Indian Summer & Vermont

When the forests of New England turn into a sea of scarlet, bright orange, deep gold, and warm copper at the end of September, the Indian Summer begins — one of the world's greatest natural spectacles. No postcard, photo, or 4K video can capture what it feels like to drive through this explosion of colors. Vermont is the epicenter: 80% of the state is forested, predominantly with maple trees, whose leaves develop the most intense colors.

Stowe

Stowe is Vermont's most postcard-perfect place — a charming mountain village at the foot of Mount Mansfield (1,339 m, Vermont's highest mountain) with a white church steeple rising from the autumn leaves as if staged for a calendar cover. The Mountain Road (Route 108) from Stowe to Smugglers' Notch is one of the most spectacular foliage routes in the USA — 16 km through a tunnel of colors. In winter, Stowe transforms into one of the best ski resorts in the East. The Trapp Family Lodge (yes, the Sound of Music family emigrated here!) offers Austrian-style accommodations from $250/night and free hiking trails through the autumn landscape.

Burlington & Lake Champlain

Burlington, Vermont's largest city (45,000 inhabitants — everything is small here), is located on the shore of Lake Champlain with views of the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. The Church Street Marketplace, a car-free pedestrian zone with brick buildings, local boutiques, and street musicians, is the liveliest place in the state. Burlington's beer and restaurant scene is surprisingly good for a city of this size — the farm-to-table movement has deep roots here. At the lakeside, you can rent kayaks ($25/hour) and paddle across the lake at sunset.

Green Mountains & Foliage Routes

The Green Mountains run through Vermont from north to south and are a sea of colors in the fall. The best routes for leaf peeping:

• Route 100 — Vermont's "Main Street," 320 km from the Canadian border south through the heart of the Green Mountains. The most beautiful sections are between Stowe and Killington.
• Route 7A — Through the valley west of the Green Mountains, past covered bridges, antique shops, and the Norman Rockwell Museum in Arlington.
• Smugglers' Notch (Route 108) — A narrow mountain pass that closes in winter but is breathtaking in fall. Huge boulders, dramatic rocks, and the most intense colors.

Vermont has over 100 covered bridges — more than any other state except Pennsylvania. The most photogenic: Emily's Bridge in Stowe (allegedly haunted), the Taftsville Covered Bridge near Woodstock (1836, the oldest still in use), and the West Cornwall Bridge in Connecticut.

Maple Syrup & Ben & Jerry's

Vermont produces 50% of American maple syrup — and the difference from industrial syrup is like between freshly squeezed orange juice and soda. In March and April, you can visit Sugar Houses (maple syrup farms) and watch the sap being collected and boiled down. The Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks near Montpelier offers free tours year-round. A liter of pure Vermont maple syrup costs $15–25 — the perfect souvenir.

The Ben & Jerry's Factory in Waterbury is one of Vermont's most visited tourist attractions. The 30-minute tour ($6) shows the production and ends with a tasting. The Flavor Graveyard on the premises — a humorous cemetery of discontinued ice cream flavors — is a hilarious photo opportunity.