We waited as long as we felt comfortable waiting for a Saturday to Saturday stay in Vermont. We booked the Smuggler's Notch Resort for our base for our week in October.
We intend to limit our daily travel to the north half of Vermont with a day in Burlington, one on the around the islands, one in Stowe area, one in the Mad River Valley, one to the Capitol area, one to the Northeast area and one to go back to any thing that really stands out to us during our daily discovery drives.
Living here in East Tennessee we are very familiar with slow "leaf peepers" every fall and especially in the last weeks of October in the GSMNP area- Cades Cove is like an urban center on weekends in October. That said October is the busiest month for the most visited National Park so we are used to it. I suspect that Vermont can be no worse.
Thanks for all the heads up about festivals, don't miss places and such. We are open to any other ideas that you may have so go ahead and pitch'em out for us. We have places of interest to that we plan to stop already but are looking for more. Outlet malls are not an option. Places like Maple Hardwood or Cabot Cheese or maple shacks are on our list to visit as we drive about northern Vermont.
Thanks again and keep the tips coming!
Well, that is quite an ambitious schedule for one week! Keep in mind you are dealing with long distances with these ideas. It is extremely rural and a lot of the driving can be tiring. No way can you see, do and appreciate everything on your list and get some sleep! LOL! But- here goes some suggestions again you can pick from-(sorry if I have repeated myself from a previous reply)-
If you go to Cabot make sure you go to the actual Cabot factory in Cabot VT. (There is also a Cabot outlet in Waterbury which is good.) Ben and Jerrys and Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Lake Champlain Chocolates outlet. Smugglers Notch Distillery outlet and Vt. Teddy Bear outlet are there also, and Kerug Green Mountain Coffee. Going from Stowe to that Waterbury area you will pass Laughing Moon chocolates small shop- very good.
Going through the notch itself is an experience.
Visit the Trapp Family Lodge of Sound of Music fame in Stowe. Take the tour. Good restaurant in Stowe is Harrisons. Small- so make reservations. The Whip at the Green Mountain Inn is good also.Great bike/walking path in Stowe. I love the Stowe Mercantile Exchange shop in Stowe. Also- local theater there is very good and bargain prices (Stowe Theater Guild). If you go to a show keep in mind you have to drive through the notch in the dark to get back to Smuggs.
Also ride up to the summit of Mt. Mansfield (a must), or take the gondola up to "almost" the summit. You can also make dinner reservations for up there.
Burlington has a ton of restaurants and a bike/walking path that goes along the Lake- (and actually over it in Colchester) awesome views of the Adirondacks. There is also a city trolley tour you can take from the waterfront. You can also take a guided sailboat. Or, you can grab one of the Champlain Ferries to cross the lake. Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory gives tours. Lots of breweries. Also, the Ethan Allen Homestead.
In South Burlington there is the Shelburne Museum and Farm, Vt Teddy Bear factory, and the VT. Wildflower Farm. In Charlotte, you can ride up to Mt. Philo State Park for an incredible view of the Champlain Valley.
The islands are my favorite. Every one of them- on Isle La Motte you might visit St. Anne's Shrine- very French Canadian area. There are many state parks and beaches along the lake. I like Sand Bar State Park. Heck- I like all the state parks on the lake. Some wineries. Hit St. Albans and try Joe's Maine Seafood Restaurant- the early bird special. There is also a Historical Museum there. Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge in Swanton.
If you make it to Montpelier, visiting the Hope Cemetery in Barre is a must. Go on-line to see why. Also Morse Maple Farm (has a website as well). Vermont Historical Museum.
If you like the idea of dog sledding, Eden dog sledding has a dogs on wheels excursion- expensive- but worth it. About an hour and a half from the resort.
As I said previously. I belong to the VT 251 club and have been to well over 100 towns in the state- plenty to see and do. I have owned at Smuggs for 17 years. If you need to know anything, just ask me!
I recommend the book : An Explorer's Guide Vermont by Christina Tree and Rachel Carter.
Have fun!