A Long Weekend in Vergennes
TRAVEL TO VERMONT BY TRAIN
FRIDAY EVENING
Train arrives at Vergennes station VRN, 400 State Highway 22A, Vergennes, VT
The Vergennes Amtrak station isn’t within walking distance of downtown, so we recommend calling ahead for your pickup from Small City Taxi, Uber, or Lyft. Check in at Strong House Inn or Basin Harbor, a historic and family-friendly Lake Champlain retreat on more than 700 acres. You can also camp at Button Bay State Park or rent one of their four cabins.
SATURDAY
Go to 3 Squares Cafe for a generous local start to your day made from scratch. Then, take a taxi to the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, with exhibitions on prohibition in the Champlain Valley, shipwrecks in Lake Champlain, smuggling and the canal system, and more. Take in exhibits of shipwrecks on land at the museum, or certified SCUBA divers can dive down to the Vermont Underwater Historic Preserves, with 10 sunken vessels to explore. From the museum, take a taxi back downtown. Have lunch at the Park Squeeze, its iconic sign beckoning from Main Street, and rent bikes at Little City Cycles, giving you the freedom to explore historic downtown Vergennes, which bills itself as the smallest city in America. Vergennes Falls Park makes for a scenic mile and a half out-and-back loop and MacDonough Park offers waterfront views and a leisurely pedal. Downtown, try from-scratch ice cream in flavors like Garden Basil and marshmallow cereal at LuLu or sample beers at Hired Hand Brewing in Bar Antidote. Have dinner at Black Sheep Bistro, which uses local ingredients to craft dishes infused with traditional French flair, and take in a show at Vergennes Opera House.
SUNDAY
Have brunch at Vergennes Laundry. Transportation to Basin Harbor is available for a nominal fee, making it easy to head there to play a round of golf, rent a boat, either powered or paddle, and spend the day bobbing and fishing on Lake Champlain, swim in the heated pool, or enjoy a round of croquet or badminton. It’s easy to spend all day at this resort with options for the whole family. Nearby Button Bay State Park offers more than 250 acres of hiking, waterfront views, a swimming pool, and a nature center with educational nature programs. Enjoy dinner at The Red Mill at Basin Harbor.
MONDAY
10:44 a.m.: Train leaves for NYC
Pick up breakfast and something sweet for the ride home from Three Squares Cafe then board the train. We recommend arranging for your ride to the train station to guarantee plenty of time.
For more lodging, shopping, and dining in Vergennes, visit the directory.