Cold Hollow Cider Mill

We stopped in the Cold Hollow Cider Mill in Waterbury, VT this past Sunday on our way home.

This is a country store with plenty of unique gifts as well as typical nick knacks. They offer free samples of certain jellies/spreads and cider. There is no tour per-Se during the winter but they have a video running of how they make the cider. Not sure if they offer a tour during the peak season (but they do offer bus parking -- so the place must be popular). Not too far from Stowe Mt.

I'm not a big apple cider guy but I can certainly say this was REALLY good! Even went back for a second sample and bought a 1/2 gallon for later on. Packaging claims that it is 100% apple cider with a note stating that all apples come from the Champlain Valley - NO imports. The only ingredients are Apples and Potassium Sorbate. Also bought some unsweetened Apple Butter - which contains "Whole Vermont Apples and Fresh Cold Hollow Cider". - Very good.

The fresh home made cider donuts (made on sight) are OUT OF THIS WORLD! We got a 1/2 dozen and fought over the last one.

It is an easy drive right off of I89 off the Waterbury exit. Worth the trip if you are in the area.

Ben & Jerry's Icecream Tour Review

*** This will be on Trip-Advisorsoon -- but thought I would share here ***

We last visited the area in 2002/2003 and sadly to say the tour hasn't changed much in 7+ years.

There is a minimal charge of $3 for ages 12 and up. Assume this pays for sample plus salary of tour members. However I don't believe this is a good value.

You start off with a short witty presentation of how Ben and Jerry got started with the company (with a bit of propaganda thrown in). I don't remember the presentation but wife said it is the same one from our last visit.

Then they take you to a room over looking the factory. The host goes so fast explaining things (which is coordinated with a movie that for the average person it is difficult to understand how ice cream gets made). Also because you are high up and crowded its difficult to see anything. Also nothing about quality control was mentioned. In the past the tour guide went slower and gave a better description than the movie.

The sampling room has only onesample now. Back in 2003 there was 2. No spoons available either so everyone is sticky at the tours end.

I also found the ticket taker and presenter to be a bit unfriendly (more smiles needed please) and the whole tour a bit rushed.

Ben & Jerry's is a fun place but the whole tour needs to be revamped to focus more on ice cream production. I didn't learn a thing.

Looks like most Trip Advisor members agree! Check out their review here .

Cabot Cheese Factory Tour

We stopped recently at the Cabot Visitor Center in Cabot, VT. This place is not all that easy to get to from southern NH!

In the main visitor center there is a gift shop and in the back of the store there is a table set up to sample many, many different variations of cheese (including some that I never even heard of). They also had dips and spreadable cheese to sample as well! Very good.

The tour is $2 (with children under 12 free). Assume this pays for the sampling.

At the beginning of the tour there is 5 - 10 minute movie which gives you the history of Cabot, its standards, etc. After the movie the tour guide takes you down a single hallway. On both sides there is glass windows to each part of the plant. We witnessed sourcream being packaged and cheese being made in a huge long vat. Although I must say not much was happening when we visited. This is a live working plant and the hallway can get busy. We exited the same way we entered.

Overall I thought the tour was good. However I did not get a real understanding of how their products are made. The place was much smaller than I expected.

We did pick up some colby jack and cheddar blocks along with some of the yummy dips.