Don’t just do it for the ‘gram, do it for yourself: Check this page daily for cool places to visit in between oohing and aahing at leaf displays. All we ask is that you keep the secrets to yourself, because we don’t need everyone from New Jersey on the roads.
Friday, October 16 – Bennington Theater
Can’t get to Cannes or Sundance? So what? Vermont during leaf-peeping season is much nicer, anyway, and now, we have a film festival, too: The Vermont & Folklore Festival, happening November 5th through November 8th. Don’t miss the opening reception, featuring the documentary “The Trial of Alec Baldwin.”
Get more information on the festival’s featured films here. Be sure to check their full calendar of stage, comedy, and other events too.
Thursday, October 15 – Revolution Rail
Here’s one for your fall bucket list: Revolution Rail, where you can pedal custom-built rail bikes over historic tracks through the Adirondacks with incredible foliage views! Their tour guides pedal along with you, telling the history and stories of the rails, while you soak in the fall foliage. Pedal your way alongside the Hudson River, through the forest and across incredible stretches of the Adirondacks, with meadow, forest, and water views!
Ride the rails and pick your pumpkin on the Pumpkin Patch Pedal runs, out of the North Creek and Thurman Stations!
See for yourself below, and find more information here.
Wednesday, October 14 – Adirondack Pub and Brewery
One of our DJ’s found himself at an event in a hotel ballroom in Lake George in mid-October of last year, and he reported that the foliage views were spectacular. Let everyone else clog the roads in July and August, and make October your time to explore Lake George.
Be sure to also make time to explore the Adirondack Pub and Brewery, where they offer a variety of seasonal beers. Their Oktoberfest pays homage to German brewing tradition, while also keeping it homey, with 100 percent of the ingredients cultivated in New York.
Don’t miss their Oktoberfest charity block party this Saturday, from 12 PM – 5 PM! Enjoy polka, bratwurst, and other delights, all to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks. More details about everything going on at Adirondack Pub and Brewery are found here.
Tuesday, October 13 – Meadowdale Winery
Have you seen a photo of the Helderberg Escarpment, and thought, “How much would my voice echo if I yelled?” By the time you’re settled in at Meadowdale Winery with a glass, and taking in the scenery, you’ll be so relaxed, you won’t want to yell at all. Their wine is for the birds: Reds include their Curious Cardinal and Downy Woodpecker Merlot; if you prefer whites, you might try the Great Egret Traminette.
Meadowdale also lays claim to America’s first wine, their 1736 Birch, so named because Dutch settlers used tree sap to make it, in the absence of apples and grapes. Zag where everyone else zigs, and head west of Albany for your leaf-peeping, leaving time for a glass of wine. More details here
Monday, October 12 – La Pêche
Fall isn’t just about leaf-peeping, pumpkin flavors, and football. It’s also a great time to update your wardrobe, and that includes every part of it. Our friends at Manchester, VT institution La Pêche Lingerie don’t just sell apparel, they also offer complimentary bra fittings, because they want for you to look and feel your best. After all, “Pêche” is French slang for “good feeling.”
From shapewear, to sleepwear, to accessories, La Pêche has you covered. You can visit them in Manchester while on your Vermont foliage trip, and, if you decided to head further afield for leaf-peeping, you can visit their Keene, New Hampshire location as well. More information can be found here.
Friday, October 9 – Meuleman’s
“Let’s go to Jamaica, and get beers.” That would sound inviting, even if the island came to mind before the Vermont town did. A drive along the world-famous Route 100 will take you to the Jamaica village of Rawsonville, where you can step inside Meuleman’s Craft Draughts, and be taken to dozens of countries.
The leaves you’re peeping on your way there come in a variety of colors, as do the offerings at Meuleman’s, from blondes, to ambers, to stouts. If you need a keg for your gathering, Greg and Pat have you covered. If you prefer cider, mead, or wine, or if you want some Vermont cheese with your libations, they have those, too. See the full beer list at their website.
Thursday, October 8 – JK Adams
The focus in October may be on the leaves, but at JK Adams, they focus on the rest of the tree. They’re a purveyor of fine kitchenware, specializing in wood-crafted items. If you’re looking for a custom piece, they make their carving and serving boards on site. If you’re feeling fancy, and want to have guests over for cheese and charcuterie, they offer boards specifically for that purpose. Extended pinkie not included.
Knives, rolling pins, and other kitchen essentials are on offer at their store, on Route 30 in Dorset, Vermont. It’s either on your way north for a ride through scenic farmland, or south into the mountains, so you’ll have a reason to include JK Adams in your route either way. More details here.
Wednesday, October 7 – Paradox Brewery
You want to drive around and peep fall foliage, but you also want to have something to eat. It’s no paradox at all: A visit to Paradox Brewery on your way through an Adirondack foliage ride satisfies both desires. You can also enjoy their seasonal beers, both marking an October occasion: Their Leaf Peeper Supreme German-style lager, and their Kölsch Affair: Blood Orange.
Even their mountain logo features an impossible-to-replicate optical illusion. They’re just off the Northway on Route 9 in North Hudson, so include them if you’re seeing the Adirondacks, or if you’re crossing over to Vermont, too. A leaf-peeping drive requires a soundtrack, so stop in all weekend (Friday-Sunday) to see live music. More information can be found here.
Tuesday, October 6 – Bromley Mountain
They have joy, they have fun, and they’re celebrating 90 seasons in the sun: Bromley Mountain will open for skiing in late November, but before they do, they’ve got you covered with both leaf-peeping, and other activities.
When you’re done peeping, you can come back down Bromley on their alpine slide. Take in a round of mini golf, or frolic among the leaves with their Treetop Adventure Course. Enjoy live music on the Sun Deck this weekend, and grab a bite at the Wild Boar Tavern. See more information about Bromley here, but don’t forget your sunglasses.
Monday, October 5 – Magic Mountain
Magic Mountain will keep you well-fed, and well-entertained, all winter long. Chef Dave has unveiled a new fall menu at the Black Line Tavern, where you can see live music, and play trivia, or Singo, which is exactly what you think it is. If it’s time to ask that nice person in your life to marry you, Magic Mountain is also available for weddings. They do all the things, and you can learn about them here.
Friday, October 2 – Lost Marble Brewing Co.
You just might lose a marble or two if you end up behind the wrong slowpoke while chasing autumn scenery. Don’t do that, instead, stop and visit Manchester, Vermont’s newest brewery. They’ve captured the spirit of October with their Oktoberfest, and with their Munich-style Helles, Yes! lager. If the kids are in tow, their full food menu also includes options for the young ones.
They open at 11:30 AM Thursday-Monday, making them a great option for either lunch or dinner. You might even see an EQX DJ in there – after all, it’s near our headquarters, and it has beer. Find out more about Lost Marble here.
Thursday, October 1 – Gore Mountain
If you’ve been following along all week, you’ve seen foliage from the roadways, and you’ve seen it from inside the forest. Today, you’ll see it from above, and if you’re tired from yesterday’s hiking, you’ll be able to ride a gondola up a mountain. Yodeling is optional.
Gore offers the best leaf-peeping in the Southern Adirondacks. Full details are found at their website.
Wednesday, September 30 – Merck Forest
“But EQX, the leaves are so pretty! I don’t want to leave the forest!” Okay, just make sure you’re in Merck Forest in Rupert, Vermont when you say that. You won’t want to leave, especially when they have sheep and horses for you to meet on their working farm. The forest is lined with trails, and Merck offers several suggested hikes at all difficulty levels at their website.
Everyone else will be taking a photo in front of Rupert’s cute post office – escape into the beautiful trees instead.
Tuesday, September 29 – Mill Store 1865
If peeping fall foliage isn’t enough of a New England experience, complete your visit by heading to Bennington, and visiting a repurposed mill. Vance Chatel has reimagined a company store as an art gallery, and vintage home showroom. Vance encourages you to be creative as well, as they also host workshops in the fine and decorative arts. You’ll find inspiration in decoration from this former AirBnb owner and operator. Learn more at www.millstore1865.com.
Monday, September 28 – Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
When your dad’s the President, you get to do cool things, like own a giant house in Manchester, Vermont. The once-summer home of Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert lives on as a site with several visitor attractions, including a farm, a garden, and a Pullman railcar, made by Robert’s company. Get your leaf-peeping done early in the morning, as you’ll need a full afternoon to explore the Hildene grounds. Find more information at hildene.org.
Be sure to visit our other friends while visiting the area during foliage season:
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