Weekend Getaway: Leicester, Middlebury, Brandon, and Salisbury, Vermont

When you think of a Vermont getaway, it’s easy for your mind to drift toward the big names: Stowe, Woodstock, Manchester.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret: some of the most adventurous vacations can be found in the small towns that are less touristy, but no less beautiful than the most popular spots.

This summer, I based myself at Foxglove Farm in Leicester for a few nights. I created a home base in a cozy, well-designed cabin off the beaten path and used it as a launching point for incredible hikes, lake swims, and brewery visits.

In Leicester, the pace is a little slower and the trails a little quieter. It’s the kind of place where you can spend the morning hiking to a secluded mountain lake, the afternoon browsing small-town art galleries, and the evening by a fire pit with nothing but the stars and the sound of the wind in the trees.

Over the course of three days, I discovered that this part of Vermont has just the right mix of outdoor adventure and small-town charm.

The scenery is classic Green Mountains, with rolling hills, winding roads, and deep, clear lakes. And the people you meet are the kind who will give you directions, restaurant recommendations, and probably a story or two about the area.

If you’ve ever dreamed of waking up to birdsong in the middle of a Vermont forest, stepping outside with a cup of coffee, and feeling like the rest of the world has melted away, then you’ll understand why I loved my weekend at Foxglove Farm.

Here’s a three-day itinerary for a weekend in Leicester, with explorations in Salisbury, Middlebury, and Brandon, Vermont

Why Foxglove Farm Makes the Perfect Home Base

The cabin at Foxglove Farm is small and cozy: a cabin that proves you don’t need a lot of square footage to feel spoiled.

Inside, there’s a propane woodstove for chilly nights, two comfortable full-size beds (one in the main room, one tucked up in the loft), a full kitchen and dining area, and a bathroom with a proper shower: none of that ‘camping but indoors’ business here.

Outside is just as cozy. Adirondack chairs and a picnic table invite lazy afternoons, a string of lights adds a bit of magic after dark, and a screened-in seating area lets you enjoy the outdoors without feeding the local mosquitoes.

During my stay, enjoying the fire pit became my evening ritual, with marshmallows one night and a local craft beer the next.

Foxglove Farm is a working forest and a Certified Tree Farm. Your hosts, Catie and Mark, manage it for timber, wildlife, and water quality. If you visit in late winter, you can watch them harvest maple sap and boil it down into their Audubon-certified Bird-Friendly maple syrup.

Trails wind through their sugarbush, and even if you’re not here for sugaring season, they make for a peaceful morning walk.

As someone who lives on a busy road, my favorite part of my stay was sleeping with the windows open and waking to a chorus of birds each morning. I felt like I had the forest to myself.

Day One: Explore the Green Mountain National Forest

Today, you’ll be hiking to Silver Lake and the Falls of Lana in the Green Mountain National Forest before relaxing with a Vermont craft beer and tacos at Foley Brothers Brewing. Here are the details:

Hike to Silver Lake

Long before a grand hotel was built on Silver Lake’s shores in the late 1800s, the Abenaki visited this upland lake for its beauty and abundance. In the early 20th century, it became a religious retreat, and today, its largely undeveloped shores are part of the Green Mountain National Forest.

The 5.2-mile lollipop loop around Silver Lake gains about 730 feet in elevation. The climb to the lake follows an old forest road; it’s a steady uphill climb, but with wide footing, so you don’t have to look down the whole way up.

Once you reach the lake, the trail narrows and winds through a mix of hardwood and evergreen, hugging a shoreline dotted with 15 primitive campsites. Each site has a bear box, fire ring, and picnic table; I will be back to camp here someday soon!

There’s a sandy picnic area on the north shore, and in summer, it’s hard to resist a quick dip in the cool water. In October, the maples light up the hillsides, and the lake becomes a mirror of red and gold.

Also Read: Highlights of the Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont

Falls of Lana

From the same trailhead, you can make a quick detour to the Falls of Lana.

It’s less than a mile to the lower falls from the trailhead, but there’s some scrambling involved if you want the best views. The water drops through a narrow gorge into a deep, clear swimming hole. In summer, it’s one of the best places in the area to cool off; in fall, it’s a photographer’s dream.

If you have time, explore both the middle and upper sections. The middle falls are my favorite for their mix of rock and water textures.

This is a full-day adventure, so be sure to pack lots of snacks. You can relax with a cold beer and tacos when you’ve finished your hike.

Foley Brothers Brewing

You’ve earned a post-hike treat! Head to Foley Brothers Brewing in Brandon for an outdoor beer, one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Order a pint of their flagship Fair Maiden Double IPA or sample a flight to explore their range of award-winning beers.

The patio and lawn are perfect in warm weather, and there’s a friendly, unhurried vibe that makes it easy to spend an hour or two here. If you’re hungry, their giant pretzels and tacos (served Thursday–Saturday) are just what a hiker needs to relax and recharge.

Day Two: Lake Dunmore and Brandon’s Creative Side

Today you’ll be exploring one of the jewels of the Vermont State Park system before heading into Brandon for good eats, art therapy, and ice cream.

Lake Dunmore & Branbury State Park

Lake Dunmore stretches over three miles between Leicester and Salisbury. Its primary inflow, Sucker Brook, rises in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, and its outflow eventually reaches Lake Champlain. Branbury State Park, on the eastern shore, is the best way to access Lake Dunmore.

In summer, Branbury’s sandy beach is the place for swimming, paddling, and picnicking. In fall, the crowds thin, and you can spread out on the lawn, paddle along the shoreline, or simply sit and watch the mountains reflect in the water.

Tip: If you’re renting a canoe or kayak, aim for early morning when the water is still and the light is soft; it’s the best time for spotting wildlife.

Lunch at 22 Park Eatery

With a beautiful outdoor seating area and an interior reminiscent of an old-school diner, Brandon’s 22 Park Eatery is a creative, casual eatery specializing in elevated smash burgers and comfort food.

I’ll be honest, at first glance, the menu looked uninspiring, but I was post-hike hangry, so I sidled up to the counter and ordered the sesame noodle salad: noodles tossed in a curry coconut peanut sauce with Napa cabbage, bell peppers, shredded carrots, green onions, and chopped peanuts.

This was one of the best vegetarian lunches I’ve had in Vermont, and everyone I’ve talked to since has raved about their burgers, fries, and ice cream. Give it a try. You won’t be disappointed!

Sweet Sappy’s

Another gem in Brandon, Sweet Sappy’s is a new gift shop in one of Brandon’s cutest buildings (right next to Kennedy Park on Center Street). I spotted the ice cream sign on the side of the building and couldn’t resist popping in for a maple creemee, a summer essential, especially when I’m on vacation!

Sweet Sappy creemees are made with maple syrup from Foxglove Farm, and they are ahhhmazing! Be sure to add the maple crunch topping, which makes it next-level, and enjoy your creemee in the park while browsing through the adorable little free library.

Brandon’s Art & Shopping Scene

Brandon has long been an artist’s town, and with sweeping renovations throughout the village complete, the downtown area is even more of a destination for art lovers.

The Brandon Artist Guild features work from more than 30 Vermont artists, ranging from fine art to jewelry to pottery. Just down the street, the Vermont Folk Art Gallery is packed with whimsical, one-of-a-kind pieces, and a chance to speak with the artists and even watch them work.

There’s a nice collection of murals, street art, and public spaces to enjoy, especially in the summer, when everything is in bloom.

The whole downtown is a historic district, with 243 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Walking the streets of Brandon feels like stepping into a 19th-century painting, only with better ice cream.

Evening at Foxglove Farm

I’m all about nightlife that involves star gazing and s’mores making! If you feel the same, it’s time to head back to the cabin. Light a fire as the sun sets, pour yourself a pint of Foley Brothers beer, and watch the night sky. It’s dark enought to see the Milky Way out here.

Day Three: Horses, History & Middlebury

Today, we’re heading north to Middlebury, home to Vermont’s first college, not to mention a gorgeous downtown perched on the Otter Creek. Bring your appetite, and get ready for a full day of Vermonty goodness.

Haymaker Bun Company

First stop, Haymaker Bun Company for a maple latte and a sweet or savory brioche bun on the patio overlooking the Otter Creek. There are three floors of indoor seating, and every perch offers a spectacular view of the river.

On Saturdays and Sundays, I recommend lingering over their incredible brunch specials with a fancy cocktail. You’re on Vermont time.

Downtown Middlebury and Middlebury College

Middlebury combines an old-school New England vibe with college-town energy, and it’s a vibe you don’t want to miss.

Meander along the Otter Creek as it tumbles over a 20-foot waterfall in the center of town, snap a photo of the white steeple of the Congregational Church rising above Main Street, and saunter through the historic Middlebury College campus with its old stone buildings and stately shade trees.

Next, head to the historic Marble Works district, once home to a major marble processing operation. It now houses a variety of shops and restaurants, but the stone walls and remnants of old machinery are still there if you look closely.

If you’re not stuffed from breakfast, grab lunch at American Flatbread. Their wood-fired pizzas are made with local, organic ingredients, and it’s some of the best pizza we’ve had in the Green Mountain State.

Morgan Horse Farm

Just outside of Middlebury in nearby Weybridge, the UVM Morgan Horse Farm is a living chapter in Vermont’s agricultural History. Not only will you meet America’s first horse, you’ll learn about its storied history.

Colonel Joseph Battell established the farm in 1878 to preserve the Morgan horse, Vermont’s official state animal. In 1907, the farm became a U.S. Government cavalry remount station, and in 1951, UVM took over stewardship.

Today, visitors can take a guided tour of the beautiful barns, hang with the horses (descendants of Battell’s herd), and learn about the breed’s history and characteristics. I’ve been visiting the Morgan Horse Farm since I was a kid, and it’s a nostalgic experience that I will never get tired of.

Two Brothers Tavern

Dinner at Two Brothers Tavern means hefty pours of Vermont’s best craft beers, hearty casual fare, and a lively environment full of college students, friendly locals, and visitors from far and wide. A night at Two Brothers is a fantastic way to wrap up your weekend in this special part of Vermont.

If time is on your side, head down to Lake Dunmore for a last sunset before calling it a weekend.

---

Three days in this corner of Vermont will fill your camera roll, but more importantly, it will fill that part of you that craves a slower pace and a deeper connection to the places you visit.

From the forested shores of Silver Lake to the art-filled streets of Brandon, from a pint at Foley Brothers to a bun on the deck at Haymaker, every stop in this part of Vermont feels like a discovery.

Foxglove Farm is the perfect home base for all of your explorations; it’s close enough to everything I wanted to see, but tucked far enough into the woods that I could end each day with quiet, starlit skies.

Whether you come for the hiking, the lakes, the history, or just a cabin in the woods where you can read by the fire, this area delivers. And the best part? You can have it all in a single weekend.

---

Follow us on social media for more Vermont Inspiration!

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Pinterest