The ultimate destination on our fall travels to find brilliant colors was Stowe, Vermont. Stowe is a quaint little historic town about an hour and half from the Canadian border. It is a hot spot for tourists for three seasons: ski season, summer recreation, and fall foliage. We opted to make the trek during autumn.
The leaves were late changing this year, so we delayed our visit about a week. Still, the colors were not as brilliant as we expected. We found some very nice lone trees that were showing off, but, in general, the colors were rather muted. That did NOT tank our visit. Thanks to the the generosity of our local guides, we had a wonderful time.
The Gold Brook Bridge, or Emily’s Bridge as the locals call it, is a covered bridge built in 1844 using the wooden Howe trusses. The bridge itself is a marvel, but it is famous for its haunting past. Legend has it that a young girl was intended in marriage, but her parents forbid it. She made plans to meet her love at the bridge to elope. When he did not show, she died there by throwing herself from the bridge. People claim to have seen and heard evidence that Emily still haunts the bridge.
Moss Glen Falls is a short drive from downtown Stowe. A short easy hike will bring you from the road, alongside the stream, to the water fall. We got caught in the rain the day that we visited, so we did not get to enjoy it for long. It is definitely worth seeking it out.
The von Trapp family settled in the Stowe area after fleeing Nazi-occupied Austria, Their ties to that part of Europe is apparent in the architecture adopted. Their family home has been converted to a lodge. Even if you do not stay at the lodge, it is worth stopping by for lunch in the restaurant or to take a tour. We tried the vegetable beef soup and prime rib sandwich in the restaurant for lunch, and they were delicious. They raise cattle and have their own brewery to service the lodge.
The Gondola on the ski mountain is in operation during the fall foliage to give guests the opportunity to see the colors of the area from that unique vantage point. It really was a highlight of the visit.
We found a number of other great places to eat while we were in town, but you will want to make reservations if they take them. Doc Ponds Restaurant offers some very good traditional fair (e.g., chicken sandwich and cheese burger), but we really enjoyed the sides of beats, squash, and mac & cheese. We also tried the local Rookie’s Root Beer, which was great! Butler House is a cute little restaurant downtown that serves breakfast and dinner. If you’re in the mood for shrimp and grits, this is the place to get it.
There are a couple of other stops you will want to make while you’re downtown. The Black Cap Coffee & Cafe is a local favorite, so we found a crowd. It was well worth the wait, though. Shaw’s General Store is where you will want to stop to pick up those souvenirs that you like to collect while traveling.
ou can find additional photos of our visit to Stowe on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564318350582. This is a production of Traveling with Maw Maw & Pere, LLC. All rights Reserved.
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