Happy Fall: Pretty Leaves & Warm Memories
Doing a fall foliage adventure through Vermont was one of the most enjoyable experiences I have ever had. It made me realize just how much of this country I have not seen yet - and I thought I had seen a lot! Growing up in California is lovely and special, but there is just no substitute for the changing seasons and warm small towns. I loved the fact that I had no cell service for 12 hours, I loved the covered bridges, the endless beauty, and the peace and quiet.
When I think of Vermont, I automatically think of Ben & Jerry's, cheddar cheese, maple syrup, and Diane Keaton creating a baby food empire in Baby Boom (Netflix, people, Netflix!). I was pleasantly surprised that everything was just as I had imagined. The only downside was that a huge wind storm had blown away a lot of the beautiful leaves, so some of my photos were a bit more bare than I would have liked.
First, I stopped in the quaint town of Woodstock, VT and walked around the main street for a bit. I came across a few beautiful bridges as well as one of the more famous covered bridges (see photos below). I visited Sugarbush Farm just a short drive away, also in Woodstock, and brought home enough maple syrup to last a lifetime! You can walk around their property to see the sap lines and the sugar house. Although, you should note that sugaring season is actually just as winter turns into spring...so the maple syrup will have been boiled and bottled a little while ago. The drive to the farm is pretty adorable, too. In and around Woodstock, you will find some insanely beautiful spots to whip out your camera...between the bridges and the main square, it's endless!
Not far from Woodstock is a very special place: King Arthur Flour. You've probably seen bags of their flour at your local grocery store, but their Vermont HQ is so much fun! I tried to control myself, but I went crazy in their beautiful shop, which is a baker's heaven. They also have a little café if you need some road snacks. Highly recommended!
From Woodstock, I drove over to Weston, VT which happened to take me on one of the most scenic fall-foliagey drives I could have hoped for. It was SO beautiful. After a certain point, you have to stop pulling the car over to take photos and just enjoy the view in your own eyes. It's very meditative. Weston just happens to be home to the famous Vermont Country Store and the most adorable Christmas store, Weston Village Christmas Shop - talk about the perfect place to get some holiday gifts out of the way.
Driving up to Montreal (and through Burlington, VT) is also wonderful, but I'll save that for another post. Since you're already in New England, you may as well head over to Maine to continue your fall tour. If you're not already aware of how much I love Maine, see some of my older posts: New England: A Coastal Road Trip and Maine: Books and Chickpea Fries.