Attractions Nearby Montpelier, Day Trips and Excursions
(Montpelier, Vermont - VT, USA)
Well-placed for excursions into the northern chunk of Vermont, the state's proud capital of Montpelier is connected to many outlying attractions by the busy Interstate I-89 and a number of smaller highways.
Day trips from the city tend to be very dependent upon the season and the weather. The harsh winter months see the neighboring Stowe Mountain Resort coming into its own and drawing outdoor enthusiasts from miles around.
The Stowe Mountain Resort is approximately 45 minutes to the northwest of Montpelier and comprises both the Spruce Peak and Mount Mansfield. This resort is brimming with seasonal attractions and recreational activities, ranging from winter cross-country skiing and snowboarding, to summer hiking, camping, a 36-hole golf course, a hillside Alpine slide and 'Gondola Skyrides', which offer seemingly endless views of the surrounding mountainous scenery.
General Information
Being just 15 minutes away, Barre is a small town and often considered to be a suburb of Montpelier. Although there are only a handful of attractions here, there is certainly plenty in the way of culture. Consider an evening out at the Barre Opera House, a walk through local history at the Barre Museum, or a visit to see the contemporary paintings gracing the walls of the Studio Place Arts gallery.
Located on the shoreline of Lake Champlain and reached by taking the I-89 westwards, the city of Burlington is the perfect distance for a day trip from Montpelier, being less than 40 miles / 64 km away.
There is certainly much to see and admire in Burlington, since this is actually the biggest city in the whole of Vermont and therefore home to many of the state's top attractions. These come in the form of cruises around Lake Champlain, a science center and aquarium, the Bern Gallery, the Shelburne Museum and the Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, where the Vermont Symphony Orchestra regularly performs.
During the summer months, Lake Champlain's North Beach area soon fills up with sunseekers and families. Alternatively, take a stroll along Church Street and check out the fine dining options and established shopping scene here.
Further attractions suitable for excursions from Montpelier include the Cabot Creamery to the northeast, where you can learn all about how cheese is actually made. Tourists regularly enjoy day trips to Waterbury, to the northwest, where tours of the Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory prove to be a major draw card.