Travel Like a Local: Vermont

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Travel Like a Local: Vermont

Insider's tips and recommendations for experiencing Vermont like a local: restaurants, inns, breweri Also a Vermont Realtor® with Keller Williams Vermont.

Insider's tips and recommendations for experiencing Vermont like a local: restaurants, inns, breweries, cideries, hikes, farmers' markets and more.

11/12/2026

If meeting Santa’s REAL reindeer isn’t on your Vermont Christmas bucket list yet, it should be! 🦌🎄❤️

Tucked away on a family farm in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, the Vermont Reindeer Farm in West Charleston is one of my favorite suggestions for a Christmas experience that brings out the kid in all of us. And yes, you get to meet actual reindeer!

The Broe family has been farming this land for generations, and today they’re the proud caretakers of some very special residents who, according to the family, have an important job to do on Christmas Eve. 🎅

Your visit starts with Reindeer School, where you’ll learn all about these fascinating animals before heading outside to meet them up close. There are other farm animals to visit, too, including miniature donkeys and goats. And a Highland cow!

During the Christmas season, you can also wander down Candy Cane Lane, warm up with hot chocolate and a homemade treat in the Reindeer Lodge, and enjoy a little old-fashioned Vermont holiday fun.

And one of my favorite things about this experience? It’s a small, family-run Vermont farm sharing something pretty extraordinary with visitors of all ages.

A few things to know before you go:

🦌 Located in West Charleston, Vermont, in the Northeast Kingdom. If it’s snowy, make sure you have AWD and snow tires!

🎄 Holiday visits are offered on select dates, and advance reservations are required for a visit.

☕ Plan for approximately 90 minutes and dress warmly. You’ll be spending time outdoors!

🎟️ Book directly through vtreindeerfarm.com. Make sure to follow all rules for treatment of the reindeer.

Save this for your Vermont Christmas adventures, and send it to someone who would love to meet Santa’s reindeer in person in Vermont! ❤️🦌

11/07/2026

I think I found Burlington, Vermont’s best new hotel room. And wait until you see the views from the ninth floor. 😍🌅

Meet the Artist Studio at The Harborvale, overlooking Lake Champlain and downtown Burlington from one of the coolest private terraces in the city.

This isn’t your typical hotel room. The 550-square-foot suite has a separate bedroom and living space, a kitchenette, a beautiful bathroom with a soaking tub and separate shower, and the real showstopper: a private outdoor terrace with rocking chairs, lounge seating and sweeping views of Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.

Coffee in the morning, cocktails at sunset. I could spend hours out here watching the boats on the lake. ⛵️

And if you haven’t heard of The Harborvale yet, it’s because this downtown Burlington hotel just underwent a complete $19 million transformation. Formerly the Courtyard by Marriott Burlington Harbor, the property has been reimagined from top to bottom and is now part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, with beautiful new interiors and a lakeside-inspired design.

All just a short walk from the Burlington waterfront and Church Street Marketplace….

If you’re planning a Burlington getaway or a Vermont staycation, this is the room I’d be booking. ❤️

⭐️Would you splurge on a room for these Lake Champlain views?⭐️

11/03/2026

It feels like every day brings another closure announcement in Vermont’s food scene. And lately, so many have been places I love. 💔

Salt&Bubbles W**e Bar / Market in Essex, home to w**e flights and charcuterie board lunches with girlfriends. Leo & Company, with its grab-and-go sandwiches and one of the best chocolate chip cookies in the state. Vermont Pub & Brewery, one of the OGs of Vermont’s craft b**r movement.

Vermont’s Good-Time Barbecue in Burlington, with its BBQ platters and crispy wings. The Grey Jay, one of Burlington’s most creative brunch spots. Southern Pie Company in Chester, the sweetest little pie café. And Ray’s Seafood in Essex, known for some of the best chowdah and fried seafood in Vermont.

And these are just a handful of the recent announcements. 😢

Being a human is hard right now. Being an entrepreneur and small business owner? Even harder. Everything is tight, costs keep climbing, and running a business in Vermont has never been easy.

But if we want to preserve Vermont’s fiercely independent, shop-local, support-small identity, we have to actively choose to support the businesses that make our communities what they are.

It doesn’t have to be a big purchase. A drip coffee. A chocolate chip cookie. Sharing a post or telling a friend about a place you love. A like, a comment, a share.

And for me, I’m making a commitment to shine more light on our old standbys. The businesses that have been part of the fabric of our Vermont communities for decades. The places we take for granted because they’ve always been there, without considering that someday they might not be.

I love telling the stories of new businesses and entrepreneurs bringing fresh ideas to Vermont. But the ones that have been showing up for our communities year after year deserve that same attention…

Because I don’t want us to wait until a closure announcement to realize how much a place meant to us. ❤️

So tell me: What’s a tried-and-true Vermont business you’d love to see me feature? Let’s give these places their flowers while they’re still here. 🌻

11/02/2026

I found a real-life Theo of Golden in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, and I just love this story. ❤️🎨

If you’ve read “Theo of Golden”, you know why this one stopped me in my tracks… if you haven’t, pick it up this stick season for an incredible read. 📚

Inside Cafe Lotti in East Burke, Vermont, there’s an old fireplace covered in hand-drawn portraits of people who have passed through the café over the years. But the story behind those faces is what makes this little spot so special.

Meet Dorian McGowan, a Vermont-born artist who spent years sitting in Café Lotti, drawing the people around him. Some were regulars, some were employees, and many were complete strangers who happened to stop in for a coffee or a bite to eat. Even the café’s owners, Johnny and Linda Lotti, have their portraits hanging there.

Dorian has been an artist since second grade, when he used his lunch money to pay for art lessons. He later studied at Pratt and became a professor at Lyndon State College in 1959, where he taught until his retirement.

And if you look carefully at the portraits on the fireplace, you’ll find Dorian himself, sitting with his cat. 🐈

He no longer visits the café, although he still lives locally, and his artwork remains on display for everyone who comes through the door.

There’s something so wonderful about the idea of an artist quietly documenting the people who cross his path, turning ordinary encounters into something that becomes part of a community’s history. It reminded me so much of the spirit of “Theo of Golden”, a book that has stuck with me.

I might have stopped into Café Lotti for coffee, but I left thinking about Dorian and all those faces on the wall. And how many more stories there must be behind them.

Have you visited this sweet cafe and sandwich shop in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom? 📖❤️

11/01/2026

Could this be one of the best restaurants in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom? 🍷🍽️

Because I’m not sure enough people are talking about The Buttery in downtown St. Johnsbury, and they should be!

Right on Railroad Street, The Buttery is part espresso bar, part natural w**e bottle shop and part restaurant, with a menu that makes it awfully tempting to settle in and stay awhile.

Give me a window seat, a leisurely lunch and an order of their truffle fries, and I’m a happy camper. The bread and butter alone deserve some attention, but save room for the tartines and sandwiches, too. Also, the chicken liver mousse and kale salad too. This is a place where I’d happily spend an afternoon lingering over lunch, watching the activity along Railroad Street and ordering just one more thing for the table.

And there’s plenty more to The Buttery than lunch! Stop in for an espresso, explore their selection of natural w**es or come back in the evening for dinner service.

It’s also a perfect addition to a day exploring St. Johnsbury. Grab lunch before wandering through the beautiful St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, exploring the wonderfully quirky Fairbanks Museum or heading up to Dog Mountain with your four-legged travel companion.

There are so many reasons to spend a day in St. J, and its growing food scene is becoming one of them. The Buttery is a little gem that deserves a lot more attention, and another reason to put Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom on your list of places to explore.

⭐️Have you been to The Buttery yet? What’s your favorite place to eat in the NEK?⭐️

10/31/2026

Someone tell Belle I found her library in Vermont. 📚♥️

The St. Johnsbury Athenaeum is straight out of Beauty and the Beast, with ornate woodwork and spiral staircases inside a building that’s been welcoming readers for more than 150 years. It’s such an unusual find in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, right on Main Street, and the library is only part of the reason to visit.

Horace Fairbanks gave the Athenaeum to the community in 1871, and it opened with 8,000 books. I love that it still serves as the town’s public library. Imagine getting to call this your neighborhood reading spot, with sunlight coming through those tall, arched windows while you settle into a book.

Then there’s the art gallery, added in 1873, where paintings in heavy gilded frames hang one above another in a setting that preserves the feel of a 19th-century museum. Albert Bierstadt’s The Domes of the Yosemite dominates the back wall at 10 feet tall and 15 feet wide. The painting even influenced the design of the gallery itself, so give yourself time to take it in.

I’d build an afternoon around a stop here and coffee in town. There’s plenty to look at before you’ve even opened a book. It’s a beautiful step back in time and one of Vermont’s most remarkable public spaces...

⭐️Did you know Vermont’s most beautiful library was hiding in Vermont’s NEK?⭐️

10/30/2026

🎉 NORTHEAST KINGDOM GETAWAY GIVEAWAY 🎉 Win a two-night stay at The Village Inn in East Burke, Vermont, where time on the trails can end with a long soak in the hot tub.

We’re giving a lucky duo:

🏡 A TWO-NIGHT STAY at The Village Inn, right in the heart of East Burke!

With its modern farmhouse aesthetic, the inn feels cozy but polished, with inviting common spaces and comfortable rooms for settling in after a day exploring the Northeast Kingdom. It’s a small Vermont inn with some thoughtful extras that make staying a little longer tempting.

You’re steps from Kingdom Trails and just minutes from Burke Mountain, with Auntie Dee Dee's’s nearby for a morning pastry and sourdough stop. You know I’m factoring that into the itinerary. 🥐

Back at the inn, there’s a hot tub for unwinding and access to Dish Mill Brook for cooling off in warmer weather or spending a quiet afternoon by the water. East Burke Sauna Club is also on site, with sessions available to book for an additional fee.

There’s a shared guest kitchen and complimentary guest laundry, too, because muddy trail clothes are better washed than packed back into your weekend bag.

And when you’re ready for a drink? Hazel’s Taproom is right on the property. No need to get back in the car to enjoy a Vermont b**r before heading upstairs for the night. 🍻

TO ENTER: ✨ Follow The Village Inn and Travel Like a Local: Vermont

✨ LIKE and SAVE this post

✨ Tag the person you’d bring with you in the comments. One tag per comment = one entry. Unlimited entries!

✨ 5 BONUS ENTRIES: Share this post to your Stories to receive 5 bonus entries and tag both accounts so we can see it!

Giveaway closes on Monday, November 2, 2026 at 11:59PM ET. Winner will be contacted directly by Travel Like a Local: Vermont. Must be 18+ to enter. Stay is subject to availability and any blackout dates or additional restrictions provided by The Village Inn. Good luck! Start thinking about who you’re bringing to East Burke. 🤍

10/29/2026

Have you ever visited a museum that feels like everything might come to life after the doors close? 👀

Tucked away in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury feels like stepping straight into Night at the Museum. And with Halloween around the corner, I can’t think of a more fitting place to explore! 🎃

Founded in 1889 by local industrialist Franklin Fairbanks, this extraordinary Victorian museum began as a collection of natural wonders and artifacts gathered from around the world.

More than 135 years later, it remains one of Vermont’s most unusual attractions. Wander beneath soaring ceilings, past original wooden display cases filled with taxidermied animals, fossils, insects and fascinating artifacts. The historic dioramas are incredible, and I kept imagining what might happen if all those creatures suddenly came to life after dark. 🦉

What makes this museum even more remarkable is how much of its original Victorian character has survived. It’s one of the few remaining natural history museums in North America where you can still experience that old-world atmosphere. And there’s a planetarium, too! ✨The only one in Vermont!

🎃 Speaking of Halloween, the museum is celebrating this Saturday, October 31, with its Halloween Tricks & Treats Trail from 4-6 PM! Little ghosts and goblins can dress up and explore the museum’s Creatures of the Night trail, complete with nature activities and sweet treats. It’s designed for families with children ages six and under.

The Fairbanks always reminds me just how many quirky and extraordinary experiences are tucked away in Vermont’s small towns. It’s absolutely worth adding to your next Northeast Kingdom adventure!

👻 Have you visited the Fairbanks Museum? And am I the only one who thinks those animals might start moving after closing time?

10/28/2026

🎃 More than 700 glowing jack-o’-lanterns stacked into one enormous pumpkin pyramid? This might be one of Vermont’s most impressive Halloween displays!

Every October, Essex Junction’s Maple Street Park transforms into a celebration of spooky season, with hundreds of hand-carved pumpkins created by local families, students and volunteers. Each pumpkin has its own personality, and seeing them all illuminated together after dark is pretty spectacular.

The display is part of the annual Pumpkin Palooza celebration, but here’s the best part: you don’t need a ticket to see the pumpkins, and you haven’t missed your chance to visit this year!

🎃 What to know before you go:

📍 Maple Street Park, 75 Maple Street, Essex Junction, Vermont

🗓️ On display nightly through Halloween, October 31, 2026

✨ The pumpkin pyramid is illuminated after dark, so I’d recommend visiting in the evening.

🎟️ FREE to visit! No reservations or tickets required to see the pumpkin display.

🚗 Parking is limited, so be considerate of the surrounding neighborhood and walk in if possible.

The ticketed Pumpkin Palooza trick-or-treat event took place October 24, but the pumpkin pyramid remains illuminated nightly through Halloween.

I love seeing Vermont communities come together to create something this fun, particularly when it’s free for everyone to enjoy. And with only a few nights left before Halloween, I’d make time to see it!

👻 Have you seen Essex Junction’s glowing pumpkin pyramid yet?

10/28/2026

🐅 Princeton, New Jersey has long been one of my favorite college towns to visit outside of Vermont (and my birth town!). And with the addition of Graduate Hotels by Hilton right downtown in Princeton, I have another reason to plan a weekend there…

Old-school Ivy League meets whimsical boutique hotel design, and I am HERE for it.

If I’m going to stay in a hotel, I want personality. No cookie-cutter rooms or forgettable lobbies. Give me thoughtful design, a sense of place and details that make me want to explore every corner.

And Graduate by Hilton Princeton delivers. 🧡🖤

The lobby alone is spectacular, with Princeton’s signature orange and black, vintage-inspired blazers, tiger-themed rugs, rich woodwork and playful references to the university’s history. No detail has been overlooked. Even the guest rooms are filled with clever nods to Princeton - like Hoagie Haven carved into my bedframe (if you know, you know)!

And don’t miss Ye Tavern Graduate Princeton, the hotel’s restaurant and bar, for cocktails and a meal in a beautifully designed space.

📍 My Princeton weekend itinerary:

🐅 Check into Graduate by Hilton Princeton, right in the heart of downtown.

🏛️ Wander Princeton University’’s gorgeous historic campus.

🎨 Visit the Princeton University Art Museum.

🥪 Grab a takeout lunch from Olives Princeton, a longtime local favorite.

☕ Stop at Chez Alice for coffee and a slice of cake or some ice cream from the the bent spoon. Shop around Palmer Square and get in some steps!

🍸 End the evening with dinner and cocktails at Ye Tavern before heading upstairs.

One of my favorite things about Princeton is how walkable it is. With Graduate as your home base, you can leave the car parked and explore the university, restaurants, shops and downtown on foot.

An easy weekend getaway from Vermont, with beautiful architecture, so much history and a hotel that makes the experience even better.

Have you visited Princeton? And are you as obsessed with hotels full of personality as I am?

Address

3108 Chilafoux Rd, (West Charleston)
Manchester, VT
05860-9604

Website

http://travelikealocalvt.com/

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