13 Cool Things To Do When Visiting Newport, Vermont

What if a town's entire character was forged by a single, mighty lake?

This is the story of Newport, Vermont, a community forever shaped by the 30-mile expanse of Lake Memphremagog. For centuries, this glacial basin has served as the region's lifeblood—first for the Abenaki people, then as a vital trade route that fueled a booming lumber industry in the 1800s.

That spirit of adaptation is notable here. You can trace it from the monumental Old Stone House Museum - built in the 1830s by Alexander Twilight, the nation's first Black college graduate - to the sprawling, family-owned Pick & Shovel.

In this guide, I’m going to take you through 13 cool things to do in Newport, Vermont, from must-see spots to a few hidden gems that even some locals might overlook.

1. Kayak or Paddleboard on Lake Memphremagog

It is not widely known, but to truly understand Newport, you must get on the water. What better way to do it than kayak on the revered Lake Memphremagog.

The moment you glide away from the shore, everything looks like it is in slow motion. The sounds of the town fade, replaced by the gentle lap of water against your craft and the call of distant loons. From this unique vantage point, you get to appreciate the lake's vast scale, stretching north into Canada

This is not just about recreation. It is a chance to find a moment of profound peace, to witness the local wildlife, and to see the landscape as the first settlers and the Abenaki people did centuries ago.

2. Prouty Beach

You hear "beach" and you picture sand, bare feet, and umbrellas, right? Well, the Prouty beach is all but these. It's a rugged, wind-swept cove on the edge of a massive, moody lake. The "sand" is often coarse gravel, the water is bracingly cold, and on an overcast day, it feels more like the North Atlantic coast than a Vermont lakefront.

Most people do not come here to sunbathe, but to feel the raw power of Memphremagog - to watch pewter-gray waves crash on the shore and feel the wind whip off the water.

3. Vermont Pie & Pasta Company

You'd never expect it, likely because of its location, but the Vermont Pie & Pasta Company is the kind of place that settles arguments. You know, the "where should we go?" debate that happens in every family. This is the answer.

It’s the culinary equivalent of a worn-in flannel shirt—comfortable, reliable, and genuinely good. The place hums with the sound of a town being fed. In one booth, you have a couple splitting a wood-fired pizza after a long day on the lake, the crust charred in that perfect, blistered way. In another, a family is diving into plates of hearty lasagna, the kind that feels like it’s been simmering for days, not hours.

The magic isn't in some trendy, complicated menu. It's in the honest simplicity of a well-made margherita pizza, the rich, savory depth of a bolognese that sticks to your ribs. In a world of overpriced, underwhelming meals, this place is a quiet triumph of substance over style.

4. Bluffside Farm

Bluffside Farm isn't a manicured public park with paved trails and interpretive signs. This is a family-owned piece of land where they've simply decided to open the gates and let people wander. (How generous of them)

You park near the barns, nod to the cattle watching you with idle curiosity, and then you just... pick a path. The main draw is the climb to the bluff itself. It's a steady, breathy pull through mixed forest that suddenly, almost abruptly, opens up to a vista that will stop you in your tracks.

From the top, Lake Memphremagog isn't just a body of water; it's a sprawling, liquid tableau laid out beneath you. You see the whole geography of the region - the curve of the bay, the islands, the long, blue line reaching into Canada.

But the real soul of the farm is the rare chance to experience a piece of Vermont that is both scenic and deeply, authentically agricultural. Bluffside farm is a working farm that offers peace, and that’s a powerful combination.

5. Pick & Shovel

Pick & Shovel is a 50,000-square-foot time capsule and a testament to Vermont's stubbornness. Founded in 1975, this family-run, third-generation labyrinth sprawls across 20 lots. The creaking floorboards and densely packed aisles, stocked with everything from practical hardware to quirky toys, tell a story of a community that adapts and endures.

Its very name, "Pick & Shovel," is a nod to the gritty tools that shaped New England, echoing the industrial spirit of 19th-century manufacturers like the Ames Shovel Works. Walking in, you're participating in a local ritual. It’s where a farmer can find a specific tractor part and a kid can get a goldfish and an ice cream from the legendary stand in the parking lot.

6. Northern Star Cruises

Northern Star Cruises isn't just a boat tour; it's your chance to finally solve the mystery of Lake Memphremagog. For over a century, folks have whispered about "Memphre," a serpentine creature lurking in these deep, cold waters. While you're more likely to spot a loon than a lake monster, the cruise plays into that local lore with a wink, making the journey feel like an expedition into the unknown.

The real history, however, is just as compelling. As the boat pushes off from Newport, you're tracing a route once used by Abenaki canoes and, later, by rum-runners during Prohibition, smuggling contraband across the U.S.-Canada border. The captain's narration peels back these layers, pointing out the grand summer "camps" that dot the shoreline, silent witnesses to a gilded age of leisure.

7. Eagle Point Wildlife Management Area

Eagle Point is a 1,400-acre sanctuary where you go to feel the true, untamed pulse of this region. The moment you step onto the trail, the human world falls away, replaced by the crunch of your boots on gravel and the dense chorus of birdsong from the wetlands.

The history here is written in the landscape itself. This land was likely used for seasonal hunting and fishing by the Abenaki for generations before European settlement. In more recent centuries, it was farmed and logged, but its value as a crucial wildlife habitat was officially recognized and protected, allowing it to revert to its wild state.

Walking the main dike trail, you're traversing a man-made structure that now serves a natural purpose. The Clyde River delta spreads out on one side and the vast, open water of the lake on the other. It's not uncommon to spot a bald eagle or a great blue heron stalking the shallows.

8. Jay Peak Resort

Jay Peak resort, far away in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, is infamous for one thing: snow. It gets hammered with an average of over 350 inches a year, thanks to a meteorological quirk that pulls in lake-effect snow from Lake Ontario and even Atlantic ocean storms. Locals call it the "Jay Cloud," a near-mythical weather system that seems to perpetually dump snow on its slopes while the sun shines everywhere else.

But this bounty comes with a cost. The climate here is harsh and unforgiving. The same winds that bring the snow can shut down lifts and freeze exposed skin in minutes. This isn't a resort for the faint of heart; it's for skiers and riders who embrace the raw, elemental power of the mountains.

Its modern identity was forged by a massive, controversial EB-5 foreign investment project that brought the Tram Haus Lodge, a massive ice arena, and the iconic indoor waterpark. This transformation, while economically vital, created a stark contrast: a rugged, almost backcountry ski experience existing alongside a surreal, climate-controlled paradise.

9. Memphremagog Arts Collaborative

The Memphremagog Arts Collaborative, or the MAC, is the kind of place that proves a town's soul isn't measured by its size. Walk in, and you're immediately hit with the smell of oil paint and wet clay. It feels more like a working studio than a museum, which is exactly the point.

Founded by a determined group of local artists, the MAC was a direct response to a need—a space for the region's scattered creative minds to gather, exhibit, and teach. The walls are a constantly rotating showcase of what's being made in the region right now, from sweeping lake-scape paintings to intricate pottery and bold textile work. What makes it vital, however, is its role as a living, breathing community hub. It’s where you might find a retired carpenter taking his first watercolor class next to a teenager learning to throw a pot on the wheel.

The MAC embodies the resilient, DIY spirit of the Northeast Kingdom. In an area often defined by its natural resources—timber, dairy, tourism—this space champions a different kind of resource: the human imagination. It’s a testament to the idea that even in a rugged, remote place, art isn't a luxury; it's a essential, thriving part of the community's identity.

10. Haskell Opera House

The Haskell Opera House is a deliberate and beautiful architectural anomaly. A place where international law gracefully yields to the shared human experience of art. Constructed in 1904 by the Haskell family to unite the neighboring communities of Derby Line, Vermont, and Stanstead, Quebec, the building was intentionally built straddling the U.S.-Canada border. This unique design creates the unforgettable scenario where the stage resides in Canada while most of the audience's seats are in the United States.

Stepping into the 400-seat theater is to enter a perfectly preserved time capsule of Gilded Age craftsmanship. The air carries a palpable sense of occasion, a legacy of over a century of performances. The space is adorned with ornate woodwork, a decorative proscenium arch, and original scenery painted by renowned Boston artist Erwin LaMoss.

11. Visit the Orleans County Historical Society at the Old Stone House Museum

The Old Stone House Museum isn't a house of old stones, but it fits right to be a piece of Vermont's educational soul. The story started with a radical idea. In 1830, a fiery Congregational minister named Alexander Twilight—the first man of African descent to earn a degree from an American college—built this massive, four-story granite structure by hand to house the Brownington Athenian Academy.

In an era of one-room schoolhouses, this Black man quarried local stone to create a monumental institution for learning in the remote hills of Vermont. The museum today, run by the Orleans County Historical Society, is a direct tribute to his grit and vision. Walking through its 30 acres and 11 historic buildings, you're not just looking at old furniture; you're standing in the dormitory rooms where students slept, touching the very desks where they learned, and feeling the weight of Twilight's ambition to bring knowledge to the frontier.

12. Gardner Memorial Park

The first time I got to Gardner Memorial Park, it felt familiar. I'm not sure it ranks anywhere near the best parks in the United States, but it felt more like Newport's living room. There's a waterfront, tourists taking pictures, and locals who want some time out,

The park was a gift to the city from the Gardner family, (hence the name). It wasn't just a donation of land; it was a deliberate effort to preserve public access to the lakefront for everyone to enjoy.

What gives the park its soul, however, is the "Star" – the iconic, metal-framed sculpture that has become Newport's unofficial symbol. It's a beacon during the winter Festival of Lights and a familiar meeting point year-round.

13. Tavern on the Hill

The Tavern on the Hill is the kind of place that makes you feel like you've discovered a secret. Just a stone's throw from the Canadian border, its existence feels like a quiet act of defiance. The building itself has a long history, but the tavern's modern story is one of local resilience. It's a family-run spot that has carved out a reputation not on flashy trends, but on a simple, powerful formula: generous, well-executed comfort food and a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere.

Step inside and you'll find a cozy, wood-accented space that hums with a cross-border buzz. The menu is a tribute to hearty, New England classics—think prime rib, fresh haddock, and burgers that are cooked right. It's the kind of food that satisfies deeply, the perfect meal after a day on the lake or the slopes. But the real magic is in the clientele.

Conclusion

Newport doesn’t reveal itself all at once but in the quiet, resilient layers of a community that has continually reinvented itself. From its origins as a rough-and-tumble lumber port to its role as a Prohibition-era crossroads, the town has always been defined by its relationship with the vast, mysterious lake at its doorstep.

What you take away from a visit here is more than a memory of scenic beauty. It’s the feeling of a place that has learned to adapt without losing its soul. The things to do in Newport are varied, but each tells a story of resilience and victory.

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FAQ

1. When is the best time to visit Newport?

Truth is, there is no best time to visit. Each season carries a distinct charm. Visitors who come here during the fall talk about how colorful the city is. Winter is perfect for those who love winter sports, while spring and summer are great for outdoor activities like fishing, camping, and hiking.

2. How can I Get to Newport, VT?

If you are coming from outside Vermont, the closest airport to Newport is Burlington International Airport. From there, you can go on a 2-hr drive to Newport via a car or shuttle.

3. Is there any place to stay in Newport?

Yes, Newport offers a variety of accommodations to suit different budgets, from bed and breakfasts and motels to upscale resorts. Some popular choices include Newport City Inn & Suites and The Derby Four Seasons.

4. Are there any local events in Newport?

Yes. Newport hosts various events throughout the year. If you are visiting in winter, the Winter Festival at Gardner Park is a must-see.

5. What kind of outdoor activities can I do in Newport?

Newport offers a plethora of outdoor activities. You can go fishing at Lake Memphremagog, hiking at the Eagle Point Wildlife Management Area, camping at Prouty Beach Campground, or simply take a scenic drive along the Northeast Kingdom Byway.

6. Is Newport a family-friendly destination?

Absolutely! Whether it's sledding at the Winter Festival at Gardner Park, exploring the Goodrich Memorial Library, or having a picnic at Gardner Memorial Park, there are plenty of activities that can be enjoyed by the entire family.

7. What dining options are available in Newport?

Newport boasts a vibrant dining scene, with restaurants offering a variety of cuisines. A must-visit is Dusit Thai Cuisine, which offers a fusion of Thai and Japanese delicacies. Also, don't forget to stop by the Northeast Kingdom Tasting Center to sample local delicacies.

8. How far is Newport, Vermont, from Burlington?

Newport is located approximately 90 miles northeast of Burlington, Vermont, and the drive takes about 2 hours via VT-100 N and I-89 N.

9. What is Newport, Vermont, known for?

Newport is known for its stunning location on Lake Memphremagog, offering beautiful lakeside views, outdoor activities, and easy access to the Canadian border. It's a popular destination for kayaking, hiking, and exploring the peaceful beauty of the Northeast Kingdom.

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