Groucho Marx once said “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member,” but this is one club that all Vermont lovers will appreciate. The 251 club is for Vermont enthusiasts who aim to visit every one of the 251 cities and towns in the Green Mountain State. Whether you join a formal club or set a goal on your own, seeing every piece of Vermont is a worthwhile and gratifying adventure for everyone.
We’ve listed out the towns and separated them by county, but feel free to break up the trip any way you like. Check out this photographer who became a member of the 251 club in one year. Share this with someone you know would be up for the 251 club challenge!
While Woodstock may be the county's most popular town for travelers, you'll find so much more as you explore: Andover, Baltimore, Barnard, Bethel, Bridgewater, Cavendish, Chester, Hartford, Hartland, Ludlow, Norwich, Plymouth, Pomfret, Reading, Rochester, Royalton, Sharon, Springfield, Stockbridge, Weathersfield, West Windsor, Weston, Windsor and Woodstock.
Four out of the five towns in Grand Isle County are islands in this scenic nook of Vermont. You'll love traveling through the picturesque towns of Alburgh, Grand Isle, Isle La Motte, North Hero and South Hero.
Addison County has many historical sights as well as tranquil bodies of water but don't forget that the hikes in the mountains are a great way to stretch your legs as you travel through: Addison, Bread Loaf, Bridport, Bristol, Chimney Point, Cornwall, Ferrisburgh, Goshen, Granville, Hancock, Leicester, Lincoln, Middlebury, Monkton, New Haven, Orwell, Panton, Ripton, Salisbury, Satans Kingdom, Shoreham, Starksboro, Vergennes, Waltham, Weybridge and Whiting.
Of all the sights you'll see while traveling through Orange County, plan to spend a little extra time to check out the floating bridge in Brookfield. Other places you'll love to check off your 251 club list are: Bradford, Braintree, Brookfield, Chelsea, Corinth, Fairlee, Newbury, Orange, Randolph, Strafford, Thetford, Topsham, Tunbridge, Vershire, Washington, West Fairlee, Williamstown, Newbury and Wells River.
You'll love all the arts and entertainment you'll find throughout Rutland County. Be sure to seek out all there is to do throughout: Rutland, Benson, Brandon, Castleton, Chittenden, Clarendon, Danby, Fair Haven, Hubbardton, Ira, Killington, Mendon, Middletown Springs, Mount Holly, Mount Tabor, Pawlet, Pittsfield, Pittsford, Poultney, Proctor, Rutland town, Shrewsbury, Sudbury, Tinmouth, Wallingford, Wells, West Haven and West Rutland.
If you like to see covered bridges, you'll love all you'll find in Bennington County. For bonus points in the 251 club, see how many of the bridges you can find in Arlington, Bennington, Dorset, Glastenbury, Landgrove, Manchester, Peru, Pownal, Readsboro, Rupert, Sandgate, Searsburg, Shaftsbury, Stamford, Sunderland, Winhall and Woodford.
You'll love the charming towns rich in history as you travel through Windham County. Places you'll see are: Athens, Brattleboro, Brookline, Dover, Dummerston, Grafton, Guilford, Halifax, Jamaica, Londonderry, Marlboro, Newfane, Putney, Rockingham, Somerset, Stratton, Townshend, Vernon, Wardsboro, Westminster, Whitingham, Wilmington and Windham.
Franklin County is located in the northwestern corner of Vermont. Towns in Franklin County include: Bakersfield, Berkshire, East Berkshire, Enosburg Falls, Fairfax, Fairfield, Fletcher, Franklin, Georgia, Highgate, Highgate Springs, Montgomery, Richford, Sheldon, St. Albans Bay, St. Albans City, and Swanton.
Tucked away in the northeastern part of the state is Essex County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 6,306, making it the least-populous county in both Vermont and New England. Towns here include: Averill, Bloomfield, Brighton, Brunswick, Canaan, Concord, East Haven, Ferdinand, Granby, Guildhall, Lemington, Lewis, Lunenburg, Maidstone, Norton, Victory, Beecher Falls, Canaan, Concord and Island Pond.
Be sure to brush up on your VT history while in Montpelier in Washington County. Also, be sure to check out all there is to do in Barre. Towns you'll see here are: Montpelier, Barre, Berlin, Cabot, Calais, Duxbury, East Montpelier, Fayston, Marshfield, Middlesex, Moretown, Northfield, Plainfield, Roxbury, Waitsfield, Warren, Waterbury, Woodbury and Worcester.
Caledonia County is the smallest county in the NEK, but also the most populous. Places to visit in Caledonia are: Barnet, Burke, Danville, Groton, Hardwick, Kirby, Lyndon, Newark, Peacham, Ryegate, Sheffield, St. Johnsbury, Stannard, Sutton, Walden, Waterford, Wheelock, East Hardwick, East Lyndon, East Ryegate, Hardwick, Lyndon, Lyndon Center, Lyndonville, Mackville , Ryegate Corner , South Ryegate , St. Johnsbury Center and West Burke.
You'll love the resort towns and abundance of activities to do while visiting Lamoille County. Be sure to check out: Belvidere, Cambridge, Eden, Elmore, Hyde Park, Johnson, Morristown, Stowe, Waterville, Wolcott, Cambridge, Hyde Park, Jeffersonville, Johnson and Morrisville.
You'll find larger cities as well as picture perfect universities in Chittenden County. Don’t miss all there is to do in: Burlington, South Burlington, Winooski, Bolton, Charlotte, Colchester, Essex, Hinesburg, Huntington, Jericho, Milton, Richmond, Shelburne, St. George, Underhill, Westford, Williston, Essex Junction, Jericho, Hinesburg, Milton, Richmond and Shelburne.