How to Avoid Looking Like a Tourist in Vermont: A Guide

Welcome to Vermont!!!! This is a state full of winding dirt roads, strong opinions about real maple syrup, and locals who wave at every car they pass. Whether you’re visiting for the weekend or thinking about making Vermont your second home, there’s one thing every out-of-towner should know: Vermonters can spot a tourist from a mile away.

This isn’t meant to scare you off. We love visitors. Really, we do. But there’s a difference between experiencing Vermont and just passing through it. As a native Vermonter, I’ve put together this guide to help you enjoy your trip like a local and maybe even avoid a few eye rolls along the way.

Let’s start with the obvious.

1. The Telltale Signs of a Tourist

Vermont is a small state with a strong sense of identity, so it doesn’t take much to stand out. Here’s how locals can usually tell you’re not from around here.

License Plates
We clock Massachusetts and New York plates immediately. Florida plates in January? Bold move. Rental cars, especially the ones idling on scenic overlooks with all four doors open, are a dead giveaway.

Outerwear Confusion
Wearing a Canada Goose parka in April? Definitely not a Vermonter. Locals know spring is mud season, not parka season. We also don’t wear matching fleece sets unless we’re under age five or in a school photo from the 90s.

Flip-Flops on Hiking Trails
We’ve seen it all. Flip-flops on Mount Mansfield. White sneakers in the woods. If your shoes cost more than your rental car, you’re probably not from here.

Stopping in the Road to Take Pictures
Yes, the cows are cute. So is the red barn. But Vermont roads are narrow and locals are trying to get to work. Pull over, wave politely, and snap your photo from a safe spot.

2. Tourist Traps vs. Local Favorites

There’s nothing wrong with hitting the popular spots, but if you want to blend in and get a more authentic taste of Vermont, skip the generic and aim for local gems.

Skip the Chains
Instead of Starbucks, head to a general store for your coffee. Bonus points if they have mismatched mugs and maple-glazed cider donuts. Try the Red Hen Baking Co. in Middlesex, Village Grocery in Waitsfield, or JJ Hapgood in Peru.

Real Vermont Souvenirs
If it says “Vermont Maple Syrup” but it’s in a plastic jug with a cartoon moose on it, put it down. Look for products from local sugarhouses like Morse Farm, Sugarbush Farm, or Butternut Mountain Farm. Also, don’t sleep on locally made soaps, pottery, or flannel. We’re serious about our flannel.

Avoid the Overhyped, Try the Overlooked
Sure, Stowe is beautiful. But so are Montgomery, Rochester, and the Northeast Kingdom. Ask a local where they go to hike, swim, or camp. Chances are you’ll end up somewhere quieter and just as stunning.

3. What (Not) to Say: How to Sound Like You’re From Around Here

Want to pass as a local? Watch your words.

Pronunciation Matters
Here are a few to get you started:

• Calais: rhymes with “palace”
• Charlotte: Shar-LOT, not Shar-LOTT
• Vershire: sounds like “Ver-sure,” not “Ver-she-er”

Avoid the Clichés
Describing everything as “quaint,” “rustic,” or “charming” might feel accurate, but it gets old fast. You’ll fit in better if you ask someone what the best swim hole is nearby or if the maple creemee stand is open yet.

Don’t Ask About Starbucks
We do have some, but the farther you get from Burlington, the slimmer your chances. Embrace the unknown. Order a maple latte at a farmstand café and thank the barista by name.

4. Seasonal Slip-Ups: Tourists by the Time of Year

Each Vermont season has its own traps. Know what to expect and how to avoid looking lost.

Mud Season (March to early May)

• Don’t wear your nice sneakers.
• Dirt roads get worse before they get better.
• Locals will judge you if your car gets stuck.
• Bring boots. Real boots.

Foliage Season (Late September to Mid-October)

• Book early or sleep in your car.
• Pull over for photos. Do not block traffic.
• Be aware that we still have work and school, so try not to clog local roads at 9 AM on a Tuesday.

Winter (Late November to March)

• AWD is nice, but snow tires are better.
• Don’t assume every mountain road is plowed.
• Dress in layers. Flannel is warm but not waterproof.
• Learn to identify black ice. It might save your bumper.

Summer (June to August)

• Yes, that’s a real farmer’s tan.
• Maple syrup goes on more than pancakes.
• Bug spray is your friend.
• Don’t park in the middle of a field to “get the vibe.” That might be someone’s hayfield or septic system.

5. Insider Tips: How to Blend In

Want to experience Vermont the local way? Follow these unspoken rules and you’ll earn respect fast.

Shop and Eat Local
Ask your server what’s in season. Visit farm stands, not just the gift shop. Farmers markets are the real heartbeat of many Vermont towns, especially in summer.

Wave at Passing Cars
It’s not a weird cult thing. It’s just how we acknowledge each other. One finger raised from the steering wheel is all you need.

Understand Composting Is Serious
If you’re staying in a rental and it has a compost bin, use it. Don’t toss plastic in it. And for the love of all things maple, don’t comment on how “weird” it is.

Ask Questions Respectfully
Vermonters are usually happy to share our stories. Talk to us about the land, the sugaring process, or why everyone owns a Subaru. Just don’t come in assuming we’re all hippies or lumberjacks.

Respect the Land and the Locals

• Stay on marked trails
• Close farm gates if you pass through
• Don’t trespass for that perfect Instagram photo
• Tip your servers and bartenders. Many of them are working multiple jobs to afford living here

6. Quick Quiz: Are You Acting Like a Tourist?

Check all that apply:

• You took a selfie with a “Moose Crossing” sign
• Your GPS rerouted you and now you’re stuck on a seasonal dirt road
• You asked a Vermonter where the nearest Whole Foods is
• You wore jeans to a six-mile hike
• You didn’t know what a creemee was
• You tried to pay with a credit card at a farm stand labeled “cash only”
• You described the mountains as “cute”
• You wore white to a sugaring tour

If you said yes to three or more, congrats. You’re officially a tourist. But now that you know better, you can do better.

7. Final Thoughts: Visit Like You Live Here

Being a tourist in Vermont doesn’t have to mean standing out. With a little awareness, a pair of good boots, and a healthy respect for small-town rhythms, you’ll fit in just fine. You might even be mistaken for a local. At least until you ask where the Starbucks is.

So whether you’re here for the foliage, the skiing, the syrup, or the slower pace of life, enjoy it the way we do. With gratitude, curiosity, and an open mind.

And if you see a moose, pull over. Just not in the middle of the road.

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