We recently took a Vermont vacation for a week and spent less than $250 for our family of 6 on 11 different Vermont attractions! I want to share my tips of what we did. If you don’t mind a little bit of an hour (around an hour) you have so much you can see and do!
Vermont is a state that shares in their Made in the USA heritage. Many big brands were born in this state, and are still made not only in the USA but still in the state! Brands like Cabot Cheese, Green Mountain Coffee, and Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream!
Vermont Vacation – 11 Vermont Attractions – 1 Week – $250 – 6 People
Disclaimer: This price does not include misc spending money for gifts, and souvenirs it also does not include gas since we run a diesel SUV our price will be double of someone with a fuel efficient car.
First, we had to stay someplace right? We had our RV and stayed at the Meadowcreast Campground just outside Montpellier VT for $180 for a week. This included our electric, water and sewer hook up. This campground is run but a husband and wife and while it’s small (so call and make a reservation) it was one of the best places we have stayed out over the last year on the road.
The campground is right outside Montpellier VT in the mountains and on a country road that allows you to pass a historic covered bridge, old barns, and some great farm stands! Now keep in mind I did take a full day to work while here since we travel full time. The kids spend the day enjoying the campground the playground, and they even had a big slip and slide!
Day 1 Vermont Vacation
Our first day out we headed into Waterbury to tour the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. Tickets are $4 for adults and kids age 12 and under are free. At the end of the tour, we got a free scoop of the ice cream they were making that day.
While there stop by the Green Mountain Coffee Visitor Center. We didn’t realize they were so close and did these on 2 separate days. You can visit a little visitors center and see Green Mountains history free. It’s one room but has several hands-on displays for kids. Then you can try some coffee drinks that range about $4 a drink. Just mark and I got a drink here and let the kids have a sip.
Day 1 Total: $16 + Campground fees for a total of $196 so far.
Day 2 – 3 Vermont Attractions
For Day 2 We took a half day. I headed up the road to the Cabot Cheese Factory and got to do the tour and cheese tasting for $4 per adult and again ages 12 and under were free.
After the tour we headed to this cute little-covered bridge we kept passing on the way tot eh campground called Martin’s Bridge. We stopped and read the signs and got some pictures. This was free.
If you do not wish to make your day a half day, then I suggest a free tour of the Montpelier State House. Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the country!
Day 2 Total: $8 for a total of $204 so far.
Day 3
Day 3 we headed over to Burlington Vt and visited the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. The tour was… you guessed it $4 for adults and children 12 and under are free. We visited on a Saturday the downside was the factory wasn’t ‘working’. The stations were all empty.
The upside was being able to take part in a free chocolate tasting at Lake Champlain Chocolates,. They only do free tasting on the weekends. If you go during the week, you can get a free tour of the chocolate factory.
Day 3 Total: $8 for a total of $212 so far.
Day 4
For day 4 we headed back to Burlington VT to take in the Shelburne Museum. We were able to get in for free with our Kern reciprocal membership. This museum is an all day event with over 35 buildings on 45 acres there is so much to see, and we didn’t even get to see it all. 25 of the buildings are historical buildings that have been moved there. While we were there, we got to introduced to Grandma Moses Art and fell in love with it! If you do not have a reciprocal membership, this will cost over $50 to visit.
If you do not have the reciprocal membership, and you are looking for something else to do you can head to the Green Mountain Audubon Center. There is a lot to see and do from hiking the trails to bird watching.
Day 4 Total: $0 for a total of $212 do far.
Day 5
For day 5 head down to Woodstock VT to visit Vermont’s only National Historic Site, The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park. It is $8 for adults and free for children 15 and under. Kids can get their Jr Ranger badges, and you can take in one of the tours. There are several self-guided tours along with the guided ones to check out.
You could then head over to President Calvin Coolidge Birthplace and tour that. This is a bit more expensive it is $9 for adults and $2 for kids ages 6+
Day 5 Total: $38 for a total of $250
Day 6
Day 6 take a half day and relax! Visit the Bragg Farm, with free admission. See how they make Maple Syrup including a video on the history of the farm.
Day 6 Total: $0 Trip cost $250
Now I did not include a plan for day 7 because everyone will do this at their own pace. Some families will see all this and more in 7 days, while other with some kids like us have to plan for meltdowns and nap time so they will space things out more.
Also, check out the 15 things to do for free in Montpelier Vermont.