Free & Cheap Things to Do in Shelburne

Arts & Culture

One of the country's great art and Americana collections, displayed across 39 historic buildings on 45 acres — quilts and folk art, Impressionist paintings, a steamboat, a lighthouse, and a covered bridge. A full-day splurge, but children's tickets stay low.

Address: 6000 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Tip: Admission is good for two consecutive days, softening the adult price. Homeschool groups visit for $5/student. Watch for the free Community Day each spring. Plan most of a day to see it.

Parks & Nature

A 1,400-acre lakeside estate and working farm designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, now a nonprofit for education and sustainability. Walk miles of trails past grand barns, gardens, and Lake Champlain views, and sample the farm's famous cheddar — the grounds are free.

Address: 1611 Harbor Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Tip: Trails and the Farm Store are free, mid-May to mid-October; property tours and the Inn are extra. The walk to the lakeshore and the Farm Barn is a highlight. Leashed dogs welcome on some trails.

History & Museums

America's best-known teddy bear maker runs daily factory tours where you watch bears being cut, stuffed, and stitched, with plenty of hands-on fun for kids. Tours are a few dollars and free for children — a reliably cheerful, low-cost stop.

Address: 6655 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Tip: Kids 12 and under tour free. The tour is short, funny, and family-friendly. You can build a bear (extra) or just browse the shop. Right on Route 7 near the museum.

Parks & Nature

Vermont's oldest state park, just south of Shelburne in Charlotte, where a short, steep road and trail climb to a 968-foot summit with one of the most famous views in the state — the patchwork Champlain Valley, the lake, and the Adirondacks beyond.

Address: 5425 Mount Philo Road, Charlotte, VT 05445

Tip: Hike the trail to skip the vehicle day-use fee, or drive up (small fee). The summit overlook is stroller-accessible from the upper lot. Spectacular in fall foliage — go early to beat crowds.

Parks & Waterfront

A free town park on Lake Champlain with a shoreline trail to Allen Hill, a boat launch, and wide bay views. An easy, uncrowded place to walk, paddle, or watch the sunset over the Adirondacks.

Address: Bay Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Tip: Free parking and lake access; the Allen Hill trail is an easy walk with water views. Bring a kayak or just a picnic. Connects toward the LaPlatte River natural area nearby.

Parks & Nature

A 211-acre Nature Conservancy preserve where the LaPlatte River meets Shelburne Bay, laced with flat, free trails through floodplain forest and marsh that's superb for birding and a quiet riverside walk.

Address: Bay Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Tip: Flat and easy, with boardwalk stretches over the marsh — great for kids and birders. Combine with adjacent Shelburne Bay Park. Open dawn to dusk; stay on the trails to protect the wetland.

Markets & Food

A solar-powered Vermont winery whose airy tasting room and vineyard are free to visit. Stroll the vines, watch winemaking through interior windows, and (for a small fee) sample cold-climate Vermont wines just off Route 7.

Address: 6308 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, VT 05482

Tip: Walking the vineyard and visiting the tasting room are free; flights are a modest paid add-on. A pleasant, low-key stop between the museum and the Teddy Bear factory. Family- and dog-friendly grounds.

Shopping & Strolling

Shelburne's compact village center mixes a historic green, the 1840s-rooted Pierson Library, and a handful of shops and eateries — a free, walkable break between the town's bigger attractions.

Address: Falls Road / Route 7, Shelburne, VT 05482

Tip: Free to stroll, with the library and green at its center. A quick, pleasant stop to stretch your legs. Easy to combine with any of Shelburne's nearby attractions.