A Few Days of Fall in Vermont

I love traveling to less known places and discovering their natural beauty first hand. The fall of 2007 gave me an opportunity to visit New England and I definitely would recommend visiting Vermont and especially Quechee State Park like I did. Although I flew into Providence, RI as I was visiting my cousin in Boston, the best way to get to Quechee is to fly into Manchester, NH. I think this is the nearest airport and lies only about 80 miles from Quechee. Staying in Manchester is a good option as there is loads of stuff to do and see. I will focus on the day trip to Quechee which I took.

Quechee State Park is in the city of Quechee, VT and lies along U.S. Route 4. The best time to visit is around early October. Temperatures can get a little nippy after that but the colors take a while to fade away before winter sets in. Please note, however, that the last day to visit the park as well as to camp is October 18 this year after which the park remains closed for the winter months.

If you love enjoying the natural beauty of fall colors, this is the place to drive to. The entire trip features fascinating shades of yellow, orange, red and green, and there is never a dull moment. Every crest and trough along Route 4 will display different scenery. Have those cameras ready and fully charged up. Also bring along a light jacket or wind breaker as average temperatures during the day can be around the upper to mid 60s.

The main attraction at the park of course is the deep gorge that has formed due to glacier activity. Running along the floor of the gorge is the Ottauquechee River which adds to the beauty of the gorge. The most remarkable sight, however, is the abundance of trees sporting the entire spectrum of fall colors. Quite a sight to behold!

Located in the heart of the Quechee Gorge is Quechee Gorge Village which was established in 1985 as a woodsman museum. It features antiques, collectibles and crafts and is, according to me, a must stop for every visitor. There are a lot of interesting things to see and buy there.

Camping and entry fees for the park are inexpensive. Details can be found at the links provided in my sources. Getting to the floor of the Gorge is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the parking lot. Once down there, there are a lot of amazing views to see. Look back up from where you came from and see the bridge that spans the width of the Gorge. Look around and see the river twist and turn its way along the floor. Take in as much as you can here as the air feels clean and fresh and the soothing colors of fall help relax the mind and body.

If you're willing to explore the area some more, drive further west along Route 4 and get to Woodstock, VT. The little town boasts being the prettiest little town in the U.S. and there's a lot of truth in that claim. In its own words the Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce describes the 'little New England village' as being a place with clear blue skies, babbling brooks, fields of flowers and pastoral farms. I would also recommend getting your maple syrup around here. After all, that's what this part of the country is famous for. Don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to stay in Woodstock as that's exactly what I felt like doing when I was there. That's how much I loved it. Lodging can be found around Woodstock. For more information follow the link in my sources.

Overall, my trip to New England was completely satisfying. I loved making pictures wherever I went. Spending a few fall days in this part of the world is truly a pleasure and worth every piece of your time and money.

Happy travels!

Sources:

1. Quechee State Park: http://www.vtstateparks.com/htm/quechee.cfm

2. Quechee Gorge Village: http://www.quecheegorge.com/

3. Woodstock Area Chamber of Commerce: http://www.woodstockvt.com/

4. Yahoo Maps: http://www.maps.yahoo.com

5. Woodstock Lodging: http://www.woodstockvt.com/woodstockvt/lodging.php