What a surprise when my stepson offered to house us for five days in his ski lodge to enjoy the Fall scenery. Such a gift!

It wouldn't be such a big deal if we were still living in the Midwest. But now, relocated in coastal North Carolina, we are surrounded by piney woods and not many deciduous trees. So fall is a non-event. Except for cooler temps which I appreciate. It's lovely to pull out my favorite pullover when the weather changes. Although in our area, we were warned to have access to all our clothing no matter the season, since temps could change overnight.

So imagine the joy of stepping out of the plane, and experiencing a rainy, cool climate in Connecticut, which later turned into cold, dry and brisk days and 35 degree nights as we settled into our ski lodge in Vermont the next day. Above is a snapshot out our living room window. Unfortunately, New England (especially Vermont) had experienced a summer drought, so some trees lost their leaves early, and others did not have the vibrancy typical of the season in that area. 

But I was not disappointed! The muted brilliance of the autumn leaves was still a treat when compared to a coastal NC fall. I was a happy camper.

We visited a quintessential New England town surrounded by the Green Mountains, known for their ski runs. The streets were packed with visitors from all over the US and Canada (and most likely, the world). Below are a few photos of our lovely tour of the town.

What a joy to discover the von Trapp Family Lodge nestled in the Green Mountains, which reminded them of their dear home in Austria. Escaping their beloved country in 1939, spending almost two years touring the world and performing as a family to make ends meet. When they were invited to Stowe, Vermont, they were overjoyed to find a place that looked like their home back in Europe, and decided to put down roots. They did, inviting friends and family to visit. As more visitors came, the family enlarged their home and eventually built a lodge to house them, and the rest is history!

Rolling hills filled with sheep, winding trails deep in the woods, and a lodge patterned after mountain inns from home completed the scene. Enjoy the pics below. . .

When one comes to Vermont, a trip to Morse's Maple Syrup farm is a must. The weather in the spring must be just right. Not to warm or cold and not too windy. It takes many buckets of sap to make one gallon, which is why it's so expensive! But, boy, is it good! Too bad we traveled with only a backpack this time. No room for even a small bottle. We did sample a few intensities of maple syrup (no longer called ‘grades’) and some with with added cinamon, jalapeno and bourbon. A little snippet of our tour below. . .

I hope you enjoyed my little armchair tour of Vermont. Have you visited New England? If so, what is your favorite spot? Let me know in the comments below!