On our way to Burlington, Vermont from Portland, Maine, we ambled around the Waterbury, Vermont area. With its picturesque and pristine landscape, it is no wonder that Vermont is the home of so many inspired makers. Lucky for us, many of them are clustered around the Waterbury area. So, in a nice afternoon, we were able to sample a number of Vermont creations.
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory
Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory held the coveted top spot on my daughter's to-do list for our vacation. Seeing the delight in my daughter's face during the tour and hearing her stories ever since show that the tour certainly did not disappoint. Tours begin with a video. After the video, you go off to see the factory through viewing windows. You end in the tasting room where you can see where flavors are mixed and tasted. Everyone gets to try a nice size portion of one of the newer flavors. During the tour, you learn a lot about how Ben & Jerry's came about as well as the company's green practices and community initiatives. Tours are $4 per person, free for kids under 12--which is nice. Tours last about 30 minutes so they do not eat up your day.
