Oh, ice cream. We’d put you smack in the middle of a cliché about American past times like baseball and apple pie, but you’re in a league all on your own, and this is your season to shine.
In a year, Americans consume 15 quarts (13 liters) of ice cream per person – which is more than any other country in the world. So there’s no better time than summer to visit America’s favorite ice cream capital and the birthplace of Ben and Jerry’s in Vermont.
Ben and Jerry’s opened in 1978 in Burlington, Vermont. Best friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield took a $5 course on making ice cream and began selling flavors at a local gas station. All went well, and by the first year, they offered a free cone day, which has happened annually ever since. As business grew, the two hopped in their VW square-back wagon and delivered their masterpieces to grocery stores all over Vermont.
The team celebrated 25 years of dairy-loving success in 2003. Now operating out of revamped spool and bobbin mill in Waterbury, Vermont, Ben and Jerry’s offers tours of its facility, including the production room where guests can learn about the ice cream making process. And yes, there is a full-service scoop shop.
Tours are 30 minutes long, and cost $3 for adults, and are free for kids, making this a cheap weekend activity for families.
Vermont is the quintessential destination for New England nature, and in the summer it offers hiking in the Green Mountains, biking through back country roads and swimming in its gorgeous lakes. Visit Montpellier to explore what seems like a large village, or Burlington to attend one of its many festivals and events.
Search and compare flights to Vermont for an epic ice cream experience.
© Cheapflights Ltd (Photo credit: theimpulsivebuy)
