Travel Like a Local: Vermont

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Travel Like a Local: Vermont

Insider's tips and recommendations for experiencing Vermont like a local: restaurants, inns, breweri Also a Vermont Realtor® with Keller Williams Vermont.

Insider's tips and recommendations for experiencing Vermont like a local: restaurants, inns, breweries, cideries, hikes, farmers' markets and more.

10/23/2026

🍁 One of my favorite ways to spend a beautiful fall day in Vermont? Wandering through the historic buildings, gardens and galleries of Shelburne Museum, where 45 acres of art, history and architecture offer so much more than your typical museum visit!

Founded in 1947 by art collector Electra Havemeyer Webb, Shelburne Museum is home to 39 buildings, including 25 historic structures relocated to the property. It’s practically an entire village of history, with everything from a steamboat and lighthouse to a covered bridge, general store and one-room jail!

Some of my favorite stops? The incredible collection of horse-drawn carriages, the toy shop and jail, and especially the general store and apothecary. I could spend hours looking at all the little details, from products lining the shelves to everyday objects offering a glimpse into life generations ago.

It was also a treat to catch the final days of the *Norman Rockwell: At Home in Vermont* exhibition, celebrating the artist’s years living and working in Arlington, Vermont.

And with the colorful foliage surrounding the historic buildings, fall is an especially beautiful time to visit!

⭐ A few local’s tips:

🍁 Vermonter rate: Vermont residents pay just $15 with a valid Vermont ID when purchasing tickets in person!

🎟️ Take your time: Admission is valid for TWO consecutive days, so there’s no need to squeeze all 45 acres into one visit.

✨ Winter Lights: The museum transforms into a festive holiday light display from November 27 through January 3!

The museum’s regular season runs through October 25, so there’s still time for a fall visit!

⭐️Have you explored Shelburne Museum? Which building or collection is your favorite?⭐️

10/18/2026

🍩 Does Vermont have a cult-favorite donut? Because if you’ve ever had the Churro Cruller from Twisted Halo in Essex, you know exactly what I’m talking about!

Crispy on the outside, light and airy on the inside, and coated in cinnamon sugar, this is the kind of donut that develops a following for good reason. And now? IT COMES IN CHOCOLATE AND CARAMEL. 🍫

Essex might just be the donut capital of Vermont. With three donut shops in town, there’s no shortage of options when those Sunday morning donut cravings hit!

🍩 Twisted Halo Donuts for its cult-favorite Churro Cruller, now available in chocolate and caramel.

🍩 Glazed Donuts for the most creative flavors of their maple brioche donuts that are as beautiful as they are delicious and always rotating.

🍩 Quality Bake Shop for classic, old-school donuts and baked goods. Being cash!

Three donut shops, one Vermont town and a very good reason to make Essex your next Sunday morning destination. Although there’s something about that fresh, cinnamon-sugar-coated cruller that keeps me coming back!

Have you tried the famous Churro Cruller? And are you team original, caramel or chocolate? 🍩

10/17/2026

A fall foliage season I don’t think I’ll ever get over. 🍁 As the leaves begin to drop, I can’t help but feel a bit nostalgic for what we just experienced.

I’ve never experienced fall colors quite like these. The most vibrant reds, brilliant oranges and golden yellows, seemingly around every turn. Just when I thought I’d seen the best of it, Vermont would find another way to surprise me.

Hot maple lattes. Long drives down winding backroads with no particular destination. Golden hour light that makes you want to pull over, sit and stare. Warm afternoons that feel like summer and chilly evenings that remind you winter isn’t far behind. Finding new adventures, stumbling upon scenic vistas and revisiting familiar places that look completely different every fall.

But more than anything, this season has reminded me how much I love living here.

There’s something so special about calling a place home that makes you want to be a tourist in your own backyard, every single day. A place that keeps you curious, encourages you to take the long way home and reminds you that some of life’s greatest pleasures are also the simplest.

I’m grateful for every backroad, every unexpected stop and every moment I had the chance to slow down and take it all in.

Vermont, you’ve really outdone yourself this year. ❤️

Tell me I’m not alone. Was this one of the most beautiful foliage seasons you’ve ever experienced? What was a highlight for you? Go on, share some joy!

10/16/2026

🎉 VERMONT GETAWAY GIVEAWAY! 🎉 Win a two-night stay at one of Vermont’s most historic and charming inns, complete with their world-famous breakfast!

🏡🍳 We’re giving one lucky duo the chance to escape to The Grafton Inn | Grafton, VT in the picture-perfect, idyllic and quintessential Vermont village of Grafton, Vermont, for a getaway that includes:

🛏️ A TWO-NIGHT STAY FOR TWO at the historic Grafton Inn, along with their famous country breakfast each morning! ☕️🥞

There’s something special about Grafton. With its beautifully preserved historic buildings, white-steepled church, winding country roads and lack of cell phone signal, it’s a Vermont village that makes you want to park the car and stay awhile.

And at the heart of it all is the Grafton Inn, one of America’s oldest operating inns, welcoming travelers since 1801. Think individually decorated guest rooms, historic New England character, cozy gathering spaces and the kind of hospitality that makes a weekend away feel like a proper escape.

But we can’t talk about the Grafton Inn without mentioning THE BREAKFAST! 🍳 Their breakfast is a destination in itself and one of the best reasons to wake up in Grafton. There’s no better way to start a morning before heading out to enjoy Southern Vermont adventures.

Spend your days wandering the village, visiting the Grafton Village Cheese Company, browsing local shops, taking the scenic backroads or simply enjoying a slower pace for a couple of days.

READY TO WIN YOUR OWN GRAFTON GETAWAY? 🎉
Here’s how to enter:

1️⃣ FOLLOW The Grafton Inn | Grafton, VT and Travel Like a Local: Vermont

2️⃣ LIKE and SAVE this post ❤️

3️⃣ TAG the person you’d bring along for your Vermont getaway! Each separate comment counts as an additional entry.

✨ BONUS 5 ENTRIES : Share this post to your Instagram Stories and tag both accounts so we can see it!

Giveaway runs through Monday, October 19, 2026 at 11:59pm. Good luck! And whether you win or not, put Grafton on your list of Vermont villages worth spending a weekend in. 🍁
Winner will be contacted directly by Travel Like a Local: Vermont. Additional stay restrictions and blackout dates may apply. Transportati

10/15/2026

One of Burlington, Vermont’s most unexpected fall foliage views is waiting at the top of a historic stone tower, and I’m willing to bet plenty of people have never been up here! 🍁

Tucked inside Ethan Allen Park in Burlington’s New North End, the Ethan Allen Tower offers a completely different perspective on fall foliage in the Queen City.

Instead of admiring the changing leaves from street level, you can climb the winding staircase of this 40-foot stone observation tower and take in panoramic views of the colorful treetops, Lake Champlain, the Adirondack Mountains and the surrounding landscape.

Built in 1905 as a tribute to Revolutionary War figure Ethan Allen, the tower is one of Burlington’s more interesting historic landmarks. And while the city is known for its waterfront views, Church Street and vibrant downtown, this is a reminder that some of its best experiences are tucked away in its parks and natural spaces.

🍂 A few local tips for visiting:
📍 Ethan Allen Park, Burlington, Vermont
🥾 Take a short walk through the park to reach the tower.
🗼 Climb to the observation level for the best views.
🍁 Visit during peak foliage for a colorful canopy stretching out beneath you.

📸 Bring your camera! The elevated perspective makes this a particularly fun place to photograph fall in Burlington.

It’s an easy addition to a Burlington fall day, especially if you enjoy finding new perspectives on familiar places. And the best part? You don’t have to leave the city to feel surrounded by Vermont’s beautiful autumn landscape.

⭐️Have you ever climbed Ethan Allen Tower, or did you even know this view existed?⭐️🍁

10/14/2026

🍁❄️ Have you ever experienced the powerful view of snowliage in Vermont? It’s one of New England’s most breathtaking natural phenomena, when the mountains are blanketed in fresh snow while the valleys below are still bursting with vibrant fall foliage.

Experiencing snowliage at its best requires a pretty remarkable combination of timing, temperatures, elevation and foliage conditions. The mountains need to be cold enough for snow while the trees at lower elevations are still holding onto their brilliant reds, oranges and golds. And when everything lines up just right, the result is spectacular!

I captured this incredible scene a few years ago in Underhill, Vermont, looking toward Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak.

The contrast of snow-covered mountains rising above a landscape still rich with autumn color was absolutely breathtaking and a core foliage season memory made.

It’s a moment when nature reminds you just how spectacular the changing seasons in New England can be.

And while driving through Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and New Hampshire’s White Mountains this fall, I was lucky enough to see snowliage again! There’s something extraordinary about witnessing the first signs of winter arriving before autumn has finished putting on its show.

It’s a relatively uncommon sight at this level of contrast, and one you can’t exactly plan for. The conditions have to line up just right, making it all the more memorable when you encounter it.

🍁❄️ Have you ever experienced snowliage? If so, where were you lucky enough to see it?

10/13/2026

🎨 ART, MOUNTAIN VIEWS & A REALLY GOOD LUNCH IN SOUTHERN VERMONT? If you haven’t spent an afternoon at the Southern Vermont Arts Center (Southern Vermont Arts Center) in Manchester, consider this your invitation to make a day of it! And support local artists in the process.

Set on 100 beautiful acres with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains, Southern Vermont Arts Center is so much more than somewhere to admire art. You can wander the outdoor sculpture garden, enjoy a delicious lunch at curATE Cafe Southern Vermont Arts Center overlooking the Green mountains, and spend a few hours exploring the galleries and exhibitions.

And here’s something I especially love about SVAC: It’s both an art museum AND a selling gallery, which means the organization isn’t just showcasing art. It’s actively supporting the artists who live and work in our communities.

Their Open Members’ Show is a perfect example. Spread throughout the historic Yester House, beginning in the gallery just off curATE, continuing into the large gallery and throughout the upstairs, the exhibition features work by SVAC’s artist members. And every single piece is available for purchase! 🖼️ Start or build your collection with SVAC!

That means you can walk into an exhibition, discover an artist whose work speaks to you, and actually bring a piece home the same day while directly supporting the people creating it. I love that SVAC makes collecting original art approachable while helping nourish Vermont’s creative community.

My recommendation? Make an afternoon of it. Arrive hungry, enjoy lunch with a mountain view, take your time wandering the galleries and leave some room in your schedule to stroll through the sculpture garden.

🎨 Save this for your next Southern Vermont day trip, and remember that supporting the arts can be as simple as showing up, appreciating the work and maybe finding something you love enough to take home.

⭐️Have you visited Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester yet?⭐️

10/12/2026

🍁 Would you drive to the summit of a Vermont mountain on a rainy fall day? Because after experiencing Mount Equinox just south of Manchester, Vermont, surrounded by brilliant foliage, drifting clouds and mountain mist, I might argue that it’s even more enchanting an experience to collect in the rain!

Mount Equinox Skyline Drive is the longest privately owned paved toll road in North America and takes you to the highest drivable summit in Vermont. The 5.2-mile road climbs more than 3,200 feet through winding switchbacks, colorful forests and scenic overlooks before reaching the 3,848-foot summit.

On a clear day, the views are extraordinary, stretching across as many as FIVE states! You can see Vermont’s Green Mountains, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, New York’s Adirondacks and the Berkshires of Massachusetts. But on our rainy visit, the low-hanging clouds, mist drifting between the mountains and brilliant foliage made the experience even more memorable. 🍂

At the summit, you’ll find the Saint Bruno Scenic Viewing Center, panoramic observation areas and a chapel. And here’s something you might not know: Mount Equinox is also home to the Charterhouse of the Transfiguration, the only Carthusian monastery in North America. The monks have lived on the mountain since 1951, dedicating their lives to silence, solitude and prayer. The monastery isn’t open to visitors, but you can see it from the drive.

📍 MOUNT EQUINOX SKYLINE DRIVE | SOUTHERN VERMONT

🍁 Open through October 31, weather permitting.
⏰ Daily, 9 AM-5 PM. Last admission at 4 PM.
🎟️ October admission: $30 per vehicle and driver, plus $5 per additional passenger. Children under 10 are free.
🚗 Entrance on Route 7A, just outside Manchester.

Whether you’re chasing vibrant fall color or watching clouds roll through the mountains, this is one Vermont foliage experience worth adding to your list before the season ends!

⭐️Have you ever summited Mount Equinox by car?⭐️

10/11/2026

🍁 One of Vermont’s most beautiful roadside waterfalls is even more spectacular surrounded by vibrant fall foliage. The best part? You can experience it with no hiking required!

Tucked into the Green Mountain National Forest in Hancock (not far from Middlebury), Texas Falls is one of those places where you can experience spectacular natural scenery without committing to a long hike. And during foliage season, the contrast between rushing water, dramatic rock formations and vibrant fall colors makes this an especially beautiful stop along Route 125.

What makes Texas Falls so interesting is how the water has carved its way through the bedrock over thousands of years, creating a deep, narrow gorge with sculpted rock walls and cascading waterfalls.

A short walk from the parking area brings you to a footbridge overlooking the gorge, where you can look straight down into the deep chasm and watch the water rushing through the rocks below.

There’s more to explore, too! Follow the approximately 1.2-mile nature trail through the forest, enjoy different viewpoints along the brook or bring a picnic to enjoy at the recreation area’s tables and pavilion.

Texas Falls sits just off scenic Route 125, the Middlebury Gap, making it easy to combine with a few other favorite stops, including the Robert Frost Interpretive Trail, where you can wander through woods and meadows with poetry displayed along the trail.

Visiting the Texas Falls Recreation Area | Hancock, Vermont 💰 Free to visit 🥾 Short walk to the main overlook, plus a longer nature trail 🐕 Leashed dogs welcome ⚠️ No swimming at the falls

Save this for your next Vermont foliage adventure and follow for more ways to experience Vermont! 🍁

What’s your favorite Vermont waterfall for us to feature next? 💦

10/09/2026

🫎 EVER BEEN ON A MOOSE SAFARI IN MAINE? This might be one of New England’s most unforgettable wildlife experiences!

Deep in Maine’s North Woods, near Greenville and Moosehead Lake, we headed out with Chris Young from Young's Guide Service for our second private moose safari. Our first was in June 2022, but there’s nothing quite like seeing moose during the fall rut, surrounded by spectacular foliage. 🍁

And we saw four healthy, well fed moose with beautiful coats… A cow, a cow with her calf, and a second-year bull, all up close in their natural habitat. Something we will never forget!

What started as a hobby has become a career for Chris, and his enthusiasm is contagious. He knows the remote logging roads, understands moose behavior, can actually call them in, and is incredibly passionate about their preservation. He’s a true Maine local who knows these woods and the wildlife that call them home.

🌲 WHY WE LOVE THIS EXPERIENCE: These are private, personalized safaris. No tour buses or crowded groups. Just you and a local moose expert exploring the back roads, learning about the animals and experiencing Maine’s wilderness in a way most visitors never do.

And the Moosehead Lake region? We think it’s one of Maine’s most underrated destinations for natural beauty and outdoor recreation. The forests, lakes, mountains and fall foliage are worth the trip alone!

📅 BOOKING TIP: Chris books out WAY in advance! We recommend reaching out around January 1 to inquire about tours for the coming year, especially if you’re hoping to visit during peak seasons. And if you want a treat treat when up in the area, stay at Blair Hill Inn & Slate Restaurant - the most beautiful hotel on Moosehead Lake.

🫎 A WILDLIFE REMINDER: Moose are wild animals and deserve our respect. Never approach, chase or crowd them, especially during the rut or when calves are present. Their safety and preservation always come first, which is why exploring with an experienced, conservation-minded local guide is so important.

⭐️Would you go on a moose safari? Have you ever seen one in the wild?⭐️

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