Iconic Vermont places to visit along Route 100
Route 100 stretches 216 scenic miles along the spine of the Green Mountains through 33 classic villages and towns, from Stamford to Pittsfield to Westfield. Some of Vermont’s most notable ski areas and attractions can be found along the route, including Mount Snow, Okemo, Sugarbush, the Vermont Country Store, and Ben & Jerry’s.
Starting at the Massachusetts border, Route 100 travels north-south and ends just below Newport. Route 100, which earliest origins date back to the 1700s, follows rivers and the contours of the Vermont landscape, making it one of the most beautiful and popular roads in the Green Mountain State.
Cask and Kiln Kitchen in Wilmington
Located in the heart of downtown Wilmington at the junction of Routes 100 and 9, the Cask and Kiln Kitchen offers a delicious seasonal menu, creative cocktails, and a sophisticated yet cozy vibe. The restaurant, located in a building that dates back to the 1930s, includes finer dining on the first floor with a casual lounge upstairs. (4 North Main Street/Route 100, Wilmington; 802-464-CASK (2275); caskandkiln.com)
Sticky Fingers Bakery in West Dover
Since first opening in May 2010, Sticky Fingers Bakery has made a name for itself as a local bakery. Serving homemade pastries, ice cream, desserts, cookies, breads, and celebration cakes, Sticky Fingers is worth the trip. (210 VT-100, West Dover; 802-464-9463; stickyfingersvermontbakery.com)
Mount Snow in West Dover
As one of the very first ski areas on the East Coast, Mount Snow offers skiing, mountain biking, golf, hiking trails, and children’s summer camps. With a summit elevation of 3,600 feet, Mount Snow offers 87 trails and a variety of terrain for beginner, intermediate and expert skiers and snowboarders. In the summer and fall, it’s an incredible place to explore the outdoors with scenic views and a dynamic mountain biking trail system. (West Dover; 800-245-SNOW; mountsnow.com)
Honeypie in Rawsonville
The couple behind the James-Beard nominated SoLo Farm and Table opened Honeypie in an old gas station in Rawsonville, just across the street from Meulemans’ Craft Drafts. Owned by Wesley and Chloe Genovart, Honeypie offers a tasty selection of burgers, lobster rolls, chicken sandwiches, house-made sausage sandwiches, fries, beer, wine, soft drinks, and milkshakes. (8811 Route 30, Rawsonville; 802-548-4999; eatathoneypie.com)
Vermont Country Store
Owned and operated by the Orton family since 1946, the Vermont Country Store started as a small mail-order business before becoming one of Vermont’s top visitor destinations. The store is known for selling practical, offbeat, and hard-to-find items, such as Dr. Scholl’s sandals and children’s Fisher-Price record players. The Vermont Country Store also carries jewelry, classic kitchenware, soap, cheese, candy and much more. (657 Main Street/Route 100, Weston; 802-824-3184; vermontcountrystore.com)
Okemo Mountain Resort
Okemo is a family-owned ski area that is home to 121 trails and five mountain areas that include Jackson Gore Peak, Solitude Peak, South Face, Glades Peak and South Ride. The year-round Adventure Zone is sure to please all ages, and mountain biking and golf make this southern Vermont resort the perfect outdoor playground. (77 Okemo Ridge Road, Ludlow; 800-78-OKEMO; okemo.com)
Green Mountain Sugar House in Ludlow
This family-owned maple sugaring business got its start more than 50 years ago, when David and Marjorie Harlow opened a sugarhouse near the shore of Lake Pauline. In 1985, the couple sold the business to their daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Doug Rose. They continue the tradition of tapping trees, boiling sap, and packing syrup into jugs and glass bottles. They also make their own maple candy, maple cream, and maple nut brittle. Don’t forget to order a maple creemee while you’re there. (820 Route 100, Ludlow; 800-643-9338; gmsh.com)
Original Country Store in Pittsfield
The Original General Store is one of the best country stores in Vermont. The store sells wine, coffee, smoothies, snacks, beer, as well as burgers, BLTs, and pancakes. In the back of the store is The Backroom, a tiny restaurant that seats 20 people in a communal dining setting from November to June. (3963 Route 100, Pittsfield, VT; www.vermontsoriginalstore.com)
Moss Glen Falls in Granville
A tour of Route 100 must include Moss Glen Falls, a magnificent 30-foot waterfall. The falls are located on the western edge of Route 100 in the Granville Gulf Reservation, a six-mile, winding stretch of untouched wilderness between Rochester and Warren. (Route 100, Granville)
Sugarbush Resort
With 111 trails spread across two mountains—Lincoln Peak and Mount Ellen—Sugarbush has something for skiers and riders of all ages and levels. Trails on Castle Rock are known for being among the most natural and challenging expert terrain around. In the summer and fall, enjoy hiking, a zipline, downhill biking, scenic lift rides, and more. (102 Forrest Drive, Warren; 800-537-8427; sugarbush.com)
Ben & Jerry’s in Waterbury
Vermont’s most popular tourist attraction is also one of the tastiest places to visit. Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, who started scooping their famous Vermont ice cream 40 years ago, are the guys behind Cherry Garcia, Heath Bar Crunch, and Chunky Monkey. Every year, thousands of visitors flock to the Route 100 factory for 30-minute tours, free samples, and a gift shop. (1281 Waterbury-Stowe Road/Route 100, Waterbury; 866-258-6877; benandjerrys.com)
Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury Center
Cold Hollow Cider Mill is one of New England’s largest producers of fresh apple cider—last year they used 7.5 million pounds of apples. Cold Hollow draws busloads of visitors who watch cider being made on a vintage 1920 press, then sample the goods. While Cold Hollow has always been a place to pick up a variety of specialty foods like apple jelly, butters, and sauces, you can now add hard cider to the mix. Their relatively new hard cider, Barn Dance, is sold exclusively at Cold Hollow in the Apple Core Luncheonette & Brew. (3600 Waterbury-Stowe Road/Route 100, Waterbury Center; 800-3-APPLES; coldhollow.com)
