B E N   &   J E R R Y ' S
I C E   C R E A M   F A C T O R Y

Waterbury, Vermont

Monday, October 4, 2004

Sight: #17

Address: 1401 Waterbury Stowe Rd, Waterbury, VT 05671

Hours: Open seven days a week, year round, closed on New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, seasonal hours, call ahead.

Admission: $3.00 per adult, $2.00 per senior, free for kids 12 years or younger.

Phone: 1-866-BJ-TOURS

Link: Official Website

Rating:

(5 max)

Everyone loves ice cream, right? And anyone who says otherwise is either lying or is simply out of their mind. I love ice cream but within reason, I have my limits. Case in point. Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream is something I don't usually buy, it's too expensive. I usually buy one of the cheaper brands. You know, the kind that comes in a 1/2 gallon container and sometimes costs -less- than a Ben & Jerry's pint. Usually it's the store brand. It doesn't taste as good but it doesn't suck either so I buy it. Quantity over quality is my motto when it comes to ice cream.

I may not buy Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream but I do know they operate out of Vermont. And seeing I'm in Vermont I crack open my Let's Go Travel Guide to get the low-down on Ben & Jerry's - the what's, the where's, and the whatever's. The book indicates they have a factory tour and the promise of free samples. Free samples of high-priced ice cream? How enticing is that? Very!

The factory is located in Waterbury, VT, not terribly far from Burlington, VT. After a short drive from Burlington I arrive in great spirits, filled to the brim with anticipation of receiving my free ice cream booty. After driving past the factory I'm promptly flagged into my parking spot. For a Monday the parking lot is packed, with everything from large RVs to cars and everything else in between. Apparently the tour is pretty popular. What is driving this? It's the free ice cream samples of course!