Oct. 14-18, Central Vermont past peak?

[Lisa Williams]

This year is our 2nd trip to Vermont (Oct. 14-18) & NH to take in more of New England's autumn show. We missed a lot of autumn last year by coming 1 1/2 weeks too soon at the end of September. We're staying in Nashua to be near friends and have been paying attention to the foliage reports. My concerns are: 1) Will central Vermont be past peak? Should we stick to the SW and SE corners of Vermont? 2) Can someone suggest a couple of small towns/villages good for walking (in both states) to see the trees rather than driving all day? We're trying to avoid the long hours in a car this year. 3) We thought about trying some of the state parks. Are these worthwhile? We aren't into major hiking, but 1-2 miles are fine as long as there aren't drastic elevation changes. We aren't stuck on color, but are hoping for more than last year. Lastly, thanks for takig care of your state so well. We're from the midwest and enjoy New England because there is a sense of pride you have in your towns and rural areas. We love the "no billboard" policy and the effort everyone puts into making their homes and cities so appealing to tourists. We would come every year if able, so keep up the great work.

[dfpvt]

That's great! Someone who actually wants to get out and walk to experience the color and spend less time in a car. Congratulations. That's by far the best way to really enjoy the foliage.

Grafton, VT, is good for walking around, and not a long drive from NH. The village itself is small, but pedestrian friendly, and there are hiking trails immediately above town. Ask for directions at the Old Tavern. There's a short, easy hike on a marked trail through the forest just up the street from it. You can reach Grafton on Route 121 from Bellows Falls, just off I-91)

NH has plenty of state parks that are easy to reach. Check their website for one that suits your tastes. NH state parks

[pwt54]

If you do go to Grafton,VT. check out the cheese factory just south of the village on the Townshend Road. If you do the Billings Farm, go to the Marsh-Billings Rockefeller National Park across the road and hike the free Carriage Trail to Mt. Tom.