Wildsam – Vermont

A field guide to Vermont: water holes and poets, land stewards, brewers, dairy farmers, creemee stands and musical traditions.

Inside Wildsam Vermont, you’ll uncover the deep story of the Green Mountain State—its geology, waterways, small towns, and the cultural heritage that defines it. Explore maple syrup vernacular, cold-weather customs, and the everyday rhythm of general stores. Follow road trips through national forests, swimming spots, and the islands of Lake Champlain. Learn from Abenaki history, literary voices, and collectors of folk music who keep tradition alive.

The guide includes interviews with arborists, community organizers, cow milkers, podcasters, insect experts and canoe builders, along with archival notes, curated recommendations, and trusted travel essentials that highlight the heart and craft of Vermont.

“The place we now call Vermont is a landscape, glorying in the colors of every season. But more specifically, it’s people in a landscape: a communion of distinct Green Mountains types who groom the ski trails, breathe life into picture-perfect towns, write the books and warm up the sugarhouses. This knockout beauty is also a place of earnest effort and playful invention. Rural-economy revitalization and Indigenous-language revival projects entwine with the creation of new beer styles and cheesemakers working off the grid. So few in number, Vermonters seem determined to make it up in gumption.”

Highlights

• The story of Vermont’s landscape, waterways and geology

• Road trips through national forests, swim spots and lakes

• Profiles of small towns, beer hubs, and rural creatives

• Deep dives into Abenaki heritage and local traditions

• Interviews with Vermonters shaping the state today

• Archival finds, curated recommendations and travel essentials

Perfect For

• Travelers exploring the Green Mountains

• Fans of New England history and literature

• Road-trippers seeking authentic Vermont experiences

• Collectors of Wildsam’s regional guides