Family Activities
Vermont travel is perfect for fun family activities & things to do with kids
Families with kids can find year-round fun in Vermont in the mountains for skiing, snowboarding, zip lines and canopy tours.
Fun family adventures can include swimming and fishing, history museums and children's museums, and fun farm visits.
Celebrations, festivals and activities for kids and adults happen year-round at the elegant Stowe ski area, reminiscent of grand European ski resorts.
Lots of lodgings and waterfront resorts provide welcome and fun diversions for kids.
7 listings
Dummerston, VT
Scott Farm
707 Kipling Road 802-490-2865Farm’s Pick Your Own and Stone Wall Park make it a must-see for families
Fresh air and family fun, and plenty of both! That’s what you’ll find at Scott Farm, a 571-acre farm of The Landmark Trust USA. The farm, which dates back to 1791, offers regular events (check the website for specific times and dates) and a farm store with everything from cider donuts to apples and Vermont-made gifts. Sample baked goods or sandwiches at Pippin’s Café and wander the incredible Stone Wall Park. Their Pick Your Own orchards, a favorite with locals and visitors, specialize in delicious apples and peaches. Turn your day trip into an overnight vacation by staying at one of Landmark’s historic properties, from the scenic Dutton Farmhouse (sleeps 8) to Rudyard Kipling’s Naulakha (sleeps 8) or its Carriage House (sleeps 4).
Rochester, VT
Liberty Hill Farm & Inn
511 Liberty Hill Road 802-767-3926Learn about daily life on a working dairy farm with tours that are educational – and fun!
If your kids think milk’s journey begins at the grocery store, it’s time to book a fun farm tour at the Liberty Hill Farm & Inn. The inn, which has been welcoming guests since 1984, has an award-winning herd of 270 Robeth Holsteins, and visitors can watch the milking process as well as try their own hand at milking. Adults and children can also bottle-feed newborn calves, offer some hay to friendly cows and cuddle with kittens in the barn. Tours are scheduled to coincide with daily chores so everyone can experience the daily life of a working farm. And all proceeds from the tour go directly to the nonprofit Liberty Hill Center for Agricultural Education. Come see why families return to Rochester, VT to take the tour year after year.
West Dover, VT
Crab Apple Whitewater (VT)
289 Handle Road 800-553-7238No surprise that family-owned and operated rafting company is a hit with other families
Crab Apple Whitewater has been family owned and operated since 1983, and family members join every rafting trip to make sure it’s an exceptional experience. So it’s no surprise that families come back year after year to conquer the rapids and just have a blast. In Vermont, that means facing the exciting mix of Class II to IV rapids in the West River, a true Vermont gem. It’s a mix that’s ideal for experienced rafters as well as beginners, so it’s perfect for families. Helmets and lifejackets of all sizes are provided, guides are dedicated and experienced, and the scenery is breathtaking along the 8-mile trip. The minimum age is 11, and self-bailing Hyside rafts typically hold six to seven paddlers.
Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Museum
U.S. Route 7 - P.O. Box 10 802-985-3346This super-cool museum on the edge of Lake Champlain is filled with unusual attractions that are sure to entertain every person in the family. Kids and parents will love the authentic paddlewheel steamboat Ticonderoga, which was a workhourse of passenger and cargo transportation on the lake for decades in the 19th century. Shelburne Museum is one of the nation’s most eclectic museums of art, Americana, and design, displaying 150,000 objects on 45 acres in 25 historic New England buildings. There's even a lighthouse. A full day of family fun waits here.
Barre, VT
Rock of Ages Quarry and Manufacturing
558 Graniteville Road 866-748-6877Learn about quarrying and try it for yourself. The Cut-In-Stone Activity Center offers hands-on activities for children and adults. Sandblast-a-souvenir allows kids to create a memento of their visit. Other activities include geology explorations and learning the hand signals of the quarry derrickman. Check for seasonal changes in programs.
Shelburne, VT
Shelburne Farms
1611 Harbor Road 802-985-8686This environmental education center on the shores of Lake Champlain invites the public to learn about environmental conservation. Visits start at the Welcome Center with a slide show and samples of the farm’s award-winning cheddar. Kids and families can then explore the walking trails and activities at the Farm Barn, including the Children's Farmyard. The Farm Store is open for online ordering for pickup and in-store shopping.
Hours: Open year-round daily 10am - 6pm. Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Burlington, VT
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center
One College Street 802-864-1848This maritime-oriented science museum is located right on the shore of Lake Champlain, and its expertise is to study and enjoy the natural history of the Lake Champlain Basin. A visit to ECHO is a wonderful science and ecology expedition for children and families. Lots of expert work has gone into creating permanent exhibits about the ecology, wildlife, plant life, and Native human inhabitants of the region. Plenty of changing exhibits and fun seasonal activities to encourage kids to get involved in this fascinating maritime world. ECHO is open year round, 10am - 5pm daily, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day.