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My aunt, nana and I just returned from a long weekend trip to Vermont. It was absolutely magical to say the least and words can’t even describe the beauty I experienced in just a few short days. For me, it was absolutely one of those awe-inspiring places where you look around and are just simply stunned by the beauty of God’s creation. Like I said, it’s hard to put that kind of beauty into words but thankfully (per-usual) I took lots of pictures! If you’re looking to experience a “true” classic fall, nobody does it quite like New England. This was my third fall season traveling up to New England and I can quite honestly say the colors were definitely the most beautiful / vibrant this time around. You can find a recap of my leaf peeping trips of years past HERE, HERE and HERE. You can also keep scrolling to learn more about where we visited, stayed, ate + drank and what we did on our trip to Vermont!
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WHERE TO STAY:
We visited a total of two areas of Vermont during this four day trip. On Thursday we flew into Burlington Vermont and then drove our rental car about an hour and a half to Woodstock, Vermont. Although you have to drive a bit, the entire route is so scenic it doesn’t even feel like a hassle at all!! We stayed one night in Woodstock at The Woodstock Inn. The property was gorgeous, so peaceful, and quaint. The on-site restaurants were phenomenal and the service was top-of-the-line. They had huge pumpkins and a garden of mums all over the front lawn. It seriously gave me all the fall feels!! On Friday we drove an hour from Woodstock to Stowe, Vermont and I’d have to say this was definitely the highlight of our trip. You truly can’t get any more vibrant colors than in Stowe, VT. The town itself was small, yet adorable and there were so many great spots to eat + drink. The hotel we stayed at Friday and Saturday night was absolutely one of the top 5 most beautiful places I’ve ever stayed. The Edson Hill in Stowe truly did not disappoint. It is nestled high on a hill overlooking thirty-eight acres of land and offers it’s guests the pleasure of staying in one of their stunning twenty-three rooms, which boast the same amount of comfort as they do elegance. You can check out tons of photos I took around both properties below!
BUT Before I share more about trip, let’s recap a few things you may need to keep in mind when planning your fall foilage / leaf peeping trip! These are things that are specifically important for trips that are during the height of the leaf peeping season.
TIPS FOR PLANNING A LEAF PEEPING TRIP
Planning a fall trip to Vermont, with the goal of seeing the leaves at peak, can be a bit stressful. The truth is, it happens on different dates every year. So, it can be difficult to feel confident that your travel dates will yield the beautiful views you’re hoping for. This was the only weekend that worked with our schedules so we basically just crossed our fingers and thankfully it worked out well for us!! We ended up visiting with the colors “near peak” but one week later would have been full peak. It was still drop dead gorgeous but to help you out with planning your trip I encourage you to check out one of these fall foliage predictors found here and here. One last tip for planning your trip is be sure to plan it well in advance, like a year if you can!! There is such a small window of time that you could potentially catch the leaves change and a lot of the most popular towns in Vermont, like Stowe, fill up fast because there are only so many accommodations.
WHAT TO DO:
Before all of my trips I do tons of research on the best places to eat + drink and fun things to do in each destination I visit. I’ll share with you the things we did in both Woodstock and Stowe!
THINGS TO DO IN WOODSTOCK:
Explore the cute town of Woodstock.
Visit Sugarbush Farm for homemade cheese and maple syrup tastings!
THINGS TO DO IN STOWE:
Visit Mainstreet & all the shops/dining (Like Shaw’s General Store & Black Cap Coffee Shop)
Emily’s Bridge (Great picture spot & location of an old ghost story)
Warm up at Cold Hollow Cider Mill (For fresh apple cider and homemade cider donuts)
Catch the views from ‘Salon Salon’ (PINTEREST WORTHY!!!)
Tour the Von Trapp Family Lodge (For Sound of Music lovers)
Go to the top of Mount Mansfield (Vermont’s highest peak and great views) located across from the Stowe Mountain Lodge. Tickets were a splurge at $30 each but the view was worth it!
Enjoy a brewery crawl! (Check out the Alchemist Stowe, Idletyme Brewery, and Stowe Cider)
Get a scoop (or two) at the original Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream.
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Pictures taken during our visit to Emily’s Bridge
Photos of the gorgeous property of Edson Hill in Stowe
View from Salon Salon
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Taken during a pit-stop on the drive from Woodstock to Stowe
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Going up the gondola at Mount Mansfield
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WHERE TO EAT + DRINK:
Be sure to make reservations for every place (well in advance if possible).
WHERE TO DINE IN WOODSTOCK:
Simon Pearce Restaurant- Our dinner here was nothing short of phenomenal. The best meal I’ve had in a very long time. There is also a glass blowing shop inside the restaurant with the most gorgeous, unique hand blown pieces.
WHERE TO DINE IN STOWE:
Edson Hill Restaurant - Our favorite spot for dinner in Stowe hands down. The food was incredible, the environment was so intimate and the views were out of this world.
Warming up at Cold Hollow Cider Mill
Dining at The Edson Hill in Stowe
