7 Things to See and Do in Vermont Before Labor Day
July 26, 2025
It’s hard to believe, but Labor Day is nearly a month away. Still, four weeks is plenty of time to see and do summery things in the Green Mountain State.
Here are seven ideas to make the most of late summer in Vermont.
Go blueberry picking
Vermont’s blueberry season is here, and the timing is ripe for picking blueberries.
Vermont is home to a variety of pick-your-own berry farms, including Cedar Circle Farm in East Thetford, Owl’s Head Blueberry Farm in Richmond, Sugar Hill Berry Farm in East Wallingford, Wild Carrot Farm in Brattleboro, Sunshine Valley Organic Berry Farm in Rochester, Full Belly Farm in Hinesburg, Kinder Way Berry Farm and Sanctuary in West Pawlet, and Breitmeyers Farm in Greensboro.
Blueberry season can be relatively short, with late July and early August being an ideal time for picking.
See a wild bald eagle’s nest (and maybe a young eagle) in Quechee
A wild bald eagle decided that VINS Nature Center in Quechee was the perfect spot to build a nest for its young. You might think this is a regular occurrence at VINS, but this is a first, according to VINS staff.
Fortunately, visitors can see the nest from the top of the Canopy Walk tower, where VINS installed a temporary exhibit.
The VINS team watched as an eaglet was born in early summer and saw its parents fly to and from the nest, feeding the baby for weeks. Last week, staff couldn’t find the eaglet and thought it fledged. But 24 hours later, it returned.
Bald eagles aren’t rare in Vermont, but they once were an endangered species here. Bald eagles typically look for tall, strong trees for nests, where they have a commanding view over the area.
The temporary exhibit will be up until the eaglet fledges or VINS no longer sees activity around the nest—probably sometime this fall. (149 Nature’s Way, Quechee; General admission $17-$20. Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. vinsweb.org)
-Photo by Daron Tansley, a VINS volunteer
Appreciate art in a big red barn in Waitsfield
The 27th annual Big Red Barn Art Show opens today at Lareau Farm and Forest (Flatbread) in Waitsfield, continuing a long-standing summer tradition in the Mad River Valley.
The exhibition showcases over 60 artists and 200 pieces, from traditional oil, acrylic, pastel and watercolor paintings to innovative sculptures and glass pieces.
The show, which began as a small art display at the Warren Town Hall in 1998, runs until August 31.
Hours are Thursday-Friday from 4 to 9 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. in the historic Lareau Barn on Route 100 in Waitsfield. Visit the Valley Artists Guild’s website for updates at ValleyArtistsGuild.com.
-Courtesy image / Oil painting by Carol Dallas
Slow down in the Champlain Islands
On my way home from the Montréal Trudeau International Airport on Monday, I crossed the border in Alburgh in northwestern Vermont. What a beautiful route to find my way home.
There’s a lot to love about the Champlain Islands. You can play golf at Lakewood Links in Alburgh or walk the grounds and swim at the beach at St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle La Motte. Stop by Hero’s Welcome general store in North Hero or sip craft beer next door at Kraemer + Kin brewery. A few miles away in South Hero, visit Snow Farm Vineyard and Distillery and enjoy an evening of live music on Thursdays through August.
-Shutterstock image / Adirondack Chairs in Isle La Motte
Explore mountains and forests
If you want to climb Vermont’s tallest peaks, try Mount Mansfield, Camel’s Hump or Mount Abraham. To avoid the crowds, try lesser-known trails or locations, such as Beaver Meadow Loop in Morristown, the Skylight Pond Trail in Ripton, Merck Forest in Rupert or Wheeler Mountain in Sutton.
Don’t forget about town forests in places like Putney, Dover, Chester, Dorset and Newbury, which offer low-key options that get you outside but aren’t as rigorous as scaling 4,000-foot peaks. Visit the Green Mountain Club for information on hiking trails.
Drive to a mountain summit
If hiking isn’t your thing but you enjoy mountaintop views, several Vermont peaks include auto-toll roads to the top.
Equinox Skyline Drive, located near Manchester, is a 5.2-mile toll road that leads to the 3,848-foot summit.
In the Upper Valley, the Mount Ascutney Parkway is a 3.7-mile road built by hand and machine by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Burke Mountain and Stowe Mountain Resort also offer auto-toll roads to the summit.
Wherever you go, enjoy the twists and turns along the way.
Last but not least, get a creemee
Creemees are Vermont’s answer to soft-serve ice cream. For the full-on Vermont creemee experience, order a maple creemee to see what all the fuss is about around here.
Local favorites include Little Gordo Creemee Stand in Burlington, Vermont Cookie Love in Ferrisburgh, Canteen Creemee Company in Waitsfield, Village Creemee Stand in Bristol, Kelly’s Snack Shack in Wallingford, Silloway Maple in Randolph, and the Creemee Stand in Wilmington.
-Instagram / Little Gordo
Where in Vermont? Test Your Knowledge of Vermont Geography
The answer to the July 12 quiz was Saxton’s River.
Winners!
Burt Nowers
Grace Springer
Henry Gordon
Jacob Lansing
Can you name the town in the photo below? Share your answer by commenting below (be sure to give your name) or email me at [email protected]. I’ll announce the winners in next week’s email. Thanks for playing!
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