Remember when your biggest worry was whether you’d get to stay up past your bedtime?

Well, dust off those rose-tinted glasses, because we’re about to embark on a whimsical journey through Vermont’s most nostalgia-inducing attractions!

1. Pastime Pinball (Manchester Center)

Ding, ding, ding!

That’s the sound of your inner child doing a victory dance.

Pastime Pinball in Manchester Center is like stepping into a time machine powered by quarters and flashing lights.

This museum and arcade is a veritable treasure trove of vintage pinball machines, each one a portal to a simpler time when “high score” was the ultimate life goal.

As you walk through the doors, you’re greeted by the cacophony of flippers flipping and balls bouncing.

It’s enough to make you wonder if you’ve accidentally stumbled onto the set of a 1980s coming-of-age movie.

The museum houses an impressive collection of machines dating from the 1950s to today, each one meticulously maintained and ready for action.

But here’s the kicker – you don’t just get to look at these beauties.

Oh no, my friend.

You get to play them!

It’s hands-on history at its finest.

Just try not to get too carried away and challenge the nearest 12-year-old to a pinball duel.

Trust me, those kids have reflexes like caffeinated squirrels.

2. Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum (Rutland)

If you’ve ever wished you could shrink back down to kid-size and explore a world designed just for the vertically challenged, then Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum in Rutland is your golden ticket.

It’s like Willy Wonka’s factory, minus the potentially traumatizing boat ride and plus a whole lot of educational fun.

This hands-on museum is a playground for the mind, body, and imagination.

From the moment you step inside, you’re transported to a world where learning is disguised as pure, unadulterated fun.

There’s a mini post office where kids can sort mail (and probably wonder what this strange paper-based communication system is all about), a farm-to-table exhibit that might just convince your little ones that vegetables aren’t the enemy, and a building zone where future architects can construct their masterpieces without the pesky constraints of building codes or gravity.

But let’s be honest, the real magic happens when you, the supposed “adult,” find yourself engrossed in building the ultimate block tower or conducting a symphony of giggles in the music area.

Just remember, if you hear someone yell “Grow up!”, it’s probably because you’re hogging the play dough.

3. Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium (St. Johnsbury)

Ah, the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium in St. Johnsbury – where else can you travel from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of the galaxy without leaving Vermont?

This Victorian-era natural history museum is like your eccentric great-aunt’s attic, if your great-aunt happened to be a world-traveling naturalist with a penchant for taxidermy and a side gig as an astronomer.

The museum’s collection is a hodgepodge of the weird and wonderful.

From stuffed animals (the taxidermy kind, not the cuddly kind) to intricate bug displays that’ll make you grateful for screen windows, there’s something to fascinate and slightly unnerve visitors of all ages.

And let’s not forget the planetarium, where you can lean back and pretend you’re floating through space – just like you did as a kid, except now you’re in a comfy chair instead of a cardboard box spaceship.

But the real gem of the Fairbanks Museum?

The wildflower table.

It’s like a botanical version of “Where’s Waldo?”, where you can spend hours trying to identify tiny flowers and grasses.

Who knew botany could be so addictive?

Just don’t be surprised if you leave with a sudden urge to start pressing flowers in all your heavy books.

4. The World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet (Burlington)

In a world of digital everything, there’s something oddly comforting about a giant metal tower dedicated to the art of paper storage.

The World’s Tallest Filing Cabinet in Burlington is exactly what it sounds like – a towering monument to office supplies that would make even the most seasoned bureaucrat weak at the knees.

Standing at a whopping 38 feet tall, this peculiar piece of public art is made up of 38 drawers, one for each year it took to complete the local beltway project.

It’s like a giant middle finger to procrastination, or perhaps a cautionary tale about the dangers of letting your paperwork pile up.

As you stand before this behemoth of bureaucracy, you can’t help but wonder: What if it fell over?

Would it unleash a tsunami of TPS reports and long-forgotten memos?

Related: There’s a Sky-High Bridge in Vermont that Will Make Your Stomach Drop

Related: There’s an Unexpected Roadside Wonder in Vermont that Will Make You Do a Double Take

Related: This Nature-Inspired Playground in Vermont Will Bring Out Your Inner Child

And more importantly, is there a World’s Tallest Paper Clip somewhere to go with it?

One thing’s for sure – it’s the perfect backdrop for a “promoted to middle management” photoshoot.

5. Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour (Waterbury)

If you’ve ever dreamed of swimming in a sea of Cherry Garcia or scaling a mountain of Chunky Monkey, then the Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour in Waterbury is your Mecca.

It’s like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory, but with more cow puns and a decidedly hippie vibe.

The tour takes you through the ice cream making process, from cream to cone.

You’ll learn about Ben & Jerry’s commitment to social causes, which might just make you feel a little less guilty about that pint you demolished last night.

But let’s be real – the highlight of the tour is the tasting room.

It’s where dreams come true and diets go to die.

And don’t forget to pay your respects at the Flavor Graveyard, where discontinued flavors are laid to rest.

It’s a somber reminder that not all ice cream flavors can be winners.

(I’m looking at you, Peanuts! Popcorn! Ice cream. Your time was short, but you won’t be forgotten.)

6. Shelburne Museum (Shelburne)

The Shelburne Museum is like your grandma’s attic, if your grandma happened to be an eccentric millionaire with a penchant for collecting… well, everything.

This sprawling museum is a hodgepodge of Americana, featuring everything from impressionist paintings to a 220-foot steamboat.

Because nothing says “coherent museum theme” like a landlocked steamboat in Vermont, right?

As you wander through the 39 buildings spread across 45 acres, you’ll find yourself on a whirlwind tour through American history.

There’s a fully restored carousel that’ll make you wish you were a kid again (or at least small enough to ride without fear of breaking something).

You can explore a recreated 1950s house that’ll have you wondering if maybe, just maybe, your parents were right about “the good old days.”

But the real gem of the Shelburne Museum?

The circus posters.

These vibrant, over-the-top advertisements are a reminder of a time when entertainment didn’t fit in your pocket, and the phrase “there’s an app for that” would have sounded like nonsense.

Just try not to get too carried away and join a traveling circus after your visit.

Trust me, the novelty of living in a wagon wears off pretty quickly.

7. Vermont Antique Mall (Quechee)

Stepping into the Vermont Antique Mall in Quechee is like diving headfirst into your great-aunt Mildred’s attic – if Mildred had impeccable taste and a slight hoarding problem.

This sprawling emporium of yesteryear is a treasure trove of nostalgia, where every turn reveals another relic from a bygone era.

As you wander through the aisles, you’ll find yourself on a scavenger hunt through time.

There’s that lava lamp you begged your parents for in the ’70s (and they said no, because apparently, “it’s just a fad”).

Or how about that rotary phone that’ll leave your kids scratching their heads and asking, “But how do you text on this thing?”

But the real magic of the Vermont Antique Mall lies in the unexpected finds.

Like that creepy porcelain doll that seems to follow you with its eyes (perfect for your next horror movie night), or the vintage board game with rules so complicated you’ll need a Ph.D. to decipher them.

Just remember, one person’s junk is another person’s treasure – and your spouse’s “Why on earth did you buy that?” conversation starter.

8. Billings Farm & Museum (Woodstock)

If you’ve ever fantasized about living out your Laura Ingalls Wilder dreams (minus the whole typhoid fever thing), then Billings Farm & Museum in Woodstock is your ticket to pastoral paradise.

It’s like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting, if Norman Rockwell had a thing for Jersey cows and really good cheese.

This working dairy farm and museum offers a glimpse into 19th-century farm life, complete with restored farmhouse, barns, and enough adorable farm animals to fill your camera roll.

You can watch demonstrations of traditional farm activities, which might just make you grateful for modern conveniences.

(Butter churning looks charming for about five minutes, then it’s just arm day at the 1890s gym.)

But the real star of Billings Farm?

The cheese.

Their award-winning cheddar is so good, it might just make you consider a career change to artisanal cheesemaker.

Just remember, if you do decide to quit your day job and buy a herd of cows, cheese puns are mandatory.

You’ll have to promise to always “brie” yourself and never feel “bleu.”

So there you have it, folks – a whirlwind tour of Vermont’s most nostalgia-inducing spots.

Now go forth and relive your childhood!

Just remember, adulting is still required… at least until you figure out how to fit in that giant slide at Wonderfeet Kids’ Museum.