Imagine yourself in
VERMONT
A custom itinerary designed for a group of beer-loving travelers to experience Northern Vermont in Fall.
Designing this JOURNEY
These travelers knew they wanted craft beer, fall foliage, and authentic Vermont - but they didn't know the Northeast Kingdom existed or which experiences would make their trip unforgettable. Here's what they requested, and how our local connections transformed it:
THE VISION
Duration:
7-8 days
Location:
Burlington & Northern Vermont, based outside of mass tourism
Season:
Fall foliage season
Focus:
Craft beer, farm-to-table and local fare, hiking
(We added unexpected lakeside moments for balance)
Vibe:
Active days with top-quality beer and food
(We arranged a hands-on cooking class and lakeside picnic)
Stay:
New England charm
(We selected a classic B&B + retro lakeside cabins)
Ready to design your Vermont journey? We'll customize every detail to your vision.
Inclusions
Luxury boutique accommodations
Airport Meet & Greet with private transfers
Local, English-speaking trip leader
Most meals
Fully customizable
Entrance fees for all experiences and museums
All ground transportation
Team of local guides
All taxes & gratuity
We accommodate all dietary preferences
Friends of farmers
Farm-to-table fans and localvores will love this itinerary for its celebration of Vermont's diverse, and flourishing farm movement. We'll introduce you to the growers, producers, and tradition keeps that allow small scale to thrive big time!
Craft Beer Nerds
We use the term "nerd" with complete admiration! The beer world in Vermont is next level, and beers lovers, or even likers will appreciate the dedication found by those passionate about this art. Plus the breweries are often in remote, stunning locations, a perfect place for any beverage!
Local lovers
Every host, expert guide, chef, beekeeper, brewer, restauranter, farmer, and hotelier proudly call Vermont home and welcome their guests with genuine hospitality! Together host & guest co-create a beautiful exchange. This is what a truly immersive experience looks like.
Nature seekers
From gentle hikes surrounded by vibrant colors and falling to leaves to half day hikes that will leave you feeling the thrills of an adventurer! This itinerary is designed to take in the outdoors! Including rocking on the porch, cozying up by a campfire or strolling the sidewalks of quaint villages.
Beyond the Guidebook
Every host, brewer, farmer, and guide on this trip is someone we know personally - each one a relationship we've built so you can experience Vermont through the eyes of real Vermonters. This journey features 22+ partnerships with local aficionados and independent businesses, which means you're not just visiting - you're a welcomed guest with a personal introduction to authentic Vermont. These are the moments that feel less like tourism and more like being shown around by your most connected friend.
Highlights
Resting in quintessential New England charm, at a historic bed & breakfast
Local trivia night at a pizza pub
A lakeside picnic lunch surrounded by fall foliage
Cycling (or motoring) through a cornfield
Staying in the coziest of cabins overlooking Caspian Lake
A glass blowing demonstration hidden below a luxury boutique
Local guides and tour leader
Memories and meals to cherish for a lifetime!
Sustainable, impactful and ethical travel
Daily opportunities for trying some of the finest beer Vermont (or anywhere) has to offer
Easy travel planning for a seamless trip, and access to the very best local ingredients!
Sunset sail on Lake Champlain while snacking on charcuterie boards (VT cheese obviously) & sipping local brews
"Thank you, Conscious Travel Collective, for a truly incredible experience. Immersive travel is a life-changing experience. From hiking a mountainside to sharing a meal with a family at their kitchen table after learning how textiles are made. From experiencing locally sourced cuisine unique and worthy of Michelin star ratings, to learning how the descendants honor their ancestors in almost every aspect of their lives."
J. Brown on his trip to Oaxaca, October 2022
Day by Day
Day 1 - Arrive in Burlington
Touch down in Burlington and transfer to your boutique inn overlooking Lake Champlain. After settling in, meet everyone for a welcome dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants, a place where the chef sources directly from Vermont farms and the wine list celebrates small producers. This evening sets the tone: exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and the beginning of a week discovering Vermont through the people who call it home
Meals Included: Dinner
Day 2 - The Northeast Kingdom
After breakfast, explore the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail by e-bike, winding through cornfields and countryside to authentic Vermont villages. Your guide knows the route intimately and leads you to Lost Nation Brewery, a local favorite, for BBQ and craft beer.
Settle into Greensboro for the next few days! Choose between a room at the historic Highland Lodge or your own private lake view cabin. Tonight: trivia night at Parker's Pies, where our connection with the owners means you're welcomed like regulars, not tourists.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3 - Woodstock
Today takes you to Woodstock, consistently named one of America's most beautiful towns. Begin at Simon Pearce, where a master glassblower demonstrates his craft in a restored mill powered by the Ottauquechee River. Continue to a family-run farm where Vermont's famous cheddar and maple traditions come to life. Meet the farmers themselves, taste products still warm from production, and understand why Vermont's agricultural heritage endures.
Spend the afternoon exploring Woodstock as you wish. We know that even close friends traveling together don't always want the same afternoon; hike Mount Tom for sweeping village views, explore the Billings Farm & Museum, or meander the historic streets without a plan. This flexibility is intentional. Regroup for dinner on the return to Greensboro.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Tastings, Dinner
Day 4 - Stowe
Begin with a morning nature walk on one of Highland Lodge's private trails before heading to nearby Stowe. Choose your adventure: a peaceful canoe excursion, Stowe's scenic recreation path, the whimsical corn maze, or a spa afternoon at Stoweflake Mountain Resort. For those seeking indoor fun, there's always Stowebowl.
Later, tour The Alchemist Brewery, known for their legendary Heady Topper IPA - where our relationship grants you access to their limited-production releases and the story behind Vermont's craft beer revolution.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Tasting, Dinner
Day 5 - Culinary Immersion
Trade hiking boots for aprons today. At King Arthur Baking Company, participate in a hands-on baking workshop mastering techniques for everything from cinnamon rolls to artisan breads - skills and recipes to take home.
Continue to Montpelier for an afternoon at Caledonia Spirits, where you'll learn about their sustainable distilling methods, craft your own cocktails under expert guidance, and enjoy tastings of their acclaimed gins and vodkas. Dinner follows at a farm-to-table restaurant our team selected for its exceptional Vermont ingredients.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Cocktails, Dinner
Day 6 - Lake Wiloughby & Local Gems
Spend the morning at Lake Willoughby, where dramatic cliffs frame impossibly clear water. Some will canoe the shoreline, others will paddleboard in quiet coves, and a few might tackle the Mount Pisgah Trail for breathtaking vistas. A picnic lunch prepared with local provisions awaits wherever you choose to pause and take it all in.
As afternoon light turns golden, visit Hill Farmstead Brewery, internationally recognized yet deeply rooted in this rural Vermont landscape. This experience, arranged through our local connections, represents one of the region's most sought-after tastings. Return to your cabins for the final Greensboro evening: dinner prepared with care, stories shared around the firepit, s'mores under Vermont stars, and the kind of quality time together that reminds you why these friendships matter.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Picnic Lunch, Tastings, Dinner
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Day 7 - Return to Burlington
After a leisurely morning, return to Burlington with a stop at Shelburne Museum, a remarkable collection celebrating American art, design, and ingenuity across 45 acres.
The afternoon brings a private sailing on Lake Champlain. Your captain has sailed these waters for decades, and as you cruise with local cheese, charcuterie, and Vermont craft beer you might start to wonder, "Is this is Vermont at its finest?" The views, the craft, the people, all coming together in a single perfect afternoon.
Freshen up at your inn before gathering for a farewell dinner celebrating the week's discoveries, fresh inside jokes and the inevitable "when can we do this again?"
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8
Enjoy a final Vermont breakfast - locally roasted coffee, farm-fresh ingredients, and perhaps one last conversation with friends on the inn's porch. Some goodbyes take longer than others. Private transfers ensure an easy departure from Burlington Airport, though leaving feels harder than it should.
Meals included: Breakfast