Northeast Kingdom in the Fall

Vermont is the kind of place where things are built to last, and one of its favorite long-lived creations is the Northeast Kingdom Fall Foliage Festival, founded in 1956. The event is actually a series of mini festivals held over seven days during the peak of autumn color in late September and early October. The towns of Walden, Cabot, Plainfield, Peacham, Barnet, Groton, and Marshfield all play host. And while the lineup changes, the appeal remains the same: community suppers, pancake breakfasts, arts and crafts, book sales, and some of the lushest foliage views in New England.

A callback to the time when commercial steamboats once crisscrossed the international waters of Lake Memphremagog, Northern Star is a modern 65-foot vessel with the look of a vintage steamer. With spacious indoor and open-air passenger areas, and even a cozy pub, Northern Star operates on a busy schedule that extends through fall, when the 33-mile-long lake reflects a blaze of color. Along with brunch, dinner, and scenic cruises, Northern Star offers excursions all the way into Canada, past secluded islands and quaint Quebec towns—no passports necessary. On all trips, knowledgeable guides narrate the rich history of the lake and the people who have lived and worked along its shores.

The origin story is legend: Vermont native Shaun Hill went to Belgium, learned brewing from top to bottom, and returned to his family farm to make beers that are now considered some of the best in the world. The lineup runs from lagers to stouts, and from citrusy IPAs to powerful barley wines—some are even aged in bourbon, wine, or cognac barrels. The brewery is located atop the pillowy meadows of Hill’s farm, where picnic tables allow visitors to relax amid a panorama of Northeast Kingdom foliage. Also on offer is a rotating selection of cheeses from the internationally acclaimed Jasper Hill Farm, whose cellars are just up the road.