Any update on how the colors are? First visit in two weeks..

[enimo]

My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary at the end of this month by visiting the state of Vermont. We live in Alabama and have wonderful plans. I understand we may be at the beginning of the color change in most elevations but just wanted to see if I could get an update on what the foliage is doing and what the outlook is for our exciting week.

[enimo]

We arrive Sept 24th and will stay thru Oct 1st. We are staying in Waitsfield at Tucker hill inn. We had planned to take day trips from there.

[wentworth]

sounds good enimo--Waitsfield has that covered bridge leading to some nice views and a steep up-and-down hill that we always like--We'll be in Stowe from Sept 27th to Oct 2nd--Northeast Kingdom probably your best bet--Rt 114, Rt.5,--- RT. 5a leads to beautiful Lake Willoughby, a must see--check out Cloudland Rd in Pomfret also, as well as Rt.2 out of St Johnsbury--good luck!

[enimo]

Thanks for the info. Having never been to VT before, what can I expect to see the last week of this month in regards to color in the central part of the state? Ido understand the NE Kingdom will be best and we will certainly spend a lot of time there. Is there a current forcast website?

[wentworth]

enimo, last year Vermont a widespread frost on sept 19th, and it kicked off the color pretty much by the 23rd up on Rt 100 in Stowe, and other areas--Northeast kingdom was peak about a week later I think--see page 5 here on the Forum for more details--Frosts are good for color

[pwt54]

I just got back from blackberry picking and my fingers are full of thorns, so excuse the typing. The stressed out trees are already turning. They are few and far between right now but their colors look great. You will probably have the best viewing northeast of Waitsfield. I plan to ride around the Island Pond area this Sunday so stay tuned.

[jaspal]

Hi,

I am an Indian citizen, currently living in Oman (the Middle East) and plan to be in VT with my wife and 3 year daughter; between 5-8 October, driving back to Princeton on 8th October.

This is my first visit at the famed location.

Am staying at Colchester 1 night and 2 nights at townplace suites williston.

Can someone guide me as to

1) is this a good time to visit (for foliage)

2) where can I see some great foliage

3) which routes I can drive down for foliage views

4) What activities can I do - pumpkin drawing, mapley syrup, farms, riding etc and where ?

Thanks a ton for your help.

[Andy]

From Williston, take Interstate 89 East. The exit for Stowe (Ben & Jerry's, Cold Hollow -- see "Can anybody help Jaspar thread) is less than 20 miles. The actual exit is Waterbury. This is also the exit for Vermont Route 100, which is arguably Vermont's most scenic highway. What I like about it is, depending on the progression of color, if it is too late in the North, you can head South on it, and vice versa.

North to Waterbury Center will take you to B&J's, Cold Hollow, and eventually Stowe. Beware: on weekend days, this route can be VERY congested -- which doesn't mean don't do it -- just plan for it to be slow. It is worth driving into Stowe. In the middle of downtown, turn Right onto Route 108 and you can drive through Smuggler's Notch, nearing the top of Mt. Mansfield (the highest mountain peak in Vt.). Its a spectacular drive, but be ready for some hairpin turns at the top (it is completely paved and fully passable by car). If you go down to the other side, you will end up in the village of Jeffersonville, which is a pretty little Vermont town. You can take Vt route 15 East back to Route 100. From Route 100, you can either continue North, or if you go South, you will end up back in Stowe (at the intersection where you turned onto 108). Stay south on 100 and it will take you back to Williston. Nice little driving loop with some memorable sights.

If color is past peak (unlikely at that time of the year), you can go South toward Waitsfield. This is more rural, somewhat less touristy, but with some great scenery. South of Waitsfield, you will follow the "Mad River" for a ways (actually more like a small stream than a river). There are a couple of photos of it on my website here. There is a pull-off with some picnic tables very near where this was taken. Further south you will come to Moss Glen Falls (there are actually two "Moss Glen Falls" in Vermont -- this is probably the most famous). Its a fair bit of a drive, but ultimately, you will come to Vermont's relatively famous Killington Ski Area, which also has some spectacular views. The Green Mountain Range is to the West of Route 100 most of this route.

[wentworth]

test

[jaspal]

Thanks Andy for the advise.

Best Wishes

Jaspal

[wentworth]

Temps in Killington 66 41, 65 48, 66 47, 67 43, 69 44, 64 38, 62 38,---temps near normal to below normal--looks good

[Andy]

Glad to help, Jaspal. Note that my driving tour is pretty "tame." It never ventures far from main roads and "civilization."

In Vermont, you can turn off on almost any road and find wonderful adventure.

PWT, here is the "king" of driving tours. He has probably driven 90% of Vermonts roads, used to work on them, and really has some detailed tours. If you search for some of his posts, here, you will find some good ones.

[pwt54]

First of all, I would save the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Cabot Cheese Annex, and cold Hollow Cider Mill tour for a rainy day. Yesterday I rode around northeastern Vt and the foliage looks normal for this time of year. There were some early turning stressed out trees that were showing wonderful color, but this is also normal. It looks like best color will be along the route US 2 corridor when you arrive. This means that your best bet for grear color will be east of route 108 and maybe half way between routes US 2 and US 4. Route 100 may be peaking as far south as route 9 and up to route US 2. It will still have good color as far north as route 58 in Lowell. On your first full day I would take Interstate Highway I-89 to exit 10 in Waterbury and turn right onto route 100 north. Drive route 100 north to route 58 east in Lowell. Turn right onto route 58 east and drive that to the end at route 5A and turn right. Drive route 5A south to the end at route US 5 and turn left. Drive route US 5 south to the first traffic light and turn right onto the Stevens loop Road (route 122) and drive route 122 to the end at route 16. (just heard the news that Smuggler's Notch is closed until tomorrow because some knothead truck driver got his truck stuck between the rocks again) Okay, at route 16 turn left and drive route 16 south to the end at route 15. Turn right onto route 15 west and drive that back to route 100 in Morrisville and turn left to get back to I-89.

[jaspal]

Hi pwt

thanks.

was trying to put the info on google map so that i can chalk out the route..

does it look like this -- thanks for your time.

also, as I will be driving a rental car, trust the roads will be paved.

Thanks n cheers


Driving directions to TownePlace Suites by Marriott
217 mi – about 5 hours 26 mins

Towneplace Suites-Williston
66 Zephyr Rd
Williston, VT 05495
1. Head west on Zephyr Rd toward Essex Rd/VT-2A
358 ft
2. Take the 1st left onto Essex Rd/VT-2A
0.3 mi
3. Take the 1st left onto US-2/Williston Rd
Continue to follow US-2

21.6 mi
4. Turn right at Rte-100/VT-100/VT Route 100
2.1 mi
24.0 mi – about 32 mins

Rte-100
Waterbury, VT 05676

5. Head north on Rte-100/VT-100/VT Route 100 toward Daltons Rd
2.0 mi
2.0 mi – about 4 mins

Rte 100 N, Waterbury, Vermont 05676

6. Head east on Rte-100/VT-100/VT Route 100 toward Cobb Hill Rd
292 ft
7. Take the 1st left onto US-2/US Route 2/VT-100
Continue to follow US-2/VT-100

1.3 mi
8. Turn right at VT-100/VT Route 100
Continue to follow VT-100

18.9 mi
9. Turn left at Portland St/VT-100
0.1 mi
10. Take the 2nd left onto Bridge St/VT-100
0.2 mi
11. Take the 1st right onto Brooklyn St/VT-100
1.0 mi
12. Turn left at VT-100/VT-15/VT Route 15 W
Continue to follow VT-100/VT-15

1.9 mi
13. Turn right at VT-100/VT Route 100
18.6 mi
14. Turn right at VT-58
Destination will be on the right

3.7 mi
45.7 mi – about 1 hour 28 mins

Rte 58 E
Lowell, VT 05847
15. Head east on VT-58/VT Route 58 E toward Robtoy Rd
Continue to follow VT-58
4.6 mi
16. Turn right at Rte-58 W/VT-58
Continue to follow VT-58
1.2 mi
17. Turn left at RT 58 E/VT-58
3.3 mi
18. Turn right at Memorial Dr/Rte-5/US-5/VT-58
0.2 mi
19. Turn left to merge onto I-91 S
32.6 mi
20. Take exit 20 for US-5 toward St Johnsbury
0.3 mi
21. Turn right at US-5/US Route 5 S (signs for Barnet)
Continue to follow US-5

11.2 mi
22. Turn left at Monroe Rd
Entering New Hampshire
0.2 mi
23. Continue on McIndoe Falls Rd
0.3 mi
24. Sharp left at Connecticut River Rd/NH-135
1.3 mi
55.2 mi – about 1 hour 9 mins

Rte 5 S, Barnet, Vermont 05821
25. Head south on Connecticut River Rd/NH-135 toward McIndoe Falls Rd
1.3 mi
26. Sharp right at McIndoe Falls Rd
Entering Vermont
0.3 mi
27. Continue on Monroe Rd
0.2 mi
28. Turn right at Rte-5 S/US-5
2.2 mi
29. Turn left at W Barnet Rd/Bimson Dr
Continue to follow W Barnet Rd
0.5 mi
30. Turn right to merge onto I-91 N
10.2 mi
31. Take exit 21 toward Montpelier
0.3 mi
32. Merge onto Rte-2 W/US-2
9.3 mi
33. Slight right at VT-15/VT Route 15
Continue to follow VT-15

12.8 mi
34. Turn right at VT-14/VT-15/Wolcott St
Continue to follow VT-15
12.2 mi
35. Turn left at Park St/VT-15A
Continue to follow VT-15A

1.8 mi
51.2 mi – about 1 hour 14 mins

Morrisville, VT

36. Head west on Lower Main St/VT-100 toward High St/VT-100
Continue to follow VT-100

18.4 mi
37. Take the ramp onto I-89 N
14.5 mi
38. Take exit 11 for US-2 toward RICHMOND/Williston/VT-117
0.4 mi
39. Turn right at W Main St/US-2
Continue to follow US-2

5.4 mi
40. Turn right at Essex Rd/VT-2A
0.3 mi
41. Take the 1st right onto Zephyr Rd
358 ft
39.1 mi – about 58 mins

TownePlace Suites by Marriott
66 Zephyr Rd
Williston, VT 05495

[jaspal]

Hi,

are the roads well marked... i mean how do I know i have arrived at route 100, or 102, or 5a and the likes (although I will be having a GPS).

thanks
Jaspal