The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Ferrisburgh, Vermont Right Now
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Ferrisburgh, Vermont is a charming and picturesque town with a unique blend of natural beauty and historical attractions. Lake Champlain, the Adirondack Mountains, and the Green Mountains are all within reach — providing excellent opportunities for outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, boating, and birdwatching. The town, like much of Vermont, is known for its stunning fall foliage, making it a popular destination for leaf-peeping during the autumn season.
Ferrisburgh's small-town atmosphere and rural charm make it a peaceful and relaxing destination for those seeking a break from the hustle and bustle of city life. Explore the history of the town by visiting the Ferrisburgh Town Hall, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, the Rokeby Museum, located nearby, tells the story of Vermont's role in the Underground Railroad. While it may not be a major tourist destination like some other Vermont cities, it offers a very peaceful and authentic Vermont experience. These are the top five reasons why Ferrisburgh, Vermont should be on your bucket list.
1. The Cuisine + Cocktails: Where to Eat in Ferrisburgh
Noted as one of Vermont's finest restaurants and specializing in locally-sourced, organic and seasonal Vermont products, Starry Night Café, halfway between Burlington and Middlebury, invites you to experience their creative menu amidst an intimate collection of historic buildings showcasing the works of local artisans. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying two of their signature cocktails, Salt of the Earth — concocted with Smuggler’s Notch vodka, Dolin Blanc, olive brine, Bayley Hazen Blue olive, and house pickling, or the Check Matcha.
Led by Executive Chef Robert Frederick Smith III, the menu at Starry Night Café features innovative dishes with a global approach to New American cuisine featuring farm-to-table products in a quaint country setting. Favorite dishes include Coal Roasted Oysters, Steak Tartare with cut-to-order New York Strip, gem lettuce, puffed wild rice and classic accoutrements, Wood Grilled Prime Picanha for Two with loaded potato purée, black garlic steak sauce, horseradish, and dressed greens, House Made Pappardelle with short rib and pork ragu, fresh ricotta and warming spices, as well as Wood Grilled Wild Catch of the Day with rainbow carrots braised Puy lentils, spinach purée, grilled broccolini, and dashi buerre blanc.
For dessert indulge on their decadent Pumpkin Cake with spiced buttercream, caramel and crème anglaise or Maple-Bourbon Apple Crumb with local apples, housemade vanilla ice cream and tahini caramel.
2. Artistic Escapes: Galleries and Studios in Nature's Embrace
Ferrisburgh, like many towns in Vermont, has a thriving and vibrant arts community. From 1917 to 1924, an art colony was formed in the town of Ferrisburgh — The art colony went by several lengthy and increasingly bizarre names, and is colloquially known as the Ferrisburgh Art Colony.
Source: Lake Champlain Region
Many Vermont artists and craftsmen showcase their work, which often reflect the natural beauty and rural life of Vermont, in galleries around town.While not traditional art, the stunning fall foliage in Vermont offers ample inspiration for photographers. You can take your camera and capture the natural beauty of the region.
3. Luxury Shopping: Unique Finds in Charming Boutiques
Ferrisburgh, Vermont offers a more relaxed and low-key shopping experience. Vermont is known for its artisanal products, including handcrafted goods such as pottery, textiles, and woodworking. General stores carry a variety of locally-made products, including groceries, basic supplies, and maple syrup, cheese, and artisanal goods. Dakin Farm Sugarhouse has been used to boil sap every season for over 58 years — Inside the Sugarhouse, you will see a King Style Maple Syrup Evaporator, which is used to boil the sweet sap from local Hardwood Sugar Maple trees into Maple Syrup. In the same building, you can visit our 6,000 square foot retail store.
Image Courtesy: Dakin Farm
The area surrounding Ferrisburgh is known for its agriculture. You can visit farm stands, especially during the growing season, to purchase fresh produce, Vermont cheeses, and other farm products directly from local farmers.
4. Scenic Hiking Trails: Nature's Beauty Unveiled
Ferrisburgh, Vermont offers many hiking opportunities that allow you to explore the natural beauty of the area. While it may not have high mountain ranges like other parts of Vermont, Ferrisburgh and its surroundings offer a range of scenic trails for hikers of various skill levels. Button Bay State Park offers hiking trails with beautiful views of Lake Champlain. The park features several easy to moderate trails, such as the Spur Trail, which takes you through the forest to the Button Point Natural Area, where you can enjoy views of the lake and the Adirondack Mountains.
The Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh has a network of nature trails on its property. These trails take you through woodlands and open fields and offer a peaceful and scenic hiking experience. While visiting the museum, you can explore the grounds and trails. Keep in mind that some of the trails may be seasonally dependent, and trail conditions can change due to weather and maintenance. Remember to practice “Leave No Trace” principles, respecting the environment and local flora and fauna while hiking in this beautiful part of Vermont.
5. Architectural Charms: Historic Landmarks and Countryside Beauty
As Quakers, the Robinsons were subject to the “testimony of simplicity,” which dictated plainness in language, dress, and household furnishings. The Robinsons were less interested in keeping up with the latest styles than they were with the meaning of their faith, the reform movements of the antebellum era, and the price of wool, butter, and apples. A significant part of the museum’s collection is on permanent display in the historic Robinson home, a part of Rokeby Museum.
Image Courtesy: Rokeby Museum
The house tour is an intimate experience, during which visitors encounter the stories of all four generations of the Robinsons on their own terms — and in their own spaces. Rokeby was a prosperous Merino sheep farm in the early nineteenth century, and the traces of its agricultural past clearly mark the landscape. Nine historic outbuildings display the tools and equipment that once powered the farm. Barn foundations, wells, stone walls, and a sheep dip all remain as reminders of Rokeby’s agricultural past.
WHERE TO STAY IN FERRISBURGH, VERMONT
At the end of a winding Vermont country road, on the shores of Lake Champlain, you’ll find the escape you’ve been seeking — Basin Harbor. It’s more than a destination. It’s a tradition. From the Green Mountains to Lake Champlain and everywhere between, there’s so much for you to do, explore, and experience at this lakefront Vermont resort. The resort has a fleet of motorboats and pontoon boats that are available for guests and the general public to rent. On the waterfront, there’s a diving board, water trampoline, and plenty of room to splash around in Lake Champlain.
