Imagine a journey where every stop is sweeter than the last, where the air is perfumed with cocoa, and where calories don’t count (okay, they do, but who’s counting?).
Welcome to Vermont’s chocolate trail!
1. Mother Myrick’s Confectionery (Manchester)
Nestled in the heart of Manchester, Mother Myrick’s Confectionery is like stepping into a Norman Rockwell painting – if Norman Rockwell had a serious sweet tooth.
This charming white clapboard house, adorned with hanging flower baskets and American flags, is a testament to Vermont’s love affair with all things quaint and delicious.
As you approach, the scent of butter and sugar wafts through the air, drawing you in like a chocolate-seeking missile.
Inside, it’s a wonderland of confectionery delights.
The shop’s specialty, Lemon Lulu Cake, is rumored to have the power to make even the sourest of pusses purr with delight.
But let’s not forget we’re here for the chocolate.
Their handmade truffles are so smooth, they make silk feel like sandpaper.
And if you’re feeling particularly indulgent, their hot fudge sauce is thick enough to use as mortar – though I wouldn’t recommend building a house with it, no matter how tempting.
2. Village Peddler and Chocolatorium (Arlington)
Next stop: Arlington, home of the Village Peddler and Chocolatorium.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Chocolatorium” sounds like a made-up word from Willy Wonka’s reject pile.
But trust me, it’s very real, and it’s very spectacular.
This place is part chocolate shop, part time machine.
The rustic wooden exterior and charming window displays transport you back to a simpler time when calories were just a twinkle in a nutritionist’s eye.
Inside, it’s a chocolate lover’s fever dream come to life.
Their homemade fudge is so rich, it probably has its own offshore bank account.
And their truffles?
Let’s just say if they were people, they’d be the kind you’d want to introduce to your parents.
But the real star of the show is their hot chocolate – it’s so thick and creamy, you could practically eat it with a fork.
3. Laughing Moon Chocolates (Stowe)
As we roll into Stowe, keep your eyes peeled for a cheerful blue building that looks like it’s been plucked straight out of a fairy tale.
That’s Laughing Moon Chocolates, and let me tell you, it’s no laughing matter when it comes to serious chocolate.
This place is as Vermont as it gets – organic, fair trade, and probably powered by the pure joy of chocolate lovers.
The shop itself is a feast for the eyes, with its colorful exterior and whimsical signage.
It’s like the love child of a chocolate shop and a rainbow.
Their truffles are so good, they should come with a warning label: “May cause spontaneous happiness and uncontrollable smiling.”
And don’t even get me started on their maple cream chocolates – they’re so Vermont, they practically come with their own flannel shirt and craft beer.
4. Vermont Country Store (Weston)
Our next stop is the Vermont Country Store in Weston, and folks, this isn’t just a store – it’s a time capsule with a sweet tooth.
This red barn of a building is like your grandma’s attic, if your grandma was a confectionery wizard with a penchant for nostalgia.
While they’re known for their eclectic mix of hard-to-find products, their chocolate game is strong enough to make a bodybuilder jealous.
Their chocolate-covered anything is a must-try.
Seriously, I think they’d chocolate-coat the cash register if they could.
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But the real showstopper?
Their old-fashioned candy counter.
It’s like a greatest hits album of your childhood sugar rush, only better because now you’re an adult and can buy as much as you want.
Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility… and possibly a sugar crash.
5. Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington)
As we cruise into Burlington, prepare your taste buds for Lake Champlain Chocolates.
This place is to chocolate what Bernie Sanders is to Vermont – iconic, beloved, and surprisingly smooth.
Their shop on Church Street is a modern chocolate lover’s paradise.
The sleek interior might fool you into thinking you’re in for some hoity-toity chocolate experience, but fear not – this is still Vermont, where pretension goes to die and deliciousness reigns supreme.
Their Five Star Bars are so good, they make you wonder why we even bother with the five-star rating system.
Just call everything else zero stars and be done with it.
And their hot chocolate?
It’s like a warm hug for your insides, only less creepy and more delicious.
6. Snowflake Chocolates (Jericho)
Next up is Snowflake Chocolates in Jericho, where every day is a snow day for your taste buds.
This family-owned business has been crafting chocolates since 1986, proving that good things do indeed come in small packages – and sometimes those packages are filled with chocolate.
Their shop sign, illuminated against a stunning Vermont sunset, is like a beacon of hope for chocolate lovers everywhere.
It’s saying, “Come in, weary traveler, and let chocolate solve all your problems.”
And you know what?
For a few blissful moments, it does.
Their snowflake-shaped chocolates are so pretty, you almost don’t want to eat them.
Almost.
But once you do, you’ll understand why snowflakes are nature’s way of saying, “Everything looks better covered in chocolate.”
7. The Chocolate Barn (Shaftsbury)
Rolling into Shaftsbury, you’ll find The Chocolate Barn – because nothing says “Vermont” quite like combining chocolate and barns.
This rustic chocolate haven is proof that sometimes the best things in life come in unassuming packages.
The barn-shaped building, complete with its own “Home Made Ice Cream” sign, is like a siren call to sweet-toothed travelers.
It’s saying, “Sure, you could keep driving, but wouldn’t you rather stop and eat your weight in chocolate?”
Their hand-dipped chocolates are so fresh, you half expect the cow that provided the cream to mosey on by and say hello.
And their fudge?
It’s denser than a black hole and twice as likely to make you lose track of time and space.
8. Tavernier Chocolates (Brattleboro)
Our final stop brings us to Tavernier Chocolates in Brattleboro, where chocolate meets art in a delicious collision of flavors and aesthetics.
This isn’t just a chocolate shop – it’s a chocolate gallery, where every piece is a masterpiece.
The shop’s elegant green exterior and large windows give you a tantalizing glimpse of the chocolate wonders within.
It’s like the Louvre, if the Louvre was filled with edible exhibits and significantly less crowded.
Their artisanal chocolates are so beautifully crafted, you’ll want to frame them instead of eating them.
But trust me, eating them is the right choice.
Each bite is like a flavor explosion in your mouth, minus the mess and property damage of an actual explosion.
There you have it, folks – a chocolate journey through Vermont that’s sure to satisfy even the most discerning sweet tooth.
Cravings are calling!
Use this map to steer your food journey in the right direction—and maybe discover a hidden gem or two along the way.
Just remember to pack your stretchy pants and your sense of adventure.
Your taste buds will thank you, even if your waistline doesn’t.