Family Activities:

Vermont Teddy Bear Company

Attraction

Vermont Teddy Bear Company

6555 Shelburne Road, Shelburne, 05482, VT

It’s spawned many imitators over the past 30 years, but it’s hard to beat the original make-your-own teddy bear factory, founded in Vermont in 1981. Since then, the company has churned out a bewildering variety of bears in all sorts of different colors and themes, all with the trademark black button eyes and triangle nose. Popular tours show how they are made, from the cutting, sewing, and stuffing of the patterns, to the Bear Hospital, where much-loved bears are repaired. Kids can create their own custom-made buddy by picking from a number of fabrics and designs. Tours can get crowded, especially during the summer weekends, and if you have any children in your party, don’t expect to leave without a bear, which starts at $20 and goes up to $100 or more for the largest varieties.

Thirty-minute tours are $4 for adults, and children 12 and under are free to get in. Hours vary seasonally.