Our first stop will be at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury. There, you will take 30-minute tour which includes a short film about their history, followed by a guided walkthrough of the production facilities, ending with free samples of their latest flavor! After the factory tour, there will be time to explore the gift shop.

Our next stop of the day will be the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, also in Waterbury Center. Cold Hollow is one of Vermont’s leading producers of apple cider, but they also carry a number of other Vermont-made products as well, such as maple syrup and other specialty items. The first thing you will notice when entering Cold Hollow Cider Mill is the amazing smell of fresh apples being transformed into cider. The aroma always reminds us of Autumn, but fortunately for us, Cold Hollow Cider Mill is open year ’round! Once inside, you can help yourself to free samples of their freshly made cider, plus sample locally made jams and preserves. And of course, there is plenty of food for sale as well. (You will not want to leave without trying a hot cider donut!)

After Cold Hollow Cider Mill, we will drive to Stowe to visit the Trapp Family Lodge. The Trapp Family Lodge sits on 2,500 acres of land, with breathtaking scenic views of Vermont’s Green Mountains. The Von Trapp Family (from “The Sound of Music” fame) chose this location as their home because its scenery is reminiscent their native Austria. Upon arrival, you’ll be greeted by a welcome sign that reads “The Trapp Family invites you to share a little of Austria, a lot of Vermont.”

After leaving the Trapp Family Lodge, we will take a scenic drive through *Smugglers’ Notch State Park. This narrow pass through Vermont’s Green Mountains features a steep and winding road, with impressive views of 1,000 foot cliffs above. As its name suggests, Smugglers’ Notch was originally used to smuggle various goods in and out of the country. Nowadays this area attracts visitors for its scenic beauty alone. * Smugglers’ Notch is closed in Winter. In its place, we will visit: Emily’s Covered Bridge, and a scenic ride through Stowe Hollow.

Finally, our last visit of the day will be in downtown Stowe. With a population of just over 4,300 people, this village is home to many events throughout the Summer, including a hot air balloon festival and many different arts and crafts shows. Here you will find many local artisan shops featuring art, jewelry, clothing, gifts, and number of award-winning specialty foods. There is even a Ski and Snowboard Museum, of interest to those who enjoy downhill Winter sports.