Vermont

The Green Mountain State

Vermont is known as the "Green Mountain State," which the state's name translates to in French. French explorer Samuel Champlain gave the region the name "Verd Mont" on his 1647 map, and the name and landscape of the area have mostly remained the same to this day.

Vermont is often described as a quiet place to live with a rustic soul feeling when you cross the border into the mountainous state. It is perfect for those who love getting back in touch with nature. Vermont was also ranked the safest state in the United States in 2016, so you can feel at ease in the scenic hills of New England's "Vertical State."

Playgrounds for Outdoor Enthusiasts

The Green Mountain state is also New England's only land-locked state. However, plenty of water is nestled in the mountain ranges of Vermont, which are like natural playgrounds for those who love to be outside.

Vermont has over 800 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs, with 220 being more prominent than 20 acres in size. The state also has 23,000 miles of rivers and streams and 300,000 acres of wetlands. With hundreds of lakes to choose from, you are never far from being lake-side in the sixth smallest state in the U.S.

Popular summertime recreational outdoor and lakeside activities in Vermont include swimming, boating, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, sunbathing, cycling, camping, and scuba diving in a few of the state's deeper lakes. Lake Champlain and Lake Willoughby are the top two lakes in the state for scuba diving. Lake Champlain has more than 300 shipwrecks at the bottom, and Lake Willoughby reaches depths more than 300 feet deep, both exciting adventures for any scuba enthusiast!

In the wintertime, outdoors people love to spend their time ice fishing, snowboarding, snow skiing, or riding four-wheelers through the snowy mountains. Before the chill of winter, Vermont is known for its gorgeous views of the autumn leaves in the mountains. The hills light up with bright reds and oranges from the maple trees, the oak trees turn shades of bronze, and the beech and birch trees become bright hues of yellow.

Signature Tastes in Vermont

It is a good thing Vermont has so many active and outdoor sporting activities to choose from year-round. Few states offer as many delicious signature flavors as Vermont, and you will want to try them all in several of the state's renowned eateries. Montpelier and Essex Junction have opened new restaurants recently, thanks to the New England Culinary Institute, which prides itself on using only locally grown produce, meat, and dairy products.

Vermont's official flavor is sweet, as it is the nation's leading producer of maple syrup. The state even features an annual festival in the spring dedicated to the sticky breakfast staple for pancakes. Vermont is known to have some of the best diners and breakfast cafes in the nation, all serving stacks of pancakes with generous pitchers of maple syrup.

You might also notice several black and white Holstein cows dotting the pastures while driving through Vermont. Dairy farming is the state's primary source of agricultural income, and several famous dairy-based factories are scattered throughout. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream is located in Waterbury, Cobot Creamery Headquarters is in Waitsfield, and Crowley Cheese (said to be America's first cheese factory, opened in 1882) is located in the oldest continuously-operating cheese factory in Healdville.

Vermont May Be Small, But It Has It All

Vermont may be the sixth smallest state in the U.S. by area and the second-least populous of the states, but there is little this New England gem lacks. The state's cities and towns, such as Burlington, St. Johnsbury, and Brattleboro, are lively and full of international flavor. Drive out to the country, and you can have the rural quiet of the rolling mountains almost all to yourself. New millennials and old-time bohemians enjoy the beautiful scenery and flavors this unique state offers.