When you only have one day to squeeze in a New England road trip, you’ve got two choices: play it safe, or pack it full of bagels, bridges, and Ben & Jerry’s. You can probably guess which way we went. We picked Miles up at 6 AM and hit the road.
We kicked things off at Big Dave’s Bagels & Deli in North Conway, one of my all-time favorite Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives finds. I went for a classic sausage, egg, and cheese bagel – because some things you just don’t mess with. Layla and Miles grabbed bagels too, and let me tell you, these things don’t need much dressing up. Fresh, chewy, and made right, Dave’s could win awards in my book.
Of course, no road trip is complete without something to sip on, so our next stop was Aroma Joe’s. Sure, people say “New England runs on Dunkin’,” but we prefer to fuel up with Aroma’s. We’re big fans of their Rushes (energy drink meets magic). My current favorite? Watermelon peach. It tastes like summer decided to tag along for the ride.
With snacks secured, we set out along the Kancamagus Highway (“the Kanc” if you want to sound local). This 34.5-mile stretch cuts through the White Mountain National Forest, and in the fall it’s one of the most beautiful drives in the country.
The leaves were just starting to change, and honestly, I think that’s the sweet spot. A little green, a little gold, a little red – it’s like Mother Nature can’t decide on an outfit yet, so she’s trying them all on at once.
We pulled off at Rocky Gorge, where the Swift River has been carving its way through granite since the glaciers left town. Thousands of years ago, rushing glacial meltwater tore through the bedrock, creating the narrow chasm we see today. In the 1940s, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the sturdy footbridge that spans the gorge, making it easier for visitors to take in the view.
But Rocky Gorge also carries a cautionary tale. After a tragic drowning in 1942, swimming was permanently banned. The water here may look inviting, but the swirling currents are deceptively strong. These days, it’s best enjoyed from the safety of the trail, where you can soak in the sound of the rushing river and snap a few pictures of the falls.
Crossing into Vermont, our first big stop was the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Stowe. The brand started in Burlington back in 1978, when childhood friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened their first scoop shop inside a converted gas station. They became known not just for their funky flavors, but also for their quirky sense of humor and social activism.
Today, the Stowe factory is the only Ben & Jerry’s plant open to the public, and it’s one of Vermont’s top tourist attractions. Out front, the Flavor Graveyard memorializes retired flavors with clever epitaphs. I paid my respects to Chocolate Peppermint Crunch – gone but never forgotten.
On the tour, we watched workers making Cookies and Milk ice cream, the smell of cookie dough filling the air. At the end, we sampled UltraViolet, a bright purple scoop made with ube. The color was stunning—even if the flavor didn’t taste as earthy as I expected. Still, when your ice cream looks like it belongs in a Lisa Frank folder, you know it’s special.
After ice cream, we needed something crisp and classic. Enter Cold Hollow Cider Mill, which has been pressing cider in Waterbury since the 1970s. The building itself has that quintessential Vermont vibe – rustic wood beams, big red barn siding, and the smell of apples in the air.
Their cider is made the old-fashioned way: whole apples ground into mash and pressed on antique racks. The result? A drink that tastes exactly like biting into a fresh Macintosh apple. Miles and I both went for cider slushies, which were tart, sweet, and so refreshing we could’ve downed two. (And yes, I’m still thinking about them.)
From cozy cider to creepy chills, we stopped at Gold Brook Covered Bridge, a.k.a. Emily’s Bridge. Built in 1844, it’s one of Vermont’s few remaining 19th-century covered bridges. These “covered” designs weren’t just pretty – they protected the wooden trusses from snow and rain, extending the life of the structure.
But Gold Brook is famous for more than its architecture. Legend says a girl named Emily died here after a heartbreak – some say she was jilted by her fiancé, others say it was a tragic accident. Either way, ghost stories have surrounded the bridge for generations. Locals report claw marks on cars, strange lights, and whispers in the night. Even in daylight, the creaking boards and hushed woods gave us goosebumps.
By then, we were starving, so we hit Piecasso, a funky, artsy pizzeria with colorful murals and a laid-back vibe. Fun fact: the original Piecasso opened in 2000, but its roots go back to the founder’s Italian family recipes, and it’s been a local favorite ever since.
I ordered the Greek salad with shrimp, which was so good I forgot I was eating something “healthy.” Layla stuck with wings and fries (a no-brainer), and Miles crushed a cheese and pesto pizza. The garlic knots looked amazing, but since they weren’t gluten-free, I had to sit those out. (Note to self: ask if they can make them with the GF dough next time.)
No Vermont road trip is complete without a cheese stop, so we headed to the Cabot Cheese Annex Store. Cabot started as a small dairy co-op in 1919, when 94 Vermont farmers joined forces to survive tough times. Today, Cabot is owned by over 800 farm families across New England, and their sharp cheddar is award-winning.
At the store, we sampled everything from classic cheddar to specialty blends. My surprise favorite was pairing cheese with jam – a sweet and savory combo I never expected to love. Layla found her match in the hot sauce section (because of course she did), and we left with bags heavier than when we came in.
Right outside, Lake Champlain Chocolates lured us in with free samples. Spoiler alert: it worked. We grabbed a few bars for later, because let’s be real – chocolate makes everything better.
Just when we thought the adventure was wrapping up, we saw a sign for Strafford, Vermont – the hometown of singer Noah Kahan. Layla lit up like a kid on Christmas morning, so we detoured to Coburn’s General Store.
The shelves were stocked with classic New England staples, though the much-anticipated Noah Kahan merch was mostly sold out (apparently it’s hotter than a summer ticket drop). Still, stepping into the same store that shaped some of his songwriting felt like a little behind-the-scenes peek into his world.
With bags full of cider, cheese, and chocolate, and playlists blasting, we hit the road for the final stretch home. Yes, it was a long day of driving. Yes, we probably packed in more stops than most people would. But honestly? That’s how we roll.
The best part wasn’t any single bridge, bagel, or ice cream cone – it was the chance to squeeze in one more adventure with Miles before we head out again in less than a month. Long miles, good food, ghost stories, and side quests… that’s New England in a nutshell.
(Or should I say… in a bagel hole?)
✨ Travel Tip: Start early, dress in layers, and leave extra space in your schedule. The Kancamagus and Vermont backroads are made for detours, and you never know when cider slushies, cheese samples, or a haunted bridge will call your name.
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