Vermont factories to visit and tour
Vermont has factories to visit and tour. Below, first are the active, working factories. The next section has historical operations which often have demonstrations or renactments. These incluse both large and small operations, from several person chocolate factories and cheesemakers to large manufacturers making paper towels, wood products, beverage cans and bottles, are open to the public with real tours, exhibitions and fun education.
In some cases, such as a manufacturing process that is no longer in use, the only way to see it and learn about it is a museum or living history center. So, we also provide information about engineering facilities and museums, dinosaur digs, even government facilities, like NASA, astronomy oberservatories and more that are open to the public on certain days and times. And if there is some place that is just plain fun to visit, we add that, too!
These are perfect for homeschooling, for STEM and for fun! Kids love visiting these places! They're learning and getting an education without even realizing it. And most of these are either free or under $10! What's better then fun, entertaining, good for children and families, educational and free?
Here are some of the top factory tours in Vermont and contact information and tips about visiting them.
Factories, Engineering, Museums and other fun demonstrations and exhibits to visit in Vermont
- Ben & Jerry’s Factory Experience - ice cream
1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road, Waterbury, VT 05676> Phone: 802-337-1201. Email: amy.weller@benjerry.com. Open: every day, from 10 am to 7 pm. Advanced online ticket purchase highly encouraged. The 30 minute guided portion of your Factory Experience begins with a quick MOO-vie to learn about our company culture followed by a short walk to our glassed-in mezzanine overlooking the production room floor where your tour guide will explain how we make our pints. To sweeten the deal you’ll also receive a sample of one of our chunks*. The tour ends in our Flavor Room with a tasting of one of our euphoric flavors* and a cow joke, or two! *nondairy, vegan options available. Our outside grounds offer space to enjoy your ice cream, play on the playground, pay your respects to our Dearly De-pinted in our Flavor Graveyard, snap a few memorable photo ops and take in the lovely mountain views. A great outing for all ages!
Factory Experience tickets are released two weeks in advance of any chosen date.
Pre-purchasing your tickets online is highly encouraged due to limited capacity.
Day of and walk-in ticket availability will vary each day based on staffing with the potential of NO availability.
Additional ice cream can be purchased before or after your guided tour outside from the Scoop shop window.
For groups of 21+ please send us an email including the requested date, time and number of people in the group. 2 weeks advanced notice required.
As we are a food manufacturing facility there is no glass or pets (with the exception of service animals) allowed inside.
Large bags are not permitted and cannot be left unattended.
Vermont Historical Forts and Sites, Famous buildings, Active Federal facilities to tour, Geology: like fossils and volcanic areas
- Marsh, Billings, Rockefeller National Historic Park, Woodstock, VT.
Walk through one of Vermont's most beautiful landscapes, under the shade of sugar maples and 400-year-old hemlocks, across covered bridges and alongside rambling stone walls. This is a landscape of loss, recovery, and conservation. This is a story of stewardship, of people taking care of places - sharing an enduring connection to land and a sense of hope for the future.
Vermont State historic sites and parks
These are state-run parks, museums and historic sites that present the history of some manufacturing process, industry, or living settlement
- Alburgh Dunes
- Allis
- Big Deer
- Bomoseen
- Boulder Beach
- Branbury
- Brighton
- Burton Island
- Button Bay
- Camel's Hump
- Camp Plymouth
- Coolidge
- Crystal Lake
- D.A.R.
- Elmore
- Emerald Lake
- Fort Dummer
- Gifford Woods
- Grand Isle
- Green River Reservoir
- Half Moon Pond
- Jamaica
- Kill Kare
- Kettle Pond
- Kingsland Bay
- Knight Island
- Knight Point
- Lake Carmi
- Lake Shaftsbury
- Lake St. Catherine
- Little River
- Lowell Lake
- Maidstone
- Molly's Falls Pond
- Molly Stark
- Mt. Ascutney
- Mt. Philo
- Muckross
- New Discovery
- Niquette Bay
- North Hero
- Quechee
- Ricker Pond
- Sand Bar
- Seyon Lodge
- Silver Lake
- Smugglers' Notch
- Stillwater
- Stone Hut
- Taconic Mountains Ramble
- Thetford Hill
- Townshend
- Underhill
- Waterbury Center
- Waterbury Reservoir Remote Sites
- Wilgus
- Woodford
- Woods Island
Vermont Seasons, bugs, topography and climate
In this New England state, summers are warm, but the winters are freezing and typically dry. All year round, clouds are frequent thanks to the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The temperature varies from 12°F to 81°F but is generally mild, rarely below -6°F or above 89°F.
Camping in Vermont
If you're looking to save money on your trip, camping may be a fun alternative to hotels and motels, especially, if you already have the gear, or are looking to get some. BTW, this websites ( https://RoadTrippingAndCamping.com ) explains everything you need to know about camping gear and where to the best gear at the lowest prices.
Vermont State Parks offer a wide variety of camping experiences, including drive-in camp sites, lean-to's, remote campsites, group camping areas, and even an inn-style lodge, all surrounded by Vermont's beautiful mountains, lakes, forests and fields.
The state has a Park Finder to select activities and amenities that interest you and a phone service, to help you plan your trip, 1-888-409-7579.
Generally, most parks are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day or the 2nd Monday in October Day, with some opening earlier, and some remaining open later.
For a complete list, check out our Operating Schedule (PDF).
Off-Season Camping
Off-season camping is available at no cost from November 1st through April 1st. You must apply for a permit at least three days before your expected stay. For detailed off-season park accessibility, view our Off-season Access Guide (PDF).
There are both state parks and private campgrounds in Vermont.
Primitive Camping Maps and Guides
- Aitken State Forest Primitive Camping Guide
- Arthur Davis Wildlife Management Area Primitive Camping Guide
- Coolidge State Forest Primitive Camping Guide
- Dorand State Forest Primitive Camping Guide
- Mollie Beattie State Forest Primitive Camping Guide
- Okemo State Forest Primitive Camping Guide
- West Rutland State Forest Primitive Camping Guide
Skiing Trails Maps and Guides
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