Looking to go on a New England getaway? Check out my list of family friendly things to do in Woodstock, VT!
Do you enjoy going on road trips?
I’m passionate about traveling in general, and adore road trip getaways. It gives me a chance to plan adventurous, long weekend trips to new-to-me places that are just a drive away.
My toddler Cammie having fun in the forest in Brattleboro, VT
Since moving to New England 3.5 years ago, my family has gone on many road trips – especially since 1.) the pandemic started in 2020 and we wanted to travel while staying socially distanced, and 2.) I had my daughter (Check out my 10 tips for traveling with a toddler!).
Perhaps my favorite time to go on a New England road trip is in autumn, when the foliage is complete eye candy and the temperatures are cool yet comfortable. Last fall, we hit the road and headed about 4 hours north from our home in coastal Connecticut to Woodstock, VT.
Downtown Woodstock was very festive when we visited in October
Woodstock is a charming, historic New England town with a population of just under 3,000 people. I had ventured into the town for a few activities once before, but had yet to stay within its city limits.
We spent 4 days in Woodstock, and had a blast! We enjoyed what the town had to offer, and lucked out with lovely New England autumn weather.
“The trees are showing us how lovely it is to let things go.”
While I’m certainly not opposed to doing kid-centric activity days while traveling – we just spent an entire afternoon at the Mystic Aquarium a few weekends ago – I tend to plan activities that my husband, daughter, and I can all enjoy together. As you’ll see in this round up, I like to focus on outdoor activities, animals and food.
Without further adieu, here’s my list of fun things to do in Woodstock, VT that adults AND kiddos will enjoy!
8 Family Friendly Things to Do in Woodstock, VT
Visit Billings Farm & Museum.
One of the most popular things to do in Woodstock is to visit Billings Farm & Museum – and it’s easy to see why. The farm is spacious and has a lot to see, and it’s particularly enjoyable to take in against the backdrop of autumn leaves.
When we visited, we got the chance to pet the farm’s adorable calves, learn more about their Jersey cows and check them out in their stables, walk around their farmstead gardens and pastures, and enjoy some ice cream made made with their herds’ milk at the Farmhouse Cafe.
Billings Farm & Museum also holds special events that sound like fun. For example, they currently have a baby farm animal celebration + sheep shearing & herding events on their upcoming calendar.
Visit Abracadabra Coffee.
I’ve always liked outdoor eateries, but since becoming a mom, I like them even more. We visited Abracadabra Coffee a few times while in Woodstock, and it’s a fun beverage/food truck that has picnic tables to dine at. In addition to a full coffee menu with seasonal items, Abracadabra also offers a few food items, such as waffles.
It’s the perfect spot to pop into after a morning walk around Woodstock. The coffee joint also is across from a park area, so we chose to grab coffee/tea and then head to the park to let our toddler run around.
Note that Abracadabra is only open Friday-Sunday.
Hike Mount Peg.
Hiking is one of my favorite ways to get a workout in while out of town – plus you can’t beat the views & satisfaction that you get from the top of a mountain! With having a child, hiking obviously becomes a bit harder. We like to hike with my daughter in our Osprey Child Carrier Backpack, but since she’s a big 2-year old now, she likes to hike herself (see above!). So, nowadays I find easier hikes that her little legs can handle.
One fun, short hike to do in Woodstock is Mount Peg. It’s a 1.3 mile loop that offers a nice view of the area. Our Airbnb apartment was right off of the trail, so we were able to hop onto the trail one morning for a quick jaunt.
Visit Sugarbush Farm.
I love trying locally made food wherever I go, so naturally I enjoyed visiting Sugarbush Farm. This 500 acre family farm offers samples of a variety of maple syrups and cheeses. Sugarbush Farm also has a farm store to purchase goodies, and offers a self-guided tour that covers the syrup making process. We also spent time walking in the maple woods and saying hi to the goats.
Explore the VINS Forest Canopy Walk.
The Forest Canopy Walk in the nearby town of Quechee is the Vermont Institute of Science’s (VINS) newest exhibit at their Nature Center. It’s a stroller friendly and ADA-accessible way to move from the forest floor to treetops without a climb.
We really enjoyed the Forest Canopy Walk! It was a great way to check out some pretty forest views and let my toddler get some energy out. The walk features art, a tree house, an oversized eagle’s nest, and my favorite part, a giant spider web:
Situated 43 feet above the forest floor, this oversized spider web is 20 feet in diameter. I honestly felt so relaxed laying there and could have stayed awhile!
See the Quechee Gorge.
While you’re in Quechee at the VINS Forest Canopy Walk, swing by the gorge to take in its beauty. Formed by glacial activity around 13,000 years ago, it’s Vermont’s deepest gorge. The views from the gorge are pretty and it’s very easy to access.
Quechee Gorge is located in Quechee State Park, where visitors can also hike, camp, fish, picnic, and play volleyball and horseshoes.
Photo via The Skinny Pancake
Grab Brunch at The Skinny Pancake.
Indulge in some sweet crepes at The Skinny Pancake, which offers breakfast all day long. We sat outside and chowed down on sweet + savory crepes for brunch.
The Middle Covered Bridge is located right in downtown Woodstock
Check out Woodstock’s Covered Bridges.
Vermont is known for its covered bridges. In fact, there are more covered bridges per square mile in VT than any other state! They’re a characterful part of New England, so it’s a good idea to swing by a covered bridge or two while you’re in Woodstock. There are a few to choose from right in the area, including:
- Middle Covered Bridge
- Taftsville Covered Bridge
- Quechee Covered Bridge
A few additional family friendly things to do in Woodstock, VT that I didn’t get a chance to do myself include trying maple creemees and exploring Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park.
Tell me… Do you have a favorite road trip destination? Have questions about visiting Woodstock? Ask me below!
Looking for more northeastern travel inspo? Check out my other posts:
I’ve been to the Quechee Gorge! Vermont is such a great state…I’ve told Laura before that in another life, I would’ve liked to live in Vermont. Everything just seems so laid back and chill there. It’s great! Thanks so much for sharing all of these fantastic ideas. Also, when did Cammie get so big!?
I 100% agree with you – My husband and I were talking about what it would be like to live there when we visited. It’s so interesting to me how VT (and also New Hampshire and Maine) have such small populations and even the “big” cities of the state are not heavily populated.
I know… my baby isn’t a baby anymore! She’ll be 3 in the summer!
Vermont looks so beautiful! I’ve always wanted to visit there.
VT is a pretty place, especially in the fall with all of the gorgeous leaves!