Every year in the fall, we go to Vermont. What started as a random trip to look for fall foliage when I was pregnant with my oldest became a cherished tradition. Since 2016, our family has grown and changed, but we still go to Vermont every fall. From adult activities, our trips shifted to fun activities for adults and kids. And today, I'd like to share things to do with kids in Vermont in the fall.
This is loosely a list of activities that we usually do while there. I hope you'll find inspiration in them. I'll provide addresses and names of places to the best of my knowledge.
Besides the first time (when we went there childless and stayed in a cute bnb), we always rented a cabin or a house on Airbnb. There are many cool options, and Vermont has a special rustic charm. I'll list a few locations where we stayed.
Where to stay in Vermont
1. This chalet in Dover, VT was decorated for Christmas and had cozy vibes. With the river in the backyard, it had plenty of running space and entertainment for kids after a day of driving around. It also has a grill and a fireplace - perfect for a late-night hang-out hang-out by the fire.
2. Another year, we stayed in this cabin in Wardsboro, VT. It had plenty of space and a nice front yard to run around for the kids. The location was also perfect since we didn't want to drive north in Vermont. 3 hours in the car with kids is already stressful enough, and there is no need to make the road trip longer.
3. Last year, my sister and her family, with three kids, joined us on our annual trip to Vermont, and we rented a whole farmhouse - Dutton Farmhouse in Dummerston. Turns out it was restored by American trust and is considered a national treasure.
This farmhouse was amazing. Beautiful, old, carefully restored, with so much history. It is a part of Scott's farm and is now available for Airbnb.
And the best part was that it was not far from us, so the road trip took us only 2.5 hours.
Be prepared to drive around a lot since most activities are spread out.
Things to do in Vermont with kids in the fall
1. Apple picking
There are so many wonderful orchards in Vermont. When you arrive at your place, I recommend Google to find the closest one.
We went there a few years in a row. It had a great variety of apples and wagons for the kids and, overall, had a fun vibe!
We decided to go there last year since we stayed 5 minutes away from the orchard. It also has a great variety of apples, and they have a store where they sell apple pies, cider donuts, and other goodies.
We went to this one this year, and it was phenomenal - the kids had so much fun
2. Alpaca experience, Grafton
It was our first time trying it, and I think it deserves to be added to our list of things to do in Vermont.
Dana runs an alpaca farm, and you can book your visit through Airbnb. What you get is to walk alpacas, feed them, learn about alpacas, and take great photos! It's not the same as taking a picture through the fence. This is a truly immersive experience.
I highly recommend it, and we will definitely be back next year!
I wrote this post last year and am only now getting to publish it. We came back there again this year because the kids were asking me if we could go back. And they loved it again! Truly, not to be missed!
This year, I also learned that Dana provides an Airbnb in his house (or you can rent it all). Isn't it amazing to stay in a beautiful house and wake up to pet alpacas every morning? I'm considering to stay there next year!
3. Fairy house festival, Grafton
This is our first time going, and the kids absolutely loved it! It was only two days, so we were lucky to be part of it.
Besides all the festivities you can find at the festival, everyone is encouraged to wear a fairy costume. They also had the cutest display of tiny fairy houses. You can arrive there and have lunch in Grafton - truly a jewel of Vermont!
Make sure to check the dates for next year!
4. Corn maze
We went to Benedict's home and garden in Manchester for a corn maze experience a few years in a row. Unfortunately, this year, corn didn't grow high enough, and they couldn't do it.
But we still had great fun there, walking on the pumpkin patch, eating cider donuts, and gazing at their creative display of strawmen.
Another great corn maze is located in Ruthland at Hathaway Farm.
4. Mill Museum, Weston
It's a great place to show kids how the mill works, what tools people used before, and how the cornmeal is made.
Our kids ended up playing workshop in the museum upstairs. The personnel is very kind and attentive and doesn't mind kids running around and exploring
5. Vermont Country Store, Weston
We stumbled upon it in 2016 and fell in love with the tasting stations😁 you could try different local cheeses, dips, and cookies before you buy it.
Unfortunately, since the pandemic, they don't provide those anymore, but nonetheless, it's a great place to roam around and pick up some local goodies.
They have a cafe that expanded in recent years, and it's a great place to have lunch.
We also picked up a tradition to take a photo next to their infamous truck.
6. Christmas shop, Weston
Right across the street from Vermont Country Store is a Christmas shop. Talking about traditions, we buy one Christmas ornament for each family member every year we go there.
Every ornament has to represent something that happened in the past year or some aspirations.
This year, we've got a beautiful house (since we moved to a new home), I got a llama (since the kids were crazy about our alpaca experience but already made their choices), Sasha got a ballerina (she really wants to try ballet) and Sia got a bunny with a Christmas hat (she is just obsessed with bunnies).😁
This store is like a candy land. There are so many different ornaments to choose from!
7. Take a hike
Vermont, in the fall, is such a magnificent place.
Visit the renowned Green Mountain National Forest, where you can embark on family-friendly hikes, have picnics by picturesque waterfalls, or enjoy a leisurely stroll amidst colorful foliage during fall.
Don't miss out on Lake Champlain, offering opportunities for lakeside picnics. The Shelburne Farms, a historic working farm, is another must-visit spot where kids can pet farm animals and learn about sustainable agriculture.
8. Vermont teddy bear factory, Shelburne
The Vermont teddy bear factory offers a unique experience of learning how the toys are made and creating your own teddy bear.
It was our first time there, and the kids were delighted. They both got a teddy bear, which quickly became their favorite toy - they put a felt heart inside, wrote a certificate for each bear, and saw it being made before them.
9. Vermont antique malls
This activity with small kids is not for the faint-hearted, but so worth the try! There are so many antique stores; you never know when you find your next treasure! I've got so many decor items over the years that I wouldn't even know where to start.
I'd recommend searching for antique stores as you go and stopping when you see a sign. One of my favorite places is Stone House Antiques Center in Chester, VT. It features 90 dealers and thousands of antique items.
There are so many fun things to do in Vermont with kids in the fall, this is just a few of our favorites - it fits perfectly into our 3-day trip.
Let me know what you like to do in Vermont in the fall. Follow me on Instagram @ifonlyapril. I shared in stories more fun things to do with kids in Vermont in the fall and saved them in highlights.
xoxo,
April
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