Before I go back to Europe for a year, I'd like to spend some quality time with my family. I was thinking of driving everyone up to Vermont at the beginning of Fall on a 5-day'ish trip. I know the New England area is great during the Fall, with lots of colors. I unfortunately know nothing about the state or what places to check out. I was hoping someone can point out some things for me and give me a tip or two on places to see. I was thinking of going in sometime mid-September.

Ben and Jerry's factory up near Burlington is a MUST.
Everyone will tell you that though.
Best of luck to you my friend.

__________________
-Sam
93 300D
210k - Sold, but not forgotten.

Greetings,
If you like outlet places, there is Manchester, VT which is a pituresque (but unfortunately developed) little town.
I'd also recommend Weston where the Vermont Country Store is headquartered, and the restaurant they run (don't remember the name, but it's right beside the store).
Newfane is a really pretty little town but not much to stop and do there--appears in lots of post cards.
Drive along route 100 which goes right up the middle of the state and hits a lot of the more "Vermonty" places.
Also Woodstock (Billings Farm, Vermont Institute of natural studies[VINS]) and of course, Killington and Stowe or any of the large ski areas for Fall foliage.
Bromley has an Alpine slide if you have kids of that inclination.

Lodging is hard to find, though, if youcome in early September, you'll likely be before the foliage. Tours, however, start to come at that time, so beware.
ARW

St Johnsbury, arrive on vacation, leave on probation. Check out the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium ,maple syrup factory, St. Johnsbury Athenaeum. St J is not a destination in itself but is on the leaf-peeper trail. Not yet Wal-Marted last I passed through. Next town north has a great breakfast diner.

Good choice, Vermont is great; wife and I spent a few days last August then went to New Hampshire. I suggest:
Burlington on Lake Champlain
Ben & Jerry's Factory in Waterbury; south of Stowe
Trapp Family Lodge (Sound of Music) in Stowe
Montpelier is laidback; but so is the entire state.
St. Johnsbury as previosly recommended.
Easy to get around this small beautiful state.
regards,
Mark

Been poking around middlebury alittle lately for pipe dream future relocation. I'd bet you could take a boat ride out of Burlington that would be pretty cool or you could ferry accross to or from New york on your way/way back to Ohio....Lots of great camping canoeing hiking all over the state...I think it depends on what you're into....

__________________
Rob M
Norwich, VT USA
1980 240D Euro delivery 4 speed manual silver/blue
~160K miles

Wow, I appreciate the replies so far. My parents are the "geezer" type... they're not into hiking or canoeing. They simply like to enjoy the old natural scenery. One person mentioned that lodging can be an issue. Is there a particular place anyone here recommends to stay at?

We camped at a State Park on Lake Champlain when travelling thru there this summer. Really liked it. Looking at the local weekly paper, it was obvious there are a lot of cabins and cottages for rent in that area on the lake. For a family reunion kind of get together with geezers, they looked very attractive.
Montreal is just a hop skip and a jump from there.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

We stayed here and definately recommned it:
GREEN MOUNTAIN INN
P.O. Box 60
Stowe, VT 05672
800-253-7302 || 802-253-7301 || Fax: 802-253-5096
info@gminn.com

regards,
Mark

I made a quick rundown of the trip.. lets see what you guys think.

I'll be driving my 560SEL(perfect roadtrip car ) from Columbus, OH to Burlington, VT.

Doing a Yahoo Map rundown, its a nearly 12 hour drive. I'll split it to 2 days, 6 hours per day.

1) Columbus to Buffalo, NY(Day 1)
2) Next day head over to Niagra Falls(might as well go see it if you're nearby)-(Day2)
3) Drive then to Burlington, VT
4) Spend 3 days in the VT/NH area (scenery, B&J ice cream factory, Maple syrup factory, etc.)
5) Drive back from Burlington, VT to Buffalo, NY(day 6)
6) Drive from Buffalo, NY to Columbus, OH (day 7)

It might be worth considering driving thru Canada one way or the other so you don't repeat the route.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I suggest you do the Canada route around lake ontario then down through the 1000 islands border which leads into the Vermont side so atleast you get the "best of both worlds".

__________________
99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

I caught a couple of Phish shows up in Vermont a few years back. That being said, I don't really remember any places of specific interest.

Is there a ferry of some sort that can take me across the lake to Ohio from Canada?

your loss Paul.
regards,
Mark