Montpelier
Having fun in Vermont’s main city in a casual, small-town way
Even though Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the U.S., it is full of interesting historical sites and quirky sights. Through the middle of the city, the Winooski River runs. This adds to the character of the downtown area, which has cute shops, walking paths, and cultural facilities.
Take a walk downtown to learn about history.
The gold-domed State House is open to the public for free tours. On the grounds, you can find a figure of the Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, and on top of the dome, you can see a statue of the Roman goddess Ceres. At the Vermont Historical Society Museum, you can learn about the past of the state. One of the best hikes in town starts behind the state house. Go up the steep, wooded hill to Hubbard Park and climb the tower from around 1930 for a great view.
Too Sweet to Turn Down By Vermont and maple syrup go hand in hand. The Bragg Family has been running the Sugarhouse & Gift Shop for eight generations. You can take a tour of the farm and buy a bottle of syrup to take home. Don’t forget to try the maple creemee, a regional treat that tastes like soft serve but has a lot of fat that makes it creamy. Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks is another sweet place you should see. It’s more than 200 years old and has a farm life museum, a woodshed theater, a nature trail, and free maple syrup tastes.
Things to do for culture in Montpelier
You can see a play at the Lost Nation Theater, a concert by the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra, or an independent film at the Savoy Theater. Craft drinks and local food are very important here. At the Barr Hill Distillery, try a Bee’s Knees cocktail made with award-winning gin. At Woodbelly, try sourdough pizza, or visit the year-round farmers market to find specialty breads, cheeses, plants, and handcrafted goods.
Uniquely Vermont is only a short drive away.
You can see art made from real spider webs at Knight’s Spider Web Farm, which is known as “The Original Web Site.” Hope Cemetery is known for having very detailed and unique gravestones. You can find a race car, a big soccer ball, a biplane, and a lounge chair, among other things. You can look at more than 175,000 natural items at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. You can hike to the top of Camel’s Hump State Park’s mountain or Vermont’s tallest mountain, Mount Mansfield.