Classic Vermont Foliage Tour

There are so many scenic drives in Vermont it is hard to know where to start.  But that’s OK because almost every drive is a scenic drive.  Today I am going to take you through Stowe on one of the most classic scenic drives in Vermont, especially in the fall.  You can begin this drive in either direction but I am going to describe the drive starting from exit 10 off of interstate 89 in Waterbury. From the exit, you will take VT-100 north towards to the town of Stowe.  From this classic Vermont village, I will take you over a mountain pass, through a pleasant valley, and back to the interstate.

As you travel on VT-100 towards Stowe, you will pass some of Vermont’s most popular tourist destinations:  the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream factory and the Cold Hollow Cider Mill.  I am going to recommend that you skip Ben & Jerry’s in favor of the Cider Mill for this fall trip.  Don’t worry because you are going to make a stop where you can satisfy your sweet and savory tooth.  After you pass Ben & Jerry’s, you will see the Cabot Cheese Annex and Lake Champlain Chocolates on your left.  You will find samples of all of Vermont’s fine cheeses and all of Lake Champlain’s scrumptious chocolates at this stop.  You can pick up some picnic supplies for the rest of your trip at this stop as you move on to the cider mill.

You should plan a good hour for the next stop on your tour, the Cold Hollow Cider Mill.  Cold Hollow is built around its fresh cider business.  They have a display area where you can watch the cider being pressed and get a free sample.  But this just starts your tour.  Cold Hollow is filled with Vermont foods and gifts.  A visit to Cold Hollow is not complete until you buy a dozen of their freshly made cider donuts.

Now that you have cider, donuts, cheese and chocolate packed away, it is time to head to the mountains.  You will be taking VT-100 north into the ski town of Stowe.  You could spend days in Stowe, but today I am going to have you drive right through this village taking a left on VT-108, known as the Mountain Road.  As you leave the Village of Stowe behind, you will be driving past the Stowe Mountain Resort where you will have to opportunities to travel to the top of Vermont’s highest mountain – Mount Mansfield.  The first way you can travel to the top of this mountain is via the Toll Road.  For a small fee you can drive your car right to the very top, get out and park, then take a short hike to the summit.  The second way you can travel to Vermont’s tallest peak is to take the gondola.  Either way you reach Mount Mansfield’s peak, you will be treated to fantastic views.  Now I don’t want to rush you, but it is time to go back down and continue your drive.  Continuing on VT-108 you will be traveling through Smuggler’s Notch, one of Vermont’s most dramatic mountain passes.  There are places along the notch road for you to stop, have a picnic, or take a hike.  As you can imagine, Smuggler’s Notch was a smuggling route, especially during the days of prohibition where liquor from Canada was brought down into Vermont.  Many people turn back towards Stowe at this point but I am going to have you continue on down the mountain, past the Smuggler’s Notch ski area and into the town of Jeffersonville.  (Two practical things to note about Smuggler’s Notch is that it is too narrow for motor homes and it is closed in the winter due to snow and ice.  but don’t let that worry you, as you can drive this pass in your car.)

Now that you are down off the mountain, I am going to bring you back to the interstate in Richmond.  You will begin this last leg of the trip by taking VT-15 west through the town of Cambridge.  As you travel along the western shoulders of the Green Mountains, you will be traveling to Jericho, the historic town of Jericho, where Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley made his home.  Bentley is well know for his amazing photographs of snowflakes.  There is a display of his work at the Jericho Historical Society in the town’s Red Mill.  Once you have explored the town of Jericho, you can travel VT-15 to I-289 in Essex where you can connect with VT-117 west back to Richmond and Interstate 89.