Our nature is pretty boring - most of it has been logged and developed. The most interesting natural thing we have is freshwater sharks that live only in Lake Champlain and Lake George. Very cool thing to have, but also aggressive and a lot of people won't swim in the lake because of them, but I do. They're endangered and I've only even seen them a couple times.

The best food in Vermont is the potato. If you eat the whole potato, including the skins, it has all the nutrients you need. You can survive off potatoes alone and most Vermonters do. Some people from out-of-state will also eat turnips, but that makes it pretty obvious you're a flatlander.

All the months of the year are great in Vermont, but the best is March because the snow-weasels finally go in for the season and we can go outside again.

Best city to visit is Belvidere. No doubt.

No billboards!

Signature VT foods/drinks are anything with maple syrup (maple cremees, aka soft serve, are definitely our signature dessert), craft beer and hard cider, cheese, chocolate, poutine (which we get from Canada), the Vermonter sandwich (ingredients vary, but generally something like turkey, cheddar, and apple slices) and a lot of farm-to-table stuff. If you're ever visiting, go to Yates Family Orchard in Hinesburg and get the Supremee, which is a fresh cider donut with maple cremee and caramel-drizzled apple pie filling on top. It's out of this world!!!

We don't really have any "cities" by CA standards - our biggest city is Burlington with 40,000 people. Much of the state is very very rural. But we are within a few hours' drive of Montreal and Boston, which are both awesome. A little farther away are Quebec City and NYC. Since we don't have a coastline, Maine and Cape Cod are popular summer beach destinations.

Most people here love winter because of skiing and other winter sports. I'm more of a summer person and think summers here are great, albeit short.

Nature: lots! It's a great place for hiking, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, swimming, hunting, fishing, boating and more, depending on the season. Lake Champlain forms a lot of the western border and is really pretty. Nice views are everywhere, we're definitely spoiled in that regard. Mountains are plentiful, although not nearly as high as they are in CA.

Also, a few people are definitely pranking you, especially regarding our supposedly weird obsession with potatoes? Yeah, not really a thing. A lot of what you're asking is just stuff you could easily Google, so I get why some might think your question silly, but I always enjoy sharing.

https://preview.redd.it/rky7283hfbia1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=09c0d0c3ea05ca1e0e2e5114f5de15fac85f99f7

Saw this guy off of our deck last week!

I personally adore our nature. I've traveled slightly but Vermont has always been home and the most beautiful. Our mountains are well known, "The Green Mountain State." I live in a central area absolutely covered in evergreens and other trees as well.

By far it is gorgeous in the Fall, it's almost annoying how many photographers come to the capitol and around that area to take photos of the leaves. I come from a small town with about 600 people, lots of local foods and gardeners, we often have free farm veggies and local cafes. I want to share so much more on loving the state, but perhaps you should just visit and hike around, get to know the people and environment. Might just be my experiences but everyone around is much nicer compared to other states I have been to, always willing to help out, and mostly very kind drivers who give plenty of distance.

Again, it may just be me but the places I've been to in Vermont you'll most likely pass a cow farm, probably see a deer or moose along the way or a family of bears. Many long roads, things are very spred out, such as my home, if I want any form of groceries, I must drive 40 minutes into town.

Lots of hiking around, grouse hunting and fishing goes on. Camping is a must, and don't forget skinny dipping in all those secluded rivers. Langdon Street in Montpelier often has fun band music and great food to enjoy, record shops and vintage clothing.

Just come visit! I'm sure you'll love the lil hippie state of ours.

We love potatoes so much. Also, there are a couple of things to do, like go to the Dollar General and play scratch tickets.

Hey! I lived in CA for a couple years as a teen (Alameda County). Really enjoyed my time there.

I‘m fairly new to VT, but my answers:

1. The nature is the draw. Old Appalachian mountains covered in trees and springs and ponds. Few people to wreck it. First time I ever went hiking here I couldn’t shut up about how I didn’t see any litter, even in the creek.

2. Lake Willoughby is my favorite „unique nature thing.“. I recommend looking up some photos.

3. Maple cremees (soft serve), sugar on snow (you heat up the maple syrup to 235° and then drizzle it on snow and it becomes taffy-like in consistency), apple cider donuts…. People seem to come up with any excuse to put maple syrup in anything. It’s all amazing.

4. Sepoctemober.

5. Walk in the woods. Ride in the woods. Look at the stars.

6. Not many cities here. I enjoy Montpelier the most.

7. Tidbits…. The snowmobilers have a trail system (the VAST trail) that goes all over the state. I only wish horse people were that organized. There is also the Long Trail for hiking that goes up through the center-ish of the state. The state has a day called Green Up Day in May for which you get trash bags to go pick up litter. The state motto is „Freedom and Unity.“

I grew up in NJ and moved to VT about 5 years ago.

I love the mountains, nature, and all of the seasons except for mud season. I love that winter still happens here in a way it doesn't in NJ anymore.

I came for skiing but I've fallen in love with Lake Champlain. I love boat, kayak and ice fishing. Sometimes it's actually a struggle to decide what I should do... skiing or fishing? I live in paradise and I'm super lucky. I'm starting to enjoy summer more but winter is still my favorite.

If you wanna see some of my adventures go on YouTube and search for VT2U I'm publising a new skiing video this week but my last few videos are about ice fishing for lake trout

tl;dr: Vermont sucks tell your friends... nothing to see here move along 😏

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Vermont is a very eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary life snuggled into the crooks and crannies of the Green Mountains and along the shore of Lake Champlain. About 60 % of our roads are not paved, and at the end of winter or during thaw cycles your vehicle can literally get stuck for days. Vermonters are good neighbors, but like their privacy. Vermont has a lot of land based economies, agriculture, outdoor recreation, and in the Northeast Kingdom timber management. So many of us work the land or work with people who work the land. We are more impressed with your 15 year old flannel shirt than your new Gucci handbag. (And yes, a woman in flannel, Carhartts and muck boots is a damn attractive sight!) Vermont has a strong conservation ethic, and most people support sustainable land use practices. We are inundated with tourists and that’s understandable, but we also have all the problems the rest of the country has. But, the people here are the best asset in the state. There is a very strong sense of community. Every year we have Town Meeting Day, where the 80 year old dairy farmer sits down next to the young GLBTQ orange haired tattooed Co-op employee and determine how much money the town is going to spend on road grading this year. It’s a pretty special place.

ChatGPT's thoughts on your question - one fail is that there are six seasons and how is Ben & Jerry's a unique natural attraction? - guess us humans have a little time before AI takes over...

Sure, I'd be happy to answer your questions about Vermont!

• Vermont is known for its beautiful nature, including the Green Mountains, picturesque forests, and stunning lakes and rivers. There are many outdoor activities you can do in Vermont, including hiking, skiing, snowboarding, biking, and kayaking, among others.
• Some unique natural attractions in Vermont include the state's covered bridges, which can be found throughout the state, as well as the Ben & Jerry's factory in Waterbury, which offers tours and tastings.
• Vermont is also known for its local food scene, with a focus on farm-to-table dining and a variety of artisanal foods. Some of the state's most popular foods include maple syrup, cheese, cider donuts, and craft beer.
• Vermont has four distinct seasons, each with its own unique charm. Many people enjoy the fall season, when the leaves change colors and the weather is crisp and cool. Winter is also popular for skiing and other winter sports, while spring and summer offer a chance to enjoy the state's natural beauty and outdoor activities.
• There are many things to do for fun in Vermont, from outdoor adventures to cultural events and festivals. Popular activities include skiing and snowboarding, visiting local farms and breweries, exploring small towns, and attending events like the Vermont Maple Festival and the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival.
• Burlington is often considered one of the best cities to visit in Vermont. Located on the shore of Lake Champlain, Burlington offers a variety of cultural attractions, including museums, galleries, and live music venues. The city is also home to a vibrant food scene, with many farm-to-table restaurants and local breweries. Additionally, Burlington is a great base for exploring other parts of the state, including the nearby Green Mountains and Lake Champlain Islands.

You’re from California but don’t live next door to a celebrity? Mind. Blown.

For starters Vermont puts a lot of effort into creating/preserving the idyllic idea of Vermont. The marketing works. Vermont has a lot of the same problems/issues as most states. It’s exceptionally beautiful if you’re into the agricultural/pastoral type landscape but don’t expect every farm to look like the ones on the “post cards”, there’s real farming being done in places. That being said it’s my favorite place in the whole world.

No Billboards, no McDonald’s or Walmart in our capitol (although they are just outside of it)

Happy cows come from VT not CA.

Poutine and sugar on snow are two dishes I think of when I think of Vermont.

Snowmobiling, hiking, skiing, hunting and fishing. Pretty much all outdoor activities are the things to do here.

I wouldn’t visit any of our “cities” for a vacation, but there’s plenty of awesome areas to visit on a vacation. I always recommend people bring or rent a car, I can’t imagine going on a vacation here without a vehicle.

Mud season (or early spring if you don’t know what mud season is) is my favorite season, but I would never recommend that for visiting. I like it because winters over, I’m calving in all my beef cows, saps running, everything’s waking up. But it’s also just a muddy mess everywhere, and if you’re not from here you’re going to bury your car trying to drive around.

There is an elaborate cave system on the western side of the state, and 9% of the population resides underground

… that’s what the about tab and search feature are for…

Vermont is a State of mind; full of nooks and crannies!

Life in a developed area can get old (culture-wise) in a decade or less; so you head up to Montreal. Life in the rural hinter parts is either savoring the peace-n-quiet of pastoral privacy, or letting the quiet slowly make you crazy with solitude and isolation.

Being rural without the benefits of extended network or family contributes to that. A church or two, the school, the general store; that's what ya got for social if not for tail-gate beers at the end of some dirt road leading into the woods; maybe near a swimming hole.

Paradise!

We have great nature, some say the best nature

state animal is the black fly, you can see these marvelous creatures in May, memorial day is their holiday

Haven’t been here for very long but I love it. It’s great if you like hiking and/or skiing, and has beautiful nature. I especially love the fall and spring with the fog that blocks out the tops of mountains, it’s so pretty. From what I’ve seen there’s very few chain stores or restaurants outside a handful of larger towns and most businesses are local.

At this point in time, considering all the problems we face, I don't think there is a better place to be then VT.

for the longest time we were the reason Walmart couldn't claim they were in all 50 states. They finally got a couple in but by god Vermonters are committed to not tolerating big box stores

Stay in California we don’t want you here, full time, come for a week to spend money and promptly leave after