Vermont Travel Notes

Recommended Vermont drives to see fall foliage

"Where should we go to see foliage?"

That's a question we get several times a day this time of year. It's usually an easy question to answer because you can drive anywhere and see good color on the trees. Later this month, the number of good drives begins to dwindle of course and the task takes more research.

Much of the answer depends on whether or not the person has a particular type of drive in mind or is open to any suggestion. For instance, some folks want a drive on remote country roads while others would prefer to go to the mountaintops.

Some of our favorite drives are on the highways which often surprises people. But the highways here in Vermont are free of billboards and often offer sweeping vistas. It's better for the passengers who have time to look but drivers don't get as good view because they are busy driving and there are few opportunities to pull over and look around. In our area, Interstate 89 around Montpelier has some great views to the west. And the same highway traveling south from Burlington, has another great view a few miles south of Exit 12.

Around our location, Route 100 either north or south is a good bet. And Route 108 from Stowe to Jeffersonville through Smuggler's Notch is one of my favorites summer and fall.

Your innkeeper can tell you about the best local roads to drive but the Vermont Department of Tourism has also put together a web page of 20 recommended foliage drives. Many of these are lengthy adventures, some of them 100 miles and more. Of course, you don't have to drive the whole route but these suggestions are a good starting point.

(c) 2008 Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus Inn