First, there ARE other areas of New England that have leaves! Vermont did sustain the worst damage, and some things will be many months or years to repair. For example one covered bridge was completely washed away. But - Vermont has many, many more covered bridges that were not damaged at all, not to mention NH and Mass. I live half a mile from a covered bridge and it wasn't touched. In my (small New England) town you would never know there had been any storm.

So you might need to change your plans a bit - perhaps cancel your plans for Stowe and Jackson - but to cancel your entire trip would be foolish. Really, there is LOTS of New England that is just fine. Vermont took the worst of it, you might want to replan the trip with more time in Western Mass, NH and perhaps Maine.

We are also planning a trip around the same time as you.
I have spoken with all hotels in the area that we are
traveling, (Montpelier, Woodstock, Sugarhill, Stowe,)
and they are all fine with no losses. I believe the cleanup
is happening very very swiftly, and I think that with the
area's tourist season about to begin, that everyone will
find a way to make it happen. I for sure will not be canceling our trip, we may have to make detours, but as
a B&B owner in Montpelier told me, things will be in good shape by the time you are here, and don't be put off by everything you hear in the news. Vermont will pull together
very very quickly.

Also, They need our tourism especially now.

First of all, get a good road map. Our preference is the DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer for each state (VT, NH and ME) where we love to travel back roads. Check the 511 website for the state you are visiting prior to your visit to see where there are road closures so you can map out something else.
You have other ways to get to Jackson. My preference last year was the route through Center Sandwich and Tamworth over to Rt 16. I think the scenery is more interesting. This may bring you much further south than you had expected but the purpose of your trip is to drive around.

I've been known to post on Fodors that I don't care for Woodstock and that's because it's full of tourists. It's quaint in the designer sense. There are other towns to visit and maybe other restaurants as tasty as Simon Pearce (but not as interesting - I love the glassware and pottery).

From Stowe, you might be able to travel over to Danville (see Great Vermont Corn Maze) and over to Littleton NH (stop at Bishops for ice cream) and then however to Jackson.

We are still planning to go to Brattleboro VT to the farmers market. According to the news, half of the booths were destroyed and the market area was a raging torrent. A clean up day is planned for tomorrow and it that location isn't going to work for this Sat, they might move to a different location. The farmers with food to sell need to sell it.

Repairs have started. They will probably be able to accomplish a lot in the next month. Right now the weather in NH is gorgeous and I've seen a few spots of early color on some swamp maples. Visit an orchard esp if you aren't used to the wide variety of just picked apples available at some orchards. Check out some places on the cheese and wine trails.

This sort of reminds me of the time DH tried to get out of going to the state fair because it was raining. He always complained that it was too hot, too dusty and too crowded. Well, I told him, it wasn't going to be too hot, too dusty and too crowded. We had a great time. Got a little wet but it was fun.

Army Corps and emergency crews are making rd repairs, esp on major rts. I think some will be fine and others won't. Quechee covered bridge is gone as is Simon Pierce glass blowing there. VT won't look like it used to but most areas should be open for business. Check with your lodgings in a couple of weeks and they can advise you about accesses. You can get to Stowe from Boston mostly on major highways that weren't affected. Waterbury to Stowe should be OK by then but check. Don't know about Kanc but drive through Franconia Notch is pretty, 302 also. Personally, I think the Kanc is overhyped but others may disagree. If you are flexible about some of your routes and realize that there is beautiful scenery in lots of places, you should be able to put together an enjoyable trip.

Glad for any update. Worrying about those covered bridges but also of course the many citizens affected. We came back early from a Maine trip. Due to crowds of gawkers and winding aroads what about a chartered bus trip out of Boston? Any ideas about such and when is best for Vermont or New Hampshire? Maybe even an overnight.
Bill in Boston

"Quechee covered bridge is gone as is Simon Pierce glass blowing there"

Wow, I did not know that! What a damn shame!

Now is the time TO VISIT and support Vermont!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsdfsY2BBiw&feature=related

-john

I would not take a chartered bus trip. I commute on I93 and always feel sorry for the chartered buses going out too late in the season and going to the same ol/same ol places.

Columbus Day weekend is usually ideal for the Concord NH area, earlier by at least a week in the Lakes region or even a bit earlier in the mountains. Coming from Boston, you will see a big change as you head north and even though it's an interstate, I93 is scenic once you get past the industrial areas in the south. Best to check a foliage map. It's always a best guess since some people want to see the brilliant oranges of sugar maples. I don't particularly care for the mountains which is why I prefer the Center Sandwich area near Lake Winnipesaukee.

Mid-week, of course, is less traffic. You could visit a great apple orchard like Gould Hill in Hopkinton NH where antique varieties as well as favorites are sold and there's a nice view right from their small parking lot. You could try the auto road up to Winslow State Park on the Wilmot side of Mt Kearsarge (near New London). Or see if you can spot the bald eagle that hangs around the farm near exit 17/I93. Or head over toward the seacoast for some wine tasting at Flag Hill Winery (they also make General John Stark vodka).

We usually take some rides that turn out to be interesting if we head out with a destination in mind, then plot a route with the DeLorme atlas. Typically I vote for plant nurseries and gardens. DH votes for antique tractor events. Or looking up a place recommended on Chowhound. The last time we vacationed in VT, we hunted up Pizza on Earth, not your typical pizza place!

Due to crowds, I would skip places like N Conway NH, Woodstock VT.

You might also put on your list a stop at Sturbridge Village if you have not been there before, a re-creation of an 1800's village, with docents in period costumes. Really well done. There are hotels in the immediate atea as well. About 2 hours west of Boston, and well worth the trip.

For what it's worth the Rutland, VT area is at its height on Columbus Day Wkend, according to my experience.

According to yesterday's Concord NH newspaper, work on the Kanc and Bear Notch Rd is going to be done in time for leaf peepers. Another article showed amazing community spirit in one of the currently isolated towns, everyone helping each other. There is going to be a lot repaired by the next month. It would be foolish to cancel a trip entirely. And the leaves weren't affected. The State governments know the tourist dollars are important.

We are not canceling, but due to my wife's mother's health issues, we are cutting our planned 3 weeks short by a week. We start out on 9/28 flying into Burlington, then a week in Montreal and Quebec, then, on Oct 6, down into northern Vermont. Spending time in Stowe area, Waterford then back to Waitsfield, then home on Oct 12 or so.
I have talked to two of my B&B hoteliers. They assured me that their hotel was not effected, and are confident roads will be in good shape, except for Kanc and parts of 302.
Passes over the Green mountains are all damaged, but appear to be getting fixed rapidly.
Watching the 511 road condition site for up to date info.
I'm sure that state rte 100, a major north south route, will be taken care of in the next month.
Hats off to the "can-do" attitude of the Vermont people.
I have made a contribution to a couple of charities in the state.
Dropping Woodstock area, but again, not necessarily storm related. Had to cut some days, and with the damage at Quechee, and Killington area, it just seemed logical place to cut.

We are also still hanging in there as we have until the 12th to cancel accommodations to receive deposit back. Our planned drives from Stowe are still viable except for the route we planned to Woodstock. NH is another story with the 302 and Kanc looking pretty bad in the pictures I've been seeing. Good, descriptive article in today's Concord Monitor on the 302 and Kanc. Plan B's and C's will be ready if we decide to go.

The 511 web sites are good tools, but they obviously don't detail the degree of damage nor the degree of necessary repair, so I'm going to city news outlets (Concord Monitor)where I can find them. Any suggestions in this regard would be appreciated.

WMUR has some information i.e. a temporary pedestrian bridge for Loon Mountain to be ready in time for the Highland Games on Sept 16/17.
http://www.wmur.com/index.html
The hurricane news is already starting to disappear as things get back to normal.
The other NH paper would be the Manchester Union Leader.
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110902/OPINION01/709029991 with a recent editoral about getting the Kanc fixed by Sept 15.

There doesn't appear to be any closures on Rt 113 from Tamworth to Sandwich. This is our favorite route. Center Sandwich is a very pretty little town just far enough from Lake Winnipesaukee not to have a lot of traffic. However, there is a small country fair Columbus Day weekend in Center Sandwich that causes a little bit of congestion.

I heard the Governor of Vermont on CNN this afternoon. He said the leaf peeping would be good in the northern third of the state. The flooding and washed out roads were in the southern and center sections of VT. The Red and Sugar Maples should be brilliant this year in northern VT and NH and up into Canada as well.
I'm hoping the power companies get the electric on for everybody before the first snow.

Gov Shumlin (of Vt) claimed on a local public radio show last night that foliage would be better than ever due to all the water. He was not serious about that--basically no one is ever able to predict good foliage years in my experience--but he was serious when he said he hoped people would still come to visit this fall.

We just drove through southern VT on our way to/from Philly and many roads are fine even in the southern and central areas. Others are being repaired very quickly.

I am sure the tourist web sites will keep people posted about good routes for leaf peeping closer to foliage season.

511 was initially criticized here for not being updated well but I think the state is on top of that better now. Conditions on many roads are changing daily.

I will look out for good links to post as new information develops.

Please do come to VT!!

I hope you still do your trip - Vermont is such a beautiful state. By the way, how did Middlebury fare with Irene?

I am a bit worried about Katia - it's much too early to be sure, but if it doesn't take a right hook and die out in the Atlantic Ocean, it looks like it could be on track to hit the mid-Atlantic and potentially New England. Not that I wish a hurricane on anyone, but I hope the northeast is spared Katia's punch.

Re: Middlebury.It was spared the intiial brunt of the storm but they were sandbagging Otter Creek yesterday.

The Vt Agency of Transportation has launched a new website to keep people informed about road conditions in the state following Hurricane
www.aot.state.vt.us.

the information is being updated twice a day

Basically most of the Champlain Valley of Vermont was unscathed, including Middlebury. Travel north and south is fairly easy. It's the east-west routes that suffered mostly, including Rts. 125, 73, and 4, though Rt. 100 in the Mad River Valley and the Rochester area was severely damaged in places as well. Crews are hard at work to make major improvements before foliage season, which is right around the corner. Please don't avoid us this fall! There are plenty of beautiful places to see and Vermont needs your business.

The latest from VT dept of Transportation is that most rds will be open by next weekend (9/17) - not back to normal, but open. There will still be construction so may be some delays. They have done a remarkable job given the extent of the washouts.

The Kancamagus is re-opening this weekend

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/kancamagus-repairs-go-quicker-than-expected/1d0t0p15f?from=

VT Rte 9 is opening this weekend and Rte 4 will reopen next. These are two of the major east-west roads. The Governor has joked that the need to travel more slowly than usual will just give people more time to appreciate the foliage.