This summer, my husband, our 9-year-old son, and I are flying from London to the U.S. with Virgin Atlantic, ready for an unforgettable family adventure packed with things to do in Vermont with kids. We’ll begin our trip by spending a couple of days exploring Boston. Easing into East Coast life, soaking up history, and adjusting to the time difference. We will then pick up a hire car and head north into Vermont, with Toronto in Canada as our final destination.

As a mum who truly loves family travel, I’m always on the lookout for destinations that work for the whole family. Places that balance outdoor adventure, hands-on learning, and genuine fun. Tucked into the heart of New England, Vermont feels like the perfect place for that kind of trip. It’s scenic without being overwhelming, educational without being dull, and full of experiences designed around keeping kids curious and engaged.

From the shores of Lake Champlain and the rolling Green Mountains to working farms, maple syrup tastings, interactive museums, and outdoor adventures, there is an incredible variety of fun things to do in Vermont with kids of all ages. This guide brings together the best places, family-friendly attractions, and activities we’re most excited to experience on our summer road trip. All planned with real families in mind.

Why Vermont Is Ideal for a Family Road Trip

One of the things I love most about Vermont is how easy it feels to travel with children. Distances are manageable, locals are genuinely welcoming, and attractions tend to be thoughtful, educational, and refreshingly low-pressure. You don’t need to over plan every day to have a brilliant time.

Vermont also adapts beautifully to seasonal changes. Summer months are ideal for swimming, hiking, biking, and farm visits. Winter transforms the state into a playground of ski resorts and snowy adventures. No matter the tour year, there’s always something special happening.

1. Lake Champlain: Water, Wildlife, and Wide-Open Space

Lake Champlain is one of Vermont’s standout highlights for families. With calm waters, beaches, and easy access points, it’s a wonderful introduction to outdoor life in the state.

You can hire row boats, paddle along the shoreline, or simply relax with a picnic while kids skip stones and explore. The lake is particularly family-friendly around Grand Isle, where things feel quieter and slower. Perfect if you’re travelling with children who need space to roam.

2. ECHO Leahy Center: Learning Through Play

The Leahy Center on the Burlington waterfront is packed with interactive exhibits focused on science, ecology, and life in and around Lake Champlain. It’s one of those rare places where kids don’t even realise they’re learning.

Touch tanks, hands-on experiments, and changing exhibitions make it ideal for curious children. It’s also a brilliant option if the weather turns, or if you want to balance outdoor time with something educational.

3. Bike Riding in Burlington

A lakeside bike ride is one of the simplest and most enjoyable ways to explore Burlington. Local Motion makes cycling accessible for families, with flat, traffic-free paths that are suitable for all ages.

It’s a great way to burn off energy while still soaking in the views. Plus an easy win if you’re travelling with a child who loves being active.

4. Shelburne Museum: A Place to Wander and Wonder

The Shelburne Museum is less about traditional galleries and more about discovery. Spread across beautiful grounds, it allows children to move freely while exploring historic buildings, art, and quirky collections.

For families, this flexibility is invaluable. Kids can engage at their own pace, making it one of those fun things that doesn’t feel forced.

5. Shelburne Farms: Agricultural Education Done Right

Shelburne Farms is a working farm with a strong focus on agricultural education and sustainability. This is where kids begin to understand where food comes from. Not through lectures, but through experience.

Walking the grounds, meeting farm animals, and learning about farming in a real-world setting is the best way to make a meaningful stop for families.

6. Liberty Hill Farm: Farm Life Kids Will Never Forget

A stay or visit to Liberty Hill Farm offers children a true insight into the daily life of a working farm. This is not a theme-park version of farming. It’s real, rewarding, and incredibly educational.

Children can help with daily chores, meet friendly cows, and even bottle-feed newborn calves. Seeing the milking process and learning about the milk’s journey from cow to table gives kids a deep appreciation for food and responsibility.

The Robeth Holsteins are an award-winning herd, and the farm excels at welcoming guests and helping children feel involved rather than like spectators.

7. Cold Hollow Cider Mill: Sweet Treats and Simple Joys

A stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill is almost mandatory. Watching apples become cider, sampling fresh doughnuts, and enjoying soft-serve ice cream makes this a family favourite.

It’s also conveniently located, making it an easy stop between bigger activities. It can get very busy though so you may be best to visit near opening. 

8. Vermont Teddy Bear Factory

The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory is a joyful, light-hearted experience where kids can see how a teddy bear is made. Sometimes even helping with their own hand.

It’s one of those places where children leave clutching a new companion and a lasting memory.

9. Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory

The Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury is a popular place for families, and for good reason. The tour is short, engaging, and ends with ice cream, which is always a win.

Beyond the tour, families can also enjoy the nearby playground, making it easy to extend the visit. Don’t miss the Flavor Graveyard, a quirky spot on the property where retired ice cream flavours are laid to rest with humorous tombstones. It’s perfect for a few laughs as kids and adults alike read the witty epitaphs for flavors that didn’t stick around. It’s a fun and unique addition to the adventure!

10. Waterbury Center State Park

One of many excellent Vermont State Parks, Waterbury Center State Park is a perfect destination for families looking to enjoy a relaxing day outdoors. The park features a sandy beach area for swimming, easygoing trails that are great for all ages, and plenty of picnic spots with scenic views of the surrounding mountains. Visitors can also enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding on the calm waters of the reservoir, making it an ideal spot for both adventure and tranquility.

11. VINS Nature Center

The VINS Nature Center offers a unique experience by combining a hands-on nature museum with miles of outdoor trails and captivating live bird encounters. It provides an immersive environment where children can learn about the importance of wildlife conservation in a way that feels exciting and engaging, rather than preachy.

One of the highlights of the center is the Canopy Walk, an incredible elevated trail that lets kids explore the treetops from a whole new perspective. Suspended high above the forest floor, the walk is not only thrilling but also provides stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Along the way, children can spot wildlife, learn about the forest ecosystem, and feel like adventurers on an exciting journey.

From the impressive birds of prey exhibits to the interactive displays within the museum, and the unforgettable Canopy Walk, it’s a great place for animal-loving children to connect with the natural world and see fascinating creatures up close.

12. Basin Harbor Resort

Basin Harbor Resort on Lake Champlain offers a classic family holiday atmosphere with tennis courts, swimming, kids’ activities, and live music in the evenings. It features a sandy beach, a giant dive board, a water trampoline, and a range of watercraft for fun on the lake, including pedal boats, boat hire, canoeing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. You can also go fishing.

It’s the kind of place where every family member finds something they enjoy.

13. Indoor Waterparks for Rainy Days

An indoor waterpark is always a good idea when travelling with kids, and the Jay Peak Pump House is a must-visit! With thrilling slides, an activity pool where you can shoot hoops or climb rocks, and the Double Barrel FlowRider to test your surfing skills, there’s endless fun for everyone. Beyond the water, enjoy non-water activities like the 1851′ Family Arcade, The Warming Shelter, the Wave Surf Shop, and The Drink. Every moment at Jay Peak is packed with excitement and satisfaction, no matter the weather!

14. Smugglers’ Notch in Summer

Smugglers’ Notch isn’t just a winter destination. It’s a year-round haven for adventure and family fun and is one of  is one of Vermont’s largest state parks. While it’s known for its incredible skiing and snowboarding, the resort truly comes alive in the summer months with endless activities to enjoy. Nestled in a breathtaking mountain setting, Smugglers’ Notch offers scenic hiking and biking trails, rock climbing adventures, and plenty of opportunities to explore the great outdoors. 

It;s also worth looking at Smugglers Notch resort for accommodation. The resort is renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere. Firstly there are programs and events designed for all ages, from kids’ camps to guided nature tours. Plus great the facilities including swimming pools make this a top choice. Whether you’re looking for adrenaline-pumping adventures or a relaxing getaway surrounded by stunning landscapes, Smugglers’ Notch Resort has something for everyone.

15. Snowshed Adventure Center: Have a go on a mountain rollercoaster

High ropes, ziplining, and a mountain rollercoaster make the Snowshed Adventure Center perfect for kids who crave excitement. From zipping through corkscrew turns on the Beast Mountain Coaster to testing your balance and mental strength on the Skye Ropes Course, there’s no shortage of thrills. For those who prefer a slower pace, the Amaze’n Maze offers a fun, interactive challenge. With tickets only required for riders, some attractions, like the hiking trails and wellness walking path, are free—making it a great destination for the whole family to enjoy hours of fun and adventure!

16. Mountain Biking for All Levels

Vermont’s terrain makes mountain biking accessible even for beginners, with plenty of gentle trails suitable for families. For instance, the Kingdom Trails in East Burke offer a variety of routes, including easy-going loops perfect for those new to the sport. Another great option is the Stowe Recreation Path, which is a paved greenway that winds through picturesque landscapes, ideal for a relaxed family ride. If you don’t have your own gear, don’t worry. There are numerous bike rental shops across the state, especially near popular trail networks like Killington and Mount Snow, where you can hire everything from basic mountain bikes to high-performance models for the whole family.

17. West River Fun

The West River in Vermont sounds like the perfect spot for tubing, which is where you float down a river on a big inflatable tube. It’s a super relaxing way to spend a hot summer afternoon, just drifting along with the current. All you need to do is get a tube, find a good spot to get in the water, and let the river do the rest. I can’t wait to try it myself! The West River also offers paddling, kayaking and is a great way to spend a relaxed afternoon by the water. You can even white water rafting during scheduled dam releases, but I’m most excited about a lazy float down the river.

18. Main Street Exploring

Every Vermont town seems to have a charming main street, each with its own unique character and welcoming atmosphere. Take a stroll through towns like Stowe, Woodstock, or Middlebury, where you’ll find picturesque streets lined with historic buildings, local boutiques, and inviting cafes. Pop into a local grocery store or general store, like Dan & Whit’s in Norwich, to pick up regional specialties like maple syrup, cheddar cheese, or freshly-baked cider donuts. Don’t forget to visit one of Vermont’s many artisan bakeries, where you can indulge in locally-made treats like maple pecan pie or sourdough bread.

Enjoy the slower pace of life as you explore these towns, and when it’s time to relax. Whether you’re shopping, dining, or just taking in the scenery, Vermont’s small-town main streets are the perfect escape for anyone looking to experience New England charm at its finest.

19. Maple Syrup and Maple Trees

No trip to Vermont is complete without learning about maple syrup. Seeing maple trees tapped and tasting the end result helps kids understand one of Vermont’s most iconic traditions.

No trip to Vermont is complete without a deep dive into the sweet world of maple syrup. It’s a quintessential Vermont experience for a reason! Watching the entire process, from seeing the maple trees tapped with buckets to tasting the warm, freshly boiled syrup, helps kids (and adults!) connect with one of the state’s most iconic and delicious traditions. To experience this firsthand, you can visit places like Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks in Montpelier or Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock. These farms offer tours where you can learn about the sugaring process and sample different grades of syrup.

20. Rudyard Kipling Estate

A visit to Rudyard Kipling’s Vermont home, Naulakha, is especially meaningful for us. Living near his National Trust estate in England, seeing this American retreat creates a fascinating connection. Visitors can step back in time by touring the shingle-style house where he penned The Jungle Book, still filled with the Kipling family’s original furniture and personal belongings. You can stroll through the historic gardens, play a match on Vermont’s first tennis court, or even book a stay to fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere that inspired his most famous works.

21. Take a Chairlift to the Summit at Mount Snow

Hop on the Bluebird Express for a scenic chairlift ride to the summit of Mount Snow, an unforgettable adventure for the whole family. As you ascend, you’ll be treated to breathtaking panoramic views of the Green Mountains, which are particularly stunning during the summer’s lush greenery and the vibrant, fiery hues of autumn. Once you reach the peak, the adventure is yours to choose: enjoy a peaceful ride back down the lift, or take the scenic route by hiking down the mountain trails to immerse yourself in nature. Whether you’re leaf-peeping or seeking a summer breeze, it’s the perfect way to experience the beauty of Vermont.

Final Thoughts: Why Vermont Works So Well for Families

Vermont feels like a place designed for meaningful family travel. It invites children to participate, learn, and explore at their own pace, while giving parents the chance to slow down and enjoy the journey.

For us, this road trip isn’t just about ticking off attractions. It’s about shared experiences, fresh air, and memories that will last long after we cross into Canada.

If you’re planning a summer adventure and looking for unforgettable things to do in Vermont with kids, this beautiful, welcoming state deserves a place at the top of your list.

FAQs Things To Do in Vermont with Kids