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
The historic steamboat Ticonderoga on display at Shelburne, Vermont. Editorial credit: Wangkun Jia / Shutterstock.com.
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
The Village Butcher shop storefront in Woodstock, Vermont, via Miro Vrlik Photography / Shutterstock.com
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
Main street in Middlebury, Vermont, By Jd4508, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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
The Vermont State House in Montpelier, Vermont.
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
Aerial view of Stowe, Vermont, and the Green Mountains adorned with autumn colors.
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
View of the historic and colorful Manchester Village in Manchester, Vermont with tulips in bloom.
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
Burlington, Vermont, USA at Church Street Marketplace
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
Aerial view of Newport, Vermont.
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.
WHITINGHAM, VT. — The vehicle of a missing man from North Bennington, Vt., was found abandoned Friday in Whitingham, Vt. However, its owner remains missing.
Matthew Houskeeper, 59, was last seen at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, when he was getting a haircut at Camille’s Hair Salon in Manchester, Vt. He was reported missing after he did not show up for a scheduled 10 a.m. shift at Kevin’s Sports Pub in North Bennington — something very out of character according to family, friends and coworkers.
His vehicle was located at 2445 Tunnel St. in Whitingham, near Sherman Reservoir, around 11:30 a.m. on Friday, according to police, and troopers responded to process the scene and initiate a search. Houskeeper, 59, had not been located before the search ended at nightfall.
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Police resumed their search of the area on Saturday and Sunday, but did not find him.
Houskeeper is described as having gray-blonde hair that is cut short.
He was reported missing to the Bennington Police Department, according to his sister, Erica Housekeeper. The BPD confirmed that he was not at his apartment, she said.
“We have friends looking around reservoirs and lakes,” said Erica Houskeeper. “I also contacted Vermont State Parks.”
Though Houskeeper had been vacationing in Rhode Island in the days prior to his disappearance, his family confirms that he returned home early this week.
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The Vermont State Police requests that anyone with information about Houskeeper’s disappearance contact either VSP’s Westminster Barracks at 802-722-4600 or the Bennington Police Department at 802-442-1030. Anonymous tips can be provided online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
While caterpillars might help themselves to quite a bit in your garden, it’s good to know which kind you have as that will dictate how to mitigate the damage. For the most part, two main types of caterpillars can be pests in your summer garden.
If you’re noticing damage on leaves of plants and trees, the first group to look for is the Lepidoptera caterpillars. These caterpillars are the larval stage of butterflies and moths. Cabbage worms, tomato horn worms, tent caterpillars, spongy moths, any of the swallowtail and monarch butterflies belong to this family.
The Lepidoptera family of caterpillars tend to be big with small hairs, and they tend to do a lot of damage, usually individually, as opposed to en masse in your garden.
These caterpillars can usually be controlled by hand-picking, or using a common organic spray, like BT or Bacillus-thuringiensis.
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The other group of caterpillars to check for is in the Hymenoptera family. These small caterpillar larva do not become a moth or butterfly but instead, an insect called a sawfly.
Sawfly caterpillars are small and smooth and their color can range from translucent to yellow, green or black. They tend to eat in groups, and when you get too close to them, they’ll rear up on their hind legs! (No worries, they aren’t harmful.)
Sawfly larvae will eat a whole bunch of different plants from birch, willow, dogwood, pears, columbine, pine, roses, azaelas and more! The caterpillars can eat all the needles on a pine, for example, or defoliate plant and tree leaves. Depending upon the sawfly, the damage will be different.
Sawfly controls are different than ones used to mitigate Lepidoptera; BT doesn’t work on them. Try hand-picking the caterpillars off your plants and shrubs or — in the evening, so as not to harm the bees — spray Spinosad or neem oil.
Rock hard potatoes
Q: We harvested our garlic this weekend, along with several volunteer potato plants. We were excited to roast them up this weekend, as usual, with olive oil, salt and pepper, and we cut them small to cook quickly, but after nearly an hour in the oven, these taters were nowhere near done. I finally turned the oven off and left them in there for a couple of hours, but they never got soft. What gives? – Jo and Gus, in Springfield
A: The answer for this one comes from the Idaho Potato Commission: potatoes that won’t soften, even after boiling and cooking for a long time, might have had cold-weather exposure.
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Starchy potato varieties or more susceptible to this, so to avoid it from happening again, start with certified disease-free seed potatoes and choose ones that are less starchy.
Lettuce crop won’t take
Q: I’ve always been able to grow multiple crops of lettuce throughout the growing season. I had a good first crop this spring, but I’ve been unable to get any of my lettuce to germinate. After that, I’ve tried different areas of the garden without success. Could the wet weather be the problem? – Fran, in Richmond
A: The hot, humid and wet weather is probably the problem with the lettuce, which prefers cool weather.
Don’t give up, though! The weather is shifting and you could start the seeds in small pots and then transplant the seedlings into the garden for an early fall crop.
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STORRS, Conn. – The UConn women’s soccer team (0-0-1) opened the 2024 regular season with a 2-2 draw against Vermont in front of 910 fans at Joseph J. Morrone Stadium on Saturday night.
The Huskies out shot the Catamounts 23-9 on the night but needed to rally after Vermont scored a pair of second half tallies in the 67th and 73rd minute to take a 2-1 advantage.
UConn fought back with a volleyed strike from senior Abbey Jones (Nottingham, England) in the 81st minute
The Huskies continued to apply pressure for the remaining nine minutes but were unable to reclaim the lead. One of the Huskies best chances late came on a nice run by senior Maddie Fried.
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The Monroe, CT. native made her UConn debut on Saturday and was able to chase down a pass and make a nice cut inside the box but was taken down by a defender in the box.
Junior forward Chioma Okafor opened the scoring for UConn with the first goal of the season in the 42nd minute. Senior Joyce Ryder played a perfect long ball ahead to newcomer Lina Dantes. Dantes slid a pass inside the box to a streaking Okafor and the Hermann Trophy Watch List honoree put home the goal.
UConn had plenty of chances offensively with Okafor leading the way with seven shots and five of those on goal. Jones finished with six shots while Fried and freshman Taylor Jenkins each added a pair.
Sophomore Brooke Walonis had a great scoring chance in the opening 45 with a strike in the 39th minute that rang off the crossbar.
Five Huskies made their UConn debuts on Saturday night (Anna Carson, Maddie Fried, Lina Dantes, Taylor Jenkins and Naia Ocio).
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Next up, the Huskies face off against Wisconsin on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 5 p.m. at Morrone Stadium.
