7 Underrated Villages in Vermont Worth a Weekend Visit

No one tells you this, but sometimes the best weekends are when absolutely nothing big happens. You don’t find yourself, you don’t conquer a mountain, you just stumble on a little village where the coffee’s strong and the air smells like someone’s baking something they actually care about.

Vermont is hiding seven of these places, quietly cool and defiantly not Instagram-famous. Ready to trade tourist-packed for quietly magical? Let’s go.

1. Grafton

Have you ever walked into a village so pretty you suspect it’s a movie set? That’s Grafton. Its 1800s homes look like they’ve never known a bad paint day, and the gardens are somehow always just right. Every corner whispers ‘stay a little longer.’

You’ll want to try the cheddar at Grafton Village Cheese Company; no, it’s not just cheese, it’s an event. The tiny shop stocks award-winners and encourages sampling. The Grafton Trails & Outdoor Center offers hiking trails that wind through maple forests, leaving you feeling very main-character.

Friendly locals offer directions that turn into actual conversations. And here’s a tip: the Grafton Inn served guests since 1801, including Ulysses S. Grant. Even his ghost probably stuck around for the breakfast. Don’t rush, this is the place to slow down.

2. Warren

Imagine waking up to the sound of water tumbling over rocks, because Warren’s waterfalls get louder than your phone alarm. The town’s heartbeat is the Mad River, not some scheduling app, and you’ll notice it as soon as you see the covered bridge; built for function, but honestly, it could win a beauty pageant.

Try the Warren Store for the kind of breakfast sandwich that makes you consider moving there. Give in to a swim at Warren Falls; you’ll never look at a hotel pool the same way again. Sugarbush Resort does ski slopes in winter, but summer biking trails and festival vibes make it sneakily perfect for the off-season, too.

I once saw a family teach their dog to paddleboard at Blueberry Lake. No one blinked. It’s that kind of place: proud of its quirks, patient with your city stress. You won’t get bored here; you might just breathe easier.

3. Weston

You know Weston is different when you spot the Vermont Country Store; think: floorboards that creak with real history, not just design. The shelves are a time capsule, lined with candy your grandma probably still hoards. The staff will remember your name by your second visit.

Grab tickets for a play at the Weston Playhouse, Vermont’s longest-running professional theater. The audience includes everyone from silver-haired locals to giddy city escapees. Intermission means homemade fudge or a stroll under sugar maples that remember the Civil War.

Want a picnic? The village green is practically begging for it, especially mid-September when zinnias outshine even your best picnic blanket. If your soul needs a slower pace, Weston serves it up, vintage style. You may leave with a rocking chair, don’t fight it.

4. Putney

If creativity had a zip code, it’d be Putney. This town is a magnet for artists who don’t need fanfare; just good coffee and curious neighbors. The main street’s lined with studios, each one more inviting than the last, no pretension in sight.

You’ll stumble into the Putney General Store, which opened back in 1796. It survived two fires and still serves the kind of sandwiches that make ‘simple’ feel like a superpower. The Theophilus Crawford House stands nearby, proud and a little mysterious, built in 1808.

Every November, the Putney Craft Tour turns the whole village into an open house. Potters, glassblowers, and painters actually want to talk to you. Small conversations here turn into big stories. Just try leaving without a piece of art, or at least a new favorite jam.

5. Dorset

Dorset wears its history on its sleeve, and its sidewalks. The marble paths date back to the late 1700s and feel satisfyingly solid underfoot. The village green, rimmed by classic white houses, offers a front-row seat to some of Vermont’s best fall foliage.

The Dorset Quarry, the oldest marble quarry in the U.S., now doubles as a swimming spot for anyone brave enough to cannonball. On Saturdays, a tiny farmers’ market pops up, offering everything from heirloom tomatoes to maple-scented pastries.

Local legend says the Dorset Inn hosted tavern-goers since 1796, and the cozy pub still draws travelers (and locals) who value good company. Dorset feels like a postcard you can actually step into, but with more laughter and fewer filters.

6. Craftsbury

No one expects a tiny village to host world-class rowing, but Craftsbury didn’t get the memo. Lake Hosmer draws Olympians and locals in the same breath, mist curling over the water each morning like a secret. The Craftsbury Outdoor Center offers Nordic skiing in the winter and sculling clinics come summer.

Grab a sandwich at the Craftsbury General Store; if the porch isn’t full, you’re either early or just lucky. The village green never gets loud, but always feels awake. Sap buckets dot the maples in March and kids sell homemade cookies at the post office.

Founded in 1789, Craftsbury survived fires, floods, and decades of small-town drama. It’s scrappy but welcoming, like a favorite sweater that never quite goes out of style. If you want stunning views without the crowds, this is your spot.

7. Vergennes

Vergennes feels like the friend who’s always up for anything, even if it’s just dessert first. Vermont’s smallest city (don’t let the title fool you) packs more charm into its compact downtown than seems fair. The red-brick buildings date to the early 1800s, and the Otter Creek Falls roars right through the center.

There’s a bistro with local cheese boards and cocktails on Main Street, best enjoyed outside when the sunsets turn the whole place peachy. The Bixby Memorial Library offers a quiet nook for reading or pretending you’re in a novel. Kids race their bikes along the riverwalk, and sometimes you’ll find live music echoing over the water.

Did you know Vergennes was chartered in 1788? It’s older than you’d guess, but nothing here feels stuck in the past. Go for the food, stay for the energy.