7 Hour Road Trip Through Vermont

Continue our road trip through New Hampshire: 4 Hour Road Trip to the Coast of New Hampshire.

Bennington Battle Monument

The Bennington Battle Monument stands nearly 307 feet tall and is constructed of magnesian limestone. The monument represents the turning point of the Revolutionary War, the Battle of Bennington, in 1777.

Nearby Brewery Alert: A couple blocks away is Madison Brewing Company with almost 20 draft beers and a menu of appetizers, sandwiches, soups, salads, burgers, and entrees.

Beer Naked Brewery

Beer Naked Brewery and Pizzapalooza are located on top of Hogback Mountain has a view of nearly 100 miles. Enjoy a wood fired pizza and one of the 10+ beers on draft. Cash only.

Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery

Sample a flight of beer from 10+ available drafts while overlooking the Connecticut River on the outside deck or rooftop Biergarten. There is also a large bar and indoor dining area to enjoy a menu of burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, soups, and salads. Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery is located on the USGS state border of Vermont and New Hampshire providing a unique opportunity to drink a beer while standing in 2 states. We recommend I’m Down, a brown ale, and Mug Life, an American red ale.

Nearby Brewery Alert: A short 6 minute walk away is Hermit Thrush Brewery. Walk for another 5 minutes to reach McNeill’s Brewery.

Vergennes

Vergennes, Vermont’s oldest town near the border of New York, was established in 1766.

Magic Hat Brewery

Magic Hat Brewery Artifactory has 15 beers on draft and a small menu of artisanal cheeses and sandwiches. Self guided and guided tours are available for $3 per person (including samples).

World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet

Along the side of Flynn Avenue stands the world’s tallest filing cabinet at 38 drawers high. The sculpture marks the location of a cancelled project to build a new highway that accumulated 38 years of paperwork.

Nearby Breweries Alert: Switchback Brewing Co. is just a 5 minute walk East on Flynn Avenue or head North on Pine Street for 10 minutes to Queen City Brewery across the street from Zero Gravity Brewery.

Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s first factory was built in 1985 in Vermont’s Worcester Mountain Range. Stop by the Scoop Shop for 20+ ice cream flavors served as sundaes, shakes, cones, and in cups. Tours of the manufacturing facility, Flavor Lab, and gift shop are available. Sign up for the Flavor Fanatic Experience to assist in the ice cream making process from beginning to end in the Flavor Lab.

Don’t miss Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard located above the visitor parking lot, across from the playground. Here the dearly depinted ice cream flavors are laid to rest.

Stowe

Stowe, Vermont is a charming town located at the base of Mount Mansfield. Local restaurants, breweries, and shops are scattered between ski resorts and state parks.

Idletyme Brewing Company

Located in Stowe, Idletyme Brewing Company has a plenty of indoor seating and a large, outdoor patio. The building was originally served as a blacksmith shop in the 1800’s, then became a cider mill, youth hostel, camp, restaurant, and finally a brewery. There are 10 beers on draft, cocktails, wine, and a menu offering appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, and entrees. We recommend ordering the Brewski Sampler with 6 – 5 oz. samples.

Rock of Ages Granite Quarry

Tour a 600 feet deep granite quarry at Rock of Ages, the oldest manufacturers of granite products in the United States and the largest producer of cemetery headstones and memorials in the United States and Canada. There are 5 tours daily lasting about 40 minutes. Bowl on a prototype granite bowling lane, browse the gift shop, or take a self guided factory tour while waiting for the next tour to begin.

Traveling Gingerbread Note: Unfortunately during our visit all tours were cancelled and we weren’t able to visit the pale blue waters of their largest quarry. Driving from Rock of Ages to the Vermontasaurus we passed this nearby Rock of Ages granite quarry, eliminating most of our disappointment.

Vermontasaurus

The Vermontasaurus is a 122 feet long, 25 feet high, pile of wood vaguely resembling a dinosaur accompanied by two smaller, transportable dinos. The dinosaur was created in 10 days using wood from a retired balloon manufacturing company and is located on an active glider launch air strip. We’re not sure if it’s worth a detour, but if it’s along the way it’s an interesting stop.

Traveling Gingerbread Note: We frequently lost cell phone service while driving through Vermont. We recommend taking screen shots of the directions just in case…

May 2020