Fall Scenic Round Barn

Fall for a Vermont October

Words and photos courtesy of Seven Days

Fall for Vermont All Over Again with Staytripper's Autumnal Activities
By Carolyn Fox

We're entering the season for which Vermont is world-famous. "When autumn visits Vermont, there might not be a prettier state in America," writes Travel + Leisure. Yet when was the last time you took a gondola ride up a mountain to appreciate fall foliage? If that sounds like something only tourists would do, it's time to reconsider how you experience Vermont.

October's Staytripper steers you to classic autumnal activities: apple picking, foliage hikes, pumpkin patches. But we also encourage reaching deeper during your explorations, whether it's contemplating America's racial reckoning while visiting Hildene, the Lincoln family home in Manchester, or paying tribute to our frontline medical workers at this year's Great Vermont Corn Maze in Danville.

2020 has brought unexpected detours, but here's to falling for Vermont all over again.

NO PLACE LIKE GRAFTON

Vermont’s unspoiled beauty abounds in Grafton, home to the Grafton Inn, delicious local cheese, a network of trails to explore and a base from which to check out southern Vermont.

FIVE WAYS TO ENJOY VERMONT APPLES

Vermont’s apples are widely known for flavor, texture and versatility. Pick your own at a Vermont orchard or enjoy the taste of the season in cider, doughnuts, pies or other baking.

SPOOKY SEASON IN VERMONT

Fall is for all things spooky, from ghosts to misty forests to stories of hauntings and horror. Get to know Vermont’s spookier side with this rundown of spots to visit in the fall.

HISTORY AND HERITAGE AT HILDENE

Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home, is among the jewels of southern Vermont, offering beautiful views, history and heritage, and even a goat dairy.

GET OUTSIDE THIS FALL

Fall is one of the best times to enjoy Vermont’s outdoor offerings, with cooler temperatures and beautiful foliage views. From nature walks to foliage hikes, here are some great ways to enjoy the great outdoors in the fall.

About the series

This series, a partnership between Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing and Seven Days, will run weekly through mid-October, presenting curated excursions in every corner of Vermont. The idea is to highlight the state's restaurants, retailers, attractions and outdoor adventures so Vermonters and visitors alike can plan safe, local trips and discover new corners of the state. Happy traveling, and stay safe.