Your Vermont Wayfinders tour might be the highlight of your trip, but it doesn’t have to be the only one! If you’re staying in the area for a few days, there’s plenty more to explore before or after your tour. These are places we don’t include in our routes, usually because they take a bit more time to fully enjoy. But they’re well worth a visit.
We’ve grouped them by theme to help you plan your free time. Whether you’re into local history, enjoying nature, quiet art, or just a great walk through a beautiful place, check out our list and make your plan!
Things to Do in Vermont
(When You’re Not Touring with Us!)
Historic Sites
Calvin Coolidge Homestead, Plymouth Notch VT
A beautifully preserved hilltop village and the birthplace of the 30th U.S. president with a museum and guided toursAmerican Precision Museum, Windsor VT
An unexpectedly fascinating look at precision manufacturing and innovation in a historic factory building
Nature & Wildlife
Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS), Quechee VT
A nature center with live raptor exhibits, canopy walks, and family-friendly trailsMarsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Woodstock VT
A blend of natural beauty, hiking trails, and conservation historyEshqua Bog Natural Area, Hartland VT
A quiet boardwalk through a unique fen ecosystem; best in early summer but open year-roundQuechee Gorge
Hike along the rim and enjoy the views over Vermont’s deepest gorge
Arts & Culture
Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park, Cornish NH
Just across the Connecticut River, this historic studio and sculpture garden is a peaceful, inspiring place to wanderHall Art Foundation, Reading VT
Features rotating, temporary exhibitions of contemporary art from May through NovemberBillings Farm & Museum, Woodstock VT
A working dairy farm and museum with seasonal events and demonstrations
Shopping
Bridgewater Mill, Bridgewater VT
Home to artist studios, a handmade furniture workshop, a pizza restaurant, and a great place to stretch your legs and shop localChester Village, Chester VT
Antique shops, galleries, places to grab food and a green to sit and relax for a bitQuechee Gorge Village, Quechee VT
A cluster of small, eclectic shops including a massive antique mall, alpaca wool store, Vermont-made gifts, and local specialties. It’s a fun stop for browsing and picking up unique souvenirs near the gorge.