Upper Connecticut River Valley in the Fall
Top Picks in the Upper Connecticut Valley
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 Upper Connecticut River Valley offers in autumn.
Quechee, Vermont
Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS)
Hawks, eagles, falcons, owls … VINS gives a new lease on life to injured birds of all sorts while offering humans a unique window into their world. The 47-acre campus features more than a dozen outdoor enclosures for feathered residents, some of which emerge with their handlers for public presentations that are both educational and fun. Feeding times for the raptors and other creatures who live here—songbirds, snakes, turtles—are additional highlights for visitors. So is the ADA-accessible Forest Canopy Walk, which rises 100 feet above the ground and provides the chance to spot tree-dwelling wildlife. In autumn, it’s a foliage stroll like no other.
Strafford, Vermont
19th-Century Apple and Cheese Festival
Two timeless Vermont flavors combine to create one delicious celebration at the former home of Senator Justin Smith Morrill, Strafford native and Vermont’s greatest 19th-century legislator. Held in late September at the Senator Justin S. Morrill State Historic Site, the event lets visitors sample heirloom apples, savor apple pie and local artisan cheeses, and try their hand at making cider with an antique cider press. Country fiddling and accordion music, old-timey games, and horse-drawn wagon rides are all part of the fun, too. Meanwhile, the senator’s iconic pink house, built in the Gothic Revival “gingerbread” style circa 1851, is open for tours.
Quechee, Vermont
Simon Pearce
In the years since Irish native Simon Pearce brought his glassmaking skills to Vermont, his studio and flagship retail store have helped set the standard for artisan crafts in the Green Mountain State. In a historic mill next to the Ottauquechee River Falls, you can watch molten glass being shaped, turned, and twisted into everything from bowls and martini glasses to miniature Christmas trees. Upstairs from the workshop, the acclaimed Simon Pearce Restaurant serves lunch and dinner using glasses and other tableware right here, with river views as a bonus.
BARNARD GENERAL STORE
– Barnard, Vermont
When the Barnard General Store closed in 2012 after nearly two centuries, it was almost unthinkable for this tiny town north of Woodstock. It was Barnard’s only local grocer, its community hub and ice cream counter, and a core piece of its identity. The town quickly formed a community nonprofit to buy the building—but who to run the store? Enter Jillian Bradley and Joe Minerva, a young couple who have led BGS into a new era with fresh-made food that’s worth driving for. From hearty sandwiches with gourmet ingredients to buttermilk pancakes that have earned a cult following, this is the tastiest comeback anyone could have wished for.
HARVEST CELEBRATION
– Woodstock, Vermont
Get a hands-on experience of harvest season at Billings Farm & Museum by helping to gather produce from the gardens, collect sunflower seeds, and shuck corn during this special October weekend. Before or after these fun “chores,” kick up your heels in a barn dancing session, or kick back and enjoy autumnal treats like hot spiced cider and fresh cider doughnuts. There are crafts and story times for youngsters, while kids of all ages will want to give pumpkin bowling a try. As always at Billings, friendly farm animals including draft horses, sheep, and Jersey cows will be available for meet-and-greets.
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.
