What to do in Stick Season in Vermont

Stick season, a time of year in Vermont that has become well known to the masses thanks to Noah Kahan’s popular song by the same name, is the season between when the last red-orange leaves fall and the first real snowfall.

It’s the Season of the Sticks

Beginning in November and lasting through parts of December, we feel the temperatures drop and it becomes rather miserable outside - freezing but without snowfall can make for some very dark, dreary days. So, I polled my Instagram community from all over the state for recommendations of things to do to get out and have some fun on these grey days.

Whether you fill these chilly days with a cozy walk on Church Street in Burlington, get in some cold weather hiking in the Green Mountains, or give indoor rock climbing a try, it’s the season to get cozy and spend quality time with your favorite people.

Cafes:

Kru Coffee - Burlington, Vermont
Sweet Simone's Bakery & Cafe - Richmond, Vermont

The Stone Mill Public Market - Middlebury, Vermont
Minifactory - Bristol, Vermont

JJ Hapgood General Store & Eatery - Peru, Vermont
Cafe Lotti - East Burke, Vermont
Honeypie - Jamaica, Vermont

Museums

Montshire Museum - Norwich, Vermont
Echo Leahy Center Museum - Burlington, Vermont
Shelburne Museum (Their light show starts November 25th) Shelburne, Vermont
Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium - St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Bread and Puppet Museum - Glover, Vermont
Billings Farm and Museum - Woodstock, Vermont

Shops & More

Northshire Bookstore - Manchester Center, Vermont
The Vermont Bookshop - Middlebury, Vermont

Common Deer - Burlington, Vermont
Stratton Village Shopping - Stratton, Vermont
Altiplano Boutique - Brattleborro

Outdoor Gear Exchange - Burlington, Vermont
Find your winter and ski gear for the season in their consignment basement.
Green Mountain Orchards - Putney, Vermont

Activities

Climb at Metro Rock - Essex

Petra Cliffs - Burlington, Vermont
Green Mountain Rock Climbing Center - Rutland, Vermont
Pottery Class at Farmhouse Pottery - Woodstock, Vermont

Get a crew together for a game night, build a cheese and charcuterie board and sample some local brews!

Go for a hike for spectacular leaf-less views, or enjoy the later sunrise times for a dawn adventure before it gets too icy - just be sure to wear orange as it’s hunting season, pack micro spikes for snow/ice up high and lots of extra layers

Once you’re back from your adventure, whether it takes you shopping, sipping or scampering down trails to listen to the leaves crunch, gather round a board game or a jigsaw puzzle, build up a cheese and charcuterie board with Seriously Sharp Cheddar as the shining star and put the kettle on for a hot cuppa tea or cider to take the chill out of your bones.

This post was written & photographed by Gretchen Powers – filmmaker, photographer, and writer with a passion for storytelling and capturing the essence of a person, place or thing.