Ben and Jerry's goes with Cabot Cheese...not just hiking

We certainly have challenged ourselves up to this point with our hiking in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont but that's not all we did. While in Stowe, VT we were just down the road from Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream factory. Very busy place because they give tours of the factory and free samples. We decided we needed to get in on some of that. We drove a few miles down the road from the campground and got a parking spot. The parking area was very tight for a big truck like ours but we found a good space. We walked in to the visitors center to get tickets and had to wait about 90 minutes for the next tour. We got our tickets and decided to drive down the road to an apple cider gift shop we had seen. They even had some hard cider to taste test. Lots of gifts and additional food items to buy. In the back of the shop was a video that showed how the cider was made.

We bought a few items and then headed back to Ben and Jerry's. Upon arrival we asked if we could park in the RV area due to our size and got permission. Once inside we started the tour however they do not allow photos to be taken so you just have to imagine the 7 step process they showed us in making the ice cream and blending the ingredients to make the different flavors. Here are a few photos of the outside area.

Very iconic for sure. 

We really enjoyed the tour and the ice cream sample. Just what we had expected. 

Remember I said we were able to park in the RV section due to our size.....well we came out and found a car parked next to us. I don't mean near us but RIGHT NEXT TO US. No other vehicles in the parking area and they park right up next to the truck. I could barely get in on the drivers side. Needless to say we left them a wonderful note. 

Come on...really?

No other vehicles in the lot....hmmm

We didn't let that ruin our fun though. We made plans to drive to the Cabot Cheese Creamery for a tour there the next day. 

Well again they don't allow photos in the creamery so you have to imagine once more the way(whey) they make the cheese and they also add flavors like BACON to the cheese. Can't go wrong there.

We had a wonderful tour guide and as it turned out the four of us and another young couple were the only ones on the tour. We got to ask all kinds of questions and had an awesome opportunity to really get the lowdown on cheese making. Of course we bought several styles of cheese and of different ages. Aging does make a difference.

Cabot, VT is home to Harry's Hardware store. A mix of hardware items and beer. Never seen that before so we had to stop. They had a little jam session going on next door. We had some libation and listened to some music before heading back home. Another great day in Vermont.

You never know what you'll find on an adventure. 

More fun coming. Stay tuned.