How to Visit Vermont in The Fall

This was our second trip to Vermont, and we keep being enchanted by The Green Mountain State! We knew that it is really hard to time peak foliage, but we hoped that this time we will be close to catching it. And we were not disappointed! The leaves colors were differed as we drove across the state (Boston to Stowe) – more vibrant in some areas and less in others, however we did hit areas that were at peak foliage. And wow, were they absolutely beautiful! 🍁🍂🤩

13M people visit Vermont every year. Over 1M people visit Vermont every October.

What to do, where to go in Vermont

Vermont seems a bit out of the way and figuring out the best way to get there depends on your personal preference for driving or flying. We chose to fly into Burlington and rent a car. You will need a car to experience Vermont. The state is rural, beautiful and best explored by car.

Most everything you want to visit is just a drive-by and a stop. However, a few stops require planning and reservations. The towns of Vermont are small, charming and explored in hours rather than days.

The locations and activities below can be combined to make different itineraries. For example, on Day 1 you can visit Stowe, drive Smuggler’s Notch, and visit Montpelier. On Day 2, you can hike and visit local breweries at the end of the hikes. During Day 3, you can stay in Burlington. Finally, on Day 4 you can visit some of the covered bridges and enjoy an afternoon at a local spa. The possibilities are endless!

In Stowe, Vermont

Stroll on Main street, shop at the many small stores, get a coffee or a local beer, relax and people watch. If staying in Stowe for dinner, grab a reservation to ensure you do not have a long wait. Here are some of the places we enjoyed:

• Idletyme Brewing Company – relaxed with a great backyard bar and patio

• Piecasso – nice and casual pizza restaurant
• Sushi Yoshi – super popular
• Stowe Public House and Bottle Shop – excellent selection of local brews, great front lawn for people-watching, grab a local beer and wine to take home

In Montpelier, Vermont

Visit the Vermont State House (no reservations required, and you might catch a free tour), walk and enjoy the many period buildings in the downtown area. The local bakeries serve great coffee, often locally roasted, and many fall treats (lavender pound cake, anyone?😊) Try any and all of the following:

• The North Branch Cafe off of State Street
• The Skinny Pancake – a favorite Vermont chain which serves crepes and has many locations
• Rabble-Rouser Chocolate & Craft Co – great cafe with unique chocolate options and excellent bakery goods

In Burlington, Vermont

Stroll the downtown area and enjoy the ease with which people go about their day. If in town on a Saturday, visit the huge farmer’s market right off Lake Champlain. Speaking of the lake, take time to see Lake Champlain and enjoy the many sailboats while you walk the path along the shore.

If you are a history buff, visit the Ethen Allen Homestead.

On the weekend, Burlington is a popular and busy town, so grab a restaurant reservation to avoid what could be a long wait. There are plenty of places and types of food to choose from, but here are some of our recommendations:

• The Gryphon – stylish and delicious
• The Vermont Pub and Brewery – Vermont’s oldest craft brewery, good food, excellent patio, local brews
• Shanty On The Shore – on the lake, beautiful views

Go hiking in Vermont

Wow, hiking in Vermont is great – many, many trails for all levels of hikers. You can do as much or as little as you want. Different terrain, different elevation, different scenery. A few of our favorite hikes include:

Stowe to Mount Mansfield – hike or ride the gondola up for some amazing views of the Green Mountains. Hike down a medium difficulty trail.

Sterling Pond Trail – a moderate hike near Stowe. Intense on the way up but very rewarding at the top. We hiked in the clouds and felt that, once at the top, we were in a scene from Game of Thrones. Visibility at the top was low but the scenery was still so beautiful.

Moss Glen Falls Trail – easy hike to a beautiful waterfall. Great for a picnic by the water.

Drive Smuggler’s Notch Scenic Pass – the Pass is a favorite of fall lovers year after year. We were in Vermont in late September and the leaves were just starting to turn. The drive was still very beautiful, and a few wonderful hikes start from the Smuggler’s Notch Visitor Center. Be sure to drive through the pass no matter what time of the year!

Visit Vermont’s covered bridges

Vermont is famous for its covered bridges (over 100 of them exist in the state), and we really enjoyed visiting a few. Our favorites were the Red Covered Bridge in Morristown and the Gold Brook Covered Bridge near Stowe.

Stop by Ben and Jerry’s

A visit to Vermont is not complete without a stop at the Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. Always popular and busy. If you would like to go inside the factory, we recommend getting a ticket online before you get there. Don’t forget to stop at the Graveyard of Ice Cream Flavors.

Visit Vermont’s craft breweries

They are everywhere, so just stop at as many as you see while driving around. Alternatively, be sure to ask for local brews at all the restaurants you visit. You are sure to find something you like. Some of our favorites:

• Black Flannel Brewing
• Big Tree Brewing at The Reservoir
• Rock Art Brewery
• The Trapp Family Beerhall – many favorites here and a great place to visit; also, great food options. However, if you are thinking of dining at the beerhall, we recommend grabbing a reservation ahead of time as the place is a very popular destination.

We are not particularly into ciders, but if you love them, there are plenty of choices at most pubs. If you are a wine enthusiast, be sure to try some of the local wines. We were not particularly impressed by the Vermont wines, but you might like them (especially if you like sweeter wines).

There are a few distilleries famous for distilling in maple syrup barrels. The results are some interesting bourbons that are worth trying. A distillery we liked – Smuggler’s Notch Distillery in Waterbury.

Enjoy locally sourced Vermont food

One of the things we really enjoyed while in Vermont was trying all the local foods and drinks.

Just about everywhere we went there was something we wanted to try. Here are a few favorites:

• Vermont cheeses (yum) – you can sample many cheeses, jams, chocolates, local wine and more at the Cabot Farmers’ Store. Vermont cheddar is a thing and Cabot is the original brand started by the local farmer’s co-op back in the day.
• Woodstock Farmers Market – a great place to pick up picnic items. We loved their freshly made sandwiches and wonderful selection of local farmer produce.
• Smuggler’s Notch Distillery – a few locations in the state; we tried and loved the samples of bourbons and maple syrup aged in bourbon barrels at the Waterbury Historic District.

• Cold Hollow Cider Mill – if you like cider, a stop at Cold Hollow is a must. While there, enter the country store across the Mill for some exceptional (best ones we tried) apple donuts and hot apple cider. Try a donut with a maple creemee – a soft-serve maple syrup ice cream – yum. This place is very popular with tourists so plan a little extra time to enjoy all that it has to offer.
• Blackback Pub – great, small pub in charming Waterbury which serves local brews and quality pub fair.
• Michael’s on the Hill – For a special occasion try a local gem. Michael’s was by far our favorite dinner in Vermont. Great food and atmosphere, and great service. Swiss-born chef Michael Kloeti serves tasty dishes made of locally grown organic products. Reservations are required.

Treat yourself to a Vermont spa day

After all the hiking and exploring, we enjoyed a half a day at the spa at The Lodge at Spruce Peak – locally inspired treatments await. We loved the place.

What we loved about Vermont

• The beauty of being surrounded by mountains and vast rural lands
• Super relaxed feeling; life just seemed very orderly, and people seemed to go about their day without much tension
• The ease with which one can enjoy the uniqueness of the state – country stores, farmers markets, breweries, the farm-to-table approach of many of the local establishments
• The people – easy going and very helpful, always ready to assist

We look forward to returning to Vermont. Our next trip will be in mid-October to increase our chances of seeing Fall in all its splendor!

What to wear in the fall in Vermont

The weather changes a lot, so it is good to be prepared. Wear layers, bring sunscreen, a hat, and an umbrella, carry a backpack. For hiking, wear shoes that don’t slip, as the trails could be wet. Comfortable clothing everywhere; this doesn’t mean not stylish. Special-occasion style as needed.

For hiking and general strolling

For a special occasion

Items we love:

• This sunscreen
• This water bottle
• This backpack
• These hiking shoes for women and these for men

Check out our list of travel essentials on what to take and how to maximize your packing.

[All pictures taken by the Styled Traveler]

If you are looking for a place to stay, you might also like our post – Mountain Luxury at the Lodge at Spruce Peak – Hotel Review.

Additional resources and inspirations

Here are some links to additional resources you might find useful and inspirational for your trip to Vermont:

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