Vermont Travel Notes

Two fall traditions in Vermont are foliage "leaf peeping" and antique shows. There are other activities as well this busy weekend so let's get started:

(Quick aside: the weather this weekend will be very nice: mostly sunny and day time temperatures in the upper 50's F. The evenings will be cool with temperatures in the high 30's F. Bring some warm clothes especially if you plan to spend time at upper elevations.)

FALL FOLIAGE

The next two to three weeks you can see some incredible color on the mountainsides and valleys. I have talked with a large number of people here and read in several VT blogs that this year's foliage display may be one of the best ever. I am very surprised at the large amount of red leaves I'm seeing. All the colors are bright. I'm sure we'll be talking about this year's Vermont foliage for years to come.

A fun way to to see the foliage is to get out of the car and into the fresh air on a ski area chair lift. It's an exhilarating experience that you will remember for a long time. Many ski areas offer this service. Just ask your innkeeper where the nearest ski area is that's offering rides - they are located all over the state.

Vermont's largest ski area, Killington is offering foliage chair rides, a Brewfest on Saturday, and hosting ABC's Good Morning America live broadcast on Sunday.

The 13th Annual Killington Brewfest features displays of microbreweries and craft breweries from Vermont and other New England states. It starts at 1:00 pm and goes to 6:00 pm.

Good Morning America LIVE from Killington Peak will start broadcasting Marysol Castro's weather reports and Vermont feature segments from 6 am to 9 am. You can take a free ride on the K-1 Gondola and get a FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST atop Killington Peak. They are encouraging people to attend so they will have an enthusiastic background audience just as they do in New York City. In fact, bring your homemade cardboard signs, jump up and down, and see if you can get on national television. It's a great way to see foliage, get entertained and fed, all for free. The view from Killington Peak includes five states and Canada on a clear day.

ANTIQUE SHOWS

There are two antiques shows in northern VT this weekend and a bunch in southern VT.

The New England Antiques Show formerly presented the antiques show at the Champlain Expo fairgrounds but it has moved this year to Burlington Sheraton Exhibit Center. I don't know the politics behind this move (looks like somebody got mad at someone else) but now there are two major antique shows in Burlington on the same weekend.

The Champlain Valley Exposition and Vermont Public Television are presenting the Vermont Antique Expo and Sale October 4 and 5. The weekend will feature sales, seminars and exhibits on a wide array of antiques and related topics. Located at the Champlain Valley Exposition , 105 Pearl Street in Essex Junction, Vermont. They are expecting about 60 dealers.

The New England Antique Show is being held Saturday and Sunday at the Burlington Sheraton, 870 Williston Road, Burlington, VT. It's easy to find: just take Exit 14W (make sure it is West exit, not the East exit) from I-89. The Sheraton is the large building on your right.

The WESTON ANTIQUES SHOW is being held at the Weston Playhouse in the middle of the village. As they point out, there have 220 dealers and four other antique shows within a 20 minute drive the same weekend. This is their 50th year. I like their slogan too: "Go green...collecting and using antiques is the ultimate recycling." Weston is also home to the Vermont Country Store where you can find modern versions of a lot of antique products - the kind of items you did not think were made any more.

The OKEMO ANTIQUES SHOW is being held at the Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow VT . The Preview is Friday from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm and the show is Saturday 10am to 5pm.

A few minutes away, the 44th annual LUDLOW ANTIQUES SHOW is being held at the Black River High School with the from Preview Friday, 7 - 9 pm and the show Sat 10am - 5pm.

The 31st annual BROMLEY MOUNTAIN ANTIQUES SHOW will have 30 country dealers at the Bromley Ski Area Base Lodge on Route 11, Peru VT
Preview Sat 8 - 10am, Show Sat 10am - 4pm, Show Sun 10am - 4pm.

The 24th annual ANTIQUES IN VERMONT show will be at the Riley Rink, Route 7A North, Manchester Center VT Sat Preview 8 - 10am and Sat Show 10am - 4pm.

OTHER VERMONT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

If you are looking for some non-shopping activity, how about apple picking at Shelburne Orchards . There are 80 acres of apple trees, including 10 acres of organic apple trees. It is located a little south of Burlington VT on Orchard Road off Route 7.

There is a large Craftsproducers Festival at Hildene VT October 3, 4, and 5 that will have 200 artists and artisans displaying and selling their products, all made by the artists - no imports in other words. The show is in heated Camelot tents.

Along with the crafts, the festival has fresh food and live entertainment. The VERMONT CHEESE, BEER, AND SAUSAGE TENT will be the center of a food festival within the craft festival. More than a dozen micro brews will be available, plus a variety of Vermont cheeses, sausages, and wine will be available.

The nearby town of Manchester is full of designer outlet stores and it is the home of Orvis, the American Museum of Flyfishing next to the Orvis store, and the famous Battenkill River.

The QUECHEE VILLAGE 18th Annual Fall Foliage Crafts Fair will be October 4 and 5.

Nearby in Woodstock VT is the Billings Farm & Museum, a great place to take the kids. It has events year around. The one this weekend is the annual Pumpkin and Apple Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 & 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. There will be an apple taste test, hands-on apple pressing to make cider, pumpkin and apple ice cream, apple races, pumpkin bowling, apples-on-a-string, pumpkin Legos® (what do you suppose that is?), making apple butter being in the farmhouse kitchen, and more. The pumpkin display includes white, blue, and striped pumpkins with explanations about this "hearty, nourishing, and versatile vegetable, first cultivated 9,000 years ago." Horse-drawn wagon rides are included with admission. Your kids will love it and you will be impressed with the quality of this facility. I highly recommend this event for families.


Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock VT

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus inn