For one of the smallest states in both area and population, Vermont undoubtedly has loads to offer. With authentic local products, infinite outdoor adventures, adorable cities and some of the friendliest people you’ll meet, you can understand why so many love to call Vermont home. So here are the 20 undeniable reasons to love Vermont!

1. Gorgeous Scenery
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Over three quarters of the state is covered in forests. Everywhere you go, there’s always something eye-catching that will leave you in awe. This is probably one of the best known reasons to love Vermont and it's easy to see why.
2. Endless outdoor opportunities
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From discovering hidden waterfalls, to walking under beautiful covered bridges, to jumping from cliffs into water-filled potholes - you will never get bored exploring nature in Vermont.
3. We'll keep you healthy, active and in shape.
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Whether you enjoy hiking, skiing, kayaking, rock climbing, snow-shoeing, swimming - you name it. You can definitely find your exercise of choice.
4. Adorable little cities and historical sites perfect for any family vacation
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From a visit to Rutland, Middlebury, or the capitol in Montpelier, to exploring Shelburne Farms or the Museum, even the Trapp Family Lodge - there are always tons of learning opportunities living in Vermont.
5. Locally grown food
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We have countless farmer’s markets, co-ops and farm-to-table restaurants for any taste.
6. Amazing craft beer
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Vermont ranks 1st in the country for craft breweries per capita. You can't leave without trying the Alchemist’s infamous "Heady Topper."
7. You can enjoy all of the seasons, to their fullest.
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When the snow melts, the flowers bloom, and you're on your first hike of the season thinking about how much you miss the slopes, don't worry. The snow will be back before you know it.
8. The absolute best maple syrup you will ever taste
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Vermont tends to find ways to incorporate maple into everything, so don’t be alarmed if you come upon maple flavored ice cream, chocolate, bread and even beer across the state--they are all delicious, I swear.
9. The most outstanding cheese
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Once you step into Cabot Creamery and take a walk around their sample table, you’ll understand.
10. You can never get too much Ben & Jerry's.
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At the iconic Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury, you can learn how the ice cream is created AND make a flavor suggestion of your own. And no, "Phish Food" does not taste like fish.

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11. Speaking of Phish Food...the band Phish originated in Vermont.
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Local venues are always hosting live music and several other amazing artists have gotten their start here.
12. We have A LOT of cows.
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Where do we get all of this great dairy, you may ask? Like craft breweries, Vermont is home to the most cows per capita.
13. We're a very “green” state.
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And I’m not just talking about the mountains. Burlington has already become the first city to receive all of its power from renewable sources, while the state is working toward the goal of obtaining 90% its energy from sustainable supplies by 2050.
14. We're a pretty progressive state in other ways, too.
Wikipedia/Gage Skidmore
Home to Bernie Sanders, Vermont was also the first state to allow same-sex marriage by ruling the denial of this against the Vermont Constitution. Fun fact: Vermont used to be its own independent country for a short time.
15. We're very sustainable as well.
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Sure, many of the locally made products (and best things about Vermont--at least in my opinion) include food, but there are plenty of other non-food items worth noting. Flannel shirts, cleaning products (Seventh Generation) and even teddy bears come right from our home state.
16. We're extremely dog-friendly here.
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Don't worry, we won't make your pup wait outside in the cold.
17. Lake Champlain, AKA the “sixth” Great Lake
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Spanning the border between New York and Vermont, Lake Champlain never ceases to impress with its glorious sunsets and serenity.
18. We've got a quality education system.
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Sure, I may be a little bit biased as a UVM graduate, but I can guarantee that students from any of the 23 colleges and universities would agree .
19. The serenity
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There’s always a peaceful place to just kick back, relax, and get away from it all.
20. We're home to some of the happiest people in America.
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Vermont is always hitting top ranks for happiness, health and intelligence...I wonder why! 😉

I guess you could call these Vermont bragging rights. There’s really no reason not to love it here. What reasons to love Vermont would you add to the list?

We know our state is great, but if you want to find out why our locals are amazing, check out this previous article.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

More to Explore

reasons to love Vermont

Luke | June 02, 2020

What are the most beautiful hikes in Vermont?

Lucky are those who get to call this place home. With endless nature and hiking opportunities in the Green Mountain State, you won’t run out of hiking trails anytime soon. In our opinion, Vermont has some of the best hiking trails in all of New England, and our pick for the most beautiful hike in Vermont is the summit trek to the peak of Mt. Mansfield, which offers some of the most breathtaking views in all of Vermont. If you are interested in hiking Mt. Mansfield, we recommend taking the Sunset Ridge Trail; the trail is well marked and it’s easily accessible from Underhill State Park. Some other spectacularly beautiful hikes that are worth considering are 1) Mount Pisgah Trail, 2) Camel’s Hump Trail, 3? Lye Brook Falls Trail. Happy exploring!

What are the best things about living in Vermont?

As we saw in this article, there are so many great things about living in Vermont. To reiterate on a few of them, Vermont has access to pristine and natural areas and parks, organic and healthy food, environmentally and socially aware residents, friendly locals, and a relaxed and casual way of living life. The Green Mountain State is a perfect place to call home if you are okay with living in a little city or small town. If you love the outdoors and want to live a healthy and relaxed way of life, Vermont is simply one of the best spots to live in the U.S.

What stereotypes are there about Vermont?

Where to even start… First of all, Vermont is an amazing small state that has some of the most gorgeous and peaceful areas in the U.S. So, one stereotype about Vermont is that there’s not a whole lot going on except for mountains, forests, lakes, and more nature. Vermont also has the stereotype of being the holiday destination place for city folk like New Yorkers, Bostonians, and Montrealers. Those from out-of-state think of Vermont as a little getaway, a charming place that doesn’t resemble their busy and chaotic city lives. Some other prevalent stereotypes are that we never have a spring season or that our winters last half a year. In reality, Vermont has much more to offer than just cold temperatures and nature spots.

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