Woodstock, Vermont is the quintessential storybook New England fall town. Strolling down the quaint village streets made me feel like I was on a movie set and reminded me a bit of Bedford from It’s A Wonderful Life. You are immediately swept into the small town pride and seasonal allure. Fall leaves aren’t raked into bags to be taken away but are left untouched along the lawns of many properties. All the shops are local and maple syrup original. People who grow up in the area often never leave. You pick five random people to ask for a restaurant recommendation and they all give you the same place. It’s a small town indeed.
Eric and I picked Woodstock for our Anniversary destination with the goal of witnessing the heart of the seasonal change and we were not disappointed at all.
I’m one of those oddballs who gets tears in her eyes on a perfect fall day. I feel like I am witnessing magic. Our first stop on our trip was to Sugar Bush Farm where we took tons of pictures and sampled cheese and maple syrup. It was a great first place to visit: small, fast stop, and gorgeous. We stayed for only a half hour but walked out with a couple bottles of syrup and delicious bacon smoked cheese which tastes just as good as it sounds.
We weren’t due to our Airbnb until mid afternoon so after Sugar Bush, we visited Billings Farm and Museum. It’s located just a short drive from town and has picturesque views and lots of fun tours. If you travel with kids, there are hay rides and cows to see. They make applesauce and cider on property and showcase a variety of pumpkins. Billings is a historic dairy farm that showcases Vermont’s farming history. We loved strolling the farm and taking pictures and sampling the cider. Yum! It’s definitely a must-do in Woodstock if you like agriculture or history.
After we checked into our fabulous Airbnb (highly recommend if you make the trip!), we rolled on over to the famous Woodstock Inn. We would have stayed there but the rooms were sold out! You guys… Eric and I went back to this Inn quite a few times over the weekend. It was incredible. Inside you’ll find a huge fireplace where people are lounging and reading or sipping a glass of wine. Then there’s a game room where couples and families are playing checkers or chess or just hanging out. They have a sleigh in the back corner as decor. And a gift shop and two fabulous restaurants. We ordered drinks and sat outside in the backyard on the Adirondack chairs and enjoyed the beautiful fall colors. It was one of my favorite moments of the trip.
Later that evening we returned to dine at one of their restaurants: The Red Rooster. Besides their delicious entrees, they have this amazing seasonal gnocchi that was the perfect little snack to tide us over before our meal. I can still taste it… so good! After dinner Eric and I sat by the fire and chatted about life. I can’t tell you how much I love the sound of a crackling fire or the warmth and happiness it gives me. The smell I also love. Someday, I hope to have a fireplace in my home.
One of our favorite parts of the weekend was just walking around town and taking pictures. The homes and foliage were too gorgeous not to capture! I kept picking up leaves and throwing them in the air. I had to. Autumn Girl Heaven.
Eric and I stumbled into Caufield Art Gallery and were totally surprised to immediately meet the artist Robert O. Caufield! Robert was abandoned as a child and adopted by his paternal grandparents who gave him paint and helped him develop his passion for art. We couldn’t afford any of his gorgeous paintings but I bought his book of art and had him sign it for us ;) We took a picture out front with him as well! So fun!
On our second day we decided to drive 30 minutes to Killington and take the gondola up the mountain. What we didn’t realize is that once we got to the top, we wouldn’t be able to see down! A little bit of cloud cover blocked our view. But we enjoyed the most gorgeous drive over there and stumbled upon Long Trail Brewing Company on the way home, so it was all worth it :)
^^ Oops! No view of the fall foliage from up here…^^
There is a really neat handmade glassware company called Simon Pearce that everyone told us we had to see. We made a reservation at their restaurant because of their great reviews and walked around the store beforehand to check out their glass! We even made our way to the basement to watch them blow the glass. It’s really quite cool to see.
Eric and I made the mistake of ordering way too much food at dinner that by the time our entrees arrived, we could barely finish it. But everything was spectacular. Simon Pearce even has its own Pinot Noir and we loved it. We ordered cheddar soup as an app (holy taste bud delight) and of course a pumpkin gnocchi. We both chose the horseradish crusted cod for dinner and boy do I wish I could have eaten more of it. Everything was totally worth the hype. Make your reservation in advance! This place fills up.
Simon’s son Andrew Pearce has his own wooden bowl company so we also visited his store over the weekend. What a talented family! I wish they weren’t so expensive because I would love to purchase a set for ourselves! Maybe someday we will :) His bowls are all handmade and beautiful!
Our last stop on our trip was to Hanover, New Hampshire where we stopped by Dartmouth and visited my cousin Colin. He gave us a mini tour of where Dr. Suess wrote his books and where he does some of his fraternity traditions. It was great to see him in his element and get a taste of a University where so much of my family are alumni!
I am so grateful for this beautiful adventure and I’m so happy to have experienced a real fall this year :)
Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful weekend!
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