9 Awesome Things to Do
in Vermont During the Fall
Our Waterbury, Vermont factory sees a lot of visitors each year. While we’re flattered with all the attention, there’s so much more to do in Vermont— especially at the height of foliage season in the fall when most people stop by. Here are some of our favorite activities for when the leaves turn color… or really during any non-snowy season:
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1. Savor Local Tastes
Vermont’s nationally renowned farm to table restaurants incorporate the bounty of local vegetables, crops and meats from the summer growing season into their menus— making it a perfect time of year to get a taste of the state!
Brookfield
Burlington
Hen of The Wood - Burlington
Montpelier
Three Penny Taproom Restaurant
Randolph
Waitsfield
Waterbury
Hen of the Wood - Waterbury
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2. Find Your New Favorite Brew
With a wealth of internationally recognized brewers, Vermont has become a center of beer tourism.
Berlin
Not into beer? Visit the Fresh Tracks Farm Vineyard & Winery in Berlin and raise a glass while in their sustainably-powered tasting room.
Burlington
Dine at American Flatbread and sample the Zero Gravity beer brewed right on site, especially their tasty Cone Head wheat IPA. After dinner, head down to Pine Street where you'll find a handful of homegrown breweries -- like Switchback, Citizen Cider, the Zero Gravity flagship, and Queen City Brewery -- all conveniently located within walking distance of one another.
Greensboro Bend
Stop in at Hill Farmstead, maker of award winning “Edward,” but be prepared to wait in hour-long-plus lines with beer fanatics waiting to fill their growlers!
Montpelier & Winooski
The most vocal advocate of craft beer in the state, Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier had a big hand in putting the movement on the map. Sample their huge craft beer selection on tap, and visit its sister, Mule Bar in Winooski. While in Winooksi, make sure to visit Winooksi's newest brewery, Four Quarters Brewing.
Stowe
Visit the amazing Trapp Family Lodge to sample their Trapp Lager.
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3. Bask in All Things Cider
Picking apples at their peak is a classic Vermont fall activity and a great opportunity to visit a working farm/orchard:
Putney
Randolph Center
Vermont Technical College Orchard
Williston
Adam’s Apple Orchard and Farm Market
Waterbury
Cold Hollow Cider Mill: Home of freshly pressed cider and hot apple cider donuts, they’re located just down the street from our factory.
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5. Lose (And Hopefully Find) Yourself In A Corn Maze
Fall marks the biggest harvests of the season, and it wouldn’t be complete without a corn maze! The Great Vermont Corn Maze in Danville offers 10 acres of family friendly fun with hundreds of underground tunnels, barnyard mini-golf, plus a starlit maze event in September and a haunted maze in October.
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7. Check Out The Views From Above
At Mt. Mansfield, you can drive the Toll Road to a very nice view and then hike a short ways to the summit proper. A ride up the Stowe Gondola is fun in itself, and leads to a short, steep rocky scramble to the summit.
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6. Take a Hike
Cooler temperatures and dry ground make fall an amazing time to hike a mountain and see the foliage from up high. Some of our favorite trails:
Mt. Philo - Charlotte
Short but sweet, it provides an amazing view of Lake Champlain and the Champlain Valley
Nebraska Notch - Moscow
Short but steep, this trail offers breathtaking waterfalls and high alpine ponds
Sterling Pond - Smugglers Notch
Short but very steep, the trail takes you to our state’s highest body of water, plus lookouts over Smugglers Notch and Mt. Mansfield
Mt. Mansfield - Stowe
Multiple hiking routes, plus the option to drive/ride part way up bring you to the top of Vermont’s tallest mountain, with commanding 360 degree views of central VT
Mt. Abe - Warren
Moderate length and a short but very steep last section to the rocky summit pays off with views west to Lake Champlain, and east to the Presidential Range in NH
White Rocks/Mount Hunger - Waterbury
Moderate in length and steepness, this hike features one of the best views for your effort in the state, with an amazing view back toward Waterbury and Stowe, and east towards New Hampshire
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4. Say (And Eat) Cheese
No other state can lay claim to more cheese makers per capita. Fall is a great time to taste the bounty and sample their craft first hand!
Shelburne
Shelburne Farms — historically beautiful grounds worth the visit alone
Stowe
Waterbury
Cabot Coop, makers of the “World’s Best Cheddar,” operates an annex right down road from Ben & Jerry’s.
Websterville
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8. Find Fun on Two Wheels
Whether you rent or bring your own, cooler temperatures and beautiful scenery make fall one of the best times to ride Vermont’s roads and trails.
Where to Rent:
Onion River - Montpelier
Waterbury Sports - Waterbury
Local Motion - Burlington/Lake Champlain
Where to Ride:
Burlington Bike Path - Burlington
Stowe bike path - Stowe
Mountain biking trails throughout the state - Waterbury, Stowe, Barre, East Burke
Smugglers notch; offering steep and dynamic road biking - Stowe
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9. Paddle Out
Vermont has abundant flat water, a beautiful venue for viewing foliage, especially with the calm winds and mild temperatures of fall. Kayak, canoe or stand up paddle board; there’s no wrong way to get into the water.
Lake Champlain
Shelburne Pond
Waterbury Reservoir
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