It’s a known fact that at Backyard Road Trips we love heading up to Vermont, in particular, the Stowe region of the state. With all of the amazing hiking, eating, drinking, and exploring there is to do, I often leave out one destination that is surely on the beaten path but also one that I’ve been going to since I was seven. That is the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury.
For many folks, this is THE destination in this region. Tour buses visit here and lines are ridiculously long (just for an ice cream cone). So why recommend it? First of all, Ben & Jerry’s, even though a large corporation, is quintessential Vermont. With its environmentally friendly ethos and hippy-ish branding, it’s one of the state’s biggest exports along with Phish and certain craft beer. On top of that, the ice cream is of course delicious.
Visiting the Ben & Jerry’s Factory
As this is a tourist mecca, I’d recommend grabbing your tickets in advance for the factory tour if that’s what you wish to do. Go behind the scenes to see where the ice cream is made. As one might expect, the factory is larger than life with splashes of wild colors, and Woody Jackson cartoon cow imagery.
If you’d prefer to skip the tour, the Ben & Jerry’s Factory is still a lot of fun. In season expect at least a 45-minute wait on most evenings for an ice cream. Being outside on a gorgeous night makes the wait much more bearable. For the kids, a trip to the playground on site is a good option. Stick your head through the cut out to become Ben or Jerry. There’s also the Ben & Jerry’s VW Bus on the grounds.
Eating at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory
There’s an array of Ben and & Jerry’s flavors to nosh on. From classics to the crazy, for me it’s hard to pass up a New York Super Fudge Chunk right from the source. Sit on one of the picnic tables outside.
On your way back to the car make sure you check out the Flavor Graveyard. This mock graveyard is where flavors that just didn’t make it come to rest. Pay your respects to flavors that passed on, including Bovinity Divinity (which personally I thought was excellent) or Schweddy Balls with rum and malted milk balls. What’s worse–the name or the ingredients?
For anyone visiting the Stowe region for the first time, a visit to the Ben & Jerry’s Factory is a must. Sure it’s touristy, sure the lines are long, but the ice cream is delish and its funkiness still embodies Vermont.
