United StatesVermont

Excellent

USAVTBurlingtonWoodstockQuecheeBenningtonMontpelier

Vermont

By Olivier•December 27, 2025•377 views

Tucked into the northeastern United States, just across the border from Quebec, Vermont is a genuine little piece of paradise for anyone who loves nature and the outdoors. This New England state stands out for its rolling landscapes, its dense forests and its charming villages with white churches that look like they came straight off a postcard.

Every season offers its own experience. In fall, the Green Mountains blaze with vivid reds, oranges and yellows — a show that draws leaf peepers from all over the world. Winter turns the region into a skiing paradise with well-known resorts like Stowe, Killington and Sugarbush, while summer and spring call for hiking the Long Trail, cycling and swimming in Lake Champlain.

Vermont is also a food destination of the first order. You'll find the famous maple syrup, artisanal cheeses, world-renowned microbreweries (including Hill Farmstead and The Alchemist) and, of course, the celebrated Ben & Jerry's ice cream, whose factory you can tour in Waterbury. Burlington, the largest city, offers a lively cultural scene with its cafés, its independent shops and its farmers' markets.

Only a few hours' drive from Montreal, Vermont remains an ideal getaway in any season for Quebecers looking for a change of scene without going far.

Practical information

Duration

3 jours

Season

Octobre 2025

Getting around

Tesla

Accommodation

Tesla Camping

Itinerary

Chargement de la carte…

Québec— Where the trip starts and ends

Lac Champlain— Large border lake, entry point to Vermont from Quebec.

Burlington— University city on Lake Champlain, Church Street and Waterfront Park.

Emerald Lake State Park— State park around an emerald lake, camping and trails.

Bennington— Bennington monument and Monument Avenue in southwestern Vermont.

Arlington— One of more than 100 authentic covered bridges in Vermont.

Plymouth Notch— Plymouth cheese factory with traditional techniques and wax wrapping.

Quechee— Spectacular gorge and hot air balloon festival.

Woodstock— Small historic town in Windsor County, covered bridges and galleries.

Montpelier— Neoclassical capitol of Montpelier, the smallest U.S. state capital.

Lake Willoughby— Natural jewel of eastern Vermont, in Westmore near the Canadian border.

Québec— Where the trip starts and ends

Lake Champlain and its islands

Lake Champlain is a large lake straddling the border between Canada and the United States. Its expanse lies essentially in the American states of Vermont and New York, while its two northern ends are in Quebec. Covering 1,269 km2, it is the sixth largest body of water in the United States. We learned that it was Samuel de Champlain who went up the Richelieu River, rather than the St. Lawrence, and discovered this lake, giving it his name on July 14, 1609. Magnificent scenery, and a stop at the water's edge for a picnic. All of it with Canada geese as far as the eye could see!

Burlington

Burlington is a small city on the shore of Lake Champlain, in northwestern Vermont. It's home to a university founded in 1791. The Church Street Marketplace is a charming pedestrian street, and the walk along Waterfront Park is a must.

Woodstock

The small town of Woodstock is in Windsor County. It has 3 historic covered bridges, and its downtown has kept all of its old-time character, with an art gallery, a bookstore and a craft pottery. It's a town with a great deal of architectural richness.

The covered bridges

Vermont counts more than 100 authentic covered bridges, 90 of which are on the National Register of Historic Places, which gives the state the highest concentration per square kilometre in North America. We saw the ones at Quechee and Arlington. Covered bridges were built this way for several reasons, practical and economic: protecting the wood from the weather, the low cost of wood and its availability, safety and comfort (since people crossed on horseback and by cart), structural stability, tradition and aesthetics.

The Bennington monument and Monument Avenue

In southwestern Vermont, Bennington is worth the trip, as is walking up Monument Avenue to discover the Old First Church, a Protestant church built in 1805, its cemetery containing the grave of Robert Frost (the poet), and its imposing heritage houses. At the end of your walk, you'll find the impressive Bennington Battle Monument, a 93-metre obelisk built in tribute to the battle of 1777. You can climb it to take in a panoramic view over 3 states.

Emerald Lake State Park

Emerald Lake State Park is a state park where you can camp (watch the dates — it was closed when we came through at the end of October). The lake truly earns its name, with its emerald colour. You can swim, paddleboard, fish and hike there, and picnic areas are available to visitors.

Quechee

Quechee is famous for its hot air balloon festival, but honestly, for us the Quechee gorge (the deepest in Vermont at 50 metres), its mill, its dam and its small covered bridge were among the revelations of our trip. Don't forget to go into the Simon Pearce Mill & restaurant, where a glassblowing demonstration is offered free of charge.

The Montpelier capitol

The current building is the 3rd state house on the same site, in the Greek neoclassical style, with a Doric portico and a low dome, inspired by the American capitol. The building has been listed as a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970. Montpelier is the smallest state capital in the United States.

Lake Willoughby

Lake Willoughby is one of the natural jewels of eastern Vermont. Located in Westmore, it's about 30 minutes from the Canadian border crossing and close to Montpelier. It's a glacial lake roughly 8 km long at an elevation of 357 m. It's part of the Willoughby State Forest. Its water is clear and limpid, but known for being cold, thanks to its glacial source. The scenery is breathtaking, since the lake is hemmed in between the steep cliffs of Mount Pisgah (839 m) to the east and Mount Hor (800 m) to the west, calling to mind the setting of a fjord.

Highlights

•
Lac Champlain et ses îles
•
Burlington
•
Woodstock
•
Les ponts couverts
•
Le monument à Bennington et la Monument Avenue
•
Emerald Lake State Park
•
Quechee
•
Capitole de Montpelier
•
Lake Willoughby

Tips

💡
Prévoyez au moins 4 jours pour visiter l'État au complet, il nous a manqué de temps pour faire 2 activités incontournables, que nous reprendrons lors de la visite des États voisins.
💡
Pour visiter l'ensemble du Vermont sur une longue fin de semaine, nous vous recommandons d'entrer d'un coté et de sortir de l'autre. Nous sommes entrés par le Lac Champlain au sud de Montréal pour sortir par L'Estrie.
💡
Cet État étant un important producteur de fromage, il est impératif de visiter au moins une fromagerie. Nous vous recommandons la fromagerie de Plymouth qui utilise encore des techniques d'antan (leurs fromages sont emballés dans de la cire pour une longue conservation).
💡
Vous devriez prévoir un saut à la ferme Sugarbush cheese & Maple farm. Vous y découvrirez un sirop d'érable différent de celui que l'on connaît au Québec !

Photo gallery

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a passport to go to Vermont?

Yes, a valid passport is the simplest document for entering the United States, including by road from Quebec. Other documents may be accepted at the land border, so check the current requirements before you leave.

How many days does it take to visit Vermont?

At least four days to see the whole state. We spent three days there, at the end of October 2025, and we ran short of time for two must-do activities, which we will pick up when we visit the neighbouring states.

How should you plan the route?

To visit all of Vermont over a long weekend, we recommend entering on one side and leaving on the other. We went in through Lake Champlain, south of Montreal, and came out through the Eastern Townships.

When is the best time to go?

In fall, the Green Mountains blaze with reds, oranges and yellows, and Vermont draws leaf peepers from all over. The colours are generally at their best from late September to mid-October. We were there at the end of October, and some sites were already closed, including Emerald Lake State Park, which has a campground and a lake of a lovely emerald colour where you can swim, paddle and fish in season.

What is there to do in Burlington?

It is a small city on the shore of Lake Champlain, in the northwest of the state, home to a university founded in 1791. You stroll the Church Street Marketplace, a charming pedestrian street, and a walk along Waterfront Park is a must.

Why are there so many covered bridges in Vermont?

The state has more than 100 authentic covered bridges, 90 of which are on the National Register of Historic Places: the highest concentration per square kilometre in North America. They were covered to protect the wood from the weather, because wood was cheap and plentiful, for the safety and comfort of those crossing on horseback or by cart, for the stability of the structure, and also out of tradition. We saw the ones at Quechee and Arlington, and Woodstock has three.

What is there to see in Quechee?

The Quechee Gorge, the deepest in Vermont at 50 metres, along with its mill, its dam and its small covered bridge, were among the revelations of our trip. The village is also known for its hot air balloon festival. Make a stop at Simon Pearce, where a glassblowing demonstration is offered free of charge.

Which cheese makers and maple farms should you visit?

Vermont is a major cheese producer, so visit at least one cheese maker. We recommend the one in Plymouth, which still uses old-time techniques, with cheeses wrapped in wax for long keeping. Also plan a stop at Sugarbush Cheese & Maple Farm, where you discover a maple syrup different from the one we know in Quebec.

Can you go up the Bennington monument?

The 93-metre obelisk commemorates the 1777 battle. Its observation deck, at about 61 metres, offers a view over Vermont, New York State and Massachusetts, and you reach it by elevator. Warning: the elevator has broken down several times, and the official Vermont historic sites website says the deck is closed while it is out of service. The monument is open from May 22 to October 31 in 2026, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Check the elevator's status before you go.

What else is there to see in Bennington?

Walk up Monument Avenue, which leads to the Old First Church, a Protestant church built in 1805. Its cemetery holds the grave of the poet Robert Frost, and the street is lined with imposing heritage houses. It ends at the foot of the monument.

What do we know about Lake Willoughby?

It is one of the natural jewels of eastern Vermont, in Westmore, about 30 minutes from the crossing into Canada. This glacial lake, about 8 km long, is part of the Willoughby State Forest. Its water is clear and known for being very cold. It is hemmed in between the cliffs of Mount Pisgah, at 839 metres, and Mount Hor, at 800 metres, calling to mind the setting of a fjord.

What do we know about Montpelier?

It is the smallest state capital in the United States. The current capitol is the third government building on the same site. In the Greek neoclassical style, with a Doric portico and a low dome, it is inspired by the U.S. Capitol and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1970.

Comments

Loading comments…

Around this place

35 m from Quebec City · 233 km from Montreal

Quebec region0 m