When you need a break from your Vermont ski vacation, why not take in some truly unique factory tours guaranteed to entertain the whole family.  Start with Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream  in Waterbury, Vermont.  Take a 30-minute tour of the manufacturing plant and then sample new or old-favorite flavors in the Scoop Shop.  For convenience, the Best Western Plus Waterbury/Stowe  is less than one mile from Ben and Jerry’s.

Love chocolate?  Then don’t miss the Lake Champlain Chocolates factory tour in Burlington, Vermont.  Learn how chocolate is made, watch all your favorites being produced and enjoy the free samples.

For a totally different kind of factory tour, make a stop at The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory in Shelburne, Vermont.  Watch these famous teddy bears being constructed from cutting, to sewing and stuffing.  You can even visit the teddy bear hospital where bears which have been injured are cared for and cured because bears from the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory are guaranteed for life.

For lodging in the Burlington area, note that the Comfort Inn in South Burlington is about a mile and a half from Lake Champlain Chocolates and only four miles from Vermont Teddy Bear.

For an in depth look at the maple syrup industry, a visit to the Maple Grove Maple Museum in St. Johnsbury, Vermont is a sweet surprise.  Go behind the scenes and learn how syrup is made from tapping the trees to boiling the sap.  See maple syrup candies being made and sample this sweet treat. In March and April, maple producers  throughout the state welcome visitors.

For a local inn that is the perfect family-friendly choice, check out the Fairbanks Inn in St. Johnsbury which is only 1.9 miles from Maple Grove.

For more information, you can visit the following websites:

Ben and Jerry’s
Lake Champlain Chocolates
Vermont Teddy Bear Factory
Maple Grove Maple Museum

Best Western Plus Waterbury/Stowe
Comfort Inn Burlington
Fairbanks Inn