How to Visit the Vermont Teddy Bear Company

A family vacation in Vermont isn't complete without taking home a few Vermont-made souvenirs. Here's a word to the wise: skip the fattening syrup that doesn't last a month, and get yourself a cuddly teddy bear instead. Vermont Teddy Bears are bears built to last a lifetime. Visit the factory and their gift store to find out more about this great made-in-America success story.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Plan your trip. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company in Shelbourne, Vermont, is easy to find along Route 7. Check their website for specific directions.
2. Allow about an hour and a half to tour and shop at the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. Factory hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the summer season, starting June 1 and ending October 31. Winter hours start November 1 and run through May 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
3. Take the 30 minute tour. Tours cost $2.00 for adults and are free for all children under 12. Summer tours start at 9:30 and end at 5:00. Winter tours start at 10:00 and end at 4:00. Tours are on a first come, first serve basis and group tours can be accommodated. Call in advance with any questions at [phone] ext. 2 or [phone].
4. Grab a bite to eat at the Hungry Bear Café, which serves up breakfast, snacks and lunch. During summer hours, an outdoor ice cream cart is open and is a great place to take a break and share an icy treat with your new teddy bear.
5. Shop in the store and find the best bear for you and outfits for your bear. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company is best known for their Teddy Bear-Grams. You can also ship the perfect bear to anyone for a sweet, cuddly gift. In the Make-A-Friend-For-Life area, children of any age can choose, stuff and bring to life their very own bears.
6. Eat the Lake Champlain chocolates, another Vermont-made product that the sales associate put in your teddy bear carrier box. If you wait too long, your bear (or the summer heat) will get to them first.

Tips & Warnings

• To increase your chances of seeing the factory in production mode, visit during the week before 4:30 and never during the lunch break, which is 12:00-12:30. Please keep in mind, though, there's no guarantee that the factory will be in production.
• If you don't want to see the factory and aren't near Shelbourne, grab a bear at the Vermont Teddy Bear Company store in Waterbury.
• Tours are cheap, but the bears are not. Stop at the ATM before you go because once you see those cute fuzzy faces, resistance is futile.