Champlain Islands in the Fall
Top Picks in the Champlain Islands
Vermont is world-renowned for its bright, colorful fall foliage, making the season a celebration. Hand-picked by the editors of Yankee Magazine, these 5 highlights are just some of what the Champlain Islands offer in autumn.
South Hero, Vermont
Allenholm Farm & Hackett’s Orchard
With a climate mellowed by lake waters, the Champlain Islands are prime apple country. In South Hero you’ll find two favorite orchards—on the same street, in fact, less than a quarter-mile from each other. Allenholm Farm dates to 1870 and is Vermont’s oldest commercial apple orchard. It offers hours of pick-your-own fun with a bounty of Macs, Empires, and Cortlands, while its market is where you can grab homemade pies, maple creemees, and cider made with five kinds of apples. At Hackett’s Orchard, PYO season starts as soon as late July with varieties like Lodi and Yellow Transparent, and goes right through October with Idareds, Crispins, and Northern and Red Spies. Among the highlights of its market: cider doughnuts and autumn gourds, plus island-made jam, granola, and pickles.
South Hero, Vermont
Blue Paddle Bistro
Two decades ago, top chef Phoebe Bright and her partner, Mandy Hotchkiss, brought fine dining in a casual atmosphere to South Hero, at the gateway to the Champlain Islands. Bright’s secret is to take the basics—steak, salmon, pork tenderloin, and so on—and give them an imaginative twist. Filet mignon meets gorgonzola; pork tenderloin is crusted in coffee and smoky hoisin. For Sunday brunch, choices range from traditional eggs and home fries to scrumptious takes on eggs Benedict, with a lobster and arugula version topping the list. There’s outdoor dining while the weather lasts, with dogs always welcome.
Grand Isle & South Hero, Vermont
Champlain Islands Farmers Market
The list of things being made and grown in Vermont’s smallest county is impressive, to say the least. There’s a treasure trove of fresh meat and produce, sure, but also pickled eggs, pasta, hot sauce, goat-milk caramels, hand-spun wool, wooden toys, herbal soaps … you get the picture. So it’s wise to bring more than one roomy shopping bag to this market, held Wednesdays through mid-September in South Hero, and Saturdays in Grand Island through late October. Check the market website for details on the annual Harvest Fest, an October celebration filled with family activities, cooking demos, and other special events.
PELOTS NATURAL AREA & BUTTERNUT HILL NATURAL AREA
– North Hero, Vermont
Biking the Champlain Islands may be a bucket-list experience, but sometimes it’s also good to slow down and put your feet on the ground. North Hero’s quiet western shore is a popular stretch for cyclists that happens to be bookended by lovely strolling spots, too. To the north, Pelots Natural Area has about three miles’ worth of trails that lead through fields, a cedar grove, and a mix of hardwoods including those fall favorites, sugar maples. To the south, Butternut Hill Natural Area offers the chance to wander a mile-long trail through golden autumn hues of butternut and beech, and down to a beach with a great view of Lake Champlain.
HARVEST FESTIVAL AT SNOW FARM VINEYARD
– South Hero, Vermont
The mellow days of autumn pair beautifully with a visit to scenic Snow Farm, home of the first commercial grape vineyard in Vermont. It welcomes the public for self-guided walking tours and tastings of its award-winning wines and spirits, which include the white blend Snow White, one of the original Snow Farm vintages. In October, the vineyard takes on a party atmosphere during the annual Harvest Festival, a day of music, wine and spirit tastings, food-truck fare, and assorted amusements. Never stomped grapes before? Here’s your chance.
More to See and Do
Places to Visit In Fall
Yankee Magazine’s editors hand-picked 5 places to visit in each Vermont region. Explore things to do in autumn statewide.
