It’s finally that time of the year folks! The air is getting crispier, students are returning to campus, orchards are now open with apples ripe for picking and the leaves will soon change into stunning hues of red, orange and gold.
And what better way is there to celebrate the arrival of fall than by getting front row tickets for Mother Nature’s fall foliage show in the stunning town of Stowe in Vermont? The beautiful mountainside outpost was recently voted by USA Today as one of the 10 most beautiful destinations for Fall foliage in the U.S. and there’s no wondering why!
Stowe is known as the (unofficial) capital of fall color and has plenty of activities that will let you explore the town and its surroundings in all their leafy glory. Fall lovers can admire the changing leaves of Stowe by foot, car or boat. If it’s the views you’re after you can jump on the Gondola SkyRide up to the top of Mount Mansfield to admire the beautiful New England Fall from up high. If you’re more hiking or driving inclined there’s also the chance of driving up historic Toll Road to Mount Mansfield or Notch Road up to Smuggler’s Notch. But if you’re looking to stay away from the crowds, you can also take in the blossoming spectacle from a boat on Waterbury Reservoir; the man-made lake is usually less crowded during the fall.
There’s also plenty of other fall-themed activities around town, including apple picking, pumpkin-patch exploring and corn-maze adventuring. If you’re an ice-cream fan you cannot miss out on visiting Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory. The factory, located in Waterbury, first opened in 1985 and is a total Stowe staple. Schedule a factory tour and head over to scoop up your favorite classic flavors or discover new exciting ones.
Stowe is also home to the Von Trap family residence (the family on whom The Sound of Music is based on). The Austrian-inspired property serves up some stunning views of Stowe and is the perfect spot for watching the hills come alive with the colors of Fall.
For more Fall-y destinations, USA Today also highlights the White Mountains in New Hampshire as another great destination from which to admire the New England Fall foliage. “The annual display of fall color in the White Mountains of New Hampshire typically takes place each September and October, attracting millions of visitors from around the globe. One of the best places to take it all in is along the 34-mile Kancamagus Highway as it cuts through White Mountain National Forest, says USA Today’s entry on the White Mountains
You may be wondering what the best time for catching the Fall foliage in full bloom is. Well according to smokymountains.com‘s handy-dandy foliage map, the changing leaves will most likely be at its peak, early to mid-October in Vermont. So make sure to mark your calendars and go out to explore the beautiful New England fall foliage!