cd

We will be leaving NYC the 13th of October and are thinking of driving into Vermont to see the fall colors. I was thinking of either NYC to Woodstock or Stowe or Burlington. Which route will give us the best views? Any suggestions on where to stay will be appreciated. We are then thinking of going to Montreal for a day. Suggestions for Old Town would be appreciated also. Thank you.

J62

Can't comment on routes, but my take is that fall colors are about 1 week behind where they were last year.

I look at my notes from 2010, and by 9/23 there was already a lot of brilliant reds & yellows in the Berkshires. Early maples, sumac, birch were all changing.

Very little color in the same area this weekend. A little further south my maples are turning moldy and dropping without even changing - all this wet weather may affect the color.

Hopefully now it'll dry out, and some cool nights will lead to a good fall color season.

cd

J62 Where would you suggest we stay? I was thinking more toward Burlington....suggestions please

J62

Where to stay isn't my expertise. I just drive through the western MA/eastern NY area regularly.

dfrostnh

Color is going to be gone in northern VT by then. So far, it hasn't been very colorful and the weather has been awful. I'd recommend a different destination.

cd

Thanks dfrostnh. We will probably still go just because we will be in NYC and we've never been to Vermont. We want to visit all of our States and we only have Vermont and Idaho to go.

zootsi

True the weather has been awful, but it's going to improve this week. As far as where to go - Burlington may well be past peak by mid October. Also realize that Burlington is a fairly large city, a beautiful one, but still surrounded by mall sprawl and busy highways. If you want quintessential Vermont, explore the back roads and small towns. True there are still some areas recovering from Irene, but 80% of Vermont will be drivable and as scenic as ever. Both Stowe and Woodstock are very charming towns, and you could easily visit both of them. Stowe is more mountainous and ski oriented (and will probably be past peak), Woodstock is a very cutesy and fun little town surrounded by some beautiful countryside. Some nice places to stay might include the Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm, and the Round Barn Farm in Waitsfield. Call ahead to insure they are up and running after Irene. The Billings Farm Museum just outside of Woodstock is a fun destination. Also consider the Mt. Ascutney Auto road which offers spectacular views.
As for Montreal - one of my favorite cities - if you can swing it, consider staying at least one night. You could easily spend a week there and still want more. For a first time visit, Old Montreal is a good choice. I can't recommend a hotel in that neighborhood, because I always stay on the Plateau.

cd

Thaks zootsi, I would like to see quintessential Vermont so maybe Woodstock would be a good place to stay overnight and then to drive to Montreal via Burlington. Are there chain hotels/motel that are cheaper then those darling Inns?

cd

Than...hate when I do that.

Dukey1

I just returned from northern Vermont two days ago. The color is NOT in any way shape or form at it's peak. Even at the higher elevations such as Jay peak the color wasn't about to be complete. It MIGHT be a lot better by the end of this week in some areas.

bm

Burlington will probably be good at that point. Even though its in Northern Vermont, due to its proximity to Lake Champlain, the immediate Champlain Valley stays warmer and therefore leaves turn later - it usually peaks around Oct 16-17ish.
As others have mentioned, things seem to be running a week behind right now though. The NEK is peaking right now which is about 4-5 days later than it usually does.

cd

Dukey, where did you stay?
bm, thanks for the Burlington info

zootsi

There are no chain motels in the immediate Woodstock area. There is the Shire Motel which looks pretty nice. If you want inexpensive chain motels, there are several in White River Junction - Hampton Inn, Super 8, etc. The motel strip in White River is not 'picturesque Vermont', but Woodstock is about 25 minutes away.

Kwoo

Another picturesque area in Vermont is Manchester and Dorset. Manchester is a small city but it's located in a very pretty area, "quintesential" Vermont. Dorset is a small village, very pretty, too, & next to Manchester. We've stayed at the Dorset Inn.
www.dorsetinn.com

330east

Manchester View Motel-Manchester VT
Holiday Inn-Rutland VT

Vttraveler

We just returned from a two week vacation in Europe (long story as to why we went away at this point, missing one of the nicest times in VT) The foliage here in north central Vt seems very nice on this warm sunny morning although some leaves have definitely come down already. Central and southern Vt will probably be close to peak color by the 13th when you are planning to leave

this is a good source for prime routes for viewing
http://www.vermontvacation.com/Vermo...%20Report.aspx

J62

It's the same story on the ride north from NYC along the NYS Thruway or Taconic. A lot of the leaves have come down already, with many of the more brilliant early trees like ash and maples just dropping their leaves without really changing color.

The later trees are changing so there is some nice color. Next weekend should be very nice color despite bare patches.

mohan

Weather forecast says this coming Wednesday and Thursday will rain. We figure we better do a day trip while there is still some colors left on the trees. We will be driving from NYC this coming Tuesday Oct 11th, the purpose is to enjoy the fall colors, any particular route we should take?

mohan

Opps............ Just realized this post tagged Vermont. I am thinking of anywhere with beautiful fall colors.

OO

Generally speaking, in MOST years, fall color was gone in northern VT by this time. In southern VT and Berkshires, it was peak right around my father's birthday, Oct 10. I would go up each year for it, which is the only reason I recall the peak date.

I love the Manchester area, cd. I grew up in the Berkshires and we could easily drive from my parents home, up route 7 through the Berkshires, through Williamstown (MA), following 7 to Manchester and having lunch at the Equinox Inn, then take 11 to 121 to Grafton (part a dirt road but very hard packed and easily driven, plus beautiful), then south to 9 over to Bennington, then back down 7 and home before dark. Or from Manchester over 11 (east) to 100, south to Townshend, then 30 to Newfane, then back to 9 and 7. I'm counting on you having a map so you can follow this!! LOL Hope you do. These are both beautiful beautiful country drives.

Can't recommend places to stay as we always were staying at my parents of course, although one time DH and I spent the night at the Equinox Inn in Manchester, something I'd always wanted to do. It's a beautiful old inn but $$$$. Wouldn't do it again. Its GREAT for lunch though...in the room with the fireplace. Atmosphere galore!! Have a fun trip cd!