Vermont Travel Notes

Photo taken in Waterbury VT, October 27, 2010

One of the great things about Vermont is its natural beauty even in seasons when you would least expect it. Right now is a good example. Most of the colorful leaves are not only past peak, they're lying on the ground. We're transitioning into Vermont's "stick season" where all the trees look like sticks. While it does not have the gaudy color of two weeks ago, the hillsides are still eye catching. At the lower elevations there are splashes of bright yellow and larger patches of rusty reds. It can be quite striking.

Yesterday was a good example. I enjoy this time of year when the sun is low on the horizon in the morning and late afternoon. It makes for dramatic natural lighting and it's especially fun to observe when the sky is a cobalt blue or swirling gray with sunlit highlights.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

I got a chuckle today when Stowe's first Snow Report of the season arrived in my email inbox. But they had a good reason for sending it: over two feet of snow there yesterday. Of course, that's at the top but you can see in the report that they averaged a couple of inches elsewhere on the trails.

Most of the ski areas in the northern half of Vermont will get their snow making operations started in a couple of weeks and they will try to open a few trails by Thanksgiving.

Also, if you are considering a season pass, now is the time to get one. The sale prices will go up substantially November 1.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Our weather today was not conducive to foliage viewing but it's predicted to be better tomorrow and fairly good on Sunday. Many areas are past peak now plus the wind and rain has knocked off many of the leaves that changed colors. However, there are still some areas coming into good color.

As I've mentioned previously, the Vermont foliage report I think does the best job is on vermontvacation.com where you can find observations by VT forest rangers who know what they're talking about and are not hyping travel to Vermont. Here is a link to the October 14 Foliage Report.

If you plan to tour VT in the next few days, I recommend that you line up lodging reservations in advance. We are nearly full tonight and full Saturday night for example. However, we have many rooms available Sunday night. That is likely the same situation for most Vermont lodging properties but not all. Click this VT Lodging Forecaster link for a useful guide to how busy inns and motels around the state are. It varies by location.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

While organizing this year's photos, I came across this summer photograph of plastic wrapped, round hay bales on a Route 100 farm a little north of Waitsfield.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

The quilt auction website mentioned below says more than 75 quilts will be auctioned tomorrow (probably written months ago) but the word "more" understates it by a wide margin.

According to their Facebook page they now have 180 donated quilts for auction. Considering the amount of work that goes into making a quilt, that is an staggering number. It shows the great generosity you find around here.

I didn't see any information about payment methods but I imagine you can polish up the credit card and bring along the check book for back up.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus

Quilt Auction Saturday October 10

Vermont is a rural state and I suppose nothing says rural like quilts and tractors. If you would like to see to some of the local rural flavor, here are two good Vermont events you can attend, one featuring quilts and the other parading tractors.

Cabin Fever Quilts in Waitsfield Vt is sponsoring a benefit auction of 75 hand made quilts to raise funds for the local Food Bank, Humane Society, Battered Women's Shelter, and Seedbank for Haiti.

The auction will be held at the Waitsfield Elementary School with a preview 9:00 am and the auction at 11:00 am. The quilts are craft made in the local area.

You can see a slide show of some of the quilts to be auctioned here. But be warned, once you see them, you are going to want them!


Charlotte Tractor Parade October 10

Don't worry about the line through the date on the Charlotte Tractor Parade home page. It's just some html that's gone wacky. The event is still this Sunday, October 10.

Event time 11:00 am until 5:00 pm with the parade of well over 100 antique and modern tractors starting at at 1:00 pm. There will be a farmers' market, free children's games,
hayride, music, food, toy tractor display, and more. Specific information and directions are here.

By the way, if you stop and ask for directions to CHARlotte, you will get directions to North Carolina. If you ask for directions to CharLOTTE you will be directed to the village in Vermont. That's just how we roll here - French Canadian influence you know.

The weather forecast is sunny tomorrow but cool - bring a jacket and a camera for the fall foliage too.

Jeff Connor Grunberg Haus