Vermont
8 Most Charming Vermont Towns for 2024
Vermont is the smallest state by population. Its scenic mountains and valleys draw visitors from all over the world to relish its captivating fall foliage. Also, it’s the state that birthed the delicious Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Among the many wonderful towns to visit here, Burlington, Woodstock, and Newport are all standout gems, given their outdoor recreational activities and bustling downtowns. However, they are just one of many charming towns, as we will see. This article will highlight 2024’s eight most charming towns in the Green Mountain State.
Shelburne
Shelburne offers the perfect fusion of history and outdoor adventures. Begin your journey at the one-of-a-kind Shelburne Museum, where you can explore over 150,000 treasures in 39 buildings. The 45-acre museum displays collections and artifacts from American folk art, impressionist paintings, decorative arts, maritime-related items, and more. Following this, immerse yourself in the scenic Shelburne Bay Park hiking area, which offers a recreation path for brisk walks, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing and provides top-notch views of Lake Champlain. Afterward, head over to Shelburne Farms, where you can experience immersive guided tours, including the Shelburne Farm Tours, House & Garden Tour at the Shelburne Farms Inn, and the Summer Forest Bathing: shinrin-yoku. The latter is ideal for those seeking a tranquil while enjoying a sensory-guided walk under the protection of the forest canopy.
Woodstock
Woodstock is home to the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, which is widely recognized as the progenitor and origin of the conservation movement. See the very same sugar maple trees that inspired the movement and trek the 20 miles of hiking trails. What’s more, the park is home to historic scenery, beautiful stone walls, and covered bridges. After your hike, explore the heart of Woodstock in the downtown area, where you can tour through pedestrian-friendly sidewalks and access a wide range of quaint shops and cafes offering an impressive selection of boutique items and hidden gems. Among many locally-owned businesses, The Yankee Bookshop is a notable standout that was awarded the month of August’s featured business of the month; it remains Vermont’s longest-running bookstore, having opened its doors 89 years ago, back in 1935, and offers a wide array of non-fiction and fiction books for readers of all ages. Finally, march up to Mount Tom Peak, where you will be rewarded with a calendar-worthy view of Woodstock from atop.
Middlebury
Middlebury is home to the esteemed Middlebury College, one of America’s oldest liberal arts colleges. The 223-year-old institution has immersed itself as an integral part of the town’s community, as reflected by Middlebury’s remarkably low median age of just 22.8 years. To get a feel of the scene, grab a cup of joe at one of many available cafes, including Little Seed Coffee Roasters located near Otter Creek river. And just a short three-minute walk away lies the Henry Sheldon Museum, where you can delve into their special exhibitions that include the likes of Patent Pending, Model Boats, and more. Finally, uncover the town’s prized gem at Otter View Park, where you can march on a 0.6-mile loop trail with a boardwalk and observe critical habitat areas that house birds and other wildlife. The park is ideal for hikers of all skill levels, including those who prefer leisurely walks amid the lush greenery.
Montpelier
This town holds the title of being the smallest capital state in the US. But don’t let its small size fool you! There are several things to love about Montpelier. For starters, it’s rare to find a chain store here—which helped Montpelier land a spot on USA Today’s 2021 list of best small towns for shopping. Additionally, it’s home to the acclaimed Vermont Historical Society Museum, which dates back to 1838. In addition to the usual exhibition museum feature, this one also has a library that offers access to 50,000+ cataloged books. If you’re feeling extra adventurous, unplug and recharge at the C.C. Putnam State Forest, located just 24.1 miles away from town. With over 13,633 acres to explore, C.C. Putnam offers outdoor lovers all the space they need to hike, cross-country ski, and observe wildlife. Moreover, this park is home to the famous Moss Glen Falls Natural Area, a scenic waterfall with a total plunge exceeding 100 feet—by far making it Vermont’s tallest.
Stowe
Stowe is renowned for its world-class ski resorts and outdoor recreational opportunities. Launch your journey at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum, a 36-year-old exhibit center that boasts a wide range of galleries and collections related to snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and alpine skiing. To get a real feel of the sport, though, head to Stowe Mountain Resort, where you can test your skills on 116 ski trails, with the highest elevation topping 3,625 feet. If you don’t know how to ski, don’t fret—there are beginner and intermediate terrains to practice and develop your skills. Beyond the exhilarating slopes, Stowe Mountain features several amenities to wander, including the cozy Cliff House Restaurant, Ice Skating at Spruce Peak Village, and the awe-inspiring Gondola SkyRide, which provides panoramic mountain views to remember for a lifetime.
Manchester
If you’re curious why Vermont is known as the Green Mountain State, look to Manchester to find the answer. The epic peaks here extend as far as the eye can see. Start your trip by exploring the Manchester Riverwalk, a charming and brief path that follows the stream and millpond, offering a peaceful escape. It’s well-kept and maintained, but more importantly, free of disturbances, providing a pleasant getaway from noises and busy crowds. After that, trek the North Meadow Farm, a small family-owned business where you can witness scenic views of the towering mountains nearby, in addition to meeting all the farm’s friendly animals, including cows, rabbits, goats, and fowls. Furthermore, take advantage of their esteemed store before you leave to feast on the freshest eggs, honey, and cheese curds available anywhere. Afterward, head over to Lye Brook Falls, a prominent trail in the Green Mountain National Forest, where you can experience Vermont’s untamed landscape, laden with lush trees, rivers, ponds, and more. The terrain is rocky, so it’s highly recommended to bring proper gear and hiking boots.
Burlington
Despite being Vermont’s largest city, Burlington boasts a population of just 43,000 residents, giving it a charming small-town vibe. The city sits on the shores of Lake Champlain and offers stunning views laden with waterfront parks, beaches, and relaxing boat cruises. Kickstart your journey on Church Street, a pedestrian-only avenue with over 60+ retail shops and 30+ restaurants, art galleries, street performers, and cart vendors. And just a short 8.1 miles away, Shelburne Museum is home to limited exhibitions and permanent displays, including the All Aboard exhibit from June 22 to October 20 this year, where visitors can learn about America’s fascinating train history amid the era of industrialization era from 1840 to 1955. There are over 100,000 collections in this museum to explore, ranging from fine arts to textiles, folk art, and more.
Newport
Newport sits on the shores of the picturesque Lake Memphremagog, a glacier lake extending into the Canadian province of Quebec. There are numerous ways to enjoy this lake, with swimming, kayaking, sailboating, and ice fishing in colder months topping the list. To stay the night, Prouty Beach offers 36 acres of land to camp out on with outstanding views of the waters. Next, explore the historic Downtown Newport, where you can shop at local stores offering premium outlets that sell attire, art, jewelry, and many other retail stores. And since Vermont flaunts the best outdoor spots, conclude your trip with the famous Newport Bike Path and Beebe Spur to North Derby, an easy path spanning several miles. The route takes around two hours and thirty minutes to complete and is also ideal for birdwatching and a fun way to unwind amid the breathtaking natural landscape.
In summary, these eight charming towns offer a wide range of experiences that cater to visitors of all stripes. The scenic mountain views, historic landmarks, and vibrant downtown areas all make the Green Mountain State the beautiful state so many flock to see. Whether you aim to explore the serene woodlands of Woodstock or the charming small-town vibe of Burlington, each city will leave you with a memorable moment to cherish and reflect on in its own special way.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.
Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.
Here’s a look at May 13, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from May 13 drawing
22-31-52-56-67, Powerball: 15, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Gimme 5 numbers from May 13 drawing
07-09-16-24-30
Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 13 drawing
Day: 1-9-6
Evening: 3-5-0
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 13 drawing
Day: 1-5-2-5
Evening: 8-6-5-1
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Megabucks Plus numbers from May 13 drawing
06-13-24-35-41, Megaball: 01
Check Megabucks Plus payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 13 drawing
21-24-29-42-49, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.
All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.
Vermont Lottery Headquarters
1311 US Route 302, Suite 100
Barre, VT
05641
When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?
Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.
Matthew Minich has pulled his fair share of all-nighters at the Saint Michael’s College Fire and Rescue station, where he’s been a volunteer firefighter for the past couple of years.
“Hopefully you get some time off during your shift where you can work on school work and get that stuff done,” he said, wrapping up a 12-hour shift the week before finals.
On a recent evening, he gave a tour of the station just across the street from the campus in Colchester, Vermont.
“It’s not a traditional classroom, but there is definitely a lot of learning going on here,” he said, pausing for a beat before adding: “Most of the time.”
Asked what’s going on the rest of the time, he laughed. “Shenanigans,” he said.
Between the shenanigans and responding to dozens of local emergency calls each year, the junior from Scituate is studying business administration. But next fall, when Saint Michael’s launches a new emergency services major, he plans to add it as a second field of study.
“I’ve fallen in love with this now,” said Minich, who was recently elected captain of the rescue unit. “I’ve decided that I want to do this for my career.”
The new program reflects the increasingly urgent choices facing small colleges across the country, where enrollment offices are often on fire as the number of traditional college-age students shrinks. It’s a long-predicted demographic cliff driven by falling birthrates after the 2008 recession, and many tuition-dependent schools are scrambling to survive as a result. Saint Michael’s is betting that career-focused programs such as emergency services, finance and nutrition, along with lower tuition and hands-on training, can help extinguish years of enrollment declines while preserving its liberal arts identity.
This all comes as American higher education becomes a winner-take-all market. Selective private colleges and flagship state universities continue to attract students and their tuition dollars while many smaller schools struggle to compete.
Saint Michael’s, founded 122 years ago in 1904, is among them.
Enrollment at the Catholic liberal arts college has fallen nearly 50% over the past decade. Net tuition revenue has dropped from about $70 million to roughly $40 million. More than 80% of applicants are admitted, and few pay full tuition.
So administrators are making sweeping changes. The college recently consolidated 20 academic departments into four interdisciplinary schools.
“We don’t have an English department anymore,” said Saint Michael’s president Richard Plumb matter-of-factly, sitting in his office wearing a flannel shirt.
Kirk Carapezza
GBH News
Plumb said the college is confronting the same demographic pressures reshaping campuses nationwide. That pressure is keen in Vermont, a state that consistently has one of the nation’s lowest birthrates.
“There will be fewer students going to college,” Plumb said plainly.
To compete for those students still choosing higher education, Saint Michael’s is now matching in-state tuition rates at flagship public universities in students’ home states.
“The vast majority of our students who we admit and don’t matriculate here go to large flagship schools,” Plumb said. “Fine. We’ll charge the same tuition.”
The strategy reflects how dramatically the market has shifted for smaller colleges. Deep tuition discounts, program cuts and department mergers are increasingly common as schools compete for a shrinking pool of students.
And it’s not just small colleges. Syracuse University announced in April that it would close 93 of its 460 academic programs, including 55 with no enrolled majors. The University of North Texas in Denton also plans to cut or consolidate more than 70 programs.
“Cutting programs that are under-enrolled or add little value is mission-critical, frankly,” said Michael Horn, co-founder of the Clayton Christenson Institute, which has long predicted widespread college closures and mergers based on demographic projections. “You basically have these zombie programs – one, two, three students, maybe. And part of the reason a lot of these schools keep it up is they feel like, ‘Oh, every university needs an English program, needs a Spanish program, needs these things that we associate with quote unquote ‘a normal college.’”
Looking ahead, Horn said, more colleges will be forced to confront whether there’s real demand for what they offer – both from students on campus and from the broader job market.
“This is the consolidation phase,” said Gary Stocker, a former administrator at Westminster College in Missouri and founder of College Viability, a company that tracks the financial health of higher education institutions and then makes it available to the public.
“There are way too many colleges, both public and private, and not enough students willing to pay even heavily discounted tuition,” he said.
Stocker is skeptical that adding programs like emergency services will be enough to offset broader financial pressures and enrollment headwinds.
“What are the colleges in the region going to do when they see St. Michael’s has a successful EMT program?” he asked. “They’re going to do one too.”
Federal data show that a decade ago, only about a dozen colleges offered crisis, emergency or disaster management programs. Today, more than 75 do.
Robert Kelchen, who studies higher education policy at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said career-oriented programs can attract students but they can also be expensive to operate.
“Giving people hands-on emergency training is not cheap,” he said. “If it brings in 20 students, is that enough to really make a difference on the budget?”
Saint Michael’s leaders believe it can.
The campus rescue station was created in 1969 after the death of a student exposed gaps in local emergency medical services. The unit has long been student-run and supported by nearby communities. An alumni donor recently provided funding to help launch the new academic program.
Provost Gretchen Galbraith hopes the emergency services major will initially attract 15 to 20 students this fall and eventually generate enough revenue to support other parts of the college.
From her office window, Galbraith looks out onto a campus garden filled with stones engraved with nouns, verbs and adjectives.
She says the school is trying to answer a broader question increasingly posed by students and their tuition-paying parents: What is a liberal arts education worth in the age of artificial intelligence?
“I understand AI can make music and paintings, but they can’t make art,” Galbraith said. “Or word gardens.”
“Yes, you can write a perfectly decent and boring essay with AI,” she added. “But if you can find your own voice, that is so powerful.”
Faculty members worry the growing skepticism toward liberal arts signals a broader cultural shift away from deep and complex thinking.
“I think that’s the most frustrating thing to me,” said history professor Jen Purcell, who will begin teaching a medieval history course this fall after a longtime faculty member retired and was not replaced.
“If I had another life to live,” she said with a laugh, “I’d have been a medievalist.”
Kirk Carapezza
GBH News
For now, Matthew Minich is still writing papers, finding his voice and balancing overnight rescue shifts with his classes. He believes the emergency services major could attract his peers who might otherwise skip college altogether, or else choose a larger university.
“They want to go to football games and they want to have frats and have a good time with 30,000, 100,000 other people,” he said. “I wanted to do that too.”
But Minich says he chose a much smaller school environment in northern Vermont where professors know him personally — and where the fire and rescue station gives him something many colleges now promise prospective students: practical, hand-on experience tied directly to a career.
And, of course, there are the shenanigans, too.
Powerball, Mega Millions jackpots: What to know in case you win
Here’s what to know in case you win the Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Vermont Lottery offers several draw games for those willing to make a bet to win big.
Those who want to play can enter the MegaBucks and Lucky for Life games as well as the national Powerball and Mega Millions games. Vermont also partners with New Hampshire and Maine for the Tri-State Lottery, which includes the Mega Bucks, Gimme 5 as well as the Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Drawings are held at regular days and times, check the end of this story to see the schedule.
Here’s a look at May 12, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Vermont Mega Millions numbers from May 12 drawing
17-32-35-40-47, Mega Ball: 17
Check Vermont Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Gimme 5 numbers from May 12 drawing
11-18-32-33-39
Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 12 drawing
Day: 3-0-9
Evening: 6-6-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 12 drawing
Day: 8-1-6-1
Evening: 1-4-7-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from May 12 drawing
19-21-35-38-53, Bonus: 01
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
For Vermont Lottery prizes up to $499, winners can claim their prize at any authorized Vermont Lottery retailer or at the Vermont Lottery Headquarters by presenting the signed winning ticket for validation. Prizes between $500 and $5,000 can be claimed at any M&T Bank location in Vermont during the Vermont Lottery Office’s business hours, which are 8a.m.-4p.m. Monday through Friday, except state holidays.
For prizes over $5,000, claims must be made in person at the Vermont Lottery headquarters. In addition to signing your ticket, you will need to bring a government-issued photo ID, and a completed claim form.
All prize claims must be submitted within one year of the drawing date. For more information on prize claims or to download a Vermont Lottery Claim Form, visit the Vermont Lottery’s FAQ page or contact their customer service line at (802) 479-5686.
Vermont Lottery Headquarters
1311 US Route 302, Suite 100
Barre, VT
05641
When are the Vermont Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
- Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Day: 1:10 p.m. daily.
- Pick 3 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Pick 4 Evening: 6:55 p.m. daily.
- Megabucks: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 11:15 p.m. daily
What is Vermont Lottery Second Chance?
Vermont’s 2nd Chance lottery lets players enter eligible non-winning instant scratch tickets into a drawing to win cash and/or other prizes. Players must register through the state’s official Lottery website or app. The drawings are held quarterly or are part of an additional promotion, and are done at Pollard Banknote Limited in Winnipeg, MB, Canada.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Vermont editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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