Vermont
10 Of The Most Captivating Small Towns In Vermont
Vermont’s small towns celebrate everything that makes this state so unique: scenic beauty, rich history, and a deep sense of community. From charming villages in the mountains to lakeside gems and historic havens, these towns invite visitors to slow down, soak in their character, and discover hidden treasures. Whether you’re drawn to the rustic landscapes, vibrant arts scenes, or the warmth of local traditions, Vermont’s small towns offer the perfect opportunity to experience the Green Mountain State at its finest.
Stowe
Aerial view of Stowe, Vermont with mountains and colorful fall trees.
Stowe is Vermont’s exemplary small town in the Green Mountains, with stunning views of Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak. Known for its year-round appeal, Stowe is one of the most popular destinations in Vermont, attracting visitors for outdoor adventures like skiing and snowboarding in winter at the renowned Stowe Mountain Resort.
In the warmer months, hiking enthusiasts flock to trails such as the Stowe Pinnacle Trail, a challenging hike with rewarding views at the summit, and the Mount Mansfield Ridge Trail, which takes you along the longest and highest ridge in Vermont. Fall brings another wave of visitors for fall foliage as the town’s dense forests turn into a vibrant display of red, orange, and yellow leaves.
Popular spots in town include The Green Cup Café, known for its cozy atmosphere and fresh, locally sourced meals, and Stowe Mercantile, a quaint general store selling local goods, handmade Vermont crafts, and specialty foods. For a true taste of the area, head to The Trapp Family Lodge, where visitors can explore the beautiful grounds and enjoy a traditional Austrian meal at the lodge’s restaurant—owned by the von Trapp family of The Sound of Music fame.
Woodstock
Early autumn foliage with houses in the mountains of Woodstock, Vermont.
Woodstock is one of Vermont’s most scenic towns, known for its iconic landmarks like the Middle Covered Bridge and Taftsville Covered Bridge, which add timeless charm to the landscape.
At the heart of Woodstock is the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, a tribute to Vermont’s conservation legacy. Visitors can tour the historic mansion, stroll through gardens, and explore scenic hiking trails. For art lovers, the Gallery on the Green and Collective—The Art of Craft are must-visit spots that showcase works by talented regional artists. Woodstock also hosts annual cultural events, such as the Woodstock Film Series and art shows, which draw visitors year-round.
Woodstock’s culinary scene is equally vibrant. A local favorite is the farm-to-table restaurant The Prince & The Pauper, renowned for its seasonal Vermont-inspired dishes.
Manchester
Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home in Manchester, Vermont. Editorial credit: Theresa Lauria / Shutterstock.com
Set against the majestic Green Mountains, Manchester boasts a quaint village center and an appealing blend of history, nature, and refined shopping experiences. A major historical landmark is Hildene, the grand estate of Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s son. Visitors to Hildene can tour the elegant mansion, explore its breathtaking formal gardens, and enjoy sweeping views of the Green Mountains from the property.
For outdoor enthusiasts, The Equinox Preservation Trust has the popular Equinox Mountain Trail, a challenging hike to the summit of Equinox Mountain, where panoramic views of the valleys and peaks await. Manchester’s proximity to the Battenkill River makes it a top destination for fly fishing, while Lye Brook Falls Trail and Prospect Rock Trail include scenic hiking opportunities through Vermont’s lush landscapes.
The village center is an inviting area to explore, with upscale shopping at the Manchester Designer Outlets and local art at Tilting at Windmills Gallery, showcasing works by regional and national artists. Food lovers will find a treat at The Silver Fork, a local restaurant known for its fusion of global flavors and fresh Vermont ingredients, and Mistral’s at Toll Gate, which is a delightful dining experience along the Battenkill River.
Middlebury
Middlebury is set in Vermont’s scenic western region and has a mixture of history, culture, and nature, making it a captivating town to visit. Middlebury College enhances the town’s arts and culture scene, drawing visitors to the Mahaney Arts Center. For a touch of local history, the Vermont Folklife Center has exhibits and workshops that celebrate and preserve the region’s cultural traditions. Another historical landmark is the beautiful Middlebury Congregational Church. Visitors can also take in the picturesque Middlebury Falls, Otter Creek, and the Battell Bridge, which overlooks the rushing waters.
Middlebury also serves as a gateway to the scenic shores of Lake Champlain. Button Bay State Park has hiking trails, lakefront walks, and swimming, while the lake itself is popular for kayaking and fishing.
Middlebury’s food scene is deeply rooted in Vermont’s agricultural heritage. The Storm Café, located along the river, and American Flatbread Middlebury Hearth, known for its wood-fired pizzas made with local ingredients, are standout spots for farm-to-table dining. Middlebury also hosts a vibrant farmers’ market that showcases fresh local produce, artisan cheeses, and Vermont specialties.
Montpelier
Skyline of Montpelier, Vermont in autumn.
As the state capital, Montpelier is a small town with a big personality. Despite being the seat of government, Montpelier has managed to retain its small-town feel, with a population of just over 8,000 people. The town is known for its stunning neoclassical Vermont State House, where visitors can take a guided tour and learn about the state’s history and government.
Capitol Grounds Café serves freshly roasted coffee and baked goods in a welcoming setting for a cozy coffee break, while Three Penny Taproom is a popular spot for sampling Vermont’s famed craft beer. Notable shops include The Drawing Board, a beloved local art supply store that doubles as a gallery for local artwork, and Buch Spieler Records. The town also hosts numerous festivals annually, including the Montpelier Farmers Market, which brings together local farmers, artisans, and food vendors to celebrate Vermont’s agricultural bounty.
For outdoor lovers, the town’s proximity to the Winooski River means opportunities for kayaking, while nearby hiking trails like North Branch River Park Trail and East Montpelier Trail provide stunning views of the surrounding hills and valleys.
Waitsfield
Aerial view of Waitsfield, Vermont and the Mad River on Scenic Route 100 in autumn.
Located in the Mad River Valley, Waitsfield is a quintessential Vermont town known for its relaxed pace of life and stunning natural surroundings. The nearby Mad River is perfect for a variety of outdoor activities, including kayaking, tubing, and fishing, while the surrounding mountains provide excellent hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing opportunities, with popular trails like Sunset Ledge Trail.
The nearby Sugarbush Resort has world-class skiing and snowboarding in winter, and its scenic chairlift rides provide incredible views of the valley in the warmer months. Waitsfield is also home to numerous festivals, including the Mad River Valley Bluegrass Festival, which celebrates Vermont’s music and community spirit.
Brattleboro
Spring aerial view of Brattleboro, Vermont. Editorial credit: SEALANDSKYPHOTO / Shutterstock.com
Brattleboro is a dynamic, artsy town that is always buzzing with creativity. Its location along the Connecticut River provides a beautiful setting, and the town’s vibrant arts scene is one of its defining features. Brattleboro has numerous galleries, theaters, and music venues, making it a hub for Vermont’s artistic community. Notable spots include the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center, which hosts contemporary art exhibits; Latchis Theatre, an Art Deco-style venue that hosts films and live performances; and Stone Church, a popular music venue housed in a beautifully repurposed historic building.
The town also hosts events like the Brattleboro Literary Festival, which draws visitors from all over to celebrate the written word, and the Brattleboro Farmers Market, where local vendors showcase Vermont’s finest produce and artisan goods. Brattleboro’s historic district, with its mix of antique shops and eclectic cafes, has plenty to explore. The town also has several beautiful parks and walking trails, including the Retreat Farm and the nearby Putney Mountain for scenic hikes.
Jeffersonville
Grist Mill Covered Bridge surrounded by fall foliage in Cambridge, Vermont.
A small town that packs a big punch, Jeffersonville is a hidden gem in northern Vermont. In the Green Mountains, this picturesque town provides easy access to Smugglers’ Notch State Park, where visitors can enjoy scenic trails like Sterling Pond Trail for hiking, as well as skiing and wildlife spotting. White-tailed deer and red foxes are common, while black bears can sometimes be seen in the park’s more remote areas. Birdwatchers may spot species like the peregrine falcon, pileated woodpecker, and various types of hawks.
Jeffersonville’s downtown brims with small-town appeal, featuring local businesses like The Farm Store, which specializes in Vermont-made goods, and Mootsies Bakery, known for its delicious pastries and fresh bread. Nearby Smugglers’ Notch Resort has family-friendly skiing experiences with fewer crowds than larger resorts, making it ideal for a relaxed getaway.
Hardwick
North Main Street in Hardwick, Vermont. By Vertexn, Wikimedia Commons
Hardwick is a town that exemplifies Vermont’s agricultural heart. It’s known for its thriving local food scene, with farms providing fresh produce, meats, and artisanal goods that are celebrated at the Hardwick Farmers Market. The town is home to the High Mowing Organic Seeds farm, one of the largest organic seed companies in the country, and the neighboring Cellars at Jasper Hill, which produces world-renowned artisanal cheeses.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Hardwick is surrounded by lush, accessible landscapes perfect for all-season adventure. Nearby Lake Elmore is a local favorite. Its pristine waters are ideal for fishing, kayaking, and swimming in the summer months, and trails like the Elmore Mountain Trail lead to the summit for sweeping views of the Vermont countryside. In winter, the area around the Craftsbury Outdoor Center provides opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and even ice fishing.
Hardwick’s strong sense of community is evident in its local events, including the annual Hardwick Fall Festival, which brings together food, music, and crafts to celebrate the region’s agricultural roots.
Shelburne
Beautiful property off Shelburne Road in Shelburne, Vermont. Editorial credit: John Arehart / Shutterstock.com
Shelburne is a beautiful town located on the shores of Lake Champlain and has some of the most scenic views in Vermont. The town is home to the renowned Shelburne Museum, an expansive 45-acre property featuring a collection of over 150,000 pieces of American art and artifacts—including a restored 220-foot steamboat “Ticonderoga.” Just down the road, Shelburne Farms, a 1,400-acre working farm, and nonprofit environmental education center, sits on a beautiful lakeside property where visitors can explore the grounds via the Farm Trail or Lone Tree Hill Trail, both with peaceful walks through meadows, woodlands, and gardens.
Shelburne’s waterfront is a hub for outdoor activities. Shelburne Bay Park has hiking trails with sweeping lake views and access to kayaking and paddleboarding. Views of the distant Adirondack Mountains add a stunning backdrop for boating and picnicking.
You’ll find a mix of beloved local spots in the town’s quaint village center. Stop by the rustic-farmhouse-style Village Wine and Coffee for a morning espresso, or enjoy brunch at Rustic Roots. The Bearded Frog serves creative New American cuisine for dinner, and Folino’s Wood-Fired Pizza provides casual dining with locally sourced toppings and a brewery next door.
Discover Vermont’s Hidden Gems
Vermont’s small towns are rich in character and charm, each with its own unique appeal. From stunning landscapes to historic landmarks and tight-knit communities, these towns glimpse the heart of Vermont. Whether you’re drawn to the beauty of the mountains, the tranquility of lakesides, or the warmth of local traditions, Vermont’s small towns promise an unforgettable experience for any visitor. So take the time to explore these gems and discover the essence of Vermont at its most captivating.
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 July 16, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Gimme 5 numbers from July 16 drawing
08-10-35-36-37
Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 16 drawing
Day: 4-3-2
Evening: 3-4-4
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from July 16 drawing
Day: 5-7-1-5
Evening: 6-6-9-0
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 16 drawing
09-21-29-52-57, Bonus: 05
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.
Sam Gabriels and Chrissy Bellmeyer were no strangers to living small. Before they met, Bellmeyer designed and lived in a tiny house on wheels and Gabriels spent four years living out of a van, looping the country to organize pop-up farm-to-table dinners alongside Michelin-starred chefs. So, when the couple bought a half-acre lot in Waitsfield, Vermont’s Mad River Valley in a development called the Waitsfield Ten, where neighbors help each other build, 800 square feet didn’t feel like a constraint.
Architectural designer and builder Andy White of Boreal Design started by creating a simple, 20-by-20-foot box that was drywalled, then painted, in a weekend. Inside it, White built the living spaces as independent, self-supporting platforms arranged at staggered heights. He describes the plan as a counter-clockwise spiral: Down one step from the entry into the living room, up two into the kitchen, up one more into the dining room.
The level variations define each space. “If built traditionally with two floor plates and 9-foot ceilings, the house would feel claustrophobic,” White says. “Here, you experience the full interior volume, with long sightlines from corner to corner.”
Without walls dividing the public spaces, rooms morph to fit current needs and individual elements do double or triple duty. For example, the open cubbies that store Gabriels’s vinyl collection are also perches for overflow dinner party guests in the dining room and extra seating in the living room. Initially, White worried — unnecessarily — that the living room was too small and lacked a wall for a television. The couple got a projector and screen, and noted that the deck expands the experience. The mechanicals and storage are under the floors.
Upstairs, the 8-by-12-foot space in front of the primary bedroom is both a closet/dressing area and mini lounge. In the morning, guests might wander over from the second bedroom to chat; during parties, it’s another spot to hang out. “We’re very open people, so it works for us,” Gabriels says. If things change, the couple could add standard-size French doors to hide their bed. The second bedroom, which already has a pocket door for privacy, could absorb the office nook beside it to become a larger bedroom.
The materials palette celebrates what’s commonly available: nothing is precious, everything is considered. Walls and ceilings throughout are CDX fir plywood — construction-grade sheathing that is normally hidden behind drywall. Structural fir posts, usually buried, are left exposed. The couple planed, sanded, and stained the posts and sanded all the plywood, removing lumberyard stamps. In place of galvanized joist hangers, White used inexpensive angle steel, spray-painted black. Running the length of the staircase and bracketing the bedroom thresholds, it’s the home’s signature accent. It matches the exterior siding — corrugated metal that is distinctive, inexpensive, easy to install, and low-maintenance.
Sustainability was non-negotiable. Fourteen-inch-thick, cellulose-filled walls push the dwelling past passive-house standards for insulation and airtightness. They also leave deep window sills that double as seating, plant shelves, and such. The utility bill for the all-electric home averages just over $100 per month (excluding internet).
Decor-wise, color does the talking. The bright yellow kitchen and pink-tiled bath are odes to homes that Gabriels admired in New Mexico, Oregon, and California. “We took a Pacifico beer bottle cap to Home Depot to find the right canary yellow for the kitchen cabinets,” Bellmeyer says.
White says his construction methods make it easy to add onto the home, although the couple has no plans to do so. Rather, they hope to build an ADU to offer housing to others in the community. “This is a mid-income development, making it cheaper than the median house price but not attainable for everyone,” Bellmeyer says.
Meanwhile, they’re grateful for White’s unconventional approach, fulfilling their wish list within the square footage their budget allowed.
White deflects the praise back onto the couple. “The home wouldn’t have come together the way that it did for anyone else; it’s very much theirs,” he says. “Chrissy and Sam’s vision, willingness to take risks and reimagine typical rooms, informed the design more than any specific space-saving or building strategy.”
Architectural designer and builder: Boreal Design, borealdesignvt.com
Cabinetmaker: Han Hewn, hanhewn.com
Marni Elyse Katz is a contributing editor to the Globe Magazine. Follow her on Instagram @StyleCarrot. Send comments to magazine@globe.com.
Vermont
Ben & Jerry’s Foundation says it will shut down amid legal dispute with parent company – VTDigger
The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation says it will shut down at the end of the year after its corporate parent cut off funding and evicted its three staffers Wednesday. The move leaves $600,000 a year in grants to Vermont organizations, and 40 years of the ice cream brand’s progressive mission, hanging on a judge’s future ruling.
“This is the other foot dropping in terms of the way Magnum is trying to destroy the social values of Ben & Jerry’s,” said Ben Cohen, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, in an interview Wednesday.
The Vermont-based iconic ice cream brand has been in a legal fight with its parent company, The Magnum Ice Cream Co. — an ice-cream spinoff of the larger corporation Unilever — since November 2024. Ben & Jerry’s alleges that the corporation overreached its control, pushing out the CEO and interfering with the brand’s political views. The question before a judge is whether the corporate parent had the authority to reshape governance and withhold funding from the foundation.
Amid the push-and-pull over governance, Unilever audited the foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of Ben & Jerry’s, in April 2025, finding conflicts of interest and a lack of governance and financial control.
Liz Bankowski, president of the foundation’s board of trustees, said in an interview that Unilever withheld the philanthropy’s funding late last year and ordered foundation staff to vacate its corporate office in South Burlington by July 15 because of governance issues the audit raised. This led the foundation’s leaders to join the ongoing lawsuit, fought by the ice cream brand’s independent board, in an effort to retain funding. The lawsuit is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
While the foundation’s leadership is framing the decision to cease operations as the only option after Unilever withheld funding, an unnamed spokesperson for Magnum wrote in a statement to VTDigger that the shuttering is “entirely down to the Trustees and their decision to ignore the findings of an independent audit and failure to put in place basic good governance; much to our dismay.”
Since the audit, the foundation has adopted a conflict of interest policy, but “the bottom line was that unless we changed our board, they were going to continue to withhold funding,” Bankowski said.
Cohen described the audit as “a bunch of trumped-up charges.”
“The foundation has been independently audited every year,” he said. “I think that Magnum was searching in vain for some illegal or unethical activities. I think they found none.”
Since Ben & Jerry’s sold the ice cream business to Unilever in 2000, the corporation has given $60 million to the foundation. The philanthropic arm has operated for 40 years, supporting the ice cream brand’s progressive mission by offering financial backing to social justice organizations across the country. The foundation does not have an endowment and is reliant on the funding its parent company gives annually, outlined in its merger contract.
A chunk of that funding, $600,000 a year, goes to Vermont organizations such as the immigrant farmworker rights organization Migrant Justice and the LGBTQ+ nonprofit Outright Vermont, according to foundation leaders.
“We fill a particular niche that not a lot of other funders fill,” said Rebecca Golden, the foundation’s director of programs, who has worked at the organization for 34 years.
Golden is one of three foundation staffers whose last day in the physical office is Wednesday, following orders from Magnum to vacate. Although Magnum did not directly address its vacate order in its statement to VTDigger, the spokesperson wrote that the foundation’s leaders recently “took the position that its staff are not Ben & Jerry’s employees, despite utilising Ben & Jerry’s offices and systems.”
Golden described the possible shutdown as an “enormous loss” that will not only affect the organizations that the foundation supports but also Ben & Jerry’s employees who “feel very proud of being a part of the foundation.”
“It’s been a really long year, so there’s been a lot of emotions — the whole gamut, as we like to say of the seven stages of grief. But I think at this point we’re sort of in the acceptance phase,” she said.
The Magnum spokesperson indicated that the work of the foundation will continue even if its leaders decide to cease operations at the end of the year, writing that the company is “firmly committed to funding a grant-giving foundation, supported by appropriate governance controls to ensure it is living by its values.”
But Cohen is not confident that Magnum will uphold the values of the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in the corporation’s continued philanthropic efforts.
“What are they going to fund? I have no idea. My guess is that they would not be looking to fund entities that are opposed to the status quo,” Cohen said.
The foundation’s leaders have pointed to its support of Migrant Justice during a period when the farmworker organization was considering a boycott of Ben & Jerry’s as an example of their commitment to social justice. After immigrant farmworkers raised concerns about working conditions at farms supplying Ben & Jerry’s, the company joined a program that collaborates with farmworkers to strive for fair working conditions.
Political activism has been central to the Ben & Jerry’s brand since its founding. As a part of the ongoing lawsuit, Ben & Jerry’s alleged in a May filing that Magnum has been undercutting its social justice mission in order to “censor, intimidate and purge” the company’s independent board, which Cohen said was created to defend its progressive values.
Three of the board’s members, including one who has been an outspoken critic of Israel, were removed late last year after the parent corporation introduced a new set of governance practices. In its motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Magnum argues that it retains ultimate authority and the brand’s social mission must be nonpartisan.
As the lawsuit awaits a decision, Cohen, who is not a part of the suit, has created a campaign to “free Ben & Jerry’s,” amassing around 160,000 signers for its petition demanding that Magnum sell Ben & Jerry’s to a “group of values-aligned investors.”
“The very values-led business model that built Ben & Jerry’s into this amazing, phenomenal brand is the very thing that Magnum is currently destroying,” Cohen said.
-
Los Angeles, Ca1 hour agoLADWP begins long-term repairs after West Hollywood water main rupture
-
Detroit, MI2 hours agoLivestream: Mayor Sheffield, Detroit health chief to address wildfire smoke threat
-
San Francisco, CA2 hours agoA sculpture of a giant naked woman goes on sale in San Francisco. Bring a crane
-
Dallas, TX2 hours agoNo ‘straight answer’: Why Pioneer Cemetery is the latest battleground at City Hall
-
Miami, FL2 hours agoTSA hosts news conference ahead of World Cup third place match at Miami Stadium
-
Boston, MA2 hours agoICE Boston arrests Barbados national during targeted operations in Attleboro
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoDenver Broncos training camp is 2 weeks away
-
San Diego, CA3 hours agoDaily Business Report: July 17, 2026, San Diego Metro Magazine
