Hi all,

We're looking to spend a long weekend in Vermont in the Fall, any suggestions on the following would be most appreciated!! ( no kids

-a great place to stay--nice b n b or lodge?

- best time in the fall to go when the trees are most colorful? ( we re from CA...)

- any particular activities or sites to see?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

C

You are getting pretty late to be able to find something great at the height of the color. If you get some good recs, you should make reservations immediately for any time from the last week of September through Columbus Day. If you could possibly come midweek, that will help. College football as well as leaf peepers make weekends difficult.

Key areas would be any of the towns along VT 100, Smugglers Notch, Stowe, Waterbury.

I agree with Ackiskander. Many make leaf time reservations a hear in advance. Good luck finding a place to see this spectacular seasonal event.

Yes it does get busy this time of year, but there are lots of places to stay. Some I would choose would be the Round Barn Inn in Waitsfield, The Inn at Weathersfield, Quechee Inn at Marshland Farm, the Grafton Inn. There are dozens more. For a real Vermont experience, I would choose a small rural town as opposed to places like Burlington, Rutland, and Brattleboro.
Activities might include hikes and walks, visiting interesting spots like Billings Farm and Museum, Ben and Jerry's, Shelborne Museum, Shelborne Farm, the Calvin Coolidge homestead in Plymouth. A drive to the top of Mt Ascutney can be a spectacular experience on a clear day, where you will have great views of both Vermont and New Hampshire. Just across the river (thru America'slongest covered bridge) is St. Gaudens National Historic Site in Cornish NH - a very scenic estate and artist studio. Woodstock, Stowe, and Manchester Vermont are good places to visit - cutesy and touristy but fun.

We have stayed at the Mountain Estates area of the Smuggler's Notch resort(near Stowe) and it is a beautiful area. We have only been there in the spring, but I am sure it is even more beautiful in the fall. There are many restaurants in Stowe. Woodstock is also a great area. We love Vermont and visit often when we visit our son in New Hampshire. Hope you have a great trip.

Or - if you're not into cutesy and touristy, you could visit some less-touristy communities, like Brandon or Middlebury. To see truly authentic Vermont, venture off onto some back roads, visit the Farmers Markets, hike the trails. I like Vermont's "cities". Burlington is a university town, and as such, has a young, hip vibe, as well as a closed-to-traffic downtown area and beautiful lakefront park. Brattleboro is eclectic and funky, with some fun shops and eateries. Rutland is near Brandon, and is more working-class. It's known for its fabulous farmers market, and an art-in-the-park fair in early October.

College football as well as leaf peepers make weekends difficult.

College football will have no impact in Vermont.