Category: Vermont

Things to Know:

• No admission fee.
• A quiet, local 104 acre park with beautiful and easily accessible trails.
• Dog friendly.

We discovered this park while driving west from our eastern Vermont cabin. It was easy to locate and has plenty of parking at the trail heads. Trails are scenic, well maintained, and beautifully draped in New England hardwoods. Certain trail routes take hikers to the edge of Sherburne Bay, where the picture below was taken.

We had no problem taking along our small dog, Maverick, as the trails are well kept and dogs on leashes are welcomed. Eventually, we arrived at the Shelburne Bay, where we found a multitude of water crafts out for an afternoon sail on the bay. Along the way, we passed several folks fishing from the banks.

Recommendation: This is a wonderfully pristine park with easy trails that allow most visitors to experience the beauty of a New England forest and the serenity of Sherburne Bay. A good way to spend 1 to 2 hours. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Things to Know:

• No admission charge to visit. Nominal charge for guided tours. Self-guiding tours free.
• Beer samples and growler/crowler fillings available at brewery. Numerous beers on tap.
• Cheese boards and sandwiches available.
• Dog friendly. Dogs allowed on premises and inside visitor center, but not on tours.

While in Vermont, we stopped by the Magic Hat Brewery in South Burlington, Vermont. Magic Hat has grown to be a prominent craft beer maker, with its brews widely available nationwide.

The staff was super friendly, and we sampled a few of their best products. Really good stuff. We had our small dog, Maverick, with us, and he was welcomed inside the visitor’s area. Our recollection is that he couldn’t accompany us on a tour – which is understandable – so we skipped the tour and settled for beer tasting and gift shop browsing.

As you can see from the above picture, the brewery has an interestingly unique appearance, which matches its cheery, self-deprecating marketing approach.

All in all, this is a really fun place, and a great way to spend an hour or two if you’re a beer lover in the South Burlington area. Highly recommended.

Recommendation: If you enjoy experiencing and learning about the latest in craft beer-making, you will enjoy a stop at Magic Hat. The staff is very friendly, the atmosphere is laid back, and the beer is excellent. Dogs are welcome around the distillery and in the common visitor’s area, but not on tours. We suggest giving it a look if you’re in this neck of the woods.