Ben & Jerry's Factory Tour

Vermont’s most famous ice cream got its start in a converted Burlington gas station, and today the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury turns out hundreds of thousands of pints a day. The guided factory tour opens with a short film about the company’s story, then leads you to a glassed-in mezzanine above the production floor, where a guide explains how a pint goes from fresh cream to finished carton. The tour wraps up in the Flavor Room with a tasting and, by long tradition, a cow joke. In warmer months, wander up the hill to the Flavor Graveyard, where retired flavors rest under real granite headstones, each one with a fond farewell. Then stop by the Scoop Shop for a cone of an old favorite or something you may not find back home.

The factory is about 20 minutes south of Topnotch on Route 100, an easy stop on your way into Stowe or a fun afternoon outing with kids. Tours are popular and often sell out, so check Ben & Jerry’s website for current tour availability and tickets before you go. On a rainy day, pair it with a treatment at the Spa at Topnotch, and the forecast stops mattering.