Vermont
7 Best Downtowns In Vermont
Vermont is famous for many reasons. Between 19th-century covered bridges steeped in history, gorgeous mountainous backdrops, and being the top maple syrup producer in the US, there are plenty of reasons to fall in love with The Green Mountain State. With their incredible scenery, architectural gems, and mouthwatering delicacies, these towns have extraordinary centers to explore. Whether you start with the historic art spaces of Brattleboro or the tale-ridden landmarks of Stowe, discover the best downtowns in Vermont.
Burlington
Not only is Burlington, also referred to as “The Queen City,” a wonderful winter sports destination surrounded by five ski areas—but the beautiful city also has a charming downtown area with pedestrian-only streets and quaint boutiques that will capture your heart.
Church Street Marketplace, a bustling open-air mall known for its historic architecture, has over 100 shops and restaurants. You will also find incredible local breweries, year-round festivals, music performances, and street entertainers here. Sip on a warm latte from a local cafe as you make your way from shop to shop, wandering through the captivating cobblestone streets covered in lights.
From there, head west to Waterfront Park. You can see breathtaking views of Lake Champlain—named after French Explorer Samuel de Champlain in 1609, and New York’s Adirondack Mountains in the back. Pay a visit to ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, a nature and science museum with over 100 interactive exhibits and 70 species where you can learn more about the lake.
Stowe
Home to the iconic Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe is not only known as the “Ski Capital of the East “ but also has a picturesque, walkable downtown area explorable by foot. With quaint streets surrounding the foot of Mount Mansfield—the tallest mountain in Vermont, sitting at a peak of 1,339 metres, this New England village is particularly charming with its 19th-century buildings.
Capture some captivating photos of the Stowe Community Church, one of the oldest non-denominational churches in the US, founded in 1863. Enjoy a rich cup of gourmet hot chocolate as you indulge in premium truffles and shop for mouthwatering gifts at Lake Champlain Chocolates.
Discover how vibrant flower boxes perfectly line Main Street in the summer, or see how the white lights illuminate the winter path. If you head further east, you can visit the legendary Gold Brook Covered Bridge, constructed in 1844. This landmark is also known as “Emily’s Bridge” and has become famous for its reported supernatural sightings following the tale of a young woman’s ghost.
Brattleboro
From Greek Revival to Victorian and Modernist buildings, Brattleboro has a fascinating mix of architectural styles. It is no surprise the Brattleboro Downtown Historic District, located by the Connecticut River, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
This beautiful town features unique landmarks like the Brattleboro Museum & Art Center. Founded in 1972, the contemporary art museum was opened in the 1915-built Union Station and is the perfect place to see how Brattleboro perfectly combines its preserved history with a thriving arts scene. For a unique sensory experience, book a ticket to a concert in The Stone Church. This 140-year-old Victorian Gothic Church was transformed into a live music venue in 2017, hosting international artists while preserving its original character.
Explore the galleries, cafes, restaurants, and museums as you meander from shop to shop. Choose from a rich collection of books by progressive, original authors in Everyone’s Books. Plus, since Vermont is recognized for its award-winning cheese, stop by the community-owned Brattleboro Food Co-op to taste and pick up some delicious locally-made varieties.
Newport
On the southern shores of Lake Memphremagog lies Newport, the northernmost city in Vermont. This fascinating outdoor adventure destination also has a charming small-town vibe with an activity-packed downtown area.
See the stunning lake from Newport City Dock, the perfect place for a picnic, jog, or stroll. You can also rent a bike and cycle along the lake’s shores, exploring one of the Rail Trails—transportation corridors that connect the state’s towns with landscapes—up to the Quebec-Vermont border.
Discover the Goodrich Memorial Library, the largest public library in Orleans County and a historic site that opened in 1899. The Haskell Free Library & Opera House is another unique attraction—a library spanning two countries! You can find French and English material across the Canada-US border, separated by a black line made from tape.
Manchester
If you head further southwest, you will find Manchester. Nestled within the Green Mountains, at the foothills of Mount Equinox, this quaint town is not only known for its immense natural beauty, but also for its rich history and famed cultural attractions.
See the extraordinary exhibits at Hildene The Lincoln Family Home, built by Robert (the only son of former US President Abraham Lincoln) and his wife Mary in 1905. Head on a blast into the past as you explore the family home of the Lincolns, with its famous pipe organ, iconic Pullman car, incredible goat farm, and breathtaking gardens.
Dive into the history of pinball at the Pastime Pinball Museum arcade, where you will find 66 machines dating from the 1950s to today. Soak up the beauty of the town as you venture through the Manchester Designer Outlets, an outdoor mall known for its eateries, New England-style buildings, and brand-name items. Enjoy a scenic drive west to the Southern Vermont Arts Center, featuring art from both US and international artists across a diverse range of exhibits.
Montpelier
Dubbed the smallest capital city in the US with a population of roughly 8,000 people, Montpelier may be one of the most underrated destinations in America. This gorgeous green city has natural attractions like Hubbard Park, home to seven miles of scenic trails and a 54-foot stone observation tower, in addition to its notable historic buildings.
After nearly 160 years, the Vermont State House is one of America’s oldest state capitols. This Greek Revival site, with its legendary gold dome, is an architectural gem housing significant pieces of state art. Make sure you visit the legislative chambers and see the Governor’s Office here.
The Vermont History Museum holds interactive exhibits to teach visitors about the state’s past. Head on a fascinating journey from the 1600s to present-day Vermont with the Freedom and Unity: One Ideal, Many Stories exhibit, amongst others. From there, head slightly north to visit Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks. You can try some of the finest maple products in the US and learn about the heritage of Vermont sugar-making on a family farm.
Middlebury
Every traveler is bound to fall in love with Middlebury. Between the gorgeous backdrops of the Green and Adirondack Mountains, the stunning views of the 18-foot Middlebury Falls from Otter Creek Bridge, and the lovely 18-mile TAM (Trail Around Middlebury) path surrounding the village, nature fanatics will have plenty to see.
Creatives will be happy to hear that the Middlebury College Museum of Art strives to create an inclusive environment with diversity in its collections. Six to eight temporary exhibits are offered per year in addition to their permanent artwork. See a variety of arts in the Edgewater Gallery, where you will find jewelry, photography, sculptures, paintings, and mixed media.
The Henry Sheldon Museum opened in 1884, is also filled with paintings, documents, household objects, furniture, and artifacts to give you a glimpse into Addison County and Vermont’s past. From there, shop until you drop as you venture through Mill Street, passing by Stone Mill Public Market with its gifts, home goods, drinks, snacks, and more.
Explore The Best Downtowns in Vermont
History buffs, nature fanatics, creatives, foodies, and shopaholics are bound to fall in love with The Green Mountain State. Between the interactive exhibits and legendary landmarks of Montpelier, the mountainous backdrops and tranquil trails of Middlebury, and the boutique shops and renowned eateries of Burlington, there is no shortage of adventures. Now is the time to get your journey started and start exploring one of the best downtowns in Vermont.
Vermont’s small towns deliver postcard scenery in every season, and you don’t have to travel far to find one. Stowe has gondola rides at Stowe Mountain Resort and paddleboarding at the Waterbury Reservoir. Montpelier, the state capital, fits a statehouse, a walkable downtown, and a hilltop park into a population of just over 8,000. Richmond anchors the Winooski River valley around an unusual 16-sided church. Seven towns stand out as Vermont’s prettiest.
Bennington
Often cited as the first town chartered in what became Vermont (1749), Bennington pairs a red-brick downtown with the hills of the Green Mountain region in southern Vermont. Streets fan out from the Bennington Battle Monument, a 306-foot stone obelisk that marks a pivotal Revolutionary War engagement. Covered bridges and Victorian architecture like the Park-McCullough House give the town visual range across the year. Bennington is best known for its autumn colors, but winter brings snow-dusted pines and a quieter version of the same scenery.
Montpelier
Montpelier is Vermont’s capital but also the least populous state capital in the country, with just over 8,000 residents. That scale is the point. The Greek Revival State House sits at the edge of a compact downtown of locally owned businesses, and Hubbard Park climbs the hill behind the capitol with trails for hiking and cross-country skiing. Montpelier is also the only U.S. state capital without a McDonald’s. The Winooski River runs through town, and you can walk from a statehouse tour to a riverbank bench in about ten minutes.
Richmond
Vermont gets most of its attention in autumn, and Richmond is no exception, but the town is arguably better in winter. Cochran’s Ski Area, a small family-run hill just outside downtown, has been a community fixture since 1961 and still runs on affordable lift tickets. The Winooski River bisects Richmond, and the surrounding trail network turns quiet and cinematic under snow. The town’s signature building is the Old Round Church, which despite the name is a 16-sided meetinghouse from 1812.
Stowe
If any Vermont town has a reputation for winter, it’s Stowe. Stowe Mountain Resort is the state’s most famous ski destination, and the gondola runs year-round for aerial views of Mount Mansfield and the Green Mountains. In warmer months, the Stowe Pinnacle trail climbs to one of the most photographed viewpoints in the state, with the summit sitting at roughly 2,660 feet above sea level. The village has a small but active art scene, with galleries along Main Street showing regional painters and craftspeople alongside traveling exhibitions.
Waitsfield
Waitsfield sits along Scenic Route 100 in the Mad River Valley and bills itself as a year-round outdoor destination. Sugarbush Resort, just down the road, is the draw in winter, with skiing and snowboarding on Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen. The trail network is just as active in summer for hiking and mountain biking. The town itself keeps things low-key: a covered bridge on Bridge Street, a few restaurants along Route 100, and the Mad River running through the middle of it all.
Wilmington
Route 9 through southern Vermont, also known as the Molly Stark Scenic Byway, runs straight through Wilmington in the heart of the Green Mountain National Forest. The Hogback Mountain Conservation Area nearby covers roughly 600 acres of protected land with wide views across southern Vermont. Mount Snow handles most of the local skiing and has an active summer mountain-biking program. The best-known spot in town is Dot’s Restaurant, a diner that was washed out by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011 and rebuilt with community funding. It reopened in 2014 and still serves the same blueberry pancakes.
Woodstock
Woodstock plays the same showpiece role for central Vermont that Bennington plays for the south. The Federal-era downtown wraps around a town green, and the Middle Covered Bridge carries foot and vehicle traffic over the Ottauquechee River right at the edge of it. Billings Farm & Museum operates as a working Jersey dairy and runs seasonal demonstrations of traditional farm work, including sheep shearing and plowing with draft horses. Just up the road, the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park is the only national park dedicated to conservation history.
Vermont’s Prettiest Small Towns Reward A Slow Visit
For scenic small towns, Vermont covers a lot of ground. The seven above offer historic architecture, mountain access, and enough variation in season and setting to make repeat visits worthwhile. Drive between them on Route 100 or Route 9 and you’ll pass a dozen more that could just as easily have made the list.
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 April 20, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing
09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Gimme 5 numbers from April 20 drawing
16-17-25-33-36
Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 0-5-8
Evening: 6-1-9
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 20 drawing
Day: 7-8-3-4
Evening: 0-0-4-9
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Megabucks Plus numbers from April 20 drawing
04-11-23-32-41, Megaball: 04
Check Megabucks Plus 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.
ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (Aging Untold) — For 10 days, the Champlain Valley Fair, a county fair in Vermont, becomes its own little town with thousands of people, hot afternoons and the occasional emergency.
Charlene Phelps, 74, runs the fair’s emergency response team.
“We have a lot of seniors that come and people don’t drink enough water,” Phelps said.
The team handles sprains, bee stings, heat exhaustion and whatever comes through.
“I like taking care of people, I like helping people,” Phelps said.
Living out a childhood dream
It’s also a childhood dream.
Phelps wanted to be a nurse, but college wasn’t possible, so she found another route into care and has been showing up year after year at the fair.
Aging Untold expert Amy O’Rourke said living out your purpose can improve mental and spiritual well-being.
“When you tap into that, you’re tapping in on a place that’s a risk, that’s a challenge that inevitably creates growth inside you, gives you confidence so that if you’re in another situation you can build on that,” O’Rourke said. “Or, if you’re in an everyday situation where you’re a little anxious, it’ll help create stabilization in that place as well.”
Saving lives at the fair
Sometimes it’s bigger than a bandage.
“Over on there near the swings way over there is Gustovo, and we saved his life,” Phelps said.
Gustovo had gone into cardiac arrest at the fair a few years ago.
“I mean he was gone,” Phelps said.
Now he’s back and working the rides.
“Came for my hug, Gustovo,” Phelps said.
O’Rourke said stories like this are also why some people keep working past retirement age. Purpose isn’t a number, it’s a role.
“I’ve seen a 92-year-old still working as a nurse’s aid. I’ve seen people in my neighborhood chilling out and loving it,” O’Rourke said. “So, I think it’s being really self-aware of what you need and making sure that you’re getting those needs met.”
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