See the Best of the Green Mountain State with Boundless Journeys June 25th, 2022 • by Matt Holmes Experience Peak Foliage Hiking on Our Quintessential Vermont Walking Tour Boundless Journeys’ Best of the Green Mountain State trip is a 5-day itinerary crafted to introduce our guests to the essence of Vermont in two of the state’s most charming villages, Stowe and Woodstock. This is your chance to experience Vermont’s pastoral landscapes and the Green Mountains in all of their glory at the most beautiful time of year. We’ll also explore some of Vermont’s most iconic places: Trapp Family Lodge, built by the family that inspired the Sound of Music; Shelburne Farms, a former Vanderbilt estate that is now a non-profit; and Marsh – Billings – Rockafeller National Historical Park, the only national park to focus on conservation and land stewardship. You’ll visit a sustainable education center and working farm, and some of the best restaurants in the state. Easy to moderate hikes and walks will take us to the top of the highest peak in Vermont, to a 13,000 year-old natural gorge, and along picturesque farm trails. Learn about Vermont’s unique history, sample fine local cheeses and craft beers and ciders, and see Lake Champlain – all while taking in Vermont’s world-famous fall foliage! Meet the Boundless Journeys Team in Our Hometown of Stowe, Vermont! Here at the Boundless Journeys office, our staff have traveled to over seventy countries. We actually haven’t bothered to get an official number, we just know we’ve traveled a lot! And while we have had incredible experiences around the world and ever-growing bucket lists, we love – and I mean LOVE – our home state of Vermont. Only 2 of us are official “Vermonters”—born and raised here. The rest of us are transplants who chose this beautiful state as our home for the pace of life, plethora of outdoor activities, delicious farm-to-table food, and the open landscape of pasture and mountains. Peak Foliage Season – A Magical Time to Visit Vermont While we certainly bask in the greenery and warmth of the summer, and welcome it after Stick Season (the period of late fall/early winter when all the leaves have fallen but it hasn’t snowed yet) and Mud Season (that’s what we call spring in Vermont), it’s really the fall that most of us wait for all year long. There are so many things to love about autumn in Vermont—it is a feast for the senses—the vibrant colors everywhere you turn; leaves crunching underfoot; freshly-picked apples, squash, and corn; the scent of wood fires; and the crisp air and warm sunshine. Hiking this time of year is usually very comfortable. It might be cool in the morning, (breathing in the crisp fall air is so refreshing!) but once you’re out on the trail and the sun is overhead, you’ll quickly warm up (although we make it a point to never leave home without an extra layer!). And although rain is a possibility at any time of year, early October sees many clear days with views of Lake Champlain, the Adirondacks, and maybe into Canada and New Hampshire if you’re on a summit or a ridgeline. Farm-to-Table Culture – Taste the Best of the Green Mountain State One of my personal favorite things about Vermont is that you’re never more than a couple miles from a farm. And that landscape manifests itself in the restaurants, most of which are built around the ethos of eating local and doing their best to source as much as possible from Vermont farms. You’re also never very far from a brewery, as micro-breweries have been popping up all over the state in recent years. Artisan cheese, craft brews, and of course maple syrup, basically make up our food pyramid here (but we have artisan chocolate, hard cider, and even wineries, as well!). We are excited to share this experience with adventurous travelers like you! You’ll have the chance to meet some members of our home team and put faces to the names you have been speaking with while planning your trip(s) with us. For us, it’s a rare and welcome opportunity to meet our guests in person. Questions about the trip? Reach out any time at 1-800-941-8010. We look forward to welcoming you to Vermont to see the Best of the Green Mountain State!