Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s was one of the first to establish the tour and taste theme of the area and they remain one of the biggest destinations in Waterbury, if not all of Vermont. (Who doesn’t like ice cream?) Enjoy a half-hour factory tour from late May through December, find out how the yummy goods are made and how this progressive company continually strives to bring about change. Indulge in ice cream and gifts year-round and top off your visit to the Flavor Graveyard where you can weep over the de-pinted flavors that have been retired–it’s a hoot!

In 1978, two guys took a $5 correspondence course in ice cream making and opened a scoop shop in Burlington, Vt. Their now-iconic brand — Ben & Jerry’s — put Vermont ice cream on the map, and it’s now synonymous with the state for many people. No first-time visit to Vermont is complete without a visit to the company’s only factory that’s open to the public, where the tour includes a 30-minute movie, ice cream samples, photo ops, a full-service scoop shop and a visit to the Flavor Graveyard, where discontinued ice cream flavors melt away.

At the Ben & Jerry’s campus a mile and a half down Route 100, a 30-minute factory tour ends with an ice cream sample that might be an unreleased flavor thought up by the resident "Flavor Guru"—past tour-only flavors have included "ChocoBanana" and "Peace, Love, & Lemons." The Scoop Shop features about 40 more flavors, from old favorites to more unfamiliar ones such as Bourbon Brown Butter. Some, like Maple Walnut, are only scooped at the factory. In the Flavor Graveyard (pictured), tombstones are erected for dearly departed flavors.

In 1978 Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield took over an abandoned gas station in Burlington and, with a modicum of training, launched the outlandish flavors that forever changed the way ice cream would be made. While a tour of this factory is no over-the-top Willy Wonka experience, there is a campy video that follows the company's long, strange trip to corporate giant – albeit a very nice giant with an inspiring presence of community building and environmental leadership.

Book your tickets online to take a tour, ice cream sample included, or just stop by the scoop shop and flavor graveyard to visit favorite flavors current and past. Keep heading north about 1.5 miles to the Cabot Creamery Store, where you can sample several of their cheeses and accompanying products. Head across the parking lot to Champlain Chocolates and indulge your sweet tooth before heading north on VT-100 for one more mile to Cold Hollow Cider Mill.

Starting in town with the Green Mountain Coffee Café and Visitors Center, proceed up Route 100 on the Green Mountain Byway for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, Cabot Farmers Store, Lake Champlain Chocolates, the Woodstock Farmers Market, Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea, and Cold Hollow Cider Mill. All convenient destinations, where you can learn, sample and enjoy these Vermont made products to your heart’s and belly’s content.

From a journey that began in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont, back in 1978, to a full-out factory cranking out millions of pints of oddly and humorously named frozen treats, the story of Ben and Jerry is one not to be missed. Aside from creating pint-sized masterpieces, the duo’s commitment to “doing the right thing” has been a mainstay in their business model.

Even though I’m lactose intolerant, I’m a fan of all of Ben & Jerry’s dairy-free flavors (and we picked up a pint at the Church Street Ben & Jerry’s store in Burlington, VT). We stopped by Ben & Jerry’s “headquarters” in Waterbury and got ice cream at the counter. We sat outside and enjoyed the summer weather!

No visit to Waterbury is complete without a trip to the famous Ben & Jerry’s Factory. Take a guided tour to see how these delicious ice creams are made, from the initial mixing of ingredients to the final packaging. You’ll even have the chance to enjoy a free sample at the end.

No trip to Waterbury is complete without a stop at the Ben & Jerry’s Factory!. Take a Factory Tour (check the schedules and buy tickets first), stop by the Scoop Shop, go play on the playground, and find your favorite “dearly depinted” flavors in the famous Flavor Graveyard.

Ben & Jerry’s Factory Tour: Waterbury is home to the famous Ben & Jerry’s ice cream company. Visitors can take a tour of the factory, learn about the ice cream production process, and, of course, indulge in a variety of delicious ice cream flavors.

Any visit to Waterbury is simply not complete without a stop at Ben & Jerry’s. Take a tour of the ice cream factory, which includes samples. Or make it a quick visit and just grab a scoop from the exclusive flavors at the scoop shop.

1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd Route 100Waterbury Village Historic District, VT 05676(802) 337-1214. Built in 1985, Ben & Jerry’s Factory is a famous Vermont-based ice cream parlor brand noted for its unique, brilliantly named flavors.

Established in 1985, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream is a well-known brand in Vermont. The company’s ice cream is known for its unique and well-named flavors.