Best things to do in Vermont

An open-air museum, Shelburne Museum houses more than 150,000 works depicting historic New England life. The Impressionist paintings, folk art, quilts and textiles, furniture, 17th- to 20th-century artifacts, and American paintings are housed in 38 exhibition buildings arranged to mimic historic New England architecture. Twenty-five of these buildings are historic and were relocated here for the museum. Three separate tours are offered daily and included in the price of admission. Learn about Colonial Revival, the history and mechanics of 1906 steamboat, or American art on the tour of your choice. Because the depth and scope of the museum is so huge, your ticket is good for two days.

Church Street Marketplace, a bustling open-air mall, is home to a variety of stores and restaurants. Its charming streets with historical architecture are part of a National Historic District. Spend time wandering through the area, pausing to watch various street performers. National chain stores and local independent retailers sell clothes, jewelry, home furnishings, and more.

Dubbed "Vermont's Little Grand Canyon," Quechee Gorge features hikes down into the canyon or up to the bordering waterfalls for views of the surrounding area. Fish and canoe in the river, hike one of the marked trails, and go cross-country skiing or snowshoeing in the winter. You'll have the option to cross the gorge using the suspension bridge or use the pedestrian walkways on both sides. Take time to climb along the boulders beside the river at the bottom of the path. Be sure to wear walking shoes or boots since the rocks can be uneven and slippery.

Killington Resort features a 9 km (6.2 mi) continuous run, a 957 m (3,050 ft) vertical drop (the largest in New England), and numerous bars, restaurants, and stores. With its 155 trails and 22 lifts, the resort is suitable for beginners and advanced skiers, as well as for experts. You'll find special terrains for learners and snowboarders. You can also join snowshoeing and uphill hikes along the mountain trails, and children can try out the multi-lane tubing park. A gondola ride provides sweeping views of the mountains and also serves as transportation to the top, where you can disembark to hike or mountain bike down the mountain. If you lack proper gear, keep in mind that you can rent hiking shoes and trekking poles.

The Montshire Museum of Science is a hands-on science museum located on 110 acres in Norwich, Vermont. Visitors will enjoy programs and more than 140 interactive exhibits relating to the natural and physical sciences, technology, and more. The Montshire is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).

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Enjoy a bike ride with mountain views along the Lake Champlain shoreline when you ride on Burlington Bike Path. Bike along the lake to the Winooski River, with views of the Adirondack Mountains to your west. Pass by connections to beaches, parks, and six major waterfronts as you make your way along the well-marked and relatively flat path. You can find food and public restrooms near Waterfront Park, as well as benches and places to stop throughout the journey. Head to the causeway for the best views of the lake and mountains.

In northern New England, visit Sugarbush Farm for an opportunity to learn about the production of local favorites like maple syrup and waxed cheeses. You can visit the sugarhouse where maple syrup is produced in the spring, or find your way to the cheese workroom where cheese is waxed and wrapped after production. You'll have the opportunity to sample as many as 14 different cheeses made on site and try four different grades of maple syrup. Take a walk along a nature trail through the woods of sugar maples to learn about how the trees are tapped. The farm also has a small chapel hidden among the trees, which you can visit as well.

Home to more than 70 species of amphibians, reptiles, and fish, ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain will give you an engaging education about the Lake Champlain Basin. Head into the action lab to build virtual mountains, lakes, and rivers with your hands, then take a virtual tour of Lake Champlain's most prominent features. In other exhibits, view displays containing lake inhabitants, such as frogs, snakes, turtles, and big fish, such as sturgeons. Make sure you check the schedule for the theater; films focus on topics such as species that inhabit the lake and surrounding area and Native American tribes indigenous to the region. Before you leave, look over the natural science-themed games and toys in the gift shop. Purchases here support the center's mission of preserving and educating people about Lake Champlain Basin.

Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River valley in Warren, Vermont, owned by Alterra Mountain Company. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres (16 km²) total, 484 trail acres (2.34 km²) skiable, 53 miles (85 km) of trails, and 16 ski lifts. Sugarbush has 111 ski trails, 18 additional marked wooded area, substantial off-piste skiing and riding, a summit elevation of 4,083 ft (1,244 m), and a vertical drop of 2,600 feet (790 m), second largest in Vermont after Killington, and the third largest in New England after Killington and Sugarloaf.

Nestled in a scenic village, Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home offers a glimpse into American history. The former summer home of Robert Lincoln, President Lincoln's eldest son, was completed in 1905 in the Georgian Revival style. The house was restored together with the outbuildings and gardens in 1978 when a non-profit organization bought the property. To learn more about the history of the place, watch the promotional video. Make the most of 19 km (12mi) of walking trails and visit the goat farm, teaching greenhouse, and the wooden Pullman palace car from 1903.