We’re in a Green Mountain State of mind.
Relax by Twin Farm’s nine-acre pond
BARNARD
Stay: Twin Farms
For a true escape from the bustling city, spend a weekend in the quaint hamlet of Barnard. This quintessential New England town boasts ample charm and vistas of foliage for fall travelers—but foodies will particularly be in heaven.
Tasting flights and cheeseboards await at Fable Farm Fermentory’s tasting room
The local winery and cidery, Fable Farm Fermentory (fablefarmfermentory.com), houses a tasting room, while Barnard Inn Restaurant (barnardinn.com) offers a curated prix-fixe menu with seasonally inspired local ingredients. Visitors can further immerse themselves in the natural environment with Twin Farms’ (twinfarms.com) eight new treehouse stays. The luxe, 800-square-foot accommodations designed by Michaelis Boyd embrace a serene Japanese aesthetic with a wabi-sabi style and oversize soaking tubs looking onto the treetops.
MANCHESTER
Stay: Kimpton Taconic Hotel
Under the watchful eye of Equinox Mountain sits one of Vermont’s most picturesque towns. Foodies travel from all over to indulge in Manchester’s vibrant culinary scene, where farm-to-table is a lifestyle. The Crooked Ram (thecrookedramvt.com)—a beloved restaurant, bar and bottle shop— serves craft beers, natural wines and cocktails with delectable bites. Look out for chef Tiara Adorno’s fall additions like rye cavatelli with milk-braised pork, sage and smoked pecorino. More tasty plates await at Kimpton Taconic Hotel (taconichotel.com), under recently appointed French chef Nicolas Houlbert. Take a scenic ride with the Land Rover Driving Experience—Hildene, the Lincoln Family Home (hildene.org), is definitely worth a visit—before unwinding in one of the hotel’s sumptuous cottages.
WOODSTOCK
Stay: Woodstock Inn & Resort
Located on the main drag of this bustling Central Vermont town lies the gorgeous and historic Woodstock Inn (woodstockinn.com). After settling in at the luxury resort, lunch at the nearby Simon Pearce (simonpearce.com) restaurant is a must, where guests can overlook the cascading Ottauquechee River dam while enjoying farm-to-table bites. After perusing Simon Pearce’s ornate blown glass homeware, find your creativity at Farmhouse Pottery’s (farmhousepottery.com) wheel workshop. Before the day comes to an end, spoil yourself with the hotel spa’s Bee Pampered seasonal treatment, which includes a honey scrub, honey glaze wrap and massage with spiced pumpkin body butter.
Seesaw’s Lodge’s Court Cabin features original wainscoting, a gas fireplace, a modern kitchen and more.
PERU
Stay: Seesaw’s Lodge
Sweet serenity is only a hop, skip and jump away at Seesaw’s Lodge (seesawslodge.com). The boutique Peru stay welcomes wayward travelers to unwind in their luxe yet rustic wood cabins featuring gas fireplaces, radiant heat floors and balconies. Embrace the season with an afternoon at The Hut—an on-property barn that hosts apple cider-making demonstrations all fall—before dining at Johnny Seesaw’s Restaurant. Heated deck seating and roaring fireplaces serve as the perfect backdrop for savory, seasonal dishes. Complete your trip with a visit to Hapgood Pond Recreation Area—hiking around the 12-acre pond is truly a Kodak moment.
STOWE
Stay: The Lodge at Spruce Peak
Take in the last few weeks of fall before Stowe becomes a snow-covered village. Visitors can spend all day hiking, biking and golfing at Spruce Peak, and after the sun goes down, shimmering stars illuminate the sky. On October 28, catch a glimpse of the full hunter’s moon, bursting with orange and yellow hues, from one of The Lodge at Spruce Peak’s (sprucepeak.com) private mountain cabins. Once the sun rises, stop by the solar-powered Alchemist Brewery (alchemistbeer.com) for a tour before indulging at The Bistro at Ten Acres (thebistroattenacres.com). The rustic yet elegant eatery serves local flavors like maple bourbon chicken tips.
Haystack Mountain’s vibrant foliage serves as a breathtaking backdrop for The Hermitage Inn.
WEST DOVER
Stay: The Hermitage Inn
Tucked at the base of Mount Snow and Haystack Mountain sits the tranquil town of West Dover. Once the fall creeps in, this quiet Vermont retreat is painted with colorful autumnal brushstrokes, beckoning leaf peepers from far and wide.
Nothing beats the foliage views from Mount Snow’s Bluebird Express.
Take in the view from Mount Snow’s (mountsnow.com) scenic chairlift ride before resting your head at the cozy Hermitage Inn (thehermitageinnvermont.com). Beginning October 15, the boutique stay’s heated, private gondolas will transport guests to Piemonte, Italy, with Barolos, white truffles, risotto, alpine cheese and rich hazelnut desserts. When venturing off-property for dinner, book a table at the French-inspired Two Tannery Road (twotannery.com). Warm honey-bourbon toddies are sure to ward off the chill as you indulge in bites like steak au poivre.
Photography by: COURTESY OF TWIN FARMS; MAX GRUDZINSKI; MICHAEL MUNDY; COURTESY OF HERMITAGE INN; COURTESY OF MOUNT SNOW
