Very, very pretty. And how exciting to meet Abe and Mary Todd. Thanks!

Coincidentally, I have been poring over your Dordogne report, trying to put together a shortened version of your itinerary for myself, hopefully for April.

Lovely photos, Ira! Thanks for sharing.

Great pictures! Even though I live in this part of the world I'm still amazed by it's beauty.

the photos are lovely !! such a beautiful time of year and you got some great shots.

Beautiful, bravo! Especially with a new camera!
Especially enjoyed the series of lakes and streams... there is just something so peaceful about water and fall colors.

How crowded was Stowe? Wall to wall with tourists? Was the whole Stowe area crowded or just the area around the main drag?
We were in Stowe about this time of year, when the leaves were way past peak (in fact, they were basically brown and falling) and the area was still beautiful and not busy at all.

Nice pictures. If you ignore the bridges and the houses, your pictures look very much like Switzerland does right now. I always knew the USA was a beautiful place.

Thanks for sharing.

Some really nice shots, Ira, and what a great choice for an October trip!

Thanks for sharing!

-e

Ira, thanks for sharing. The picture of Chittendon Mills is beautiful. A lot of nice pics but that's my favorite.

Beautiful photos! Especially a treat for those of us down south in perpetual green :)

Ira, the pictures were lovely--especially considering we have fresh snow this a.m.

There just aren't enough autumns; it's always been my favorite time to travel.

Hi BT,

Stowe was wall to wall tour buses and full of people.

((I))

Thanks all, for your kind words.

((I))

I live in Richmond VT, between Burlington and Stowe, so I am so glad to hear that you enjoyed visiting our state! We have all been concerned that the rain and early snow this year has really ruined the leaf peeping for out-of-towners. It just goes to show how spoiled we are to live here, as I've seen nothing "special" this year in the way of colors.

Leely - PLEASE do not come to VT in April!!! There are NO leaves on the trees until May, and the weather will still be cold! Often we still have snow in April, and it's basically our 5th season here - Mud Season. Better to come in the winter or summer, to avoid Fall tourism (and honestly, tourism here is really light, except maybe in Stowe). This is SUCH a beautiful place, but most of the country wouldn't consider it to be really "Spring" here until at least mid-May.

I would also highly recommend driving through the White Mountains of NH. They are breathtaking, and blow me away every single summer, on our way to Maine.

Ira..upon slowly re-reading, I cam across this:

>>>We could have invited another couple to share the bed.<<<

You are always so meticulous in your planning, but obviously didn't check on NH State Laws, going back to 1634.

Even "thinking" this could have set you in a local NH one-cell jail (or in "stocks" on the front lawn of the Village Hall) until after the mid-term elections!!

Stu T.

Shame that Stowe was so crowded, it is one of my favorite places. In retrospect, I suppose it was better that we were there when the leaves were well past peak, because it was fairly quiet. Although not as quiet as Snowville, NH (near Eton Center), which was amazingly tranquil even though it was about peak of the season. A completely different world from North Conway, just half an hour away.

Hi LOB,

>It just goes to show how spoiled we are to live here, as I've seen nothing "special" this year in the way of colors.<

I agree. We met a few local folks who told us that we were unfortunate not to have come in a better year.

We likened it to people who are so knowledgeable about wines that they can tell the differences among various vintages of Chateau Haut Brion or Cheval Blanc.

How's the planning for the honeymoon going?

((I))

Hi Stu,

I'll keep that in mind when I next visit NH. :)

((I))

Ira, did you book all your inns/rooms ahead of time? It really is on my fall list sometime, but getting my DH to leave fall silver fishing in AK is an ordeal!

Hi H,

Yes, I booked everything ahead.

Everything fills up for Leaf Peeping season.

All of the places we stayed had "No Vacancy" signs for at least one day we were with them.

((I))