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Whether you’re visiting Waterbury for a week or a day, there are plenty of ways to keep the kids busy and happy! Family-friendly fun in town ranges from food (who doesn’t love ice cream?!) to playing in the great outdoors to unwinding with a little quiet time. Here are some of our favorite ways to keep the whole family entertained during your time in town.

Tastings, Tours & Farm-Fresh Food

No trip to Waterbury is complete without a stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory! Take a Factory Tour (check the schedules and buy tickets first), stop by the Scoop Shop, go play on the playground, and find your favorite “dearly depinted” flavors in the famous Flavor Graveyard.

Continue the tasting tour a little farther north at Cold Hollow Cider Mill and enjoy their legendary cider donuts and other fun apple-flavored foods and drinks. While there, browse the shop and check out the busy beehive in action. The Applecore Luncheonette on-site is the perfect place for a family-friendly breakfast or lunch, and kids-at-heart who are over 21 years old will enjoy the Hard Cider Tasting Room.

Another delicious stop along Route 100 is the Cabot Annex, home to the Cabot Farmers’ Store where you can shop all the Cabot cheeses and other products, plus Vermont specialty foods. Lake Champlain Chocolates is right next door and also has ice cream and milkshakes to stay cool in the summer and hot chocolate to warm up in the winter.

Get farm-fresh foods and shop artisan products every week from Memorial Day through mid-September at the Waterbury Farmers Market, and let the kids dance out their energy at the concurrent Concerts in the Park series. For a special fall activity, Hunger Mountain Orchard is open from early September through mid-October for pick-your-own apples and has maple syrup and other great treats for purchase. The perfect way to immerse yourself in the foliage and crisp autumn air!

Get Out and Play!

Enjoy the great outdoors with family-friendly recreation for all activities and abilities! Waterbury Center State Park is a great place to spend a summer day, with kayak, canoe and stand-up paddleboard rentals available on-site, a beach for swimming, and fishing platforms. The easy Peninsula Nature Trail is ADA-accessible and combines great views with trailside signs about the area’s flora, fauna, history, and more.

On the other side of the Waterbury Reservoir, Little River State Park has more hiking trails, including a History Hike, plus bike trails and a boat launch. The Perry Hill Trails have more family-friendly biking and a pump track that is very popular with younger riders! 

Kids will also love a trip to one of the many parks and playgrounds around town, which include basketball and tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, a swimming pool, disc golf course, seasonal skating rink, and more.

Or for more mellow outdoor activities, the Cross Vermont Trail is an easy walking path that runs parallel to downtown between the Winooski River and a cornfield. Near the west end of the Waterbury stretch is the Word Garden, located behind the Waterbury Public Library. These word rocks are the perfect place to unwind, make some poetry, or enjoy messages left behind from others.

More Fun & Games

Sure, some kids won’t like the sound of shopping, but that’s only because they haven’t been to The Tiny Acorn yet! Waterbury’s toy store has six rooms of unique games, toys, books, trinkets, crafts, and so much more. Kids will also love a trip to Bridgeside Books, which includes a big area for young readers, plus activity books, art supplies, games, and puzzles. Stowe Street Emporium is also a favorite for young shoppers to find fun puzzles and games, stuffed animals, even kids’ and baby clothes.

Check the calendar for fun family activities, like kids programs at the Library, storytime at Bridgeside Books, art workshops from MakerSphere, or interactive music classes for little ones from Musical Munchkins. Even if your visit doesn’t coincide with a program, the Library is still chock-full of games, play areas, and, of course, books.

Another way to explore town is on a self-guided tour, so you can plan out and pace your visit to suit your group. Many places along the Public Art Tour and Historic Walking Tour can be seen by walking around town, or take a scenic drive to see areas beyond the downtown. Make things interactive - try to find all the buildings from The Waterbury Special rail art or the 10+ bird-themed artworks, including the large metal bird sculptures.

Waterbury has so many ways to keep kids entertained in town! For even more family-friendly resources around the state, check out this list of attractions and adventures for kids.