It’s no secret that Vermont is a Fall lover’s dream, and we’re here to tell you… It lives up to the hype! We had the opportunity to spend one day exploring this beautiful state last fall and absolutely fell in love! Now, while Vermont may not be a very large state, it’s definitely too large to explore in a single day, so we focused our efforts to the smaller area surrounding the town of Stowe and city of Burlington… And even then, there weren’t enough hours in a day to see it all! From that day of adventure, we crafted this itinerary that we think is the perfect fall day in Vermont! If you have more than a day to explore, there’s definitely enough info and activities here to spread out over a weekend for a more laid back visit, but none-the-less, we only had a day, so here it is…
*Be sure to check out our “One Day in Vermont” travel vlog for a closer look at our visit!
8:00am: Cider and Doughnuts at Cold Hollow Cider Mill (3600 Waterbury-Stowe Rd)
There’s good reason that the Cold Hollow Cider Mill is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vermont! Famous for their delicious Apple Cider produced the old-fashioned way (with a traditional rack and cloth press built in the 1920s) and their legendary Apple Cider Donuts, no fall trip to the area is complete without a visit! In addition to the amazing cider and donuts, they also have their Cold Hollow Shop (where they sell all sorts of amazing Vermont specialty foods and products), a Restaurant, and a Hard Cider Tasting room if you want to come back later in the day.
10:00am: Explore Stowe/Waterbury
The entire Stowe/Waterbury area is a fall lover’s dream! From idyllic main streets and local shopping to picturesque hikes and Autumn landscapes, it doesn’t get more “Fall” than this!
Main Street
Go Stowe Visitor Information Center
Shaw's General Store
Black Cap Coffee & Beer
Stowe Public House & Bottle Shop
Bear Pond Books Store
Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum
Vermont Artisan Coffee & Tea Company (11 Cabin Ln)
Nebraska Knoll Sugarhouse (256 Falls Brook Ln)
Hike Sunset Rock
1:00pm: Lunch in Stowe
Idletyme Brewing Company (1859 Mountain Rd)
Von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall (1333 Luce Hill Rd)
Piecasso Pizzeria & Lounge (1899 Mountain Rd)
Green Goddess Café (618 S Main St)
Doc Ponds (294 Mountain Rd)
2:30pm: Ben & Jerry’s Factory (1281 Waterbury-Stowe Rd Route 100)
First built in 1985, the Ben & Jerry’s Factory continues to manufacture approximately 350,000 pints per day and their Scoop Shop continues to tickle the taste buds of fans who visit from around the world. At the time of writing this (April 2022) they have yet to resume offering indoor factory tours or opening their gift shop, but be sure to check their website for more up-to-date information
4:00pm: Explore Church Street Marketplace
Filled with shopping, dining, and entertainment, with Church Street at the heart of it all, Church Street Marketplace is a National Register Historic District and has been named one of the Great Public Spaces in America and shouldn’t be missed!
Outdoor Gear Exchange (37 Church St)
Ben & Jerry’s (36 Church St)
The Vermont Flannel Co. (28 Church St)
Old Gold Vintage Clothing (151 Cherry St)
Downtown Threads Vintage Clothing (108 Church St)
Burlington Records (194 College St)
Phoenix Books Burlington (191 Bank St)
Keep Vermont Weird (33 Church St)
6:00pm: Sunset at Waterfront Park (20 Lake St)
If the weather permits, watching the sunset over Champlain Lake is an absolute must. And Waterfront Park is the perfect place to catch a beautiful New England sunset!
7:00pm: Dinner
Hen of the Wood (55 Cherry St)
The Whiskey Room (173 College St)
The Farmhouse Tap & Grill (160 Bank St)
Sushi Maeda (152 Cherry St)
Cafe Dim Sum (95 St Paul St)
And just like that, your perfect fall day in Vermont has come to an end! We hope that these tips help you plan your visit and make the most of your time in Stowe/Burlington! If you did find it helpful, please consider heading over to our YouTube Channel and subscribing for more travel content and following us on Instagram, it would mean the world to us!