Some of the best summer date nights in Vermont don’t require much planning at all. Pick up a few local cheeses, a good sandwich, something sweet for later, and head for the water, a waterfall, or a mountain overlook.
Whether you’re planning a special date, celebrating an anniversary, or simply looking for a different way to spend the day together, Waterbury makes it easy. Within a few miles of our Vermont bed and breakfast, you’ll find reservoir beaches, forest trails, swimming holes, waterfalls, and scenic overlooks that are perfect for a leisurely afternoon outdoors.
Here is our guide to building the perfect basket, finding the perfect spot, and coming home to a perfect slow evening.
First, Gather Your Picnic Supplies
One of the advantages of staying in downtown Waterbury is that you can put together an excellent picnic without driving all over the county.
Sandwiches, Salads, and More: Woodstock Farmers Market
For the anchor of your meal, head a few minutes up Route 100 to Woodstock Farmers Market. Their deli counter is legendary for delicious grab-and-go sandwiches made with house-roasted meats and fresh, local produce. The Italian hoagie (packed with local charcuterie) and the chicken salad on garlic-parmesan bread are especially rewarding after a morning hike or an afternoon swim. Grab a container of house-made sesame noodles or red potato salad from their cold case to round out the meal.
If you’re short on time, this can easily be your one-stop shop: they also carry a massive selection of over 50 Vermont cheeses, a great wall of local craft beer, cider, and wine, and fresh-baked pies and cookies delivered twice a week straight from their main Bakehouse in Woodstock.
Vermont Cheese: Cabot
Farmers’ Store
No Vermont picnic is complete without cheese, and the Cabot Creamery Store lets you taste your way through Vermont’s finest dairy. In addition to their classic cheddars, you’ll find specialty cheeses, crackers, jams, and other Vermont-made snacks that are easy to pack for an afternoon outdoors.
Wine & Beer: Cask & Cork
Cask & Cork is the village’s go-to for picnic drinks. The beer wall is one of the deepest in central Vermont, with a constantly rotating selection of Vermont craft brews from Hill Farmstead, Lawson’s Finest, Frost, and the Alchemist, plus a wide-ranging inventory of New England and international ales, lagers, and ciders. The wine shelves carry over 900 bottles with a focus on small-producer, biodynamic, and natural wines from around the world, organized by region and style, making it easy to browse, and the knowledgeable staff is always on hand to steer you toward a crisp chilled white, a refreshing rosé, or a unique local craft cider to perfectly complement your picnic menu.
Something Sweet:
- Cold Hollow Cider Mill: A legendary stop on Route 100, a brown paper bag of their famous cider donuts, served warm and coated in cinnamon sugar, has improved many afternoons in Vermont. While you’re there, grab a cold gallon of fresh-pressed cider or browse their massive selection of Vermont maple syrups, mustard blends, and local pickles.
- Hender’s Bake Shop & Cafe: Located right in the village on Main Street, Hender’s is an essential morning stop (Thursday through Sunday) for scratch-made treats. Their pastry case changes with the seasons, but you can always count on incredible flavor combinations, from their famous, melt-in-your-mouth French crullers to savory galettes and oversized sea-salt chocolate chip cookies that make a perfect reward at the end of a trail.
- Lake Champlain Chocolates: If you’re celebrating an anniversary or a special occasion, add a touch of romance with a small, hand-curated box of truffles. Their Five Star Bars (especially the fruit & nut and caramel flavors) pair beautifully with a late-afternoon glass of wine by the water.
Picnic Essentials: Green Mountain Dry Goods
Forgot a picnic blanket? Need a canvas tote bag, a sun hat, or an extra fleece layer for the mountain breeze? Green Mountain Dry Goods is a fantastic final stop to pick up high-quality New England essentials that look great and keep you comfortable outdoors.
Or Let Us Pack It For You
If a day off means a real day off, we are happy to do the basket-building for you. Tell us when you would like to head out, share any dietary preferences or beverage requests, and we will assemble a custom picnic with local cheeses, fresh sandwiches, sweet treats, and your choice of wine, beer, cider, or non-alcoholic drinks, packed and ready to go in a souvenir cooler tote bag that’s yours to take home. Just let us know at booking or at check-in, and we will have your picnic waiting whenever you are ready to set out.
Next, Choose a Picnic Spot in Waterbury
Right in the Village
If you want an easy afternoon without spending time in the car, these local parks are right in our backyard.
Rusty Parker Memorial Park
51 South Main Street, Waterbury
Located just a short walk from our front porch, Rusty Parker is the green heart of our village. Shaded by mature trees and centered around a classic wooden bandstand, it’s a wonderful spot to lay out a blanket on a quiet afternoon.
The park is at its best on Thursday evenings in the summer, when the town hosts free concerts from 6:00 to 8:30 PM.
Hope Davey Memorial Park
116 Maple Street, Waterbury Center
Just a 5-10-minute drive into Waterbury Center, Hope Davey is a peaceful, heavily wooded retreat that most visitors drive past. Beyond the main recreation areas, the park has a quiet pine arbor with a dense canopy overhead that stays cool even on hot July days. Take a slow stroll through the trees together, and find a secluded spot under the canopy to lay out your blanket.
By the Waterbury Reservoir
The reservoir is the centerpiece of our local landscape, and the state parks on either side of the water offer two completely different styles of picnicking depending on what kind of afternoon you are looking for.
Little River State Park
3444 Little River Road, Waterbury
Located about fifteen minutes from the inn, Little River State Park combines reservoir views, wooded trails, and a surprising amount of history. The park sits above Waterbury Reservoir and includes miles of hiking trails through Ricker Basin, an abandoned nineteenth-century farming community where visitors can still see cellar holes, stone walls, and remnants of the original settlement. Bring lunch, choose a quiet picnic table, and spend the afternoon exploring the trails.
Waterbury Center State Park
177 Reservoir Road, Waterbury Center
This is the open, sunny, day-use side of the reservoir, sitting on a sweeping 90-acre peninsula. The sandy beach, manicured picnic areas, and mountain views make this one of the most popular summer destinations in the region. After lunch, spend the afternoon swimming, paddling, or simply watching boats cross the water.
If you’d like to get out on the water and find a more remote picnic spot, Umiak Outfitters operates right on the shoreline, renting kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards during the summer season.
A Short Drive Up to Stowe
A fifteen-minute drive north into Stowe opens up a collection of iconic, picture-postcard picnic backdrops.
Stowe Recreation Path & Brookdale Covered Bridge
The Stowe Recreation Path is a beautifully paved five-mile greenway that snakes through meadows and wooded sections along the West Branch River. You can rent a cruiser bike in Stowe village (starting behind the Stowe Community Church) or simply stroll the pathway. We especially like the areas near the Brookdale Covered Bridge on Brook Road. The grassy riverbanks right next to the historic timber bridge are a perfect setting to sit by the water and unpack your lunch.
Moss Glen Falls
513 Moss Glen Falls Rd, Stowe
Few places feel more “Vermont” than a picnic near a rushing waterfall. Just outside Stowe, Moss Glen Falls is one of the most photographed waterfalls in the state, dropping more than one hundred feet through a narrow rock gorge. A short, flat, quarter-mile walk from the parking area along a wooden boardwalk leads to a viewing area at the base of the falls. While picnicking directly beside the falls isn’t permitted, the flat gravel banks near the stream and the surrounding woods offer plenty of natural places to enjoy lunch before or after your visit.
Sunset Rock
End of Sunset Street, Stowe Village
For a picnic timed to the golden hour, Sunset Rock doesn’t take long to reach, but the view feels surprisingly removed from the bustle of the village below. A brief, steep 200-yard foot trail from the end of Sunset Street brings you out onto a massive bedrock ledge that sits directly above the village, looking straight across to Mount Mansfield. Because parking isn’t allowed at the trailhead, leave your car in the public lot behind the church on Main Street. Head up about an hour before dusk, pack a light dinner, and watch the sky turn brilliant shades of pink and gold over the mountains.
A Picnic Above the Mountains
For a truly special occasion, consider taking your picnic to the highest peak in Vermont. At 4,393 feet, Mount Mansfield offers sweeping vistas across the Green Mountains and, on clear days, all the way into New York and New Hampshire. The easiest way to the top is the Stowe Mountain Auto Toll Road, a winding 4.5-mile gravel road that takes about 20 minutes to drive (open late May through mid-October, toll fees apply). From the visitor center at the top, you can spread a blanket in the alpine tundra and enjoy one of the most memorable views in the state. If you’d rather earn the view, you can hike up instead via the Long Trail or the nearby Stowe Pinnacle Trail. Either way, pack plenty of water, sturdy footwear, and a jacket, as it’s always much colder at the summit than down in the valley.
End the Day at the Old Stagecoach Inn
After a full afternoon spent lounging on riverbanks, chasing waterfalls, or catching the sunset from a mountain ledge, the best part of the day is having a comfortable, welcoming place to land at Old Stagecoach Inn.
If you’re staying in one of our rooms designed for couples, you can drop your empty picnic basket by the door, wrap yourself in one of our plush robes, and let the quiet, historic charm of the property help you fully unwind. Head to the front porch with a cocktail from our cozy Library Pub, relax in the parlor with a puzzle, or simply sink into luxury linens for a peaceful night’s rest.
Book your summer stay, and we will gladly help you map out your local picnic itinerary when you arrive!