As a historical fiction author, it is a rare occurence when I turn my history seeking brain off. Mostly, because history is everywhere and I simply can’t stop myself from reveling in its time stamp.
We just retuned from a vacation to Vermont. Our goal was to explore the state while taking in the autumn foliage. I didn’t even bring my laptop with me as I was certain I would be entertained from dawn to dusk.
Vermont is a magical place, and not just in October. The quaint and idylic lifestyle we recall from days gone by is alive and well in small communities, local shops and a stunning amount of historic buildings, all with their own stories to tell.
So without further ado, here is a peak into our leaf peeping and history seeking adventure.
We started in Burlington, Vermont touring the shops of Church Street and the pathway that follows Lake Champlain.
We then traveled to the nearby town of Milton and spent the evening in a quaint 1860’s farmhouse. The autumn colours were delightful as we took a leisurely country stroll in the neighborhood.
Leaving Milton, we took backroads and scenic byways visiting our first of many covered bridges along the way.
Our first destination was to Smugglers Notch where we hiked and explored through the crunch of leaves while learning about the historic passageway used before, during, and after prohibition.
We stopped for a quick visit in Stowe and walked the town’s pathway, paying our respects while immersing ourselves in the long ago history of those who lived hundreds of years before us.
We chose Waterbury Village Historic District as our home for the next few days and came across a lovely bookshop (see TikTok for a glimpse), and this historic and delightful library. The building (second photo) was donated to the Village by Dr. Henry Janes. As a bonus, we discovered a “word garden” out back of the library and spent some time writing in the pebble rocks with large rock words. Again, check out my Tik Tok for more information.
Somewhere along the way, we found another covered bridge. This one was red and lovely!
A visit to historic Montpelier is a must when visiting Vermont. Historic buildings are at every turn. A historic and stunning libary was a real treat to pop into as we wandered the streets.
One of the highlights was the State Capitol building which we ventured into and toured while the rain subsided outside. The history of the state of Vermont in both interesting and profound. Before visiting the Capitol building, I didn’t know that Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery.
On our way out of Montpelier, we took a detour and went for a little hike. Little is relative, as we hiked 5 of the 7 days we visited and some of them were long and hilly, but absolutley stunning.
The first photo is from a historic view point that overlooks Montpelier. The stairs were steep but the view was spectacular.
Our GPS says we toured a significant chunk of Vermont and another magical place was Sugarbush Ski Resort. Though the snow had yet to fly, the autumn colours were on full display.
You might be able to tell that I am bit obsessed with covered bridges. My husband is a photographer so I am continuously looking for the next great shot he can capture and I can hang on our walls.
I could have spent days driving through Vermont with the country roads and the autumn colours. Oh wait! I did and I loved every minute of it.
We visited two very historic homesteads on our trip. The first was Hildene, the summer home of Robert and Mary Lincoln. Yep! The same Licoln as in Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln, their eldest son. The highlight of this visit, besides the most adorable teenage goats (see next row of photos), was the stovepipe hat of the great man himself. It was one of those pinch me moments. See TikTok for a glimpse at the hat.
I have about 50 photos of inside the mansion but honestly the photos were taken primarily for research of the era and don’t do the home justice. The home was built in 1905 but I was surprised to learn of its modern design. Complete with 8 washrooms, the indoor plumbing was certaintly a perk in the early 1900s. The home also had central heating and electricity. It was a chilly day so I managed to find the spots in each room where the heat was flowing.
The first photo is of the maid’s laundry room where clothes were washed and mended and extra linens were stored. The second photo is from Mrs. Lincoln’s bedroom overlooking the manicured garden.
Then there were the grounds. The lush garden, an observatory, complete with a massive telescope I was unable to photograph due to its size and trails and pathways that go on for miles. I can atest to the miles of trails as we must have walked close to two hours as we took in the scenery.
Remember those goats? I will admit, I visited them twice because they were just so adorable and friendly. Hildene makes goat cheese which you can purchae in the Welcome Centre.
After relocating to stay in Middlebury so we could be closer to Manchester, Woodstock and other spots of interest, we toured the quiant town of Woodstock and visited the Marsh – Billings – Rockefeller National Historical Park.
The tour of the masion was sold out for the day but we wandered the grounds and took in the view from the front porch before venturing out a 5+ mile hike.
We climbed and climbed and then completed a loop around the progue before climbing some more to a few look out spots. The third photo is the view from the top. The climb was definitely worth the view.
I hope you enjoyed this recap of our trip through Vermont. Thanks for reading!