Top 5 Thing to Do this Fall in Vermont
I love summer. Who doesn’t love summer? But I am a total sucker for fall in Vermont. I love apple picking, harvest festivals, corn mazes and don’t even get me started on the cider donuts! They make me weak in the knees. If you’ve never had one from Vergennes Laundry or Shelburne Orchards you must put that on your to-do list for this season.
These are a few of my favorite fall traditions in Vermont that I think you shouldn’t miss this year.
Harvest Festivals
The champion of all harvest festivals is probably the Old Fashioned Harvest Market in Underhill which is held at the end of September each year. However, there are so many harvest festivals in Vermont and only so many weekends that you will find that you have to pick and choose the best ones for yourself.
At a fall festivals you will find hay bale mazes, tractor rides, zucchini contests, local music and plenty of activities for kids. I particularly enjoy the ones centered around food. Think apple pie and chili contests.
Apple Picking
Fall in Vermont means you need to get to a PYO orchard ASAP start picking! Vermont has so many different varieties — Macintosh, Empire, Cortland, Honeycrisp (my personal favorite), Ginger Gold and more that you will be surprised how fast you can fill up a bag or a bushel. Most orchards in Vermont open the last weekend in August or in early September.
Fall Foliage Drives
Leaf Peepers you know who you are. Check out this stellar list of 6 Vermont Fall Drives to find the most scenic routes in Vermont. Make the most of the drive and find a place along the way to hike. The autumn foliage views from the top of the Green Mountains are outstanding.
Haunted Happenings
Dress in your Halloween best and head to Shelburne Museum for a day of trick-or-treating on the museum grounds. This annual spooktacular event is great for families that don’t live in traditional neighborhoods (hello most Vermonters!). Bring a stroller or wagon for your little ones as it involves walking between the outdoor buildings at this beautiful museum.
Pumpkin Picking & Corn Mazes
When you are ready carve you jack-o-lantern check out these places to pick pumpkins. And late fall in Vermont means trying not to get lost in the acres and acres of corn fields that make up out corn mazes. There are big ones, like 10 acres, and small ones and ones that have barnyards and animals to pet for younger kids. There are even cornfields that are haunted at night.
Happy Fall!
Hi Dana,
I love this article as it reminds me of having gone apple picking in upstate New York. Love it! Now I have another state to check out :-).
Kerwin.