<p>Woodbound Inn is right near Mt. Monadnock, if you decide to go there. It’s a lovely inn. I live in MA, but not too far from Monadnock–have chaperoned numerous school trips to climb up the mountain. In the fall, it’s actually crowded on the main trail. If you go, take one of the less popular routes up the mountain, especially if you’re going on the weekend.</p>
<p>Just read this lovely story about the resiliency of Vermonters: <a href=“Vermont Students Travel Across a Mountain to Get to School - The New York Times”>Vermont Students Travel Across a Mountain to Get to School - The New York Times;
<p>Hi again, y’all (can I say that in Vermont??). I wanted to thank you again for all of your great advice, including hotel, restaurant and activity recommendations, links, etc. My friend, who is a far better and faster planner than I am, has been reading this CC thread and has run with it! </p>
<p>We arrive in Manchester and are then heading up to Stowe - she reserved 2 nights at Stowe Mountain Lodge. Then I believe we are heading south a bit and staying at the Equinox Resort (in Manchester Village?). She’s calling ahead to make sure there are bike rental places near wherever we stay. Then we’ll head down to Providence. </p>
<p>I need to pick up the slack and make car rental reservations for the trip and look again at your restaurant recommendations.</p>
<p>We absolutely cannot wait for this trip!</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn, thanks for the tip that 20 miles does not equal 20 minutes of travel time. And hey, I graduated from UT in 1984 so we were there at the same time!</p>
<p>What a great story, dmd … makes me proud to be a Vermonter, even if I am a transplanted one 20 years ago. So, yes, please come visit our state. We’ll make you feel welcome and we’ll take care of you the good old fashioned way, even if you have to hike.</p>
<p>Austinhills … enjoy! You and your friend will have a great time.</p>
<p>This map is even better because you can zoom in <a href=“FAQ: Google Crisis Map - Google Maps Help”>FAQ: Google Crisis Map - Google Maps Help;
<p>We just returned from Vermont after settling our daughter in at Middlebury. We saw quite a bit of flood damage in some of the towns and villages, but everyone is working very hard to clean and repair their towns. Vermont drivers drive very slowly and carefully, and they scrupulously and compulsively obey the law giving pedestrians the right of way. This was quite refreshing. I recall my close encounters with sudden death after I moved to Austin from Seattle and ventured into clearly marked pedestrian crosswalks. </p>
<p>Leave behind any preconceived notions that westerners often have about people in the northeast. Vermonters are very friendly and welcoming. Everyone we met was unfailingly nice, and quietly proud of their beautiful state.</p>
<p>Austinhills, that sounds like a great trip. </p>
<p>I just want to mention when you say that after Stowe,you are heading south “a little bit” to Manchester, VT…that even if you drive straight without stopping, that is a 3 hour drive and so just be aware of that. Then, with the inevitable stops to see things or some traffic on country roads due to leaf peepers, it will take longer. Then again, since seeing the scenery and foliage is a big part of your trip, this will make a nice scenic drive from North to South in the state. </p>
<p>By the way, you definitely can rent bikes in Stowe. You should also think about lining up dinner reservations before you arrive, though midweek may be OK. Still, it is peak foliage season and the population inflates in such areas!!</p>
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<p>^^ and here comes the speed trapes!!! There are millions of them as you going thru the small towns. You can have three speed limits, 60, 45 and 30 when you approach a town from a highway, be very careful about it, because even at 3am, the polices are there to enforce the law. I mean, at 3am, how many kids will be going to school? Well, I’ve got a ticket at 3am in front of a school. I deserve to get the ticket because I had skis on the roof and was going thru a town enroute to Killington. There is no way to avoid that school.</p>
<p>Yes, to both points! First, the cars do stop for pedestrians in cross walks (when my kid moved to NYC, I told her to beware, as they don’t do that there!!). But also when you come into the villages (and often enter the villages from two lane roads with speed limits of 50), be very very aware that the speed limits drop, sometimes quickly to 30 or 25, and in many towns there are cops sitting and waiting to pounce. </p>
<p>(and yes, on Rte. 4 between Rutland and Killington…they do get ya…happened once to me too on a trip)</p>
<p>I love love love the Equinox. I really enjoy Manchester – especially the outlet shopping – but the whole Manchester experience is wonderful.</p>
<p>Many years ago my then boyfriend, now husband and I, had dinner at the restaurant on top of Mount Equinox. The hotel is in the village at the base of the mountain – there’s a scenic drive to the top. I think it might be a toll road. The sunset from the top of the mountain was spectacular. See if the restaurant is still there – it was absolutely worth the price of admission.</p>
<p>There is a toll road, too, where you can drive up to the top of Mt. Mansfield (Stowe Ski Resort) for excellent views.</p>
<p>Autinhills, I think where you are going is excellent. I love Manchester, VT. It is a shorter trip than going to Killington, Burlington or even Woodstock. Which makes better sense since you only have 4 days. It is a lovely “Norman Rockwell” town. From there you can take some road trips to some of the other areas. usually in Rutland, VT(30-40min) north of Manchester, they have a fabulous Craft fair Columbus Day Weekend. Woodstock/Queechie has an Apples and Crafts Fair as well. You would have to check on this, since its been awhile since I was there. have fun!</p>
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<p>This is so true. I’ve gotten 2 speeding tickets in my life. The first was 30 years ago in Woodstock, on Thanksgiving morning. The second was 3 weeks ago on Rte. 4 just east of Killington. Drive carefully. Enjoy the foliage. Thanks for supporting Vermont. I wish I was going with you.</p>
<p>DH is leaving Saturday for an annual visit with his cousin and another friend to their good friend up in Shelburne. They do play golf up and back, sometimes in Sugar Bush and sometimes at another course near Rutland so they will be checking with Triple AAA for road conditions and I can post an update next week. Agree with several of the other posters, it is too much to do VT and NH, both are great options. Also as we get closer to foliage season, each state has a link on their vacation sites with foliage updates. Northern NH is generally finished by the second week in October but that means southern NH and Massachusetts are approaching peak.</p>
<p>[New</a> England foliage: Live Foliage Map & Scenic Drives – Free Foliage App - Yankee Foliage - Your Source for New England Fall Foliage](<a href=“http://www.yankeefoliage.com%5DNew”>http://www.yankeefoliage.com) from Yankee Magazine. Click on foliage maps and that page includes road closings. The foliage map itself will play and you can freeze it by clicking a date.</p>
<p>Soozie’s advice sounds great–I too am biased toward Vermont. For a very unspoiled afternoon drive, you might try 110 between South Royalton and Chelsea, cutting over to Strafford and eventually over the hills to Norwich and then cross the Connecticut River to Hanover. A bit south of that in Cornish (NH) is the St Gaudens National Monument–delightful museum.</p>
<p>I’m less a fan of northern NH–somewhat more rugged, less cozy.</p>
<p>Austinhills,</p>
<p>How did your trip go?</p>