10 Breathtaking Day Trips In Vermont Your Family Will Remember Long After The Drive Home
You’re thinking about a family drive this weekend? Alright!
One stop on this list has a graveyard, and the headstones are for ice cream flavors that got retired.
Well, that’s one way to make dessert dramatic. Vermont keeps doing this kind of thing.
Another stop lets you drive almost to the top of the state’s highest peak. A third shows off a 1903 Pullman train car tied to the Lincoln family.
Suddenly, the snack bag feels like the least exciting thing in the car.
Add a waterfall, a deep river gorge, cows, and a planetarium. Now the only real question is which one you hit first.
1. Quechee Gorge
Vermont calls this spot its Little Grand Canyon, which is a bold nickname for a state famous for cows. Then you look over the bridge rail, and suddenly the nickname makes sense.
The Ottauquechee River runs about 165 feet beneath the Route 4 bridge.
Glacial activity helped create the gorge approximately 13,000 years ago, leaving steep wooded walls that look particularly colorful in autumn. The bridge itself began as a railway crossing in 1911 before becoming a road bridge.
Your first view comes from the pedestrian sidewalk above the river. Following major bridge improvements, the sidewalks and pedestrian access were reopened in 2026, so the family can appreciate the view without stepping into traffic.
For a longer outing, use the trail access near the bridge and follow the path toward river level.
The descent comes with a climb back out, and damp rocks can be slippery, so supportive shoes make sense. Families with smaller children may prefer the elevated viewpoint.
The gorge is along US Route 4 in Quechee, part of Hartford, near the seasonal Quechee State Park at 5800 Woodstock Road.
Its park campground closes for the regular season in October, while public bridge access remains available. Bring a snack, take your time, and leave the rocky riverbanks for careful exploration rather than a swimming stop on this outing.
2. Shelburne Farms
Some family history gets a scrapbook. The Vanderbilt and Seward families got a vast estate on the shore of Lake Champlain, with a working farm and remarkable views across the water.
Today Shelburne Farms is an educational nonprofit, combining a historic agricultural landscape with teaching about food, farming, and caring for the land.
More than ten miles of walking trails wind through fields and woodland, offering families plenty of choices for a stroll.
During its mid-May to mid-October visitor season, the Children’s Farmyard introduces younger guests to farm animals and their roles.
Cheesemakers also turn milk from the farm’s Brown Swiss cows into cheddar inside the impressive Farm Barn. It’s a satisfying explanation of how a familiar sandwich ingredient begins on a farm.
The Farm Barn sits about three quarters of a mile from the Welcome Center on foot, with a seasonal shuttle wagon available for those who need it.
Guided landscape and cheesemaking tours require reservations and operate during the warmer months.
Start at the Farm Store and Welcome Center, 1611 Harbor Rd, Shelburne. The shop remains open year-round, and walking trails can be enjoyed outside the main visitor season when conditions permit.
The hands-on animal program, however, is seasonal. Bring comfortable shoes, follow the marked paths, and allow the lake views to slow the afternoon down.
3. Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, Manchester
Abraham Lincoln’s family had a summer home in the mountains, and yes, it comes with a train car. That alone should get the kids out of the car.
The estate was built in 1905 by President Lincoln’s son, Robert Todd Lincoln, and his wife, Mary Harlan Lincoln.
Its Georgian Revival mansion overlooks the Battenkill Valley, with original family furnishings and rooms that help bring the early twentieth century into focus.
The real surprise is a restored 1903 Pullman railcar named Sunbeam. It was built while Robert Lincoln led the Pullman Company, though it wasn’t the family’s own private railcar.
Its exhibits connect railway travel with the experiences of the porters who worked aboard Pullman trains.
Beyond the house, a formal garden, working goat dairy, and walking trails give everyone something different to investigate.
The estate covers 412 acres, so take a map rather than assuming every attraction sits beside the mansion, particularly with younger children.
Begin the visit at 1005 Hildene Rd, Manchester, where the Welcome Center occupies a former carriage barn. Hours are generally ten until 4:30, daily through October and Thursday through Monday from November into spring.
Make time for both the home and Sunbeam. The combination of family history and a full-size historic railcar makes this outing far more varied than a house tour alone.
4. Billings Farm & Museum, Woodstock
Mark 3:30 p.m. on your calendar, because that’s when the cows take the stage. The afternoon milking program at Billings Farm & Museum is one show the kids might actually want to watch.
This is a working Jersey dairy farm and a museum devoted to rural life. Families can meet cows and calves, see draft horses and sheep, and explore old barns full of tools that once made farm chores possible.
A restored 1890 Farm Manager’s House reveals how a household operated when the farm was already a busy agricultural enterprise.
The day’s demonstrations change, but butter making, tastings, and talks about the animals often appear alongside milking.
Check the day’s schedule upon arrival, as the farm’s published milking session typically runs from 3:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon.
You’ll find the entrance at 69 Old River Rd, Woodstock, close to the village and Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. A walking trail and seasonal gardens add reasons to spend more than an hour here.
The farm opens daily from ten until five through October 31, 2026, then switches to weekends and selected dates through winter, generally ten until four.
Seasonal activities vary, so don’t count on summer wagon rides or the scoop shop year-round. Leave time for the historic house before gathering to see the Jersey herd.
5. Mt Mansfield Peak Visitor Center
Climbing the tallest mountain in the state sounds exhausting. Driving most of the way up? Now we’re talking.
Mount Mansfield rises to 4,393 feet, and the scenic Auto Toll Road on the Stowe side carries cars high onto its slopes.
The route climbs from the mountain’s base to a parking area near the ridgeline, where views stretch over the Green Mountains on clear days.
It’s a mountain road, though, rather than a conventional highway. The climb is steep and winding, and access depends on suitable weather and vehicle restrictions. Plan for a careful drive instead of treating the ascent like an ordinary commute.
From the upper parking area, families can enjoy elevated scenery or explore marked trails if everyone has proper shoes and enough energy.
Reaching the mountain’s highest summit still requires hiking over rocky alpine ground. Keep children on designated paths and protect the fragile plants near the ridgeline.
The approach begins at Stowe Mountain Resort, using the Mount Mansfield Auto Toll Road, Stowe. The 2026 season ran from late May through October 18, and the road is now closed until its next warm-weather season.
Save this outing for a suitable day next year; meanwhile, Stowe village offers an easy alternative. Pack jackets even in summer, because conditions change noticeably with elevation and mountain weather can shift quickly.
6. ECHO, Leahy Center For Lake Champlain, Burlington
Dozens of live animal species share a building with a 3D theater beside a giant lake. Your kids will have questions, and the answers are inside.
ECHO sits directly on Burlington’s waterfront, turning the Lake Champlain ecosystem into an engaging indoor adventure.
Fish, turtles, and other aquatic animals appear in exhibits alongside hands-on science stations. Into the Lake features a 15,000-gallon freshwater habitat with some of the region’s largest fish, including lake sturgeon.
The Awesome Forces area explores the processes that shaped the landscape, while Engineer It lets children try practical design challenges.
Younger visitors get their own playful world in Champ Lane, with places to climb, explore water, and pretend to run a small market.
Short nature films run in the 3D theater, and animal presentations are typically scheduled during the day. Some experiences have separate admission arrangements, so look over the daily program before deciding what to do first.
Find the museum at 1 College St, Burlington. It’s open year-round, usually from ten until five, with occasional holiday and maintenance closures. A café, restrooms, and lake views make it easy to stay awhile.
Finish with a stroll along the waterfront rather than immediately returning to the car. This is an especially practical family choice when the weather doesn’t cooperate with outdoor plans, and exhibits offer plenty of activities for different ages.
7. Mt. Philo State Park, Charlotte
Every state park has to start somewhere, and here it started on a small mountain overlooking Lake Champlain. Mount Philo became Vermont’s first state park in 1924.
The mountain reaches 968 feet, but the payoff is much bigger than that number suggests.
From the summit, farms and woodlands spread across the Champlain Valley, with the Adirondack Mountains rising beyond the water in New York.
Getting there is flexible during the staffed season. Families can drive up the narrow summit road or take a woodland hiking trail, which involves a real climb despite the modest distance.
Picnic tables and a rustic lodge near the top make the overlook a pleasant place for lunch. There’s history beneath the scenery too. A carriage road was built here in 1903 for guests of a nearby inn.
Later improvements helped turn the summit into a public recreation area. The park also has a small seasonal campground with tent sites and lean-to shelters.
The entrance is 5425 Mt Philo Rd, Charlotte. In 2026, regular day-use operations ended October 25, so the summit road and facilities should not be assumed open afterward.
Hiking access may continue outside the staffed season, subject to conditions. Bring layers, choose footwear with traction, and enjoy this compact mountain outing without making it a race to the scenic summit right away.
8. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium, St Johnsbury
Over 30,000 specimens, artifacts, photographs, and other objects belong to a museum collection in one small town. That’s quite a lot to fit between the moose and the stars.
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium stands in an ornate nineteenth-century building in St. Johnsbury.
Its natural history displays bring together mounted animals, insects, rocks, and historical objects, creating an old-fashioned cabinet-of-curiosities atmosphere that works surprisingly well with curious children.
Then there’s the planetarium. The museum houses Vermont’s only public planetarium, where guided programs turn the dome into an introduction to stars, planets, and the wider universe.
Show times vary, so choosing a session before browsing the galleries helps organize the day.
Children can also examine science and nature exhibits, with hands-on opportunities to explore the natural world.
The seasonal butterfly house is another attraction during warmer months, when native butterflies and their host plants take center stage.
The museum is at 1302 Main St, St. Johnsbury. It generally opens daily from ten until five, apart from selected holidays and a short winter maintenance period. Allow roughly two hours for galleries, plus time for a planetarium show.
The collection spans beyond local wildlife, so don’t be surprised when your trip through natural history takes an unexpected turn into cultures, historical curiosities, and astronomy.
9. Moss Glen Falls
A quarter mile. That’s roughly how far you walk to reach a waterfall that feels like it belongs in a much longer hike.
Moss Glen Falls sits in a wooded gorge just outside Stowe village, where water tumbles approximately 85 feet through a rocky opening.
The short approach follows the stream and offers a quick change of scenery from shops and village streets to shaded forest.
The route is generally considered easy to the falls, but the footing deserves attention.
Near the main viewing area, one path climbs a steeper, root-covered slope while another follows the stream toward the base. Keep younger children close and stay away from slippery ledges and fast-moving water.
The brief outing takes around twenty minutes for a straightforward out-and-back walk, though plenty of families linger longer.
More ambitious hikers can continue on a much longer route through the surrounding forest. Choose the distance that matches your group’s energy rather than assuming every path ends nearby.
The small trailhead parking area is along Moss Glen Falls Rd, a short drive north of the village via Route 100 and Randolph Road. Parking is limited, so an early start helps.
Bring water, shoes with grip, and a camera. The waterfall is the destination; climbing on wet rock isn’t necessary to appreciate it from the viewpoint.
10. Ben & Jerry’s, Waterbury
Retired ice cream flavors don’t just vanish here. They get headstones in the Flavor Graveyard, which might be the silliest hillside around.
The Waterbury factory opened in 1985, several years after the company began in a renovated gas station in 1978.
Today it’s the brand’s only factory offering public tours, making it a particularly fun stop for families interested in how their favorite frozen treat is produced.
The guided Factory Experience lasts about thirty minutes. It includes a short film, a view over the manufacturing floor, and a flavor tasting.
The production schedule varies, however, so you might see equipment being cleaned instead of ice cream moving along the line.
Afterward, there’s a scoop shop, a playground, and the outdoor Flavor Graveyard with humorous inscriptions for discontinued varieties. The graveyard is seasonal and closes when winter conditions make the hillside difficult to access.
The factory is at 1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd, Waterbury. It normally opens from ten until six, with its final tour starting at five.
Tour tickets are released fourteen days ahead, and advance booking helps secure a place. The facility has a scheduled closure December 1 through 3, 2026.
