One of the best things about living in Vermont is the epic road tripping potential. I love hopping in the car without a destination in mind. Pick a route you’ve never travelled before. Venture toward a part of the state you haven’t spent much time in. Ensure you stop along the way at whatever piques your interest. Recently, I had a book signing for my book Classic Diners of Vermont in Wilmington, Vermont. Although I’ve driven through the quaint little ski town between Bennington and Brattleboro, I had never stopped before. So, on the drive down to Wilmington, we decided to take back roads and explore along the way. Loving beer, we made our way to a tiny craft beer store outside of Londonderry, Vermont. When we arrived, I was so excited to experience a new Vermont village I had never heard of… not even once! Read on to learn about the Vermont village you’ve never heard of but should know about!

Rawsonville, Vermont

Years ago, I heard about the 251 Club, which is a challenge to Vermont enthusiasts to actually visit (not just drive through) the 251 towns and cities in Vermont. Now, I consider myself well-versed in Vermont. But, I am still actively visiting many of our 251 towns, cities and villages. Enter Rawsonville, Vermont. Located in Windham County, and more specifically in Jamaica, Vermont, Rawsonville is a tiny village. But, it had a big impact on me. The village sits at the junction of Route 30 and Route 100, about five miles from Londonderry. It’s named after its founder Baily Rawson, for whom a monument near the junction of two roads that form Rawsonville. The village is home to a few special Vermont businesses that are worthy of a destination.

What’s in Rawsonville, Vermont?

Rawsonville is definitely worth a stop when traveling in Southern Vermont near Stratton and Mount Snow. One building contains an eatery, a florist, a coffee shop and a craft beer shop all in a row, with another roadside eatery across the street. Here are a few of the stops you should make in the quaint Vermont village:

Meuleman’s Craft Draughts is arguably one of the best craft beer destinations in the state. The shop, owned by a husband and wife pair Greg and Pat Meulemans, carries a wide selection of Vermont beer, but also harder-to-find beer from top breweries in the country. Additionally, they fill growlers, can source kegs, and sell a bit of wine, cider, and mead as well. One of the biggest draws for craft beer enthusiasts is they carry Backacre, a sought-after and hard-to-find Vermont craft beer. Even better, they have vintage and current versions of Backacre.

I had heard about Honeypie years ago when they opened and was eager to try the burgers, sausages, and milkshakes at the converted old roadside gas station. Honeypie fell off my radar over the years, so I was so excited to literally stumble upon it at lunch time. It’s the perfect stop for a quick bite of really good food – either before or after skiing in nearby Stratton. I had also forgotten its sister restaurant is SoLo Farm & Table just down the road in Londonderry.

More Places to Visit in Rawsonville, Vermont

When we left Meuleman’s, I was overtaken by the best coffee smell coming from Ungrounded Coffee Roasters, located right next door to the craft beer shop. Ungrounded roasts their own coffee and features a coffee bar. Choose from all of your favorite Lattes, Americanos, and Espressos, or splurge with an Iced Maple Latte or Mocha. You can also order their beans online here.

Fran’s Kitchen and Diner is another stop in Rawsonville with only a few tables and counter seating. The Asian- and Italian-inspired eatery offers homestyle breakfast and lunch. From authentic Asian Dumplings to Pad Thai to Lasagna and Pizza, Fran makes all of the home-cooked meals herself. Stop here if you’re in the mood for a mom-and-pop eatery that locals frequent.

Rawsonsville Marketplace is so much more than a gas-station. The family-owned deli and market offers fresh muffins made on site, donuts baked by Mrs. Murphy’s of Manchester at 7am daily, and a their own custom selection of coffee blends from Mocha Joe’s Roasting Company.

What Vermont towns or villages are relatively unknown but should be put on the map? Comment below to share the love!