“Say ‘cheese!'” as you make your way through the picturesque Green Mountain State known for skiing, maple syrup, the Vermont Brewery Trail and the Vermont Cheese Trail. Vermont’s cheese makers are among some of the best in the world with over 45 cheese-making members who produce and create over 150 varieties of farmstead and artisan cheese from cows, goats and sheep.
Want to get an inside look into the cheese-making process? You can tour and conduct your own taste test with visits to the trail’s farms and shops where you can sample everything from aged cheddar to gorgonzola and even meet the animals who make it all possible. With a long list of places to visit, consider making a weekend out of it by staying at a Vermont bed and breakfast. Known worldwide for their hospitality, Vermont innkeepers have also been known to add some wine and crackers into the mix!
The connoisseurs over at the Vermont Butter & Cheese Creamery have been perfecting the art of cheese-making for over 26 years and have even created their own types like Cremont and Bonne Bouche. Take a self-guided tour of the facilities to see how cheese is made and taste a sample or two. Afterwards, head to the charming Comstock House Bed & Breakfast located in Plainfield, VT. Built in 1891, this renovated farmhouse boasts spectacular panoramic mountain views, comfortable accommodations and elegant guest rooms.
If you’re craving high-quality cheddar cheese made entirely by hand, check out Shelburne Farms. At this 1,400-acre working farm, you can spend a leisurely afternoon exploring their walking trails and farmyard where you can even milk a Brown Swiss Milk cow, the purebred herd of farm-raised cows used to create their cheese. Once the tour is over, take a short ride over to Heart of the Village Inn located in the historic village of Shelburne, VT, where each of the nine guest rooms is outfitted in antiques and period décor and named after an influential Shelburne resident. You can grab a glass of wine to enjoy along with cheese from Shelburne Farms while relaxing on the inn’s wrap around porch.
Next time you head to the Green Mountain State, get a little cheesy. It’s as “Gouda” time as any! Vermont has so much to offer and you can check it all out on our “Vibrant Vermont” Pinterest board.
