake. Just south, Shelburne Farms boasts fresh produce and farm-to-table products on a scenic lakeside acreage. For a nature-centric escape, Grand Isle State Park has a cabin campground, a boat launching ramp, and a nature center.
Manchester
Laid out in the second half of the 18th century, the historic town near the Batten Kill River boasts real marble sidewalks and Hildene, the preserved summer home of Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln, all near the foot of the 3,816-foot Mt. Equinox. Framed by two Appalachian ranges, Manchester feels like being on a holiday postcard in southwestern Vermont. Many travel here for a weekend spent shopping and shredding the nearby ski slopes at Stratton or the family-friendly Bromley resort.
The Taconic Range and the Green Mountains frame your dining, shopping, arts, and culture strolls as well. Southern Vermont Arts Center offers classic and modern art galleries, sculpture gardens, a theater, and a chic cafe. The Palmer House Resort, Aspen at Manchester, and Casablanca Hotel offer budget-friendly lodgings to unwind across a vast public green.
Northeast Kingdom/Lake Willoughby
The Northeast Kingdom sprawls 2,000 square miles of rural scenery across three counties. Carved by glaciers between Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Hor, Lake Willoughby is a National Natural Landmark in this part of Vermont. Forming the fjord-like Willoughby Gap, the five-mile-long and up to 320-foot-deep lake attracts photographers with dramatic views. Summiting the 2,785-foot-tall Mt. Pisgah affords a bird's-eye view via a steep trail with alpine vegetation and rare peregrine falcons that nest in these cliffs.
From hiking and camping to skiing and snowshoeing through the dense state forest, you can swim, paddle, or unwind alongside anglers who cast for rainbow trout, landlocked Atlantic salmon, and native round whitefish. The beaches on both ends grant access to the waters. Pick the rustic-chic WilloughVale Inn & Cottages, formerly frequented by Robert Frost, near the "nail" part of this finger-like lake, or the campground next to South Beach and nearby Pulpit Rock for a sunrise hike.
Smugglers' Notch Resort
Dubbed "Smuggs" and formally named for its 1800s use to smuggle goods to Canada during the War of 1812, this sprawling informal resort offers a family-friendly unit. It has more than one of every amenity you can think of, including a cozy restaurant, pools, and hot tubs. Framed by rivers, forests, and mountains in the northern Green Mountains of Vermont, guests enjoy a "village" atmosphere, extensive children's programming, and seasonal activities.
There are 78 trails across three peaks, with Morse and Sterling designed for beginners and intermediates, while the experts plummet down Madonna's vertical drop of 2,610 feet, the highest in Northern Vermont and the only triple black diamond on the entire East Coast. There is also outdoor ice skating, miles of snowshoeing and Nordic ski trails, and "Glow Tubing" through mid-March. You can opt for the nearby campground or the Smuggler's Notch Inn in Jefferson to the north.
Stowe
Boasting the Stowe Mountain Resort on Mount Mansfield, Stowe is the "Ski Capital of the East," at the foot of the state's highest peak in northern Vermont. From wildflowers carpeting the slopes to bedazzling fall foliage along the trails and thrilling chairlift rides via the Gondola SkyRide, you don't have to wait for the next ski season to pursue a scenic or rugged outdoor adventure. Marked by three covered bridges and a prominent church steeple, the historic village exudes New England charm.
Hotels, breweries, and restaurants dot the twisting road between the old town and the resort, many with a Bavarian theme. Praised for photo spots, general vibe, and breweries, the rugged adventure hub is also the most fun small town. Whether you take the scenic 5.3-mile Stowe Recreation Path or undertake summitting Mount Mansfield, there are lots of options for outdoor recreation. Lastly, the historic Green Mountain Inn is a welcoming spot to unwind, open since 1833 in the heart of Stowe Village.
Waterbury
Between Burlington, Stowe, and the Mad River Valley, the town at the junction of the Green Mountain Byway and I-89, along the Winooski River, boasts year-round appeal in the heart of Vermont's Green Mountains. Lodging ranges from brand-name hotels downtown to the nearby Grunberg Haus Inn & Cabins, for Bavarian charm secluded in nature. Waterbury has an immersive selection of lakeside pursuits, breweries, and the original Ben & Jerry’s Factory, all near skiing and foliage hikes.
No trip is complete without touring the factory and the nearby Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard to recall some of the great flavors from the past. Just to the north, visitors have access to the Waterbury Center State Park at the Waterbury Reservoir. Travelers enjoy leisurely weekends, swimming, and paddling at the beach with rentals, a nature trail, and picnic sites. Stop by the Cold Hollow Cider Mill for a bag of spiced goodies to bring along.
Killington Mountain Resort
Killington, the "Beast of the East," is Vermont’s most popular ski resort, offering prime terrain for advanced skiers. Featuring abundant moguls, a 3,050-foot vertical drop, and 250 inches of natural snow on average per season, this 1,509-acre ski area offers 155 trails and 22 lifts. The area is especially beautiful in the fall when the highest slopes are covered in shimmering foliage and stunning fall colors. There's great nightlife and abundant lodging options with mountain views and nearby trails.
After breakfast in your room at the Grand Resort Hotel, you can step onto the wooden balcony and take in the beautiful scenery framing the lake in soft light. Just a short drive from Woodstock, bars and restaurants dot the road leading up to the mountain resort, with low traffic in the off-season. In addition to ideal skiing conditions, you can ride the gondola to Killington Peak, mountain bike through the forests in summer, and take a scenic hike to Thundering Brook Falls.
Woodstock
Unoriginal in name but unique in attractions, Woodstock boasts the historic Taftsville Covered Bridge (1836), one of the nation's oldest, spanning the Ottauquechee River. Framed by mountain and canyon scenery, you can explore Quechee State Park or go skiing in Killington. The area, steeped in fall foliage and several working farms around town, makes for an ideal harvest-time retreat of family fun and farm-to-table culture, complete with top-rated stays at the Vesper Woodstock and The Shire.
The Billings Farm & Museum features friendly farm animals, demos, and interactive exhibits. Cross the street into the national historical park, offering forested trails and Victorian mansion tours. Formed by glacial activity some 13,000 years ago, Quechee Gorge is a 165-foot drop to the river in the state park to the west. Take a leaf-peeping hike along crunchy leaves to the sweeping views, plus a campground, a picnic area, and an intimate, beloved ski resort with a lodge and reasonable prices.
Stretching 250 miles from Massachusetts to Quebec, the Green Mountains feature popular resorts and notable peaks like Mt. Mansfield, Vermont's highest, towering over the state's adventure mecca, Stowe. Ski towns attract weekenders with a glowing atmosphere of snow-covered slopes and vibrant village amenities. Smugglers' or Killington? It depends on whether you want a family-centric, cozy escape or high-paced energy and vast terrain.
Many long weekends gravitate toward places soaked in New England charm, like Woodstock, offering farm visits and "Vermont's Little Grand Canyon," or Manchester, featuring historic sites like Hildene at the foot of Mt. Equinox. Scenery chasers seek out Northeast Kingston for the fjord-like landscape around Willoughby Lake, replete with land and water pursuits today, where, in the late 1800s, steamboats paraded visitors around these glacial waters.
