Fall Foliage in Southern Vermont

For 360 degree panoramic views take a 5 mile "Skyline Drive" up Mount Equinox (4000 feet) just south of town, along Route 7a. Bring lunch, camera, jacket and go on a clear day! On the way back to town stop at the Wilcox Dairy Farm Stand for the BEST tasting ice cream ever!

Hiking: Long Trail / Appalacian Trail heads just East of town along Route 11/30.

Shopping: walk through Manchester for several blocks of Outlet Shops, local interesting shops, antique stores... the wood-made products shop along Rte. 11/30 is a favorite.

Bromley & Stratton Mountains offer skiing, located up the Route 11/30. On the way up you will pass a junk shop, behind it is a Bigger building with LOTS of old stuff, on nice weekends there is also a flea market set up on the lawn.

Tour "Hildene" (home of Abraham Lincoln's descendants). There is usually an art show, craft fair or other fall event going on. The new Orvis store is open.

Learn to fly-fish! Riley Ice Skating Rink and several golf courses and the Back Road Discoveries offers jeep tours!

Visit the Southern Vermont Arts Center, take a wagon ride and sample some fresh cider!

Quick Tips:

I suggest to anyone traveling to a busy tourist area that if they can go mid-week, they should. Traffic is lighter, prices are lower, etc. Dining during peak weekends will be easier if you make a reservation in one of the MANY restaurants. Also, if you are looking for the REAL Vermont you may want to stay just outside of town, but close enough to enjoy it. Manchester fills up during foliage season so it is wise to make reservations early. No trip to Manchester would be complete if you did not stop at the Local Chamber of Commerce. It is located in a cute little cottage on the Route 7a in the center of town; there you will find all the brochures and guides to events to make sure you don't miss anything! They also have a lodging referral service should you arrive without reservations. Visit www.ManchesterVermont.net for more information (lodging, dining, events & sightseeing).

Best Way To Get Around:

Most people drive to Manchester, but there is also a Greyhound Bus stop. A half hour north is an Amtrak station (Rutland). Locally there is a bus that circles thru town as well as taxi service. If you stay at a hotel in town, you can walk to the shopping and dining. Albany airport is about an hour and a half away.

WELL we have to tell all here... our story is we took a drive to Vermont and liked it so much we bought an INN of our very own, now named the Mt. Tabor Inn. After 3 years our little hotel has become a Vermont home to not only us but many travelers who pass our way. Once a barn, now a cozy Inn offering 9 Hotel Style, spacious & spotless, guest rooms and a Tavern. All of our rooms have a view of the mountainside across the street. Located 15 minutes north of Manchester and 20 south of Rutland. 5 ski areas.

Visit our website at www.MtTaborInn.com for photos & more information. Discounts to fellow RCI community members!

Mention this journal!
E-mail: reservations@MtTaborInn.com

Originally set in barns from the early 1900's the playhouse has gotten a building renovation and is better than ever. You will find professional quality entertainment well worth the ticket price, always a good selection of shows, and it is a year round activity. Located minutes out of Manchester.

This area of Vermont has MANY hiking trails well mapped out and maintained. The forest ranger station on the Route 11/30 has the brochures with maps and information. There are trails that take a few hours as well as the very well known Long Trail that can take weeks to complete. The Appalacian Trail passes through and there are many hikers along the way who have been walking the A.T. for months! The trails I enjoy most are the ones that end up at a pond or lake, where we can picnic before turning around, there are several of these. There is a trail for every level of ability also.

As your car climbs this (well paved) mountain you catch glimpses of the countryside and each is more incredible than the next. There are several parking spots along the way to stop for photos, trails for hiking, and there is even a lake on one side. When you reach the top you will notice there is a temperature drop of a few degrees and at times it can be windy, so bring a jacket. Behind the old Inn is a path that takes you to the lookout point and this is where you will get your best photos. On a clear day you can see several states away in every direction; this is well worth the time. Bring a picnic basket. There are bathrooms at the bottom of the mountain and there is water for your car along the way just in case; and DO NOT attempt this drive if your car does not have good brakes!!!

Orvis just opened its NEW AND BIG and really nice Flagship Store in Manchester. They offer Flyfishing School and also build custom rods and rods and lures etc... you can tour their rod shop and watch the items being hand made. Their gun selection is HUGE also. Their clothing selection and quality is superb. They also carry interesting home items. They have a discount area downstairs where you can find bargains. Once a year they have a HUGE several-tents sale outside where they sell all their excess stock from their catalog warehouses and shops across the US, it is all shipped here and they sell it for a week straight at discount. The store is a must see for all you hunting-fishing type!

Snow shoeing is fun no matter when you go, BUT if you go at night when there is a full moon you will have your own little adventure. The moonlight on the white snow will light your way. Now, you need to dress warm, and do not go out if it is snowing or windy. What our gang likes to do is bring a thermos with a hot toddy along, as well as a little snack, but most important you want to have the fixings for a little fire. Find a spot to take a rest and make your campfire, tell some good stories, and head home! TO BE SAFE it is best to also carry a flashlite and we usually take along a 2 way radio and leave one with someone at home so that should we have an emergency, we can reach help quickly.