Day 3. We left Boston on the morning of day 3 and headed to Vermont. We spent our time in Vermont in a little town called Stowe and this was a very good decision. The drive took about 3 1/2 hours. But the scenery was wonderful as we started seeing more and more color in the leaves as we headed north.
Stowe is the most charming town. The whole town has the feel of a Hallmark movie. We went to a cider mill and had fresh cider – hot and cold – and apple cider donuts, walked around downtown where there are tons of charming little shops, and had really great food. Last but not least, we had lots of maple syrup and cheddar cheese.
Another very cool thing to check out in Stowe is the Von Trappy Family Lodge. The Von Trapp family chose to build their family lodge in Stowe because it reminded them of Austria. The lodge has beautiful views, and you can read all about the family’s history or you even take a guided tour. You can stay in the lodge, one of the guest houses, or even a villa. There are also tons of activities onsite or nearby – golf, skiing, sleigh and carriage rides and so much more. The Von Trapp Brewing Bierhall Restaurant is also worth a visit.
In case you are a Ben and Jerry’s fan, you might want to take the tour of the factory or just go get ice cream. There’s a great gift shop in addition to really great ice cream.
Day 4. It was a little hard for us to leave Vermont, but we drove across New Hampshire on day 4 and it was one of the most stunning things I’ve ever seen. We took the Kancamagus Scenic Highway, which leads you through the White Mountain National Forest. I’ve honestly never seen such vibrant colors and so much breathtaking scenery. Since it was a little overcast, we were not able to see Mt. Washington, but you typically can on this beautiful drive.
You will see multiple “scenic overlook” places to pull over if you want to take pictures of especially beautiful areas. However, there are no gas stations, restaurants, hotels, or any other businesses on this 34.5 mile drive. With this in mind, make sure you are prepared for no modern conveniences for a little bit. You will not get cell service very much throughout this drive either. I promise you will not be disappointed if you take this route.
Next, we stopped briefly in Portsmouth, New Hampshire right before we entered Maine. Portsmouth is a beautiful walkable seaport town that was settled in the 1600s. You can walk along the water and enjoy lots of locally owned restaurants, shops and art galleries. Portsmouth has one of the oldest working ports in the United States. It just feels like a beautiful mix of old and new and is definitely worth a visit.
- Smuggler’s Notch State Park. If you like hiking, biking, fishing or just spending time in nature, be sure to check out this beautiful state park.
- Cold Hollow Cider Mill. This place is just wonderful. You can also take a self-guided tour, eat at their restaurant, shop in their incredible gift shop, watch the cider being pressed, and enjoy hot or cold cider. Don’t forget to have the apple cider donuts! You can also sit outside and enjoy your cider with beautiful views.
- Harrison’s Restaurant. Harrison’s was an incredible dinner experience for us. We started with a Vermont cheese plate that also came with bacon jam and bread. It was heavenly. I got pecan encrusted salmon with arugula, roasted sweet potatoes, locally produced gnocchi, cranberries and a whole grain mustard sauce. Talk about a perfect fall dish! Daniel got a pasta that I am working on recreating. It was sweet red pepper fettuccine with lemon mascarpone cream sauce, Asiago, baby spinach, sun dried tomatoes and wild mushrooms. Both of these dishes were absolutely wonderful! If you go to Stowe, you need to eat here.
- The Butler’s Pantry. We saw this restaurant while walking around Stowe. I googled it and saw all the awards that this place has gotten and we decided we had to have breakfast here. Some of the awards are: Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in the USA, People Magazine Most Popular Restaurant in Vermont, and USA Today Best Restaurant For Cheap Eats in Vermont, just to name a few. They do not accept reservations, but you can go to their website and from there you can get on a waitlist. This was a good decision because we chose a time slot that we would like to eat and then got a text when our table was ready. Not having to wait in line was a huge plus! The cheddar jalapeno pancakes with Vermont maple syrup were amazing. I also had a breakfast sandwich with house made maple sausage, eggs, and Vermont cheddar that was delicious.
- Von Trapp Family Lodge. Don’t leave Stowe without seeing this beautiful place. Especially if you like the Sound of Music!
- Kancamagus Scenic Byway. If you are wanting to see the most beautiful leaves, you have to do this. Not only is it beautiful, but in my opinion, it is also such a peaceful experience.
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Finally, check out all the things to see and do in Portsmouth here. I especially recommend Annabelle’s Natural Ice Cream.
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