Idiot’s Guides: RV Vacations

People return year after year to marvel at the breathtaking beauty of Vermont’s fall foliage. It’s tricky to nail down the perfect timing for peak viewing, as every year is different. But regardless of whether the season is lush and colorful, there’s nothing like New England in autumn.

Highlights

Drive from Stowe to Jeffersonville through Smugglers’ Notch, and enjoy the corkscrewlike turns.

Ride in a gondola to the top of Killington, Vermont’s highest peak.

Pick up fall produce and baked goods at one of Vermont’s more than 100 farmers’ markets.

Visiting during the first full week of October is your best chance for seeing Vermont fall foliage at its peak.

48 Salmon Hole Lane, Jamaica, VT 05343. vtstateparks.com/htm/jamaica.htm; 802-874-4600. May to October. $18 to $22. Bath houses, nature center, swimming hole.

If you want a rustic, backwoods camping experience while visiting Vermont, this state park is the best place to stay. There are no hookups, but the bathhouses do offer hot showers. Many of the sites don’t accommodate rigs longer than 20 feet. The online reservation system has a column indicating what size rig fits on each site, so be sure you book a site that will fit your RV.

Interpretative programs are available at the Nature Center, and a playground, horseshoe pit, and volleyball court are nearby. Hiking trails, a picnic area, and a swimming hole make this a lovely camping retreat.

Sugar Ridge is a family campground with amenities to please every guest. Nestled in the Northeast Kingdom, its location enables you to enjoy the natural beauty of the area.

Kids will love the 18-hole mini-golf course, horse-drawn wagon rides, playground, arcade, and daily organized activities. Adults will appreciate the heated pool, volleyball courts, horseshoes, and rec room.

The campground offers a wide range of sites, so be sure you specify what you’d prefer when making a reservation. Some are open and allow for panoramic views of the mountains; others are more wooded and quiet.

3700 Woodstock Road, White River Junction, VT 05001. koa.com/campgrounds/quechee; quecheekoa@comcast.net; 802-296-6711. May 1 to October 20. $35 to $70. Heated pool, playground, bike rentals, pavilion.

This charming KOA’s tall pine trees make it feel like an enchanted storybook forest. Deluxe sites with grills, outdoor furniture, stone fire pits, and paver patios are sought after and worth the price. The campground has two sections connected by a walking path. The playground has a pirate ship for the kids, and the pool is heated during the summer.

The campground’s location is delightful: hike down to the Quechee Gorge; watch the artisans work at the Simon Pearce glassblowing studio; go shopping in Woodstock Village; and get up close to eagles, falcons, and owls at the Vermont Institute of Natural Science.

4763 Killington Road, Killington, VT 05751. killington.com; info@killington.com; 800-621-6867. 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. $11 to $30. American.

During summer and fall months, the Killington ski resort operates an enclosed gondola that takes you to the top of Killington Peak. From there, it’s a short walk to the Peak Lodge, where you have a bird’s-eye view of the Green Mountains.

The restaurant uses locally sourced ingredients for many of its offerings, so the menu changes seasonally. Keep it simple by ordering a cheeseburger, or be a bit bolder and try the smoked salmon BLT.

1760 Main Street, Quechee, VT 05059. simonpearce.com; 802-295-2711. Monday to Saturday 11:30 A.M. to 2:30 P.M.; Monday to Sunday 5:30 P.M. to 9 P.M.; Sunday 11 A.M. to 2:30 P.M. $25 to $50. New American.

The Simon Pearce glassblowing studio should be a stop on the itinerary of every visitor passing through Quechee. And if you don’t eat at the restaurant after watching artisans blow glass vases, you’ve missed the opportunity for an amazing culinary experience.

Like so many restaurants in Vermont, this one sources many ingredients from nearby farms and aims to make local specialties shine brightly. The combination of fine dining presentation with comfort food offerings strikes just the right tone. The shepherd’s pie and meatloaf are prime examples.

The service is friendly and efficient. The views of the waterfall, covered bridge, and mountains make this one of the most romantic places to dine in the region. Reservations are recommended.

46 Hill Street, Danville, VT 05828. 802-684-3616. Tuesday to Saturday 3 P.M. to 8 P.M. $11 to $30. Pub fare.

If you’re looking for a dark, cozy pub on a chilly New England evening, this is it. The downstairs dining room is the more comfortable option.

Homemade soups and seasonal salads are traditional with a hint of creativity. Entrées such as seared scallops and steaks are seasoned and cooked well.

1 Railway Lane, Burlington, VT 05401. rails-vt.com; railtour@vrs.us.com; 800-707-3530. 3 round-trips each day—check train schedule for station stops. Adults $25; children 3 to 12 $20.

Take a break from driving and board the Green Mountain Flyer, which runs three round-trips each day during September and October. The tour sets off from Chester and meanders through miles of countryside, arriving in Ludlow and Rockingham before circling back. This is one of the most relaxing foliage experiences you’ll have.

Biking Foliage Tours: Kingdom Trails

468 VT Route 114, East Burke, VT 05832. kingdomtrails.org; info@kingdomtrails.org; 802-626-0737. Saturday to Thursday 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.; Friday 8 A.M. to 6 P.M.

Biking seems to set the perfect leaf-viewing pace for many people visiting Vermont during foliage season. The Kingdom Trail Association maintains miles of trails far away from the trafficked roads and highways you can travel at your leisure.

If you stop in at the Kingdom Trails Welcome Center, they’ll be happy to help you plan a bike tour that’s the perfect length and difficulty. They’ll also recommend nearby bike rental shops. Some of these, such as Village Sport Shop, run guided tours of the bike paths.

The Lamoille Valley Rail Trail is a work in progress, but dozens of miles of its beautiful bike path are currently open to enjoy.

54 Elm Street, Woodstock, VT 05091. nps.gov/mabi; 802-457-3368. 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Adults $8; seniors $4; 15 and under free.

Woodstock, Vermont, is the quintessential New England town, and the covered bridges and quaint streets are particularly spectacular during the height of fall foliage. This National Historical Park is located just a few blocks from restaurants and shopping, with nearly 20 miles (32km) of carriage roads and trails.

During October, the park offers a 2-hour ranger-led walk that allows visitors to take in the park’s many vibrant maples while also learning the story of the Mount Tom Forest.

If you prefer to go it alone, stop in at the visitor’s center, where the rangers will be happy to help you pick the best trail for fall foliage viewing. You have many different ways to get up to Mount Tom, where you can enjoy the sweeping and stunning views.

ITINERARIES

If you have 1 week …

Visit the Northeast Kingdom, riding bikes along the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail and attending the Colors of the Kingdom Autumn Festival. Take the Green Mountain Flyer train tour. Get lost in the Great Vermont Corn Maze.

If you have 2 weeks …

All the above, plus visit downtown Woodstock and the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, taking a guided tour of Mount Tom. Visit the Simon Pearce glassblowing studio. Hike at the Quechee Gorge, and wander the grounds of Vermont Institute of Natural Science. Take a driving tour of the covered bridges in Windsor County.

If you have 3 weeks …

All the above, plus bike the Kingdom Trails in East Burke. Take a gondola or ski lift ride up a mountain. Kayak or canoe on the Champlain River. Drive through Stowe Hollow. Visit the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival or the Burke Fall Foliage Festival. Check the schedules for Oktoberfests.