WATERBURY, Vermont — Chuck's Big Adventure is traveling to New England. It is an area known for its beauty, history, lobsters and, in autumn, it's explosion of color.
Ben & Jerry's
Vermont has it all this time of year. Misty mountain ranges, lush beautiful valleys and the smell of maple syrup being made on a cold morning all make up the autumn allure of this state.
The most popular Vermont destination, however, was my most anticipated visit on our trip. I'm talking about the flavor-bursting, sugary, cream-filled experience of the Ben & Jerry's Factory Experience in Waterbury, Vermont.
The company's story goes back to 1978 when two friends launched an ice cream store in a Burlington, Vermont, renovated gas station, and the rest is history. In every state of the union and around the world, Ben and Jerry's is a premium ice cream known for its rich consistency and the unforgettable names given to its flavors.
Ever hear of Cherry Garcia, Phish food or Chunky Monkey? You probably have, and those crazy names are part of the legacy of the company. While waiting to go into the facility for the tour, guests can tour the flavor graveyard, where the memories of flavors that didn't make it — like Festivus, Vermonty Python and Wavy Gravy — are honored for their brief shelf life as experiments that didn't please the palate.
This tour is fun and tasty, too. Our Chuck's Big Adventure team stood along with many others in a steady Vermont rain to get in, but guests can take a side trip to buy some B&J ice cream until their group tour number is called.
Inside the tour is a wonderful, behind-the-scenes example of how ice cream can be made quickly but still with a premium taste. After watching a short movie highlighting the company's history, we were taken to visit the production room floor — much smaller than you would imagine — and an explanation of the air-to-cream ratio needed in making ice cream and seeing the pints of ice cream fly off the assembly line.
Despite being purchased by food giant Unilever in 2000, the company maintains an independent feel, and it was heartwarming to wave to employees on the floor who have worked there for more than 25 years, simply because it's a cool and tasty place to work.
Watching the ice cream being made was fascinating, but taking a bite or two — or three — after the pint came off the line was awesome! There is no hard ice cream here. The product coming off the line had not been flash frozen yet, so it was soft, creamy and delicious. Our big adventure here was seeing if I could stop myself before I ate the whole pint.
For tourists, the visit ends in the Flavor Room with a tasting of one of the flavors, as well as a couple of cow jokes. You are then funneled into the gift shop for an opportunity to buy one of the famous tie-dyed Ben and Jerry T-shirts.