3 Best Places to Shop in Waitsfield and Warren, Central Vermont

This eccentric Victorian house is filled to the rafters with stuffed animals of all shapes, sizes, and colors, as well as folk art, European glass, and Christmas ornaments.

The Mad River Taste Place is a grocery store in the same way that Waterbury's Ben & Jerry's Factory is an ice cream shop: you'll find all the Vermont-made food and drink you could want, but a visit is about more than tasting the end product, and you're guaranteed to learn something while you're there. It's the place for local cheese, with more than 100 options representing every producer in the state, all expertly curated and explained by in-the-know staff. A walk-in beer cooler stocks hard-to-find brews and ciders, and the shelves are piled with perfect edible gifts. Meats from on-site 5th Quarter Butchery & Charcuterie are making their way onto high-profile menus, so be sure to grab some from the source.

This more-than-a-century-old general store has everything you'd hope to find in tiny but sophisticated Vermont: a nice selection of local beer and wine, cheeses, baked goods, strong coffee, and delicious sandwiches and prepared foods. In summer, grab a quick lunch on the small deck by the water; in winter, warm up at the wood stove. Warm, woolly clothing and accessories can be found upstairs.