Attention all dog lovers! You’re going to want to add Golden Dog Farm in Vermont to your travel bucket list.
Golden Dog Farm has created a “Golden Retriever Experience” where visitors can buy tickets to play with a “happy” of Golden Retrievers on their fam. A “happy” is the term used for a group of Golden Retrievers. Read on for the ultimate experience for dog lovers, and here is an Instagram Reel covering my time at the farm.
What is Golden Dog Farm
Golden Dog Farm is located in Jeffersonville, Vermont which is about a 30 minute drive north of Stowe. The farm set on 270-acres in Vermont’s Green Mountains. It’s a beautiful farm set in a picture perfect location.
While Golden Dog Farm has grown famous for the Golden Retriever Experience, the farm is actually focused on producing organic maple syrup and raw honey. In fact, Golden Dog Farm was recently ranked as the number one maple syrup producer in the world. The farm started offering The Golden Retriever experience in September 2023.
Visiting Golden Dog Farm – Travel Logistics
Golden Dog Farm is located in a remote area of Vermont’s Green Mountains. You need a car to visit. It’s a great stop on a north east road trip. The farm is about 325 miles from New York City and I visited as part of a larger New England road trip driving around Vermont and New Hampshire. Here’s my itinerary for a 7 day fall road trip in New England.
If you’re too far to drive to Vermont, you’ll likely fly into the state’s largest airport in Burlington. The farm is located less than one hour from Burlington.
Golden Dog Farm is open all year and you can buy tickets to their dog experience in any month. I recommend going in the fall due to the gorgeous mountain setting. The foliage in Vermont in October is pretty incredible and it’s a beautiful backdrop to play with the Golden Retrievers. If you do visit in fall, please note this is high season in Vermont and tickets to the experience are likely to sell out in advance. The traffic is also higher this time of year.
If you’re looking to spend the night somewhere nearby, I recommend looking in Stowe or Burlington. If you’re willing to drive a little further, one of my favorite hotels in Vermont is The Woodstock Inn and Resort which is located a little under two hours away from the farm.
What is The Golden Retriever Experience
The Golden Retriever Experience was the first ticketed dog event the farm offered. With this experience, guests purchase a ticket to visit the farm on a select date and time to have a playdate with at least 10 Golden Retrievers. Guests can play ball with the dogs, cuddle, take photos and also enjoy the farm’s maple syrup and local apple cider. It’s a group experience that lasts around 90 minutes and costs $79.50. When I did the experience in 2023 there was a photo shoot included in the experience as well.
Since starting the experience in 2023, Golden Dog Farm now offers multiple dog experiences. Wines and Wags is offered in the evening on select Fridays and Saturdays. For $162 a ticket, guests learn about grape growing in Vermont and explore Golden Dog Farm’s vineyard with Vermont’s only master sommelier. Guests then have the traditional Golden Retriever Experience. After the doggy play date there’s an educational tasting of wines from Vermont and beyond.
Tips for The Golden Retriever Experience at Golden Dog Farm
- Purchase your ticket early. The Golden Retriever Experience has gotten a lot of media attention and is very popular. Dates sell out months in advance. If the day you want to attend is sold out, you can can sign up to get on the farm’s email list to be alerted when new time slots get released.
- Plan for traffic if you’re visiting in the prime fall season. If you’re coming from Stowe, that drive to the farm is a narrow, winding road through Smugglers’ Notch State Park. It’s a beautiful drive but can have a lot of traffic during busy season. You’re also likely to hit traffic in and around Stowe if you’re traveling in October.
- Wear casual clothes and water resistant shoes. This experience is in a country setting in the mountains, it’s likely you’ll encounter mud.
- Remember that this is a real working farm and a private residence. Be respectful and arrive at the time listed on your ticket.
- Guests can’t bring their own dogs to The Golden Retriever Experience but they are allowed on general farm tours.
Other Activities in the Area
While The Golden Retriever Experience is a great reason to visit Vermont, there’s so much to see and do in the state. Two of my favorite destinations in Vermont are a short drive from the farm.
Visit Stowe
The charming ski town of Stowe is located 17 miles away from Golden Dog Farm. Walk around the quaint downtown and check out the shops. I recommend a visit to Shaw’s General Store, which has been in operation since 1895! Take a photo of the Stowe Community Church, which has a white steeple that raises over 170 feet and sticks out among the colorful leaves in autumn.
As mentioned, I recommend visiting during the fall season to see the foliage. The peak fall colors occur at different times each year, but it’s usually a safe bet that you’ll see great color in the first half of October. Drive through Smugglers’ Notch State Park to see the colorful leaves and catch a glimpse of the foliage from above on Stowe’s scenic gondola.
Beer lovers will appreciate a stop at The Alchemist, a family run craft brewery known for its unfiltered IPAs. For a classic Vermont apple cider and cider donuts, a stop at Cold Hollow Cider Mill is a must. Ice cream enthusiasts can take a factory tour and try their favorite flavor at Ben & Jerry’s. Don’t forget to take a look at their fun and kitschy flavor graveyard!
Visit Woodstock
Woodstock is 90 miles south of Golden Dog Farm. It’s an incredibly charming small town and well worth a visit. If I haven’t sold you already on visiting Vermont in fall for the foliage, in October the Halloween decorations in Woodstock are incredible. Pumpkin fences line the street, colorful mums take over gardens and almost every storefront gets in the autumn spirit.
Downtown Woodstock is a postcard perfect New England enclave with a covered bridge, The Middle Covered Bridge. Across from the covered bridge is The Woodstock Inn and Resort. This historic luxury hotel has an iconic front lawn that looks out over the downtown. Stop by for a look at the lobby and warm up by the massive fireplace. Grab a drink at their bar and enjoy in an Adirondack chair on the front lawn.
Shop around downtown and stop into Vermont Flannel Company, Yankee Bookshop and F.H. Gillingham & Sons General Store. My favorite store in Woodstock, Farmhouse Pottery, is located right outside of the downtown.
Indulge in a handcrafted cocktail at the incredibly chic Au Comptoir, grab a coffee and sandwich at Mon Vert and try a maple creemee (soft serve ice cream) at Woodstock Scoops. If you’re looking for a more hearty meal, I love Worthy Kitchen for farm-to-table salads, sandwiches and craft beer.
Here is a link to my comprehensive travel guide to Woodstock, Vermont.
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