Central Vermont

Leave the city life behind and visit Central Vermont, with its wide variety of rural landscapes
and small towns. The Connecticut River lazily flows along the eastern boarder of the state, bordering
many small farming communities, with access points for fishing and boating. Central Vermont is proud to be the state’s agricultural seat. Quechee Gorge, known as “Vermont’s Grand Canyon,” and marble quarries leave a
dramatic visual impact on visitors and the relationship between these natural wonders and Vermont's stone trade is easily recognized. Scenic Route 100 meanders along the mountain range from Mount Ellen to Okemo and Killington. The Long Trail parallels Rt. 100 to the west along the mountain peaks and from the Long Trail, the Appalachian Trail branches off and winds easterly to the Connecticut River. The western portion of the region is dotted with many small lakes, rivers, and Lake Champlain along the western border.

Because of the variety of both state and private campgrounds in this region, the smallest with primitive sites or as a part of a working farm, to the larger resorts with full hookups on the lake, a variety of activities awaits every outdoor enthusiast. The lakes and rivers offer refreshing opportunities to swim, fish, or boat; or the chance to sit by the evening campfire and watching the sunset reflect off the water. Golfers will find numerous courses throughout the region, just a short distance from their campground. Hikers can try new trails, including many along the mountain peaks, offering spectacular challenges and wonderful views. Bicyclists can follow scenic back roads through quiet villages, or travel the mountain roads at numerous off-season ski areas.

The region's farmers markets, country stores, flea markets, and museums will spark the interest of any shopper. Throughout the summer and fall, the visitors will find numerous craft, art, and antique shows, agricultural fairs detailing how Vermont has grown in 200 years. and outlets for the many products boasting the “Vermont Made” seal. No visit would be complete without seeing the 150 year old State Capital building in Montpelier, where tours are offered during the summer and fall months.

The image of Vermont’s history lies deep within the grain of Central Vermont. Known throughout the state as the agricultural seat, central Vermont is still liberally dotted with locally-owned farm stands and the Vermont touchstone, the black & white Holstein cow (along with other breeds). Surrounded by water: the Connecticut River and Lake Morey on the eastern side, and Lakes Bomoseen, Champlain, and St. Catherine on the western side, and divided by the spine of the Green Mountains (it’s handy to know what side you rest on when listening to local weather), central Vermont is rich in outdoor activities throughout the year. Montpelier, the capital of Vermont, with its gold-domed state house, is located in this part of the state, nestled in the mountains. With historical museums ranging in subject matter from marine to agricultural, as well as maple sugar operations, antique and craft shows, agricultural fairs (from March through October every year), stone quarries, and cheese and ice-cream makers entertain and educate all visitors about the traditions and history of Vermont.

Central Vermont is not only rich in year-round outdoor adventures, but also offers a multitude of cultural options to visitors: concerts, art galleries, craft shows and theatre are just some of the attractions in the local towns. Look closely and take part in some small village traditions: attend an ice-cream or strawberry social, watch an outdoor music festival, or cheer in a parade. All are guaranteed to make your visit a memorable one.

Some of the most quaint, historic and picturesque villages and small cities dot the landscape in central Vermont from the Connecticut River and Lake Morey on the eastern side to Lakes Bomoseen, Champlain and St. Catherine on the western side. Also, in this section of Vermont is the capital city of Montpelier.

The mountainous center of this area hosts part of the Long Trail, which goes from the Canadian border to the Massachusetts state line. Several ski areas, including Killington, Pico, Okemo and the Middlebury College Snow Bowl, offer year-round outdoor recreation activities, as do the many lakes, ponds and rivers in this region.
The Central Vermont area also has a number of nationally and internationally known colleges that provide much in the form of education and entertainment for their students, community members and visitors.

In addition to many successful operating farms, some of which offer opportunities to visit, there are other attractions worth visiting such as wonderful museums; antiques and craft shops; granite, marble and slate quarries; maple sugar operations; cheese and ice cream makers; and Vermont’s only national park—the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park.

The attractions of central Vermont - in addition to a wide variety of great camping areas - are its historic villages and small cities, its mountain recreation spots, its clean rivers and lakes and its friendly people. Montpelier, in the northern end of the region, is the nation's smallest state capital, boasting only about 8,000 residents and a small-town atmosphere best glimpsed each summer Saturday morning at the city's Farmers' Market.

Deer occasionally stray across the lawn of Vermont's small but elegant State House a few blocks from downtown. Inside the recently restored building, there are legislative chambers and a striking variety of historical exhibits. Don't miss the huge Civil War painting, "The Battle of Cedar Creek," which fills an entire wall. Just across the lawn from the State House in the white-porched Pavilion building is the Vermont Historical Society, with a variety of changing exhibits.

Just down the road is Barre, the Granite Center of the World, and the economic hub of central Vermont. Tours at the Rock of Ages quarry in the hills of Graniteville, just south of Barre, clearly show the challenges involved in quarrying this tough, beautiful stone.

Surrounding Barre and Montpelier are some of Vermont's most picturesque small villages, each with its own special attractions and allure. Chelsea, Tunbridge, Northfield, Strafford, Randolph, Thetford and many others offer opportunities for sightseeing and photography - or simply for looking around. A special treat is the Mad River Valley, where Waitsfield, Moretown and Warren have a variety of small shops, bakeries, restaurants and covered bridges. And to the north, the famous village of Stowe has a dizzying array of shopping, dining and recreational opportunities - plus the internationally known Trapp Family Lodge and the Stowe recreation path, where bikers, bladers and joggers can exercise in a scenic setting. You can ride the Stowe Mountain Resort gondola nearly to the top of the state's highest mountain or try the nearby alpine slide.

Farther south, the historic village of Plymouth, birthplace of Calvin Coolidge, nestles next to the picturesque and famous tourist mecca of Woodstock. In addition to Woodstock's elegant buildings, renowned shops and elliptical green, the town also has the Billings Farm Museum. And, in 1998 the Marsh-Billings National Historic Park opened here, chronicling the birth of the American conservation movement.

The central Champlain Valley includes three elegant small cities: Vergennes, Middlebury and Brandon, as well as some of Vermont's most beautiful views and most productive farmland. You can get a stunning view from atop Mt. Philo in Charlotte, or visit Dead Creek Wildlife Refuge in Addison, which offers world-class birding. Middlebury has fine shops, its own micro-brewery, and an excursion train with round trips to Burlington and Rutland.

The busy city of Rutland is a hub of commerce and economic activity in the region and, like Barre-Montpelier, is surrounded by charming villages. Lake Bomoseen, Lake St. Catherine and other lakes in western Rutland county have long been centers for water sports.

Weston is a beautiful village in the hills, and the home of the Vermont Country Store. Windsor was the birthplace of Vermont, and its American Precision Museum chronicles Vermont's role as an important center of the early Industrial Revolution. Windsor is also the site of the nation's longest covered bridge, which spans the Connecticut River.

Biking is one of Vermont's most popular summer activities, and there's no better place for it than right in the heart of the Green Mountains. Randolph has emerged as one of the mountain biking centers of the entire US, and there are endless opportunities throughout this region for back road exploration. With a little planning, you can end your biking at a beautiful pond or mountain stream and cool off instantly!