We may be approaching the end of summer as August rapidly ticks by and children prepare to go back to school, but that doesn’t mean your travels need to end with the season! Summer may be an ideal time for travel when kids are off of school, the weather is sunny and warm, and families can focus on spending some quality time with each other; however, I find myself preferring the crisp, mild days of fall over the scorching days of summer, and some of my best travel experiences have been in the fall.

When I think of fall travel, the most quintessentially “autumn” place in the United States that comes to mind is Vermont. The state is known for its fall foliage, idyllic country drives, and quaint fairs and craft shows. There’s no better time to visit Vermont than in the fall when a drive or walk down country roads is truly a treat for all five senses. If you’re planning a visit to Vermont this fall, be sure to add these suggestions to your itinerary for a stimulating experience.

Taste

Vermont is foodie’s paradise with its abundance of farm-to-table eateries and farmers markets offering local, organic produce. Vermont is known for its farms, and visitors and locals alike can rest easy knowing where their food came from. Stop by an apple orchard and savor the sweet juice of a crisp, fresh-picked apple as you bite into its firm skin. Or prepare a meal utilizing the fresh ingredients you purchased from a roadside farm stand that morning. In Vermont, it’s never difficult to embrace a healthy diet.

Touch

In Vermont, there are so many opportunities to get close to nature. Vermonters are known for practicing healthy, active styles, and if you visit the state, you can do the same! Nothing beats a hike down a country lane where you can breath in the fresh fall air. Or, feel the tug of a fish on your line as you fish from one of the state’s ample lakes, streams, or creeks. There are so many ways to feel nature’s presence in Maine!

Smell

If Vermont were a candle, it would probably smell something like this: a smoky-sweet blend of fresh-baked apple pie, a campfire, leaves, and maple syrup. There are so many foods and products made right in Vermont such as syrup, ice cream, cider, beer, and cheese that it’s easy to imagine some of the scents you can breathe in on a fall day spent in the countryside.

See

A visit to Vermont would not be complete without taking some time to engage in outdoor activities. Be sure to experience the blazing inferno of leaves that is Vermont in the fall with a drive or walk. There are so many ways to embrace the season in Maine with the state’s many attractions including parks, festivals, farms, corn mazes (be sure to check out the Great Vermont Corn Maze for the largest corn maze in New England), pumpkin patches, and iconic venues like the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory and The Vermont Country Store.

Hear

There are many ways to take in the sounds of Vermont, from a hike through the woods accompanied by the chirping of birds and crunch of leaves underfoot, to the melodic notes of local, regional, and international musicians at one of Vermont’s many fairs and festivals. 

Visit vermontvacation.com for more information on Vermont and assistance planning your next trip to this bucolic state.