Especially in the fall. I'm doing a girls' trip with my mother and sisters, and my mom has always wanted to go to Vermont. I don't even know if she really knows what she wants to do or see.
Post by sproctopus on Sept 4, 2019 12:24:24 GMT -5
It's really beautiful. We spend a lot of time in Burlington/Waterbury/Stowe and in Wilmington/Mt. Snow areas (these areas are far apart from one another).
Our general favorite things to do are breweries, hiking, eating. Wilmington is quiet and sleepy, we do a lot more outdoorsy stuff here. Burlington is more beer and food-based for us. It has my favorite antique/thrift shop in the world (Barge Canal-and I generally hate shopping in store like this) and some of the best domestic cider in the US (Citizen), IMO.
ETA: I think VT in the fall is a pretty good place to go without having a 'what do I wanna do/see' thought. Leaf peeping is popular and it's a really laid back place. I never feel like I need a vacation from our vacation when we come back.
I've been to the Stratton and Okemo areas to ski. We've also been to Stowe and Middlebury. It's just beautiful everywhere! I would love it for any kind of vacation, any time.
It's really beautiful. We spend a lot of time in Burlington/Waterbury/Stowe and in Wilmington/Mt. Snow areas (these areas are far apart from one another).
Our general favorite things to do are breweries, hiking, eating. Wilmington is quiet and sleepy, we do a lot more outdoorsy stuff here. Burlington is more beer and food-based for us. It has my favorite antique/thrift shop in the world (Barge Canal-and I generally hate shopping in store like this) and some of the best domestic cider in the US (Citizen), IMO.
ETA: I think VT in the fall is a pretty good place to go without having a 'what do I wanna do/see' thought. Leaf peeping is popular and it's a really laid back place. I never feel like I need a vacation from our vacation when we come back.
We had cider donuts in Stowe, hot out of the oil and I still dream of them.
Not sure where you are coming from but just be aware that if you want to see the leaves the best time is earlier than you are prob used to.
I think “peak” time is from about next week until mid-October but definitely changes from year to year. There are all kinds of fall foliage calendars and charts online if you look.
I love Vermont! We were looking at getting a weekend house in Stowe because we are so Obsessed with it lol. Woodstock and the Dorset are are two other great locations. PP is correct that peak foliage tends to be late September, but the last few years have also been warmer for longer I’ve found. We always go for Columbus Day weekend and it’s been short sleeve weather the last few years - not the crisp fall days you want then. But it’s variable obviously and beautiful and fun no matter the weather.
It's really beautiful. We spend a lot of time in Burlington/Waterbury/Stowe and in Wilmington/Mt. Snow areas (these areas are far apart from one another).
Our general favorite things to do are breweries, hiking, eating. Wilmington is quiet and sleepy, we do a lot more outdoorsy stuff here. Burlington is more beer and food-based for us. It has my favorite antique/thrift shop in the world (Barge Canal-and I generally hate shopping in store like this) and some of the best domestic cider in the US (Citizen), IMO.
ETA: I think VT in the fall is a pretty good place to go without having a 'what do I wanna do/see' thought. Leaf peeping is popular and it's a really laid back place. I never feel like I need a vacation from our vacation when we come back.
We had cider donuts in Stowe, hot out of the oil and I still dream of them.
Ha- I meant hard cider but cider donuts are also delicious!
Post by sproctopus on Sept 4, 2019 13:16:34 GMT -5
With peak it definitely can depend on where in the state you are. Usually in Burlington, we go CD weekend and it's typically been end of peak. But southern VT has another week or so beyond that for good peeping.
Post by litskispeciality on Sept 4, 2019 13:16:35 GMT -5
Burlington is amazing, and only about 1.5 hours from Montreal, Canada if Intl. travel is an option. Lots of breweries, hiking, it's dog friendly. The area where Long Trail has their brewery, the town is escaping me now is really nice too. We actually stayed over the border in NH. Just be aware because of the leaves you'll pay more, but it's worth it.
I love Vermont! We were looking at getting a weekend house in Stowe because we are so Obsessed with it lol. Woodstock and the Dorset are are two other great locations. PP is correct that peak foliage tends to be late September, but the last few years have also been warmer for longer I’ve found. We always go for Columbus Day weekend and it’s been short sleeve weather the last few years - not the crisp fall days you want then. But it’s variable obviously and beautiful and fun no matter the weather.
Yeah, fall is coming early this year. I am in NH and the last couple years we are usually swimming in the lake through the end of September, and I think we are already done for the year. Nothing in the 80s in the next 10 days and most days will be in the 60s. Farewell summer :-(
I have to talk to her- we're not really outdoorsy people. I'm not sure what exactly she wants to do.
DH and I don't hike and we love VT. Again I look like a big booze bag because I do a lot of wine and beer up there, but there's live music, places to shop and drive around. The drive to see the leaves is worth it alone. You can go to the Cabot (cheese) creamery, I think King Arthur flour has a place, and Ben and Jerry's, so you could do the food tour. We went to a working farm near the Long Trail brewery, why is that town escaping me? You miiiiight even be able to take a boat tour on a lake such as Champlain (Burlington), but I'm not sure if they still run in Oct. You can probably do apple picking, that's fun even if you're not outdoorsy.
We go to VT to drink good beer. If you need brewery recs, our favorites are Hill Farmstead, Lost Nation (closer to Stowe area) and Foam and Burlington Beer in Burlington. In Waterbury we always stop at the Prohibition Pig (has a restaurant and a brewery) and the best package store across the street, and Ben & Jerry's has a good tour.
Post by texasharleygirl on Sept 4, 2019 13:51:32 GMT -5
I have friends that RV full time and were just in Vermont for the week. They said that there are 100's of Covered Bridges so that might be a good thing to include on your to do list and see how many you can find.
Not sure where you are coming from but just be aware that if you want to see the leaves the best time is earlier than you are prob used to.
I think “peak” time is from about next week until mid-October but definitely changes from year to year. There are all kinds of fall foliage calendars and charts online if you look.
Generally we say that peak week is the first and second week in October. Indigenous People Weekend is peak weekend.
I love Vermont! We were looking at getting a weekend house in Stowe because we are so Obsessed with it lol. Woodstock and the Dorset are are two other great locations. PP is correct that peak foliage tends to be late September, but the last few years have also been warmer for longer I’ve found. We always go for Columbus Day weekend and it’s been short sleeve weather the last few years - not the crisp fall days you want then. But it’s variable obviously and beautiful and fun no matter the weather.
This is essentially where I live and it is the most quintessential Vermont town there is! It is also pretty central for the state so you can be anywhere within 2 hours.
Bernadine, I live here and have for most of my life. I used to live up in Burlington so I can give you some recommendations for that area but like I said, now I live right next to Woodstock (PDQ) and can give you tons of suggestions, ideas, etc, for the state in general, but specifically this area. I also used to live in what we refer to as the Northeast Kingdom (WAY up there, pretty damn rural, but some little towns) and can give you suggestions for that area, too.
I am not as familiar with southern Vermont so much.
Some top things to do in fall: just drive around and enjoy it if you do not want to hike but you want the views, most ski areas offer lift rides up to the top of the mountain. You can ride back down or hike down. beer! tons of little general stores for cheese and maple candies, etc little shops lovely spas for relaxing various fall based events corn maze
These are all general things, but if you want more specific suggestions based on a part of the state I can give them to you as well. feel free to PM me
I have friends that RV full time and were just in Vermont for the week. They said that there are 100's of Covered Bridges so that might be a good thing to include on your to do list and see how many you can find.
yup, there are little covered bridge routes you can do. My favorite half marathon, and one that sells out within minutes each year, is a covered bridge half, where we run through or by 3 in 3 different towns along the route. You have to take one to get to our house
I live outside of Burlington and in the last two days JUST noticed the very start of leaves changing. So it will be a couple weeks until full color I'd imagine.
Post by cinnamoncox0 on Sept 4, 2019 17:07:46 GMT -5
Quichee (?) Gorge is nice! We went to the Wilmington area (southernVT I think, it was near NY and NH border in different areas) and it was beautiful. I’m not very outdoorsy but it was very relaxing. And I had three kids with me (and dh ha) two being one year old twins at the time and I still look back so fondly on that trip. Everyone was so so so nice, seriously I’ve never been around nicer people than in VT. I went to the Brattleboro area many years ago and remember the same thing then, such nice people.
shauni27, about how far is where you are now from Burlington?
1.5 hours.
So if you made Woodstock or Quechee (kwee-chee) your home base you could easily take a day trip up to Burlington and Stowe. Then another day trip down to Manchester or Bennington (closer to an hour). You could also be to middlebury within an hour.
I live outside of Burlington and in the last two days JUST noticed the very start of leaves changing. So it will be a couple weeks until full color I'd imagine.
We rented an old train station in May of 2019 in Arlington VT. (AirBNB I believe) We had a blast! Three bedrooms, two great rooms, train passing by the deck in the afternoon.
The purpose of the trip was to attend a wedding, but we had fun game nights (at the house), shopping excursions, hikes, and a great dinners out at breweries and even a carriage house.
So much to see and do. The scenery is breathtaking, fall would be ideal. Enjoy!
Quichee (?) Gorge is nice! We went to the Wilmington area (southernVT I think, it was near NY and NH border in different areas) and it was beautiful. I’m not very outdoorsy but it was very relaxing. And I had three kids with me (and dh ha) two being one year old twins at the time and I still look back so fondly on that trip. Everyone was so so so nice, seriously I’ve never been around nicer people than in VT. I went to the Brattleboro area many years ago and remember the same thing then, such nice people.
I think this is what I'm thinking of!
Also there's a decent amount of places in VT with really nice blown glass if that's of interest. One or two places you can sit and watch a demo, just prepared it's suuuuper expensive.
If you like IPA you could try Heady Topper. People drive hours for it, I think it's ok and it's more popular because it's hard to find. There's a brewery (although really it's more just for purchase than tasting room) near the Von Trapp hotel if you're also a Sound of Music fan.
DH and I are thinking about a night away for our anniversary soon, now I really want to make VT happen!
Post by litskispeciality on Sept 10, 2019 10:14:15 GMT -5
We stayed at the Fireside Inn and Suites in the White River Junction area. Tried to book it again for a couple of weeks from now but it's full. Has a nice pool, we had a room with a fire place, and they have a huge complimentary breakfast buffet. That general area is really nice, you can see NH and VT all within a matter minutes.
We stayed at the Fireside Inn and Suites in the White River Junction area. Tried to book it again for a couple of weeks from now but it's full. Has a nice pool, we had a room with a fire place, and they have a huge complimentary breakfast buffet. That general area is really nice, you can see NH and VT all within a matter minutes.
In general there are way better places to stay for the same price point. I hate that place, lol. It is in Lebanon NH, right across the river from VT and just about the one plus is no tax on it, as it is in NH haha.
H's aunt and uncle live there so we go every other year. We really like Burlington. The Church Street shopping area in Burlington is great, as is walking/biking along the lake. I could take a day doing each (because I'm slow and stop to eat a lot).
Just driving around Vermont is special. It feels more pastoral to me than rural Maine or New Hampshire.
In the Stowe area, you can go to the top of Mt. Mansfield for beautiful views. I'm also a big fan of the Ben and Jerry's factory, as well as the Cabot Cheese factory outlet down the road. A bunch of my relatives went to the Von Trapp family home and liked it.
My September garden stuff started coming up the last week of August (in Maine), so I bet peak fall colors will be a little early this year. I would shoot for the first week in October.
Post by msmerymac on Sept 10, 2019 15:17:06 GMT -5
Vermont is this awesome liberal, rural utopia. It's kind of unlike anywhere else I've been. There's a lot to like about it.
I've been to Burlington, Stowe, Montpelier, and I'm going to Brattleboro in a few weeks.
We rented a cute cabin outside Burlington last summer. The Onion River/City Co-op is amazing and worth a visit, and the church street mall has lots of food options. There's a nice rec path by the lake, a few blocks from church st.
It's a pretty easy drive (45-60 minutes) from Burlington to Stowe. If you go the southern route you go past Ben and Jerry's. My husband and I also went to the Trapp Family Lodge, which now has a brewery because... it's Vermont and who doesn't?