The Ultimate Fall Guide to Vermont: Part I
My first time visiting Vermont was nothing short of amazing.
I went on a roadtrip with a close friend and we spent four days traveling around different parts of Vermont. We timed it perfectly to go right at the start of the peak foliage. The drive up was scenic. New York City’s leaves aren’t fully there yet, so it was nice to finally see that beautiful fall palette — one of the many things I look forward to when Fall rolls around. Many of the places we chose to visit were due to proximity and to just really make the most of our time there. After organizing all the content for this travel guide, I’ve decided to break up days 1 and 2 in today’s post and days 3 and 4 in another travel guide part II.
Stay tuned!
If you have any questions about this travel guide, please leave a comment below or feel free to send me an email (grace@gracefulleemade.com). I’d be more than happy to help answer any questions you may have!
Without further ado…
DAY ONE: Bennington, Manchester, and Burlington
Bennington, VT
The roadtrip to Bennington was about a 3-4 hour car ride. We decided to take the scenic route, which was longer, and made a couple of stops along the way. At Bennington, we stopped for a quick bite to eat. I got a wrap at Your Belly’s Deli and then we went into a local premiere cafe and gift shop called ‘Bringing You Vermont.’ The gift shop had a large selection of syrups, homemade candles, wooden toys, and more. There is also a deli located in the back. If you’re wanting any souvenirs, I highly recommend stopping by and checking it out.
After we ate, we drove to the Bennington Battle Monument — the tallest structure in Vermont. Due to COVID restrictions, we were unable to climb to the top, so it was a quick little visit.
Bennington, VT
I decided to take Pepper and Luna with me on the roadtrip. I was a little worried about their limited space, but they surprisingly behaved the entire trip.
Chiselville Covered Bridge, Sunderland, VT
After Bennington, we drove to Sunderland to visit the Chiselville Covered Bridge.
Prior to the trip, we researched covered bridges near Route 7 in Vermont that were along the way to our next destination. After going through a bunch, we narrowed it down to a couple. Chiselville Covered Bridge was one of my top choices. There was something about the structure of this bridge and the pop of red that really stood out to me. Not to mention, this bridge is famous 😉. It was featured in a scene from the 1987 movie, “Baby Boom” with Diane Keaton.
FUN FACT: Vermont is home to more than 100 covered bridges. The bridges date from 1820 to the mid and late 19th century. 🍁🍂
After the Chiselville Covered Bridge, we drove about a half hour to Manchester, VT.
Our next stop was driving up to the top of Equinox Mountain.
Equinox Mountain is the longest, privately-owned, paved toll road in the United States. Therefore, you are required to pay for the Skyline Drive.
Rates are as follows:
$20.00 car and driver
$5.00 per passenger
At the top of the Mountain is a Toll House with picnic and parking areas. It was raining on and off while we were driving up. When we got to the top, it was completely foggy and we couldn’t see the view. 😥 However, on the drive down, it started to clear up and we were able to see the view and snag a couple of shots. Apparently, the summit offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Green, White, Adirondack, Berkshire and Taconic mountain ranges.
Sidenote: In case anyone is wondering whether the drive is safe, there were guard rails installed almost the entire length of the drive. I’ve been on scary roads driving up mountains before, but this one felt safe overall.
The Skyline Drive is 5.2 miles long with an elevation increase of 3,235 feet.
After Equinox Mountain, we made a quick pitstop at Kingsley Covered Bridge — another one on our list.
And then it started to rain again. You can actually spot the rain drops in the photos…
Next stop: Manchester, VT
First Congregational Church of Manchester, VT.
{ 3624 Main St, Manchester, VT 05254 }
We stopped by the First Congregational Church of Manchester and the surroundings were so beautiful. I love the architecture of the church and its beauty is really enhanced during the fall season.
DAY TWO: Cambridge, Stowe, and Waterbury
We started the day off with breakfast at Penny Cluse Cafe — a delicious homey brunch and lunch spot — located in Burlington. Then, we did a quick drive through the University of Vermont before heading to Stowe. The drive from Burlington to Smuggler’s Notch was about an hour.
Warning: this road is very dangerous with cars zooming by both ways — I was only able to snap these shots *super quickly* because there were no cars during that time, but I do not recommend having an entire photoshoot on these roads.
I’m not even kidding when I say we shot these in less than 5 minutes.
I highly recommend driving through Smuggler’s Notch during peak season. It’s a scenic 17.3 mile point-to point drive, and there are places off to the side of the road where you can park and hike. I took more videos than photos during this drive. If you were following me on Instagram, you probably saw the videos from the drive that day.
To get to this view at Smuggler’s Notch, we parked at the Barnes Camp Visitor Center. There was a parking lot right beside this boardwalk that leads to a loop hike called Barnes Camp Loop. On the boardwalk, you’ll be able to see this beautiful, scenic shot of the mountains.
After Smuggler’s Notch, we headed to the Gondola SkyRide in Stowe.
The socially-distanced line was about a 30-40 minute wait due to the limited number of gondolas taking in new people. It was mandatory for every rider to sanitize their hands prior to entering the gondola station. Sanitizers were provided in the line. Riders entered every other gondola, which is why it took a bit longer. You are allowed to take your mask off while riding in the gondola, but you are required to wear your mask when you exit.
I highly recommend this Gondola SkyRide in Stowe. The views are breathtaking and it’s well worth the wait.
*Unfortunately* I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but… the Gondola SkyRide is now closed for the season — last day to ride was October 12. 😥
Hours of Operation:
Starting July 18 and running through Monday, October 12.
Open Daily, (weather permitting): 10 am - 4:30 pm, Last cabin up at 4:15 pm
Gondola SkyRide Pricing (tax not included):
Credit Card Sales Only: All transactions will be cashless for lifts, mountain activities, on-mountain dining as well as at retail and rental locations.
Adult: $30
Child: $21
Family Pack (2 adults, 2 children): $88
more information on the website (here).
FUN FACT: Mt. Mansfield is Vermont’s highest mountain.
From the top of Mt. Mansfield, you can access hiking trails and sweet treats at The Waffle.
Have any questions? I know that was a long travel guide, but I hope this was helpful!
Have you been to any of these places before? Are you planning a trip to Vermont? Let me know! I’d love to hear from you.