Northwest Vermont in the Summer
Top Picks in Northwest Vermont
Summer is your gateway to the sense of wonder and well-being that comes with slowing down and taking in your surroundings in Vermont. Plunge into a swimming hole, stroll a local festival, or simply find togetherness on the lakeshore or around the campfire. Hand-picked by the editors of Yankee Magazine, these 5 highlights are just some of what the Northwest Vermont offers in the summer.
Enosburg, Vermont
Cold Hollow Sculpture Park
Sculptor David Stromeyer has been drawing inspiration from Cold Hollow’s 200 acres of former dairy farmland since he and his wife, Sarah, purchased it in the 1970s. He worked here privately for years, creating massive iron, stone, and steel sculptures, and opened it to the public in 2014. Cold Hollow hosts workshops and performances throughout the summer, but the stars of this show are the 70-some sculptures by Stromeyer. The artworks are tucked into the rolling landscape as if they’ve always been here—“alive” and changing with the weather and light.
Enosburg, Vermont
Vermont Dairy Festival
For more than 65 years, Enosburg has marked the start of June, National Dairy Month, with this four-day salute to Vermont’s dairy industry and the people and animals that make it happen. It has all the usual trappings of a county fair: rides, games, live music, and lots of dairy-inspired foods. Learn tricks of the trade at a cheesemaking workshop. Place your bets at the bingo-inspired “Cow Plop” contest. Cheer on the competitors in the milking contest, or roll up your sleeves and get in there yourself. Proceeds support community programs—proof that milk does everybody good.
St. Albans, Vermont
St. Albans Museum + Gallery, St. Albans
An 1861 schoolhouse overlooking the city’s Taylor Park green now serves as an archive for all things St. Albans. Three floors of exhibits weave tales of the region through artifacts, photographs, and texts. Learn about the origins and importance of the Central Vermont Railway, then immerse yourself in the story of the St. Albans Raid, the northernmost U.S. land battle during the Civil War. There’s also an exploration of the area’s French Canadian heritage and visiting exhibits that shed light on such topics as Abenaki archaeology and the town’s role in World War I.
Knobby Hill Farm, Fairfax
At Knobby Hill Farm, good things come in small packages. Delicious and nutrient-rich, blueberries have been linked to healthy blood pressure and good memory. But when it comes to the berries at this family-owned farm, we were sold at “delicious.” The season here is short, starting in July and ending in August. Sales are made on an honor system: Pick your berries, weigh them at home, Venmo your payment. From the idyllic scenery to the selection of as many as 10 varieties, staining your fingers purple has never been so much fun.
St. Albans, Vermont
Burton Island State Park
Whether you hop a ferry to Burton Island for the 10-minute ride from Kill Kare State Park, or park your own boat at the island’s marina, what comes next is peak summer vacationing. Accessible only by water, this 253-acre island in Lake Champlain has been open to the public since 1964. Beach and sun are the main attractions, but the fun is in choosing just how to enjoy them. Swim, or (if you’ve brought your bike) go for a ride? Set out on a hike, or settle in for a ranger-led unpacking of park history? If one day doesn’t feel like enough, there are cabins and campsites here for overnight stays—just plan ahead, as they tend to get booked up early.
More to See and Do
Places to Visit In the Summer
Yankee Magazine’s editors hand-picked 5 places to visit in each Vermont region. Explore things to do in summer statewide.
