Vermont Omiyage Ideas

Vermont was my favorite New England state we visited last year.  It happens to be home to many popular brands, such as Ben & Jerry's, Cabot Cheese, and Lake Champlain Chocolates, so there is no shortage of omiyage products when you're traveling through Vermont.

A great place to find a nice variety of made-in-Vermont products (as well as products made in other New England States) are Cold Hollow Cider Mill and Cabot Farmers' Store.

Here are a few products to look out for:

Ben & Jerry's Products

Cabot Products

Cold Hollow Cider Mill Donuts

Distler's Pretzels

Halladay's Harvest Barn Dip Mixes

Healing Earth Vermont Herbal Products

Lake Champain Chocolates

Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm Maple Syrup

Vermont Nut Free Chocolates
Vermont Smoke & Cure Meat Snacks
Westminster Bakers Co. Crackers

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Massachusetts Omiyage Ideas

While in Boston, we bought a lot of locally-made sweets.  Cookies, candies, brownies - you name it!

Here are some omiyage ideas for when you're in Massachusetts!

Apotheker's Kitchen Chocolate
Cape Cod Provisions (Cranberry Bog Frogs)
CB Stuffer Peanut Butter Cups
Dancing Deer Baking Co. Brownies
Fancypants Bakery Cookies
McCrea's Candies
Not Your Sugar Mamas Chocolates
Ozioli's Italian Cookies
Pure7 Chocolate
Spritzal Cookie Company
Taza Chocolate
Vivra Chocolate

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Visit Boston: Faneuil Hall Marketplace

A popular spot to visit in Boston is Faneuil Hall Marketplace, where numerous shops and restaurants reside.

While there we ate delicious pizzas from Regina's Pizzeria and indulged in treats from Kilvert & Forbes Bakeshop Featuring Maggie's Sweets.  There is seating both upstairs and downstairs, but it can get really crowded.

We also watched some live entertainment and browsed the numerous souvenir shops.  Many tours also stop near this popular landmark.

It reminded me somewhat of Pike Place Market in Seattle, with its rows of eateries and retailers.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is definitely a must-visit while in Boston!

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

4 S Market St

Boston, MA 02109
(617) 523-1300

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Visit New Hampshire: Puritan Ice Cream

After dinner at the Puritan Backroom Restaurant, we decided to eat ice cream at the Puritan Takeout & Ice Cream store in front of the building.

Yes, we could've eaten ice cream at the restaurant, but the server said it was cheaper at the Takeout shop, and there were kiddie sizes there as well, which the restaurant didn't offer.

Golden OREO

Mint OREO

Fudge Ripple

Strawberry

Chocolate Fudge Brownie

I had the Golden OREO ice cream.  I love Golden OREOs, and this ice cream was absolutely delicious, with chunks of Golden OREOs throughout the creamy ice cream.

Serving sizes are huge (I couldn't finish a small size).

It was some of the best ice cream I've had - ever.

Everyone loved the flavors they chose.

Puritan Ice Cream is a must-visit if you're in the area and love ice cream!

Puritan Takeout & Ice Cream
245 Hooksett Rd

Manchester, NH 03104

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Visit Vermont: Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory Outlet

If you're in Vermont, and you love chocolate, or you're looking for some sweet gifts for loved ones, a stop at Lake Champlain Chocolates Factory Outlet is a must.

They have an amazing assortment of chocolate confections at the shop, including ice cream!

It's a chocolate-lovers dream!

Be sure to visit to satisfy your chocolate cravings!

Lake Champlain Chocolates
2653 Waterbury Stowe Rd

Waterbury, VT 05676
(802) 241-4150

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Visit Vermont: Cabot Farmers' Store

While in Vermont we stopped at the Cabot Farmers' Store.

It's a fun place to not only sample a variety of different cheeses, but it was also a great place to pick up locally-made goods!

My kids loved trying the different cheeses - I was so impressed with the number of flavors offered!

I especially loved that I could buy made-in-New England products - baked goods, chips, and even health and beauty products - perfect for omiyage!

The Cabot Farmers' Store is a must-visit if you find yourself in the Waterbury area of Vermont!

Cabot Farmers' Store
2657 Waterbury-Stowe Road
Waterbury Center, VT 05677

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Visit Rhode Island: Grinnell's Beach

While in Rhode Island, we decided to stop at Grinnell's Beach for the sole purpose of touching a part of the Atlantic Ocean.

Grinnell's Beach is a small beach with easy access and plenty of parking.

There were a few people at the beach - and they all must've looked at us strangely as we pulled up in shoes and jeans.

The beach is now undergoing some improvements.

Grinnell's Beach
Main Rd

Tiverton, RI 02878
(401) 625-6780

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Visit New England: Covered Bridges

New England is home to hundreds of covered bridges, and during our road trip, we visited one covered bridge in New Hampshire, and four in Vermont.

Gold Brook Covered Bridge - Vermont

Northfield Falls Covered Bridge - Vermont

Lower Cox Covered Bridge - Vermont

Upper Cox Covered Bridge - Vermont

Waterloo Covered Bridge - New Hampshire

The Northfield Falls, Upper Cox, and Lower Cox covered bridges are all a very short drive from one another.

These charming structures are neat to see in person, and they make great photo subjects!

Hopefully we'll get to see more covered bridges on future travels to New England!

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Visit Vermont: Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm

Vermont is the country's number one producer of maple syrup, so it only made sense that we visit a maple sugar farm while in the state.

We headed to Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm in Stowe, Vermont.

Owned and operated by the Coty Family, the shop offers a variety of different types of maple syrup (you can sample them!), as well as maple candy.

Samples!

When we visited there was no one in the shop - you simply enter, browse, sample, and if you decide to purchase something, you simply leave money in the change box and write down your purchase.

Be sure to visit Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm if you're looking for a made-in-Vermont gift, or you appreciate quality, fresh maple syrup!

Nebraska Knoll Sugar Farm
256 Falls Brook Ln

Stowe, VT 05672
(802) 253-4655

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Visit New Hampshire: Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves

On our last day in New Hampshire, we had plans to go to a nearby amusement park, but because of stormy weather, it closed down for the day.

So what do we do instead?  We drive 2+ hours to the White Mountain Region to hike and crawl in rainy, 40-degree weather at Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves.

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves allows visitors to explore the area's waterfalls and caves.  A 3/4 boardwalk (with lots of stairs) makes it fairly easy to traverse from one end to the other, but because it was pouring rain (thank goodness for the towering trees which shielded us from a lot of the raindrops), the boardwalk was very slippery, so we took our time.

There are numerous boulder formations which allow you to crawl (some you have to literally crawl on your hands and knees) through, or ones where you can try and squeeze through tiny crevices.

The caves can be quite tight - they are not for the faint of heart, or those who tend to be claustrophobic.

Two of my kids were game for trying out the tricky obstacles.  My youngest just wanted to stay on the boardwalk - which was fine with me, because I kept him company!

The scenery throughout the hike was just beautiful.

Because of the pouring rain, the Lost River was gushing, and Paradise Falls was a beauty!

Near the end of the trail is a covered bridge and a fun tree house.

Even though it was pouring rain and freezing while we were there, it made for a very memorable experience at Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves!

Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves
1712 Lost River Road, Route 112W

North Woodstock

New Hampshire 03262

(603) 745-8031

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