48 Hours in St. Johnsbury

Weekend Itinerary

Home to 7,300 residents, St. Johnsbury is the largest town in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Here you'll discover quaint, off-the-beaten-path gems, while also enjoying the regional hub of shopping, dining, innovation, and creativity. St. Johnsbury is the perfect home base when you’re visiting Vermont's Northeast Kingdom for mountain biking at Kingdom Trails, less than 30 minutes outside of town. But, St. J (as the locals call it) is full of its own charms.

Check out the itinerary below for a weekend's worth of ideas to delight you right here in town, and make sure to check out our Calendar for events, performances, and fun activities taking place during your stay.

Friday​​

A Sense of Place

There’s only one St. Johnsbury (that’s true – there are no other locales with the same name in the world), and at the St. Johnsbury History & Heritage Center, you'll start off your visit by learning about the rich history that has made St. Johnsbury such a one-of-a-kind town. This includes information about the ingenuity and legacy of the Fairbanks family, who founded many of the cultural institutions you'll be visiting during the rest of your stay.

Gone to the Dogs

there's no place in the world like Dog Mountain, a bucolic 150 acre dog park and international cultural destination. Leashes are optional, and the site includes hiking trails, gorgeous views of the surrounding hills, and dog-friendly ponds. Visit the one-and-only Dog Chapel, where the walls are covered with notes visitors have written to dearly departed pets. Developed by late artist Stephen Huneck, it is also the site of the Huneck Gallery, where you can find gifts and artwork all dedicated to man’s best friend.

Grab a Craft Beer

Vermont is internationally known for its craft beer scene, and St. Johnsbury has its own local brewery to sample. After your run with the dogs, take a seat outside in downtown St. Johnsbury at Whirligig Brewing and try what the owner has brewed. The beers are made in small batches, and the malts, grain, hops, and flavorings often come from local Vermont sources for a true local beer terroir.

Dinner Next Door

Follow your local beer with local food, right next door at Kingdom Table & Taproom. The pub downstairs offers one of the best tap and bottle lists around, and their upstairs sister restaurant offers an eclectic new American menu. At both locations, the craft cocktails are well-poured, and the beers on tap always include selections from nearby award-winning Hill Farmstead Brewery. On a warm summer evening, sit outside and plan your shopping tomorrow on Railroad Street.​

Saturday​​

Start at Cafe

St. Johnsbury was named “best small town for outdoor adventure” by National Geographic Adventure, and you’ll want to fuel up for the morning’s activities. Kick off the perfect weekend at one of our local cafes. Locally Social Cafe, Cosmic Cup Café, and Boule Bakery all serve a variety of great espresso drinks, pastries, and other breakfast items. 

OPTION 1: Bike, Hike, or Ride Your Horse

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail starts in St. Johnsbury and extends 93 miles across the state to Vermont's western border. Hike, bike, or even ride your horse along the mixed-use recreational trail built on a defunct railroad bed. All types of excursions await, whether you're interested in a short stroll, or an ambitious multi-day bike-packing adventure.

For those interested in pedal power, St. J has a lot to offer. In addition to the LVRT, our Recreation listings offer in-town gravel and mountain bike routes, locally-based bike guides if you'd like someone to show you around, and bike and e-bike rental & repair services.

OPTION 2: Explore our Creative Landscape

St. Johnsbury is home to a wealth of creativity. Fine art galleries at Catamount Film & Arts and the Backroom Gallery at the Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild host rotating shows featuring both local and internationally-recognized fine and contemporary artists.

The downtown itself is also a gallery, with storefronts, shops & cafés on Eastern Avenue and Railroad Street hosting seasonal displays by local artists for the community arts program St. J Art on the Street. Or, get started on the Downtown Scavenger Hunt by finding some of the sculptures and murals that beautify St. Johnsbury's downtown.

St. Johnsbury Farmers Market

Every Saturday morning from May through October, the St. Johnsbury Farmer’s Market sets up downtown from 9am - 1pm. It’s a local party each week, with live music, organic produce from area farms, crafts, and prepared foods. Try Genuine Jamaican for an authentic jerk kick, or Maria's Kusina for Filipino cuisine for a snack, or lunch to-go.

Riverside Dining

If you haven't had your fill at the Farmer's Market, try a scenic spot for lunch. Several rivers run through St. Johnsbury, and one of the best places in town to relax beside the water is the patio at 98 Mill, a restaurant with a menu featuring Italian comfort food. 

Shop Downtown!

Ready to scratch that shopping itch? Stroll along Railroad Street and up Eastern Avenue for souvenirs of your visit. Moose River Lake & Lodge is an emporium of delights—clothing, antique and modern jewelry, household goods, and a vast wine selection that fills an old bank vault at the rear of the store. If you’re looking for a good read, visit Boxcar & Caboose, an independent bookstore with a large children’s section with games, puzzles, and a play space. Don’t miss the sweets in the in-store candy shop. Under the purple awning, the Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild features crafts and art made by Vermont and New Hampshire artisans. Other inspired goods await at the highly curated second-hand store Haven, artistic gift shop Art & Joy, holistic wellness and crystals store Luméire VT, curiosity shop Ysbrydoliaeth, locally-designed apparel shop The Gypsy Coast Co., and dozens more to be found on our Shop directory.

Historic Landmark

End your shopping trip at the top of Eastern Avenue, and visit the St. Johnsbury Athenaeum, which serves as the public library for the town of St. Johnsbury. A National Historic Landmark, the building has gorgeous woodwork throughout, with spiral staircases in the main reading room and a painted ceiling in the lecture hall on the second floor. Settle into a comfy chair to read, or step into the attached art gallery filled with Hudson River School paintings and dominated by the recently restored Domes of the Yosemite by Albert Bierstadt. The gallery has undergone little change since its opening almost 150 years ago.

Craft Cocktails

The St. Johnsbury Distillery creates craft spirits in downtown St. Johnsbury. Stop by the speakeasy-style Tasting Room to have a cocktail and watch the process of making rum from the windows that overlook the distillery. Make sure you check out the restrooms with hundreds of pennies embedded in the floors!

Spice Up Your Meal

Next door to the distillery, enjoy dinner at Salt Bistro, a chef-owned restaurant with a menu that skews Italian. Most nights, Salt Bistro has live music during dinner, and the outside patio seating is delightful.

Movie Night

St. Johnsbury is a small town that boasts two downtown movie theaters. Take your pick of a first-run blockbuster or family-friendly flick at the Star Theater, or go for an indie or foreign film screening at Catamount Arts. Between the two theaters there are five screens, so you’ll have plenty for your viewing pleasure.

Don't forget to check the Calendar page to see if there are special performances or events during your stay.

Sunday

Enjoy a Big Breakfast

There’s nothing like a big diner breakfast to round out the perfect weekend. The Kitchen Counter Cafe and Anthony's Diner have all of the diner classics you know and love, plentiful coffee, and comfortable, friendly service. ​

Stroll Down Main Street

St. Johnsbury is renowned for its nineteenth century architecture, developed when the Fairbanks family was the town’s major employer and benefactor. Walk off your meal by taking the self-guided Main Street Walking Tour of magnificent homes and structures that line the stately avenue. Don’t miss the Tiffany window in the Grace United Methodist Church. We recommend picking up a hard-copy guide at the Welcome Center, but you can also use the linked PDF below.

Walking Tour PDF

Cabinet of Curiosities

End your walking tour at the Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium. The building, on the National Historic Register, was built in 1889. When you step inside, you’ll be amazed by its incredible arched ceiling and collections of unique dioramas. Rotating natural science exhibits, bug art, STEM exploration stations, and a butterfly house make the museum a delight for kids of all ages. The Lyman Spitzer Jr. Planetarium is the only public planetarium in Vermont, and it presents different astronomy shows every hour.

Close Out Your Stay with Free Live Music

If you're in St. Johnsbury in July and August, you'll be treated to an exceptional and one-of-a-kind performance series. The Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series, presented by Catamount Film & Arts, hosts free live music performances at Dog Mountain every Sunday evening starting at 5pm. Dog friendly, kid friendly, and wallet friendly too, you won't want to miss this one. For dinner, there are food vendors on site, or...

Grab & Go

Get ready to wrap up your weekend in St. J with some casual, portable fare. If you're heading out on Route 2, stop by Papa Tirozzi's Bakery & Pizza for a family-friendly meal in-house. Or, pop in to Eastern & Main Deli for dinner to go. Their signature sandwiches are named after local favorites such as the “Athenaeum,” the “Fairbanks,” and the “Catamount Club,” and you’ll be reminded of your visit to St. Johnsbury in every bite!

Discover St. Johnsbury
​​51 Depot Square, Suite 100
St. Johnsbury, VT 05819
802-748-8575