5 Reasons to Take a Road Trip to Vermont

5 Reasons Why You Should Visit Vermont

Lets visit our friendly American neighbour

Get your car gassed up, your passport renewed and Google Maps ready for action because it’s time to take a road trip south to visit our friendly American neighbour, Vermont!

Here are 5 very good reasons to plan a road trip to Vermont this summer:

1. Dog Mountain

No, it’s not shaped like a dog… it’s for dogs! Dog Mountain is a 150-acre park that welcomes dogs and dog lovers to enjoy the beautiful trails and fields. Leashes optional.

Originally owned and operated by local dog-loving artists, the park is a place for people to enjoy their pets to the fullest, and to even mourn the passing of lost pets at the peaceful Dog Chapel, where everyone is welcome: “All creeds, all breeds, no dogmas allowed.”

Although the artist couple who founded the park have tragically passed on, the park remains as a testament to their love of dogs and is open year-round to the public.

Driving time from Montreal: 2 hrs 30 minutes

2. 5 miles of beer, wine, cider and spirits

You will probably want to ditch your car for this one. The Middlebury Tasting Trail is a 5 mile stretch of vineyards and breweries along which you can taste a wide variety of craft beers, local wines, spirits such as gin, rye whiskey and coffee liqueur, and even local hard cider!

Keep in mind that you must be in the US for at least 48 hours to be allowed to bring alcoholic souvenirs back into Canada. You will be allowed to bring up to 1.5 litres of wine, 1.14 litres of hard alcohol OR 8.5 litres of beer. So choose wisely!

Driving time from Montreal: 2 hrs 40 mins

3. Dinner and a show

The Big Picture Theater & Cafe in Waitsfield is a true gem. This “cultural center and café” serves breakfast, lunch and dinner using locally grown produce and locally produced meats, has a delightful café serving coffee, milkshakes and alcoholic beverages, and you can take in a movie or a live show!

Have dinner and drinks inside the theatre while watching the latest from Hollywood on the big screen, or plan your trip around one of the theatre/café’s art shows or other cultural events.

Driving time from Montreal: 2 hrs 45 mins

4. Get outdoorsy

Gorgeous Lake Champlain, the tip of which sits on the Canadian side of the border, offers a wealth of activities for outdoor adventurers. Geographically, it’s a long lake, stretching north to south, so you can even plan your road trip along the lakeside.

There’s canoeing, kayaking and rafting, the breathtaking Ausable Chasm, Fort Ticonderoga, the Maritime Museum and much more. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of Champy, Lake Champlain’s answer to the Loch Ness monster.

Driving time from Montreal: 1 hr 20 minutes (that gets to you to about the midway point of the lake)

5. THE ICE CREAM!

THE ICE CREAM! Sorry for shouting, but OMG! Waterbury, Vermont is home to the original Ben & Jerry’s factory, which is open for public tours. If you’re an ice cream lover, this is your Graceland.

You can get hands-on ice cream making experience in the Flavor Lab, learn how the company integrates its mission of sustainability into the production process, and visit the Flavor Graveyard, where flavours of days past are laid to rest. And of course, there’s the gift shop and ice cream shop! Yum!