I'm a native Vermonter, and this is absolutely 100% spot on perfect! Don't take our New England Shield as a sign we don't like you. Vermont tends to lean towards introversion and we are pretty quiet with each other as well. What may seem distant to you, might seem like respecting your privacy to us.
I’m a Vermonter. Out of state friends always laugh at me because I have a landline. They just refuse to believe I don’t have cell service unless I climb the mountain behind my house. 😄
Stella we just got rid of our landline, but I have wifi. Xfinity said it cost $44 a month! I just started streaming too, dumped that $235 cable bill. Hello from Lake Dunmore
When my sister visited me and tried to get cell service driving on 91, her carrier said she was in a foreign country and would be charged roaming charges! 😂
Vermont banned billboards in 1968 as a measure to prevent visual blight, because we know how beautiful our state is. There was a battle to exclude Walmart too, but we lost that one.
Can't forget our lawsuit against McDonalds when they served "Hotcakes with maple syrup" even though it wasn't real syrup. We won that case and now McDonalds serves "Hotcakes with Hotcake syrup"
@@dnwitte not to mention New Hampshire, the proudly vulturous state, which lives on visitors from Mass…especially the tobacco addicts, who prefer to die of untaxed nicotine.
Good advice for any place at any time. My Dad's #1 rule is never go below 1/4 tank. #2 Bad weather incoming? FILL UP YOUR TANK!! You just never know. 🤷
Last time I visited VT I collapsed due to dehydration following a 50k. Totally my fault. Luckily some locals were near me and decided to drive my car to the nearest hospital, all while talking to me to keep me awake. I’ll never forget the kindness of that day.
Just moved here last winter - this is all really accurate! Can agree- I moved up here because I'm an introvert and Vermont has always been my vibe. Keep in mind for shopping there's no plastic bags- bring your own bags for shopping or be prepared to buy the paper alternative (sometimes not offered). Antique markets tend to be completely picked over near Burlington due to the college- furniture tends to pop up near the end of the semester but otherwise, it's slim pickings. Everything and anything is local - even my hair stylist uses stuff on my hair that she gets from the farmers markets on the weekends. There's multiple a week depending on the town and season.
I live on the West Coast of Ireland, and Vermont is one of the only states in the US that I would love to visit. Great review, and also fantastic to see locals come on to the comments section to offer their approval. Always a good sign.
Great video as usual. One thing about restaurants during leaf peeping season…call ahead no matter what town you’re visiting…they ALL book up quickly. Often a 60-90 minute wait during peak foliage. Also, visit Waterbury’s Cold Hollow Mill for their apple cider and cider donuts.
I've lived in Vermont my whole life. It can be a lot of fun with its small town charm. The lakes and hiking trails are great. The farmer's markets have great food, crafts, music, and more. Outdoors concerts happen throughout the summer. There are some cool outdoor drive-In theaters. There is skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating in the winters. There is a lot to do. 😊 Fair warning... -Mosquitos can get REALLY bad in the summer. Use bug spray! -And most important... there are lots of ticks! Use tick repellent when you explore nature. Also, check your skin fully when you get a chance after! If you get a tick off your skin quickly enough you will be fine. But if it stays on long enough you are at risk of getting Lyme disease, which sucks. Please be careful! ***And finally, please be careful when exploring local watering holes. If you can't swim, or don't know how deep the water is below, take caution. There are sad cases where lives are lost because people are stupid around water.***
The mosquito thing kind of surprised me. Maybe I've been lucky, but I've never had any problem with mosquitoes. GREENHEAD FLIES, though, are another story. They're a scourge and a menace and must be eradicated.
@@maxshenkwrites Hi Max! You are right that tiny ticks cause a special threat. While it is true that tiny, immature deer ticks can and do spread Lyme disease, full sized, Adult ticks also carry the disease and can pass it on to human hosts. That, plus the other nasty diseases that ticks carry make it worthwhile to check yourself for ticks-even the visible ones. Had a friend in Northeastern VT who nearly died of ehrlichiosis, which is another super-nasty tick-borne disease. Also, another tick-borne disease, anaplasmosis, will make you very sick. No matter what their size, ticks are little disease factories. Always check yourself.
I live on Lake Dunmore and some lawyers bought the land across the street and were treating the neighborhood like a HOA! We straightend that out fast, they were very pushy
I Agree! Unfortunately there are way too many people who have flocked and are still flocking to the state and changing it. I miss the Vermont I grew up in
I have a second home owner adjacent to my property. He is from Long Island, New York. He thinks he is in his personal Disneyland when he comes here. He is so obnoxious, I cut off his ability to telephone me.
100% When people come here and find things they don't like and try to change it, it really pisses us off. If you dont like Bears or Woodchucks in your back yard, or dirt roads with potholes, or any road with potholes, then here is not where you want to be. One other thing , maple syrup is not a religion.
I’ve only lived in Vermont for two years, but I feel like there are two different “feels” to the state. The Northern half has the Canadian vibe of being laid back, and independent. The Southern half has more of the East Coast edginess and is going to feel more like a normal New England area without all the stores and traffic.
I totally messed up! Montpelier is the capital! My son even reminded me before i filmed this. I suck and I apologize to the Montpelier and Vermonters out there. I suck. I'm sorry.
As a former NYC guy turned Vermont resident. (My wife grew up in New England and is from Burlington) you hit the nail on the head. Most people from Vermont are either 10th generation or actively sought to move here by choice, so yes Vermonters like Vermont stuff. If you like Mead we got you fam., we don’t just do beer here
I like that you refer to yourself as a Vermont resident. Being a lifelong Mainer... there seems to be a trend lately (at least in southern Maine) where a lot of new comers are openly calling themselves Mainers, and even defending the trend: "I took the step/made the effort/ life change, etc of moving here, therefore I reserve the right of calling myself a Mainer". It might seem petty, but it's a little annoying, and feels kind of disrespectful.
Thank you so much for your first two don'ts. Our two lane paved and dirt roads may look like untraveled backroads to visitors but these are our highways. We're trying to get to and from work, the store, school etc and we tend to travel fast on these quaint looking byways because we're familiar with them. Holding us up to gawk is irritating. Our roads also are winding and can have limited sight distances. Stopping in the road without being aware of this could lead to an unfortunate meeting with a milk or logging truck that was not expecting you to stop in a blind curve.
I live on Lake Dunmore, you should see the action during the summer on these narrow roads. In the spring when the sand is on the roads from the winter, if your walking you can pretty much eat it when a car goes by LOL
@@scottcampbell4678 If you’ve lived or especially, driven, in Boston, you immediately see that this mob is not about to mind the rules of the road…anywhere.,,
@@liannebedard5521 I have driven in Boston a few times. The nice thing about driving in Boston is being able to do the stupidest things and no one cares
As someone living in Montreal, I've gone to nearby Vermont quite a few times, not to mention passing through there on the way to Boston or elsewhere in New England. I *really* love Vermont for a whole bunch of reasons!!!
Vermonter, here. Great video!! A couple things to add- mud season, there will be roads that are not passable and you will get stuck, at times no matter what vehicle you have. The Killington region was not mentioned, but it is a fantastic area for skiing and all kinds of sports all year. Great hiking, biking, so much more. One of the best places in the state to have breakfast is Sugar and Spice in Mendon, Rutland Couny. The covered bridges, we have 3 in our little town. I go through 2 regularly. Keep in mind that most covered bridges are 1 lane only so you need to see if someone id drivibg through before going gang busters through one. Also, KNOW the height of your vehicle and pleasd stop taking out the beautiful covered bridges. Also if you are taking photos around the bridges be aware of traffic. There are probably locals trying to get home and we would like to get there without having to wait for picture after picture. As for the moose and bears, yes they are around! You are far more likely to see bears than moose. We actually see bears quite regularly. So true about what is said about mosquitos in the video. And ticks. If you are hiking, be aware of ticks too. Mosters, if you see Champ on Lake Champlain, that would be awesome! Some people have strong opinions on Sasquatch. An episode of "Finding Bigfoot" was filmed in Chittenden, VT at the Chittenden dam. If you have not been there it is gorgeous. Especially in the fall. A great place for hiking, swimming and fishing too. I am not a native Vermonter, but have lived here for 10 years. I agree that locals can be stand offish to out of staters and some are downright hostile. I think tourism is great for the state, but not everyone (especially generational Vermonter families) agree. Something to be aware of. But please come visit. Have some syrup. Vermont cheese is great too. Our family loves Cabot cheese. One thing I have to say about Vermont is that the sense of community here is incredible. Each little town generally offers all kinds of activities and festivals for families. A lot of people volunteer. The Arts are also very rich. There are lots of theater companies including fantastic youth theaters. The opportunity to get produce from farms in the summer is great. It is everywhere. The taste is so much better than the grocery store and you are directly supporting a hard working farmer. Anyway, I think I said a lot. Again, great video!
12th generation Vermonter here! My favorite spots for maple creemees are Burlington Bay Cafe, The Mill Market, and Shelburne County Store. If you ARE here in mud season (end of March, early April), try to catch maple open house weekend to watch sugaring in action and taste some sugar on snow!
I see a new video- I automatically click. Simple as that . Been following you for 6 years already - highly appreciate your dedication, honesty and hard work
I binged your Europe videos before our trip there in 2019 and they were super helpful. And just last week we were in Vermont and we could really have used some of these tips! 😄 Oh well - we’ll know for next year.
I found the people to be very friendly, as soon as they heard my accent and knew I wasn’t from NY, or Massachusetts they became quite accommodating and friendly. Course the Massholes are insufferable. I figured that out in the two weeks I spent in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
It does but I think Vermont is prettier. There's something about the trees and soils that make it special. New Hampshire is easier to drive around as its topography allows a major road in the center while Vermont's mountains prevent that.
@@craiglevy8144 I love Vermont, but I think there are plenty of areas in New Hampshire that are much prettier than Vermont. The White Mountains for example! Have you ever driven up mount Washington? Mt Mansfield doesn't compare to that at all! I'd even say that the colors in New Hampshire seem brighter in the fall than Vermont in most places! Plus we have the ocean and wicked beautiful towns like Portsmouth!
N.H. Is better. I love the people in N.H. The people in N.H. are very nice. The people in Vermont are assholes trust me I know I have lived here for 22yrs and have not seen or met one nice person.
As a Vermonter, I have to say you did a pretty good job with this, but I do have 3 things to mention: first, we locals are pretty friendly to the tourists who treat us well. Second, "creemee" is a term rarely heard in southern VT. Third, the black flies and ticks are more of a worry than the mosquitos.
I spent every summer in northeastern Vt when I was a kid, and I lived there myself for four years. It is beautiful. Lotso f bears in northern VT. Also, porcupines, foxes, deer, and an occasional Canadian lynx. Spot in about the cell service. The pine trees and granite eat the signals. You can usually get a few bars at the top of a hill. Also, be prepared for ticks! There are loads of them. Check yourself for ticks after you’ve spent time outside. Also, unfortunately, a fair amount of drug activity in the woods. Keep your wits about you while hiking.
Don't underestimate Lake Champlain. It is beautiful, large, and can change from flat calm to huge waves in a very short amount of time. I've worked on Lake Champlain for years and have seen this lake do some impressive things. Keep an eye on the forecast, if you're going on the main lake add 12-15 mph to the wind forecast when it's above 5mph.
I always hope they will put those GIANT fish, they have couped up in the tank at ECO back in the Lake. So cruel. 8 ft fish in this small tank for life. Anyone want to help me break them out?
Thank you for your travel videos Wolter! Especially this one about Vermont. We've never been in the US, but if we go there, New England is surely our first choice. Cheers from northern Italy!
Thank you for mentioning the interaction of the locals. Living in Vermont, easy to say that the locals have a sense of stranger danger. Hell, this year on the local news we are having some crazy run ins with the leaf peepers on their property for that perfect foliage photo, really tests their patients.
Just back from our first visit to Vermont and your 'don'ts' are spot on. I might add don't pay those highway tolls, driving the roads of Vermont and avoiding highways was great (yep it adds hours to your trip and you may not get above 40 but so much fun). Burlington may have a lot going for it, it also has a lot of homeless, drugs (we witnessed a drug deal right outside the parking garage) and mental health issues making it the one place we would not go back to visit again. We found the people of Vermont to be pretty friendly.
Thank you for this insightful comment. I have heard other people mention these things and I appreciate having an honest assessment of the area. I visited Burlington in 2020, and I definitely saw a substantial amount of homelessness and tent cities.
Burlington has become horrible post Covid. Vermonters don’t even go into Burlington anymore. Progressive transplants have ruined this once beautiful state 😢
He is right about Vermont brews. I go to Manchester Vermont every fall and bring beer back home to Tennessee. Switchback Karsten Lager and Von Trapp Helles Lager are my two favorite beers I’ve ever had. Absolutely fantastic.
@@titansfan4215 have you ever tried any lawsons finest? They treat their employees and community amazing. They make great beer and ive delivered to them before and they treated me amazing as well.
VT has been my home all my life - and always will be. As for the Best Creemee - Lake Willoughby General Store (Maple) Creemee is second to none. Not to mention the breathtaking views of the Lake for the top of either Pisgah or Hor (the mountains that line the east and west sides of the most beautiful lake in the State (the east?, the country? … maybe!). It’s the Northeast Kingdom’s trophy spot in my opinion! By the way - great take on things and thank you for the video!
SSSHHHHHH! Those are my favorite hunting/fishing spots ;) Don't let the tourists find out about it or in a few short years we will be overrun by out-of-staters.
I was born in St J during the ice storm of 98. My family has a maple farm in island Pond. Will definitely be stopping by the general store soon. Thank you!
as a new jerseyean who lived in vt/nh for about 9 months, i found vermonters very friendly! they didn't seem to be in any rush and if anything i felt like i was the one rushing them lol
Seriously, where were you cuz I lived here for 22yrs and I have met nothing but assholes. There is nothing but rude ignorant drug addicts. No body I’d friendly, no Vermonter will help you if you were dying in the side of the rode. I’m handicapped and walk with are crutches, my car broke down and I was on the side of the rode trying to wave down someone for help not one person stopped for over an hour finally i waves a $20 bill and someone stopped. So I don’t know what state you’re talking about but it sur isn’t Vermont.
I have been to Burlington, Montpelier, Warren, Norwich University and Northfield (Vermont 🇺🇸) for Indian summer 🍁🍂 a couple of weeks ago and I loved it 💛 Wonderful state and part of the USA 😃 Lukas from Dortmund, Germany 🇩🇪
Your video makes Vermont appearing so attractive. That was up to now one of the States I have never considered to visit in the USA. Very nice information! Edit: I forget to mention Poutine.... Yes my brother and I tried on a stopover in Canada (Montral). And we were not amused.... thinking like "if that is the National Food of Canada.... we rather would not try other food." No... Poutine for us was horrible.... But may be were just in a wrong place. Edit End.
Poutine isn’t for everybody. Heck some people don’t like coffee. We’ve only had it during the summer in Montreal where it was exceptional. It must be even better in the winter.
I was born in St. Johnsbury during the ice storm of 1998. My family has land and farms all over most prominently our maple farm in Island Pond. The people of Vermont like to be one with nature and like their privacy. We pride ourselves on our farms and our beautiful land and small communities. I love my home state so much. I’ve lived in 10 different states in the US and I’m saving up to move back to Vermont. I might end up buying land in Maine but either way I’ll always support my home state and hope to take over the maple farm one day❤️
I didn't realize this video was so new! I booked my first trip to Vermont in a couple weeks and was so happy to find it! Thanks for helping me look forward to it!
It’s not liberal everywhere. It’s definitely more conservative in true rural regions. Tourists often stick to Stowe and Burlington. True, generational VTers will tell you these towns are not “real” VT. Definitely go off the beaten path and visit other areas. Gagne’s Maple in Highgate has the best maple cremee. Also near Gagne’s is St. Albans which is a great midsize VT town with great restaurants, Farmers Markets, a great park on lake Champlain and a terrific veteran owned brewery (14th Star Brewing Company).
I hitchhiked across Vermont headed to Maine, agree, it's a beautiful state, crossed on a ferry somewhere south of Plattsburgh over to Burlington, so cool, then, spent the night at Goddard College in Plainfield (which I gather is now closed), students were super crunchy-granola and friendly, it was one of my early solo trips as a teen and a great adventure. No doubt Vermont is still a very charming place to visit.
I cannot recommend enough to rent an electric bike and ride along the waterfront bike path to and across the Colchester causeway in Burlington. It;s so amazing and STUNNING.... I loved it so much I did it three times. Make sure the bike ferry is running. Aslo the sunset dinner cruise on Lake Champlain is fun..
The Back roads are scary😆😆😆 without Gps, Naaa all roads leave to somewhere just Keep a full tank of gas. the best part of Vermont is the back roads!Get Lost on purpose it's the best way to experience VT God Bless you 🙏
You are very entertaining, and as a Vermonter, I have to say, you did a good job....thank you! now, that said, as a local, I'm glad we don't rely on Stowe or other touristy towns to entertain us..... thank god, we have our own 'hidden gems' that we don't share, and , they are out there!!
Vermonter here... lived here the past 14 years, so I guess I'm native by now. I wouldn't live anywhere else. You mention artisan beer. Lots of artisan COFFEE up here too. Each decent-sized town seems to have its own local coffee roaster. If nothing else, Speeder and Earl's in Burlington, Capitol Grounds in Montpelier = both are great local coffeemakers. And Vermont Coffee Company is sold pretty much everywhere, and Vermont Artisan is great too... but that doesn't even scratch the surface. But Vermont coffee is a great thing to take home to people. My pick for best cremee = Dairy Creme in Montpelier. Three favorite Vermont snack foods: Rosie's beef jerky! Eddie's Bakery Donuts! Steve's Whoopie Pies! (the orange creme or red velvet = wow) LOVE this video. Thank you from White River Junction.
I've been here since 95' and I still consider myself a Masshole LOL Just a Masshole living in beautiful Vermont. I've been here so long the state went from 🔴to🔵
I thought Vermont was "blue" when I got here, but I think that the politics here were actually best summed up by something I saw on a drive once near Bradford: a beautiful old barn on which was painted, in big white letters, USA OUT OF VERMONT!!!!! Most people up here just want to be left alone. Or as someone in a bank line in front of me a few years back said when the subject of our last president came up and he was asked "where are you going to go if it all blows up and gets crazy," "Dude, I'm HERE."
I visited Vermont last year had a great so peaceful there I just return from a few weeks ago I love it up I'm going back in 2 weeks. I have my best that lives up there. Great times there
My wife is a traveling nurse we love it here it’s so beautiful here tho I think Burlington isn’t what vermont is about the rest of the state is wonderful
Love ❤️ Vermont, the food 🥘 and the farmers market! And the history. Love ❤️ the deets. Thank you 😊 for sharing. I’ll remember to bring my pass- card next time. Also love ❤️ Colorado for skiing ⛷ . Also love 💗 Salem ( Mass) during Halloween 🎃 lol 😂!! It’s fun 🤩!! Plus a lot of history. Thanks, Amy
Allenholm Orchard in South Hero is the place to go for the best maple cremee you’ve ever experienced. It’s 20 minutes north of Burlington in the Champlain Islands. Lots of good food, biking, swimming, and one of the largest state parks for camping in VT (and it has a nice market nearby). Farmers Markets on Wednesday in South Hero and Saturday in Grand Isle.
You don't really Have to refrigerate maple syrup. When I was growing up we always had a big metal can in the cupboard or pantry, never any problem. (We've also had it in jugs and also no problem. We always buy 100% pure Vermont maple syrup.) If it does happen to get moldy (which I've never seen happen) you can just skim off the mold and boil it and it's good as new.
I’m the daughter of a Vermonter and I have never refrigerated maple syrup. I buy is by the gallon, and it’s never gotten moody. Of course, it doesn’t usually last long!
As a life-long Vermonter, I can add some insight about the perceived VT standoffishness. For many years, husband and wife actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward had a vacation house in Shelburne, VT. I recall an interview with them from some time in the 90's in the local newspaper. When asked why they liked it here it so much, they said they'd been visiting for decades and no one had ever approached them at a restaurant and asked for their autographs or even acknowledged who they were, even though everyone clearly knew who they were. A few years ago, Paul McCartney was visiting the Manchester, VT area and said something similar in an interview. My experience is that Vermonters tend have a strong sense of privacy and wouldn't presume to intrude on someone else's privacy. In a service setting (restaurant, shop, etc.), it's typically up to the customer to make the first move to initiate a more personal conversation, which the Vermonter may or may not follow-up on, but usually will if they're not too busy. As someone who's also a bit of a francophile, Vermonter's are aloof in much the same way that some American's think Parisians are rude or aloof. My experience is they aren't; you just need to understand their sense of privacy and how and when to talk with them. Another bit of advice, if you're traveling alone or with one other person, sit at the bar or counter of a restaurant. That's a signal that you're open to conversation. The counter staff or bar tender or your neighbors sitting at the bar are far more likely to chat than if you sit at a table.
Born and raised in VT, and while I no longer live there, this makes me miss it. But yes, the back roads were our highway, and getting stuck behind an out of state license plate was so frustrating. My parents lived in Northern VT, and it was 3.5 hours on back roads to get home. Slow drivers would make it unbearable!
As a multi generational Vermonter I had to weigh in on this video. Firstly…Vermont is not what Vermont used to be. There was a sense of community and of the old ways. Now, it’s a shell of its former self. This idea that Vermont is this great place! Why? Sure if you’re from out of State and you “relocated” here and have the big $$$$$$$ to actually live in Vermont, why not? But if you’re not loaded or weren’t born into a family business you’re probably not going to be able to afford to live here let alone finding a place to live in! Rent for a 1br apartment in the middle of nowhere’s is well over 1400.00/mo + utilities. Employment you ask? Well, its pretty much down to retail and construction. Walmart or restaurants or trade oriented which is ok IF you’re in your 20’s. Also, don’t assume it’s this “safe space” because it’s not. I’m living proof having been shot in an attempted murder, my biological father was murdered when I was 8…every night on the news there’s some form of violent crime here. Speaking of crime & Vermont…it’s void of any outlets for young people and riddled with heroin and fentanyl addicts. I know, I have a loved one who is struggling with this poison. Oh and riddled with methadone & suboxin (spelling) clinics to “treat” said addicted people. Now Vermont feels like a place where dreams go to die. It’s not this fairy tale that so many want to believe it is. I’m glad you found some good things yet…people should know that there is a lot of not so good here too. IMO more then the good. The biggest do not for visiting Vermont. Do not assume your safe because it’s “Vermont”. That was 40 years ago. Thanks & be well…
Thank you for this honest and insightful comment, I really do appreciate it. It is hard to find comments like these. I visited Burlington in 2020, and I was surprised when I saw significant amounts of homelessness and tent cities. I can only imagine how it is now, in 2023. If there is any additional information you would like to add, please feel free to reply back to me. Thank you again.
I was super excited to visit Vermont next week until I watched this video and read comments from locals. Doesn’t seem very inviting at all. Thanks for this!
You missed one of Vermonts best hidden gems when you didn't mention the lake Champlain islands. A string of small towns through northern VT with awesome orchards, winerys and restaurants, very popular as a summer retreat.
We visited Vermont in 1992 and then again in 2019. Prices have gone up especially in the touristy areas. However it’s still a great place to visit. The biggest mountain is Killington has the alpine skiing, the cross country skiing at the relatively flat base in the winter, then summer and fall the backpackers and mountain bikers are on their own trails! I hiked from our wonderful mountain meadows hotel which is on the Appalachian Trail to the top of Killington. It was great! It was august but cold so I grabbed a hot coffee at the lodge then rode the ski lift to the base. The lift riders heading up were all mountain bikers. Awesome!!! We loved our trip so much!
I lived and worked in Maine during the late 90s and spent a fair amount of time in all three upper New England states. I can honestly say that I never had a negative experience in my time there. People were mostly quite nice and friendly toward me, especially in Maine.
1:26 that parking lot has access to VAST and the riding is great if you got a nice sled. And by sled I mean snowmobile, Vermont lingo and all. It's in Woodford about 2 miles shy of Wilmington town line. If the summer or fall, spring, take the trail down to the water its serene
Have lived here my whole life. Grew up in Belvidere but have lived in Burlington the last 20 yrs. Vermont is great . Every time I pretend I want to move I'll just watch this video
Vermonter here: the best creemee spot is literally anywhere. You really can't go wrong, and out of staters won't be able to tell the difference between a good one and a really good one ;) plus we don't want lines at our favorite places so we'll never let you know... The best advice I have is that if you want to see the real Vermont, don't stick to Burlington, Stowe, and Killington. Go to the lesser talked about towns. You'll have less crowds of other out of staters and see how VTers actually live.
In response to visiting Rutland….it is a great little city with many good restaurants, a huge farmer’s market and a wonderful live music/entertainment venue, the Paramount.
The only thing you missed is "DON'T get stuck driving through The Notch during leaf peeping season." I know your video is intended for tourists and not truckers coming here but it doesn't hurt to mention that almost every year trucks get stuck on the notch road and have to be removed with special crews. The road gets down to one lane and goes around enormous boulders at the top. A regular car fits but a tractor trailer doesn't. Drivers get a $2400 fine if they get stuck.
I remember hearing about someone who ignored the warning signs and tried to get their motor home through the Notch. They for it wedged in so tight it had to be cut apart. They lost their very expensive vehicle AND had to pay a whopping fine. Take the warning signs seriously!
1 mile sure does not equal 1 minute of driving here in VT!! There are no East-West major highways, only North-South ones so any type of travel in the East-West axis will be on small rural highways that are limited to 50 mph at their fastest and then drop to 40, 35, or 25 as they pass into small towns and villages. It is a lovely place to drive through and I love living here now. Enjoy the slow pace!
To me, going to Vermont in fall from the Caribbean is the opposite of Americans leaving the cold to sit on a beach, Its an escape from daily life and the summer heat.
Maple city candy.... OMG there maple creameeeee is to die for.. omg its sooooo good. iam goin to bring cooked bacon next time and try it with it on.. omg i bet its goin to be good
locals are amazing in VT, i live in MA, seeing my plates doesn't always make vermonters jump with joy but i got stuck in mud pulling off a road and a local with a truck pulled me out within 15 minutes
I did a solo road trip to the NE states a couple years ago during leaf-peeping season. I have to say as much as I LOVED Vermont the people weren't the nicest. I remember a car honked furiously at me as I was taking a while to get onto a busy two-way road - not my fault, there was literally too much traffic to get on. Then I remember getting a burger at Burger King and I wanted to eat in my car but the parking lot was full so I decided to park at an abandoned hotel parking lot next door. After a few minutes, the manager of the hotel came out and told me to leave. I thought it was abandoned but it wasn't. She wasn't very nice about it either. The people were just strange. 🤷🏼♀But the state is GORGEOUS.
Yeah as a lifelong Vermonter here I don’t really get why the people were mentioned cause honestly we're a mixed bag here. Like as progressive as the state is in general, for every hippy there’s a bigot/racist/___phobic person. For every happy willing to help person, there’s an annoyed person who just want to be left alone or somebody that’s not great company in general. But seriously everyone is pretty quick to get upset on the road. Even here where we have snowy winters every year there’s even Vermonters who drive like idiots and don’t account for the snow or black ice or ice in general. As well as just driving like idiots in general, and a number of those people here can get angry if you don’t move fast enough for them or aren’t driving the same dumb way as them so they'll honk at ya for something out of your control or try to drive around you and get stuck in the ditch or behind the line still like an idiot! I’m sorry you had to deal with the rude people while you were here, but I’m sure you can see why a good number of us just go home. Half the other people here are just too much!
@@seasalt_ Yeah, I guess I shouldn't say all people were bad, that's not fair. You make a good point though, all of my bad incidents involved me being in my car. lol
Vermonters…a subset of the population at least…cultivate their weirdness. It can be charming, unless it is the uncle you invite to Thanksgiving…because no one else will put up with him.
best place for creemees in vt is at a store called pump and pantry in williamstown numerouse flavors and many people from all over vt go to get creemees there. and pro tip for visiting in winter or stayimg throughout winter is to get brand new winter tires from somewhere they are a must in the rough vt winters
I'm a native Vermonter, and this is absolutely 100% spot on perfect! Don't take our New England Shield as a sign we don't like you. Vermont tends to lean towards introversion and we are pretty quiet with each other as well. What may seem distant to you, might seem like respecting your privacy to us.
@@surbon514 my son lives in NH, so I visit VT often as well. The locals may not be exuberant, but I found them to be friendly. I love VT!
I’m a Vermonter. Out of state friends always laugh at me because I have a landline. They just refuse to believe I don’t have cell service unless I climb the mountain behind my house. 😄
I miss my land line and NO ANSWERING MACHINE!!!
@@nickpvb I have to drive 5 miles to get a cell signal here in the NEK, thus I have both a landline and a cell.
Stella we just got rid of our landline, but I have wifi. Xfinity said it cost $44 a month! I just started streaming too, dumped that $235 cable bill. Hello from Lake Dunmore
When my sister visited me and tried to get cell service driving on 91, her carrier said she was in a foreign country and would be charged roaming charges! 😂
The Ford dealer in Stockbridge only got internet two years ago.
Vermont banned billboards in 1968 as a measure to prevent visual blight, because we know how beautiful our state is. There was a battle to exclude Walmart too, but we lost that one.
Can't forget our lawsuit against McDonalds when they served "Hotcakes with maple syrup" even though it wasn't real syrup. We won that case and now McDonalds serves "Hotcakes with Hotcake syrup"
Lost the Walmart battle and now you have Williston Four Corners developed into 24 corners.
That is the funniest thing I’ve ever heard. And I love it. Banning billboards to prevent visual blight, an action after my dear own heart.
@@rhemy1 It's really striking what a mess New York looks like when you cross that border.
@@dnwitte not to mention New Hampshire, the proudly vulturous state, which lives on visitors from Mass…especially the tobacco addicts, who prefer to die of untaxed nicotine.
Don't let your gas tank get too low. Vermont doesn't have a lot of gas stations.
Good advice for any place at any time. My Dad's #1 rule is never go below 1/4 tank. #2 Bad weather incoming? FILL UP YOUR TANK!! You just never know. 🤷
Last time I visited VT I collapsed due to dehydration following a 50k. Totally my fault. Luckily some locals were near me and decided to drive my car to the nearest hospital, all while talking to me to keep me awake. I’ll never forget the kindness of that day.
Not stopping in the middle of the road is just plain polite and sensible. I loved my time in Vermont.
Just moved here last winter - this is all really accurate! Can agree- I moved up here because I'm an introvert and Vermont has always been my vibe. Keep in mind for shopping there's no plastic bags- bring your own bags for shopping or be prepared to buy the paper alternative (sometimes not offered). Antique markets tend to be completely picked over near Burlington due to the college- furniture tends to pop up near the end of the semester but otherwise, it's slim pickings. Everything and anything is local - even my hair stylist uses stuff on my hair that she gets from the farmers markets on the weekends. There's multiple a week depending on the town and season.
Lucky!!! I would love to move to Vermont ❤️
I live on the West Coast of Ireland, and Vermont is one of the only states in the US that I would love to visit. Great review, and also fantastic to see locals come on to the comments section to offer their approval. Always a good sign.
Why don’t you want to visit more states?
My grandparents were from Co. Cavan. They loved Vermont because it looked like home. Irish and Scottish immigrants worked in the slate quarries.
Great video as usual. One thing about restaurants during leaf peeping season…call ahead no matter what town you’re visiting…they ALL book up quickly. Often a 60-90 minute wait during peak foliage. Also, visit Waterbury’s Cold Hollow Mill for their apple cider and cider donuts.
I've lived in Vermont my whole life. It can be a lot of fun with its small town charm. The lakes and hiking trails are great. The farmer's markets have great food, crafts, music, and more. Outdoors concerts happen throughout the summer. There are some cool outdoor drive-In theaters. There is skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, and ice skating in the winters. There is a lot to do. 😊
Fair warning...
-Mosquitos can get REALLY bad in the summer. Use bug spray!
-And most important... there are lots of ticks! Use tick repellent when you explore nature. Also, check your skin fully when you get a chance after! If you get a tick off your skin quickly enough you will be fine. But if it stays on long enough you are at risk of getting Lyme disease, which sucks. Please be careful!
***And finally, please be careful when exploring local watering holes. If you can't swim, or don't know how deep the water is below, take caution. There are sad cases where lives are lost because people are stupid around water.***
You forgot to mention the black flies in the Spring. Nasty little buggers for sure.
Ayuh!
The mosquito thing kind of surprised me. Maybe I've been lucky, but I've never had any problem with mosquitoes.
GREENHEAD FLIES, though, are another story. They're a scourge and a menace and must be eradicated.
@@maxshenkwrites Hi Max! You are right that tiny ticks cause a special threat. While it is true that tiny, immature deer ticks can and do spread Lyme disease, full sized, Adult ticks also carry the disease and can pass it on to human hosts. That, plus the other nasty diseases that ticks carry make it worthwhile to check yourself for ticks-even the visible ones. Had a friend in Northeastern VT who nearly died of ehrlichiosis, which is another super-nasty tick-borne disease. Also, another tick-borne disease, anaplasmosis, will make you very sick. No matter what their size, ticks are little disease factories. Always check yourself.
I have lived here my whole life so far and the worst is people moving here and trying to change it to the area there from.
I live on Lake Dunmore and some lawyers bought the land across the street and were treating the neighborhood like a HOA!
We straightend that out fast, they were very pushy
I Agree! Unfortunately there are way too many people who have flocked and are still flocking to the state and changing it. I miss the Vermont I grew up in
I have a second home owner adjacent to my property. He is from Long Island, New York. He thinks he is in his personal Disneyland when he comes here. He is so obnoxious, I cut off his ability to telephone me.
100% When people come here and find things they don't like and try to change it, it really pisses us off. If you dont like Bears or Woodchucks in your back yard, or dirt roads with potholes, or any road with potholes, then here is not where you want to be. One other thing , maple syrup is not a religion.
@@chrissy1310 My aunt and uncle live pretty close to Branbury beach
Perfect timing! I’m here in Vermont for the first time. We went to the farmers market yesterday. I’m really enjoying this vacation. 🍁
I’ve only lived in Vermont for two years, but I feel like there are two different “feels” to the state. The Northern half has the Canadian vibe of being laid back, and independent. The Southern half has more of the East Coast edginess and is going to feel more like a normal New England area without all the stores and traffic.
Cool
Canadians aren't "laid back". Nor are they "independent". You're talking out your keister.
I totally messed up! Montpelier is the capital! My son even reminded me before i filmed this. I suck and I apologize to the Montpelier and Vermonters out there. I suck. I'm sorry.
lol
😂You do not suck
Vermonter, here. We forgive you, Mark!
Errare Masculinum est !
Some of us affectionately call it Mont-peculiar.
As a former NYC guy turned Vermont resident. (My wife grew up in New England and is from Burlington) you hit the nail on the head. Most people from Vermont are either 10th generation or actively sought to move here by choice, so yes Vermonters like Vermont stuff. If you like Mead we got you fam., we don’t just do beer here
I like that you refer to yourself as a Vermont resident.
Being a lifelong Mainer... there seems to be a trend lately (at least in southern Maine) where a lot of new comers are openly calling themselves Mainers, and even defending the trend: "I took the step/made the effort/ life change, etc of moving here, therefore I reserve the right of calling myself a Mainer".
It might seem petty, but it's a little annoying, and feels kind of disrespectful.
Go back to NYC.
@@AZ-kr6ff as a life long Vermonter,I agree.
But The Alchemist is from Vermont. Heady Topper is a sought after IPA
wym, dont do beer lmao
von trapp, hill farmstead, the alchemist, lawsons, switchback, zero gravity, burlington beer co, i can keep going
Thank you so much for your first two don'ts. Our two lane paved and dirt roads may look like untraveled backroads to visitors but these are our highways. We're trying to get to and from work, the store, school etc and we tend to travel fast on these quaint looking byways because we're familiar with them. Holding us up to gawk is irritating. Our roads also are winding and can have limited sight distances. Stopping in the road without being aware of this could lead to an unfortunate meeting with a milk or logging truck that was not expecting you to stop in a blind curve.
That, and never, never stop in the middle of a covered bridge since the majority of them are one lane.
I live on Lake Dunmore, you should see the action during the summer on these narrow roads. In the spring when the sand is on the roads from the winter, if your walking you can pretty much eat it when a car goes by LOL
It also makes it hard for delivery trucks.
@@scottcampbell4678 If you’ve lived or especially, driven, in Boston, you immediately see that this mob is not about to mind the rules of the road…anywhere.,,
@@liannebedard5521 I have driven in Boston a few times. The nice thing about driving in Boston is being able to do the stupidest things and no one cares
As someone living in Montreal, I've gone to nearby Vermont quite a few times, not to mention passing through there on the way to Boston or elsewhere in New England. I *really* love Vermont for a whole bunch of reasons!!!
Vermonter, here. Great video!!
A couple things to add- mud season, there will be roads that are not passable and you will get stuck, at times no matter what vehicle you have.
The Killington region was not mentioned, but it is a fantastic area for skiing and all kinds of sports all year. Great hiking, biking, so much more.
One of the best places in the state to have breakfast is Sugar and Spice in Mendon, Rutland Couny.
The covered bridges, we have 3 in our little town. I go through 2 regularly. Keep in mind that most covered bridges are 1 lane only so you need to see if someone id drivibg through before going gang busters through one. Also, KNOW the height of your vehicle and pleasd stop taking out the beautiful covered bridges. Also if you are taking photos around the bridges be aware of traffic. There are probably locals trying to get home and we would like to get there without having to wait for picture after picture.
As for the moose and bears, yes they are around! You are far more likely to see bears than moose. We actually see bears quite regularly.
So true about what is said about mosquitos in the video. And ticks. If you are hiking, be aware of ticks too.
Mosters, if you see Champ on Lake Champlain, that would be awesome!
Some people have strong opinions on Sasquatch. An episode of "Finding Bigfoot" was filmed in Chittenden, VT at the Chittenden dam. If you have not been there it is gorgeous. Especially in the fall. A great place for hiking, swimming and fishing too.
I am not a native Vermonter, but have lived here for 10 years. I agree that locals can be stand offish to out of staters and some are downright hostile. I think tourism is great for the state, but not everyone (especially generational Vermonter families) agree. Something to be aware of.
But please come visit. Have some syrup. Vermont cheese is great too. Our family loves Cabot cheese.
One thing I have to say about Vermont is that the sense of community here is incredible. Each little town generally offers all kinds of activities and festivals for families. A lot of people volunteer. The Arts are also very rich. There are lots of theater companies including fantastic youth theaters.
The opportunity to get produce from farms in the summer is great. It is everywhere. The taste is so much better than the grocery store and you are directly supporting a hard working farmer.
Anyway, I think I said a lot. Again, great video!
Awesome additions !
12th generation Vermonter here! My favorite spots for maple creemees are Burlington Bay Cafe, The Mill Market, and Shelburne County Store. If you ARE here in mud season (end of March, early April), try to catch maple open house weekend to watch sugaring in action and taste some sugar on snow!
I see a new video- I automatically click. Simple as that . Been following you for 6 years already - highly appreciate your dedication, honesty and hard work
I binged your Europe videos before our trip there in 2019 and they were super helpful. And just last week we were in Vermont and we could really have used some of these tips! 😄 Oh well - we’ll know for next year.
I found the people to be very friendly, as soon as they heard my accent and knew I wasn’t from NY, or Massachusetts they became quite accommodating and friendly. Course the Massholes are insufferable. I figured that out in the two weeks I spent in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.
So much of this applies to NH too.
It does but I think Vermont is prettier. There's something about the trees and soils that make it special. New Hampshire is easier to drive around as its topography allows a major road in the center while Vermont's mountains prevent that.
you are so right
@@craiglevy8144 I love Vermont, but I think there are plenty of areas in New Hampshire that are much prettier than Vermont. The White Mountains for example! Have you ever driven up mount Washington? Mt Mansfield doesn't compare to that at all! I'd even say that the colors in New Hampshire seem brighter in the fall than Vermont in most places! Plus we have the ocean and wicked beautiful towns like Portsmouth!
N.H. Is better. I love the people in N.H. The people in N.H. are very nice. The people in Vermont are assholes trust me I know I have lived here for 22yrs and have not seen or met one nice person.
@@treytonketola6469 Spoken like someone from NH LOL
As a Canadian, I find this list of 'Dont's' of Vermont hilarious.
Ludlow. He’s concentrating more on the southern part of Vermont.
My family and I got a chance to visit Vermont last month, and it was amazing! Gorgeous place and lovely people.
As a Vermonter, I have to say you did a pretty good job with this, but I do have 3 things to mention: first, we locals are pretty friendly to the tourists who treat us well. Second, "creemee" is a term rarely heard in southern VT. Third, the black flies and ticks are more of a worry than the mosquitos.
Have you ever been to Salisbury, the mosquitoes are horrible?
Southern Vermont doesn’t count. Vermonters say “creemee.” Love it or leave it.
@@amorpaz1 Tell that to my family, who've been here for 9 generations ...
@@kitthazelton2309 lol I'm joking
The ticks… oh my gosh, the ticks 😩
I spent every summer in northeastern Vt when I was a kid, and I lived there myself for four years. It is beautiful. Lotso f bears in northern VT. Also, porcupines, foxes, deer, and an occasional Canadian lynx. Spot in about the cell service. The pine trees and granite eat the signals. You can usually get a few bars at the top of a hill. Also, be prepared for ticks! There are loads of them. Check yourself for ticks after you’ve spent time outside. Also, unfortunately, a fair amount of drug activity in the woods. Keep your wits about you while hiking.
Don't underestimate Lake Champlain. It is beautiful, large, and can change from flat calm to huge waves in a very short amount of time. I've worked on Lake Champlain for years and have seen this lake do some impressive things. Keep an eye on the forecast, if you're going on the main lake add 12-15 mph to the wind forecast when it's above 5mph.
I always hope they will put those GIANT fish, they have couped up in the tank at ECO back in the Lake. So cruel. 8 ft fish in this small tank for life. Anyone want to help me break them out?
Thank you for your travel videos Wolter! Especially this one about Vermont. We've never been in the US, but if we go there, New England is surely our first choice. Cheers from northern Italy!
Thank you for mentioning the interaction of the locals. Living in Vermont, easy to say that the locals have a sense of stranger danger. Hell, this year on the local news we are having some crazy run ins with the leaf peepers on their property for that perfect foliage photo, really tests their patients.
I'm so happy that I live in Montreal.. I can drive down to Burlington every weekend and enjoy Vermont
Glad you did a Vermont state video. That’s where I call home
i love vermont. So beautiful and such good beer (and honestly vermont maple syrup is the best)
@@woltersworld totally agree. I cannot eat fake syrup it tastes nasty to me now having grown up with real pure maple syrup
When you buy Maple syrup, but Grade B. A richer flavor. @@woltersworld
I love how the bridge he is talking about how great it to drive has a concrete block that keeps you from driving on it
Just back from our first visit to Vermont and your 'don'ts' are spot on. I might add don't pay those highway tolls, driving the roads of Vermont and avoiding highways was great (yep it adds hours to your trip and you may not get above 40 but so much fun). Burlington may have a lot going for it, it also has a lot of homeless, drugs (we witnessed a drug deal right outside the parking garage) and mental health issues making it the one place we would not go back to visit again. We found the people of Vermont to be pretty friendly.
We don’t have toll roads in Vermont, except for the very few private toll roads (like the Stowe Toll Road).
No tolls here in Vermont. Only paid roads are mountain roads that you pay to get to the top, etc...
Oops, just saw the comment above mine LOL
Thank you for this insightful comment. I have heard other people mention these things and I appreciate having an honest assessment of the area. I visited Burlington in 2020, and I definitely saw a substantial amount of homelessness and tent cities.
Burlington has become horrible post Covid. Vermonters don’t even go into Burlington anymore. Progressive transplants have ruined this once beautiful state 😢
Your opening statements are greatly appreciated!
Number one also applies to the rest of New England too. DO NOT BLOCK TRAFFIC!!
Especially on the rural back roads.
Try telling that to Boston drivers…
I regularly make my own version of Poutine here in Texas!! 😋
A Big Southern "Thank you" to our Northern Brothers. 🤘
He is right about Vermont brews. I go to Manchester Vermont every fall and bring beer back home to Tennessee. Switchback Karsten Lager and Von Trapp Helles Lager are my two favorite beers I’ve ever had. Absolutely fantastic.
You should definitely hit the von trapp brewery next time you come up. It has gorgeous views and great beer
@@johnnywaffles2482 I definitely want to!
@@titansfan4215 have you ever tried any lawsons finest? They treat their employees and community amazing. They make great beer and ive delivered to them before and they treated me amazing as well.
I grew up in Vt. My daughter just got married this past weekend on their 80 acres north of Brattleboro. I'm now living in Scotland. I love them both.
Vermont and Scotland feel a lot alike, don’t they?
Wow 🤩
Flying out to Vermont today for fall break. Thanks for the last minute advice 😂
Take me with you 🥹😮💨
@@iamthanos554 haha next time!?
@@bridges3752 sounds like a plan if you're actually serious 🥹
I'm a vermonter, but I'm moving to Wisconsin hopefully during the summer, so much cheaper then here, plus I like someone out there
VT has been my home all my life - and always will be. As for the Best Creemee - Lake Willoughby General Store (Maple) Creemee is second to none. Not to mention the breathtaking views of the Lake for the top of either Pisgah or Hor (the mountains that line the east and west sides of the most beautiful lake in the State (the east?, the country? … maybe!). It’s the Northeast Kingdom’s trophy spot in my opinion! By the way - great take on things and thank you for the video!
SSSHHHHHH! Those are my favorite hunting/fishing spots ;)
Don't let the tourists find out about it or in a few short years we will be overrun by out-of-staters.
I was born in St J during the ice storm of 98. My family has a maple farm in island Pond. Will definitely be stopping by the general store soon. Thank you!
I love Vermont. My mother's family came from Springfield/Chester area. It truly is a beautiful state!
Vermont is nice
Don’t drive in Vermont with a headlight out. They don’t have much street lights.
As a Vermonter born and raised, this is pretty accurate.
as a new jerseyean who lived in vt/nh for about 9 months, i found vermonters very friendly! they didn't seem to be in any rush and if anything i felt like i was the one rushing them lol
Seriously, where were you cuz I lived here for 22yrs and I have met nothing but assholes. There is nothing but rude ignorant drug addicts. No body I’d friendly, no Vermonter will help you if you were dying in the side of the rode. I’m handicapped and walk with are crutches, my car broke down and I was on the side of the rode trying to wave down someone for help not one person stopped for over an hour finally i waves a $20 bill and someone stopped. So I don’t know what state you’re talking about but it sur isn’t Vermont.
@@franciswright6672 i was in white river junction 🤷 i'm sorry that happened to you...
I have been to Burlington, Montpelier, Warren, Norwich University and Northfield (Vermont 🇺🇸) for Indian summer 🍁🍂 a couple of weeks ago and I loved it 💛 Wonderful state and part of the USA 😃 Lukas from Dortmund, Germany 🇩🇪
Your video makes Vermont appearing so attractive. That was up to now one of the States I have never considered to visit in the USA.
Very nice information!
Edit: I forget to mention Poutine.... Yes my brother and I tried on a stopover in Canada (Montral). And we were not amused.... thinking like "if that is the National Food of Canada.... we rather would not try other food." No... Poutine for us was horrible.... But may be were just in a wrong place. Edit End.
Poutine isn’t for everybody. Heck some people don’t like coffee. We’ve only had it during the summer in Montreal where it was exceptional. It must be even better in the winter.
I was born in St. Johnsbury during the ice storm of 1998. My family has land and farms all over most prominently our maple farm in Island Pond. The people of Vermont like to be one with nature and like their privacy. We pride ourselves on our farms and our beautiful land and small communities. I love my home state so much. I’ve lived in 10 different states in the US and I’m saving up to move back to Vermont. I might end up buying land in Maine but either way I’ll always support my home state and hope to take over the maple farm one day❤️
I didn't realize this video was so new! I booked my first trip to Vermont in a couple weeks and was so happy to find it! Thanks for helping me look forward to it!
It’s not liberal everywhere. It’s definitely more conservative in true rural regions. Tourists often stick to Stowe and Burlington. True, generational VTers will tell you these towns are not “real” VT. Definitely go off the beaten path and visit other areas. Gagne’s Maple in Highgate has the best maple cremee. Also near Gagne’s is St. Albans which is a great midsize VT town with great restaurants, Farmers Markets, a great park on lake Champlain and a terrific veteran owned brewery (14th Star Brewing Company).
I hitchhiked across Vermont headed to Maine, agree, it's a beautiful state, crossed on a ferry somewhere south of Plattsburgh over to Burlington, so cool, then, spent the night at Goddard College in Plainfield (which I gather is now closed), students were super crunchy-granola and friendly, it was one of my early solo trips as a teen and a great adventure. No doubt Vermont is still a very charming place to visit.
I cannot recommend enough to rent an electric bike and ride along the waterfront bike path to and across the Colchester causeway in Burlington. It;s so amazing and STUNNING.... I loved it so much I did it three times. Make sure the bike ferry is running. Aslo the sunset dinner cruise on Lake Champlain is fun..
The Back roads are scary😆😆😆 without Gps, Naaa all roads leave to somewhere just Keep a full tank of gas. the best part of Vermont is the back roads!Get Lost on purpose it's the best way to experience VT God Bless you 🙏
I live in Vermont and you are spot on!!
I'd highly suggest visiting Spurbury, VT. Just don't get stopped by Officer Farva!
You are very entertaining, and as a Vermonter, I have to say, you did a good job....thank you! now, that said, as a local, I'm glad we don't rely on Stowe or other touristy towns to entertain us..... thank god, we have our own 'hidden gems' that we don't share, and , they are out there!!
Came here to say that. The best parts of our state are most certainly not in Stowe.
Good luck finding a Creemee out of season. Many New Englanders love ice cream year-round, but Vermont creemees seem to only exist in the Summer.
While in Burlington, recommend visiting Vermont since it's very close by 😀 (New Yorks Eastern Shore)
Burlington is on their 24th or 25th shooting for the year. That's what happens when socialists take over.
Vermonter here... lived here the past 14 years, so I guess I'm native by now. I wouldn't live anywhere else.
You mention artisan beer. Lots of artisan COFFEE up here too. Each decent-sized town seems to have its own local coffee roaster. If nothing else, Speeder and Earl's in Burlington, Capitol Grounds in Montpelier = both are great local coffeemakers. And Vermont Coffee Company is sold pretty much everywhere, and Vermont Artisan is great too... but that doesn't even scratch the surface. But Vermont coffee is a great thing to take home to people.
My pick for best cremee = Dairy Creme in Montpelier.
Three favorite Vermont snack foods:
Rosie's beef jerky!
Eddie's Bakery Donuts!
Steve's Whoopie Pies! (the orange creme or red velvet = wow)
LOVE this video. Thank you from White River Junction.
I've been here since 95' and I still consider myself a Masshole LOL Just a Masshole living in beautiful Vermont. I've been here so long the state went from 🔴to🔵
I thought Vermont was "blue" when I got here, but I think that the politics here were actually best summed up by something I saw on a drive once near Bradford: a beautiful old barn on which was painted, in big white letters, USA OUT OF VERMONT!!!!!
Most people up here just want to be left alone.
Or as someone in a bank line in front of me a few years back said when the subject of our last president came up and he was asked "where are you going to go if it all blows up and gets crazy," "Dude, I'm HERE."
@@maxshenkwrites The barn people probably were members of the "seceding the union" group with the green flag with a blue square and white stars.
Sorry but your not a native unless you were born in VT.
@@cathyhughes991
1 - "You're"
2 - Whatever.
Being a Western NC native. The leaf looker rules apply here as well. That being said Vermont looks amazingly beautiful!
As a VT resident I’d like to add that people on bicycles can be very careless on the roads and when crossing roads. Drives me crazy sometimes…
Hahaha yes, thank you for reminding me to shake my camera a lot when I see the monster so I can sell the footage! Best tip!!! 😂😂
I visited Vermont last year had a great so peaceful there I just return from a few weeks ago I love it up I'm going back in 2 weeks. I have my best that lives up there. Great times there
I have 49 states under my belt, just need to check off Vermont. Sooo, maybe not in the Spring, as I had planned. Thanks, Mark!
@@howarddamico1237 😂It might be a long wait!
I don’t know how I missed Vermont, but i guess I’m just talented like that😂
Saving the best til last.
My wife is a traveling nurse we love it here it’s so beautiful here tho I think Burlington isn’t what vermont is about the rest of the state is wonderful
Love ❤️ Vermont, the food 🥘 and the farmers market! And the history. Love ❤️ the deets. Thank you 😊 for sharing. I’ll remember to bring my pass- card next time. Also love ❤️ Colorado for skiing ⛷ . Also love 💗 Salem ( Mass) during Halloween 🎃 lol 😂!! It’s fun 🤩!! Plus a lot of history. Thanks, Amy
Allenholm Orchard in South Hero is the place to go for the best maple cremee you’ve ever experienced. It’s 20 minutes north of Burlington in the Champlain Islands. Lots of good food, biking, swimming, and one of the largest state parks for camping in VT (and it has a nice market nearby). Farmers Markets on Wednesday in South Hero and Saturday in Grand Isle.
Up near the sand bar.
You don't really Have to refrigerate maple syrup. When I was growing up we always had a big metal can in the cupboard or pantry, never any problem. (We've also had it in jugs and also no problem. We always buy 100% pure Vermont maple syrup.) If it does happen to get moldy (which I've never seen happen) you can just skim off the mold and boil it and it's good as new.
I’m the daughter of a Vermonter and I have never refrigerated maple syrup. I buy is by the gallon, and it’s never gotten moody. Of course, it doesn’t usually last long!
You simply re boil it. If sets for years it turns into crystal
As a Vermonter, I'm happy to hear you have good tips for visiting.
As a life-long Vermonter, I can add some insight about the perceived VT standoffishness.
For many years, husband and wife actors Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward had a vacation house in Shelburne, VT. I recall an interview with them from some time in the 90's in the local newspaper. When asked why they liked it here it so much, they said they'd been visiting for decades and no one had ever approached them at a restaurant and asked for their autographs or even acknowledged who they were, even though everyone clearly knew who they were.
A few years ago, Paul McCartney was visiting the Manchester, VT area and said something similar in an interview.
My experience is that Vermonters tend have a strong sense of privacy and wouldn't presume to intrude on someone else's privacy. In a service setting (restaurant, shop, etc.), it's typically up to the customer to make the first move to initiate a more personal conversation, which the Vermonter may or may not follow-up on, but usually will if they're not too busy.
As someone who's also a bit of a francophile, Vermonter's are aloof in much the same way that some American's think Parisians are rude or aloof. My experience is they aren't; you just need to understand their sense of privacy and how and when to talk with them.
Another bit of advice, if you're traveling alone or with one other person, sit at the bar or counter of a restaurant. That's a signal that you're open to conversation. The counter staff or bar tender or your neighbors sitting at the bar are far more likely to chat than if you sit at a table.
Born and raised in VT, and while I no longer live there, this makes me miss it. But yes, the back roads were our highway, and getting stuck behind an out of state license plate was so frustrating. My parents lived in Northern VT, and it was 3.5 hours on back roads to get home. Slow drivers would make it unbearable!
As a multi generational Vermonter I had to weigh in on this video. Firstly…Vermont is not what Vermont used to be. There was a sense of community and of the old ways. Now, it’s a shell of its former self. This idea that Vermont is this great place! Why? Sure if you’re from out of State and you “relocated” here and have the big $$$$$$$ to actually live in Vermont, why not? But if you’re not loaded or weren’t born into a family business you’re probably not going to be able to afford to live here let alone finding a place to live in! Rent for a 1br apartment in the middle of nowhere’s is well over 1400.00/mo + utilities. Employment you ask? Well, its pretty much down to retail and construction. Walmart or restaurants or trade oriented which is ok IF you’re in your 20’s. Also, don’t assume it’s this “safe space” because it’s not. I’m living proof having been shot in an attempted murder, my biological father was murdered when I was 8…every night on the news there’s some form of violent crime here. Speaking of crime & Vermont…it’s void of any outlets for young people and riddled with heroin and fentanyl addicts. I know, I have a loved one who is struggling with this poison. Oh and riddled with methadone & suboxin (spelling) clinics to “treat” said addicted people. Now Vermont feels like a place where dreams go to die. It’s not this fairy tale that so many want to believe it is. I’m glad you found some good things yet…people should know that there is a lot of not so good here too. IMO more then the good. The biggest do not for visiting Vermont. Do not assume your safe because it’s “Vermont”. That was 40 years ago. Thanks & be well…
Thank you for this honest and insightful comment, I really do appreciate it. It is hard to find comments like these.
I visited Burlington in 2020, and I was surprised when I saw significant amounts of homelessness and tent cities.
I can only imagine how it is now, in 2023.
If there is any additional information you would like to add, please feel free to reply back to me.
Thank you again.
2023 even middlebury has tents and crime starting up.
I was super excited to visit Vermont next week until I watched this video and read comments from locals. Doesn’t seem very inviting at all. Thanks for this!
Don't freak out when I pass multiple peepers on a double yellow line, it's completely legal in Vermont.
Good to know.
Good to know.
Love Vermont, visited Rutland and Killington three times
cool!
You missed one of Vermonts best hidden gems when you didn't mention the lake Champlain islands. A string of small towns through northern VT with awesome orchards, winerys and restaurants, very popular as a summer retreat.
Oh, please keep that secret. That is my favorite place in VT.
First one here. Just wanted to say hi and I enjoy your videos.
We visited Vermont in 1992 and then again in 2019. Prices have gone up especially in the touristy areas.
However it’s still a great place to visit. The biggest mountain is Killington has the alpine skiing, the cross country skiing at the relatively flat base in the winter, then summer and fall the backpackers and mountain bikers are on their own trails! I hiked from our wonderful mountain meadows hotel which is on the Appalachian Trail to the top of Killington. It was great! It was august but cold so I grabbed a hot coffee at the lodge then rode the ski lift to the base. The lift riders heading up were all mountain bikers. Awesome!!!
We loved our trip so much!
Our biggest mountain it Mt.Mansfield
I lived and worked in Maine during the late 90s and spent a fair amount of time in all three upper New England states. I can honestly say that I never had a negative experience in my time there. People were mostly quite nice and friendly toward me, especially in Maine.
1:26 that parking lot has access to VAST and the riding is great if you got a nice sled. And by sled I mean snowmobile, Vermont lingo and all. It's in Woodford about 2 miles shy of Wilmington town line. If the summer or fall, spring, take the trail down to the water its serene
Wow! I went to UVM. Thank god I saw this video. Now I know all the things I was missing all those years living in Vermont!
I love Mom and Pop Farm the table restaurants instead of the mass production bland food chain restaurants
Have lived here my whole life. Grew up in Belvidere but have lived in Burlington the last 20 yrs. Vermont is great . Every time I pretend I want to move I'll just watch this video
Vermonter here: the best creemee spot is literally anywhere. You really can't go wrong, and out of staters won't be able to tell the difference between a good one and a really good one ;) plus we don't want lines at our favorite places so we'll never let you know... The best advice I have is that if you want to see the real Vermont, don't stick to Burlington, Stowe, and Killington. Go to the lesser talked about towns. You'll have less crowds of other out of staters and see how VTers actually live.
yeah visit towns like Rutland.
Spot on, I wont give out any locations to go because I dont particularly want to be in line with all the tourists.
Nah don't listen to kayla, Burlington Stowe and Killington are the best. go there!
In response to visiting Rutland….it is a great little city with many good restaurants, a huge farmer’s market and a wonderful live music/entertainment venue, the Paramount.
None of these "don'ts" put me off at all! What a beautiful State!
The only thing you missed is "DON'T get stuck driving through The Notch during leaf peeping season." I know your video is intended for tourists and not truckers coming here but it doesn't hurt to mention that almost every year trucks get stuck on the notch road and have to be removed with special crews. The road gets down to one lane and goes around enormous boulders at the top. A regular car fits but a tractor trailer doesn't. Drivers get a $2400 fine if they get stuck.
I remember hearing about someone who ignored the warning signs and tried to get their motor home through the Notch. They for it wedged in so tight it had to be cut apart. They lost their very expensive vehicle AND had to pay a whopping fine. Take the warning signs seriously!
1 mile sure does not equal 1 minute of driving here in VT!! There are no East-West major highways, only North-South ones so any type of travel in the East-West axis will be on small rural highways that are limited to 50 mph at their fastest and then drop to 40, 35, or 25 as they pass into small towns and villages. It is a lovely place to drive through and I love living here now. Enjoy the slow pace!
I was just at that antique shop you showed in Bennington. I live nearby.
To me, going to Vermont in fall from the Caribbean is the opposite of Americans leaving the cold to sit on a beach, Its an escape from daily life and the summer heat.
Agree. I’m a Vermonter living in Florida
Maple city candy.... OMG there maple creameeeee is to die for.. omg its sooooo good. iam goin to bring cooked bacon next time and try it with it on.. omg i bet its goin to be good
the best thing for out of staters to do in our state of vt is just turn around and go home as soon as you get here
You’d go broke pretty fast.
How do go from one place to another so quickly?
Same technology as Santa. Unless...
You don't.
He should have mentioned the apple cider. Cold Hollow Cider Mill has the absolute best cider.
@7:42 - When did BURLINGTON become the CAPITAL ???
It’s not…It just THINKS it is! 😄
@@kjmav10135Nah, we know about Montpelier. We're just the big city (loosely speaking).
I love your attitude. On!
locals are amazing in VT, i live in MA, seeing my plates doesn't always make vermonters jump with joy but i got stuck in mud pulling off a road and a local with a truck pulled me out within 15 minutes
I did a solo road trip to the NE states a couple years ago during leaf-peeping season. I have to say as much as I LOVED Vermont the people weren't the nicest. I remember a car honked furiously at me as I was taking a while to get onto a busy two-way road - not my fault, there was literally too much traffic to get on. Then I remember getting a burger at Burger King and I wanted to eat in my car but the parking lot was full so I decided to park at an abandoned hotel parking lot next door. After a few minutes, the manager of the hotel came out and told me to leave. I thought it was abandoned but it wasn't. She wasn't very nice about it either. The people were just strange. 🤷🏼♀But the state is GORGEOUS.
Yeah as a lifelong Vermonter here I don’t really get why the people were mentioned cause honestly we're a mixed bag here. Like as progressive as the state is in general, for every hippy there’s a bigot/racist/___phobic person. For every happy willing to help person, there’s an annoyed person who just want to be left alone or somebody that’s not great company in general.
But seriously everyone is pretty quick to get upset on the road. Even here where we have snowy winters every year there’s even Vermonters who drive like idiots and don’t account for the snow or black ice or ice in general. As well as just driving like idiots in general, and a number of those people here can get angry if you don’t move fast enough for them or aren’t driving the same dumb way as them so they'll honk at ya for something out of your control or try to drive around you and get stuck in the ditch or behind the line still like an idiot!
I’m sorry you had to deal with the rude people while you were here, but I’m sure you can see why a good number of us just go home. Half the other people here are just too much!
@@seasalt_ Yeah, I guess I shouldn't say all people were bad, that's not fair. You make a good point though, all of my bad incidents involved me being in my car. lol
Vermonters…a subset of the population at least…cultivate their weirdness. It can be charming, unless it is the uncle you invite to Thanksgiving…because no one else will put up with him.
I live in Colorado. Funny how we get cell reception in the mountains!
best place for creemees in vt is at a store called pump and pantry in williamstown numerouse flavors and many people from all over vt go to get creemees there. and pro tip for visiting in winter or stayimg throughout winter is to get brand new winter tires from somewhere they are a must in the rough vt winters