9 Off-The-Beaten-Path Towns In Vermont

The granite capital of the world. The tallest structure in the state. The smallest capital city in the United States. These are but a few things that can be found from venturing off the beaten path in Vermont. Its landscape includes ski towns at the base of Mount Mansfield and lakeside communities on the shores of Lake Champlain. The 9 off-the-beaten-path towns below highlight some of Vermont’s most rural and remote communities.

Colchester

Colchester is immediately north of Burlington, on the shores of Malletts Bay on Lake Champlain. Niquette Bay State Park comprises 584 acres on the northeast shore of Malletts Bay. The park's trails climb up two long forested ridges that are over 400 feet high and provide panoramic views of Malletts Bay. Bayside Park is at the opposite end of the bay and features multiple recreational facilities, including sports courts, a playground, and picnic areas. Sunset Drive-In creates a nostalgic cinema experience with four screens and a 1950s snack bar. Sam Mazza's Farm Market is open year-round, offering seasonal products such as spring garden planting seeds, summer fresh produce, autumn pumpkins and corn stalks, and winter Christmas trees and wreaths.

Bennington

Evidence of human presence in the Bennington area dates back 13,000 years, though the town itself was chartered in 1749. Bennington is home to Vermont's tallest manmade structure, the Bennington Battle Monument, at over 306 feet tall. The Bennington Museum houses 13 gallery spaces, including a collection of Revolutionary War artifacts. The most notable artifact is the Bennington Flag, one of the oldest examples of the Stars and Stripes. In addition to a wide selection of craft beers, Madison Brewing Company Pub and Restaurant has a full bar and a menu of shareable plates and handhelds. Bennington Theater is a small stage venue in downtown Bennington that brings live entertainment and performances to the community.

Brattleboro

Brattleboro is situated on the banks of the Connecticut and West Rivers. Retreat Farm is at the confluence of these two rivers. It comprises 500 acres of forests, farmlands, trails, waterways, and nine historic farmstead structures. The Brattleboro Museum and Art Center hosts rotating contemporary art exhibits, educational programs, workshops, and lectures. Although it is housed in a 1927 diner, T.J. Buckley's offers patrons an elevated dining experience, featuring a menu of locally farmed and foraged ingredients. The Latchis Theater has operated since 1938 and continues to serve as the stage for live events while also playing new releases.

Stowe

Stowe is a historic ski town at the foothills of Mount Mansfield, Vermont's highest peak. Stowe Mountain Resort is regarded as one of the best ski destinations in North America. It is a four-season resort, with 116 ski trails in the winter, and hiking and rock climbing in the summer. Après Only is the epitome of 1980s Vermont ski culture, serving skiers and snowboarders classic après-ski dishes like charcuterie boards, pretzels, and Swedish meatballs. The Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum preserves Vermont's skiing history with over 10,000 items of skiing and winter sports paraphernalia, including skis, boots, photographs, and archival materials. The Stowe Recreation Path links the village to Topnotch Resort through a 5.3-mile paved trail that can be used by walkers and cyclists in the summer, and cross-country skiers and snowshoers in the winter.

Middlebury

Middlebury is encompassed by the Trail Around Middlebury, an 18-mile footpath accessible year-round that connects a variety of open spaces on public and private lands. The Town Hall Theater is the community hub for performing arts, hosting over 165 performances annually, such as live music, theater, stand-up comedy, and film. The Henry Sheldon Museum ranks among America's first history museums, operating from an 1829 house built by local marble merchants. Inside is a collection of 19th-century Vermont furniture, textiles, paintings, and household items. Middlebury Falls is an 18-foot waterfall on Otter Creek, which runs through the center of downtown.

Montpelier

Montpelier is the smallest capital city in the United States. It is home to one of the oldest and best-preserved state capitols in the country, the Vermont State Capitol. Visitors can embark on self-guided tours of the premises, including viewing collections of furnishings and art. Pair the State Capitol with a visit to the Vermont History Museum, which has a core exhibit that tracks Vermont's history from 1600 to the present day. Additionally, there are rotating exhibits, galleries, and a mural. Hubbard Park is the largest park in Montpelier, laced with seven miles of hiking and skiing trails, dotted with numerous picnic areas and shelters, and features a 54-foot observation tower.

Rutland

Rutland is hidden in the valleys of Killington and Pico Mountains. It is considered a gateway to the Green Mountain National Forest, which spans almost 400,000 acres of alpine peaks and hardwood forests and is suitable for hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing. Pine Hill Park covers 300 acres in the northwest corner of town. It features a 16-mile single-track trail system used for hiking, biking, and running. The Paramount Theater has been restored to resemble its 1915 appearance. It is still a focal point in town where the community gathers to enjoy live music, comedy, theater, and classic films. Wonderfeet Kids' Museum is a space in town for children and adults alike to learn about science, technology, engineering, art, and math through interactive exhibits and programs.

Manchester

Manchester is flanked by the Green Mountain and Taconic ranges, with Mount Equinox, the Taconics' highest point at 3,850 feet, framing the town's skyline. The Equinox Preserve comprises 914 acres on the slopes of Mount Equinox. The preserve features many different trails of varying length and difficulty. The American Museum of Fly Fishing includes a collection of over 40,000 artifacts from anglers, making it the largest collection of angling-related items in the world. Visitors will find one of the largest collections of new, used, and rare books in New England, with over 300,000 titles available at Northshire Bookstore. Manchester Hot Glass is open daily for people to view live glassblowing demonstrations, browse the gallery, or attend a glassblowing class.

Barre

Barre is sandwiched between the back of the Green Mountains and Groton State Forest. The forest offers a variety of recreational activities that vary with the season, including camping, hiking, swimming, and cross-country skiing. Learn why Barre is the granite capital of the world at the Vermont Granite Museum. The museum is located inside a former granite processing plant. It showcases 50 exhibits on the people, companies, and practices of Vermont's granite industry. The Barre Opera House is Barre's cultural venue, hosting almost 100 events each year, showcasing the works of local and international entertainers alike.

Exploring Rural Vermont

Vermont is the second-least populous state, and much of its land stays rural and heavily forested. The nine towns here show what that rural character produces up close. The Green Mountains separate one valley from the next, and each town has built a distinct identity around its own industry, landscape, and history. Barre grew around granite, Stowe around Mount Mansfield, and Brattleboro around the confluence of two rivers. The reward for taking the back roads is nine towns that each feel entirely their own.