Ride into the Kingdom: Twists, Turns & the Quirky Side of the Green Mountain State

There’s something truly special about riding the Kingdom Roads of Vermont — those rolling, twisty backroads that snake through misty valleys and sleepy farm towns. Early mornings greeted me with golden sun rays cutting through the fog, lighting up the fields like a painting in motion. It’s that kind of peace only riders understand — the hum of the motor, the smell of fresh-cut hay, and the quiet reminder that life’s best moments aren’t found on highways, but on the long way around.

Vermont has a way of mixing natural beauty with pure weirdness — and I mean that in the best way possible. Along the ride, I stumbled into some real gems:

The Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard, where retired ice cream flavors rest in peace under witty epitaphs. (Yes, I paid my respects to “Wavy Gravy.”)

The world’s tallest filing cabinet in Burlington — a towering tribute to bureaucratic absurdity, stacked high with stickers from travelers like me.

And perhaps my favorite — the world’s largest stone zipper, perfectly unzipped across a garden path beside an old brick mill. It’s both art and humor carved in granite — only in Vermont would you find something that perfectly stitches together creativity and craftsmanship.

Not everything was quirky though — there were powerful, humbling stops too. Night rides brought me to veteran memorials lit only by my headlight, paying respect to those who gave everything.

And because it’s Vermont, there’s always a side of history with a wink — like the Mammoth Cheese monument in Cheshire, celebrating a 1,235-pound wheel of cheese gifted to President Thomas Jefferson back in 1802. Leave it to New England to mix dairy, dedication, and a dash of pride all in one giant slice of Americana.

Traveling on the Mohawk Trail in MA a gorgeous twisty scenic backroad through the town of Florida, MA, I found a “Time Expired” tribute like the cemetery parking meter memorial that reads, “If there’s ever a time I cannot be with you, keep me in your heart and mind and I will always be there.” Quiet, touching, and unforgettable.

Ride far, laugh often, and always take the long road.