Heading to Vermont soon...

[Robert Tilden]

I'm going to be in mid-Vermont (the Waterbury/Stowe area) for several days next week and would appreciate any don't/can't miss sights, trails, waterfalls, museums, eateries, etc. suggestions.
I've done some due diligence and have a tentative plan but any ideas the LFP hive-mind can send my way would be greatly appreciated.

[Keith Fleming]

You might contact the husband-wife team who own and operate Vermont Camera Works. They live and work in rural Vermont, and have been in business for decades. And I should add they just did some excellent work for me on an old Nikon F and a Synchro-Compur shutter.

Keith Fleming

[Louie Powell]

That's a nice area, but there aren't a lot of truly 'can't miss' type things to see/do. Sure, it's pretty and there are some good restaurants, but the main attraction is skiing, and that's so not happening in August.

The first thing on the list is not-photographic - but you just can't miss the Ben and Jerry's Factory - great factory tour with a sample of the product at the end.

Of course there is the famous Von Trapp Family Lodge - founded by the family from The Sound of Music.

When wife and I were last there (about the same time of the year), we encountered a moose on the main road south of Stowe. Probably just coincidence, but in that area, the chances are greater - - -

Richmond, Vermont - the Round Church. This is one of those old white New England churches that were made famous by photographers such as Paul Wainright, only this one is round rather than rectangular.

Route 108 - Smuggler's Notch Road - is a narrow, winding road over the mountains northwest of Stowe. Interesting drive - just take it easy - it can be treacherous. When you get to the other side, stop in at Boyden Valley Winery for a tasting.

Go west from Waterbury to Burlington, and then head south to Shelburn. There is a museum, but my preference is the Shelburn Farm - this was a large private estate that today operates as a demonstration farm. The house is interesting, but for photography, head to the breeding barn. While you are there, be sure to visit the cheese shop.

Downtown Burlington is nice - pretty college campus.

[William Whitaker]

I would suggest finding a copy of Strand's Time In New England and perusing it to help prepare your mind. Then follow the road less traveled and be ready for whatever presents itself. There are those who proclaim that Vermont is a state of mind. So, as such, specific destinations don't really exist. You just take Vermont on its own terms.

Be grateful for the old, slow pickup truck in front of you, driven by an even older man wearing a hat. Indy has a pace car. Vermont has a pace pickup truck!

194436
Strafford, VT, ca. 1983

[David Schaller]

I would echo what William said, and find a less traveled area, and just hang out there.

[William Whitaker]

In spite of what I said above, if you find yourself in the vicinity of Norwich, by all means stop in at Dan and Whit's Country Store. You won't regret it!

[Oren Grad]

Go west from Waterbury to Burlington, and then head south to Shelburn. There is a museum...

The word "museum" doesn't begin to capture what a visit to the Shelburne Museum is like. Imagine a very, very rich collector of exceedingly eclectic taste in folk culture, run amok, with her treasures now scattered around a large campus. You want a sidewheel steamer? Sure, right there in the middle of the lawn. A complete antique post office? Got one of those, over there. Town meeting hall? Check. Doctor's office? Print shop? General store? An actual art gallery or two or three, in the middle of everything else? Antique cars? Yup. Private railroad car? For sure. Countless antique toys... and on and on and on...

It's a real trip, literally and figuratively. Count on spending a full day, if not two. You'll find surprises at every turn.

https://shelburnemuseum.org/

Yeah, Ben and Jerry's is fun too. Also in the tasty department, if you make it into Burlington proper, Lake Champlain Chocolates has a nice mini-tour and explanation of the chocolate-making process. With samples, of course.

[peter schrager]

I've been photographing in Vermont for maybe 30 or 50 years
If you can't find anything to photograph it's on you
Try opening your eyes...get out of the car..find a quiet stream and meditate on that for an hour..
Check back and let us know if you found anything
Have a nice trip

[RichardRitter]

Get a DELORME Vermont Atlas and Gazetteer

Look up Mount Tabor Road. It goes through the Green Mountain Forest. It has streams ,Water falls, Beaver ponds, moose, at the East end is Weston and the general store is great

Mount Tabor road starts in Danby off of Route 7.

[Tom Monego]

If you go into Stowe, Rt 100 goes by Ben and Gerry's, this is always crowded. If you are into beer Alchemist Brewery, also Trap Family Lodge. Rt 108 goes north through the resort and into Mt Mansfield State Forest, there are trails off the road, some going up Mt Mansfield. The finding organized information isn't that easy, there are rocks and waterfalls, some nice hikes. You can drive up Mt Mansfield and hike around the summit.

[Ethan]

If you pass through southern Vermont during your trip, check out the Vermont center for photography, they’re in Brattleboro, and are mainly a small gallery, which isn’t too special, but they also have a small thrift store that sells only used camera equipment. I’ve found a lot of interesting pieces there, and you can’t beat their prices, though I usually just go to look at old equipment. Due to it not being in high demand, they usually have a decent selection of large format stuff

[Robert Tilden]

Thanks to everyone who contributed suggestions! We hit Texas (why Texas?) falls, both Moss Glen falls, Sterling Gorge falls, had lunch at Doc Ponds (4th anniversary party underway), hiked some of the Long Trail, visited the Simon Pearce workshop/restaurant in Quechee. Round barns. much more... And yes- Ben and Jerry's.

Will definitely return for a more focused visit!