Multiple people have told me that New England in the fall is gorgeous-- and to make it a point to drive up to Vermont. So when a couple of family friends wanted to me to meet them in Toronto in October, I figured it would be a good time to go hit those backroads.
Highly Recommended Stops
King Arthur's Flour Bakery and Cafe (~1.5 hrs from Boston)
Ben & Jerry's Factory (~2 hrs from Boston)
Burlington, VT-- try Hen of the Wood (~3-4 hrs from Boston)
If I had more time, I would have investigated the Von Trapp Family lodge (surprisingly, my mom didn't care if we went there or not). There seems to be a lot of great backroads (that I didn't drive on)-- but one day I'll be back to find all those covered bridges!
King Arthur's Flour Bakery and Cafe (~1.5 hrs from Boston)
Ben & Jerry's Factory (~2 hrs from Boston)
Burlington, VT-- try Hen of the Wood (~3-4 hrs from Boston)
If I had more time, I would have investigated the Von Trapp Family lodge (surprisingly, my mom didn't care if we went there or not). There seems to be a lot of great backroads (that I didn't drive on)-- but one day I'll be back to find all those covered bridges!
King Arthur Flour
King Arthur Flour: Industrial baking, great food, and a bunch of cool things you can bring home with you! (Like flour, baking supplies, local cheeses....) Great lunch stop. My folks and I were the only non-whites there, but it was nice to see that the local senior center brought some of their seniors here to socialize and have a change of place.
Ben and Jerry's
Ben and Jerry's-- great ice cream comes from happy cows, and this is a pretty awesome local success story. It's not a large operation by any means, but they do give you a sample of whatever flavor they're trying out that day (I think that day was like a birthday cake flavor or something). Mm fresh sugar straight from the source. Along with some prank gifts and a bunch of funny T-shirts, this was actually a surprisingly popular spot with the locals.
If you're not into being shuffled around a tiny viewing area, and really love ice cream, then just go straight to the store and order a cone (or two).
If you're not into being shuffled around a tiny viewing area, and really love ice cream, then just go straight to the store and order a cone (or two).
Hen of the Wood
Interested in trying a farm-to-table restaurant? With great service, an awesome drink selection, and some fantastic food? This... was worth it. We luckily scored a table (I think I nabbed it 48 hours in advance) and it was on par with any of the great places I've eaten at in LA. Note: very low light means it's hard for parents with various stages of cataract to see. Luckily, they were equipped with their smartphones. And luckier still, we weren't chased away for shining bright lights onto the menu! |