First Taste of Vermont

I have longed to visit New England in the fall for as long as I can remember.

Don’t get me wrong, Autumn at home is wonderful… but as with everything in America, they just do it bigger!

Bigger colours, never ending landscapes, new flavours, fiercer weather, lots of everything. 

I still have a few posts to share from Boston, but honestly I’ve been itching to share our American roadtrip and just can’t wait any longer.

The drive from Boston upto Burlington was excruciatingly wonderful! Watching the colours change before our very eyes, the leaves get more and more vibrant, the views opening up along side the road.

I wanted to stop every few feet to roll around in them, but we were on a deadline. We arrived at the airport just in time to collect Thomas and Julia, nip to the hotel to drop off our stuff and together we all headed out to start our autumnal adventure.

Happy to be reunited and excited for what was to come…

We went for a drive.

Pulling off now and then, when ever something caught our fancy.

And alpacas always catch Julia’s attention!

She and Thomas raced off to meet the fluffballs, while my fella and I took a stroll around the property.

Floored by the scale of the landscape around us.

After enough alpaca tickling to keep Jules content, we continued onto Shelburne.

Where I discovered “Maple Creamies”, much to everyone else’s amusement.

What we call Whippies/Softies, they call Creamies. And in Vermont they’re made with real cream and real maple syrup.

A true revelation!

Shelburn doesn’t have much to offer, but what it does have is unequivocally adorable.

Particularly in golden carpet season.

We couldn’t resist…

Red hooded coat

Gingham shirt // Skinny jeans

Kiss Me Darcy flats // Gucci bag

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Tweed blazer (similar)

Poloneck // Brown skirt

Chestnut boots (UK/US) // Handbag

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We journeyed on a little further to Shelburn Farms.

Skipping the petting zoo for a stroll and a proper catch up.

I missed this little one ^!

Walking in an Autumn wonderland!

All the way down to the lake.

Savouring the crisp sunshine.

There’s an Inn on the water’s edge where you can toast gently beside the fire, sip on mint juleps, or just pour a cup of tea.

We took ours out into the garden, pulling up a circle of deck chairs beneath an oak tree.

Revived and somewhat peckish, we went in search of Apple Cider Doughnuts (another Vermont speciality) at Shelburne Orchards.

Oh my gourdness, this place was gorgeous!

Apple picking, pumpkins, maple syrup, donuts, cider, this place as everything “fall” you could ever ask for!

We filled mugs with hot apple cider (which isn’t alcoholic in the states, really a sort of mulled apple juice) and took a bag of donuts to go.

Of course there were those who were somewhat jealous of our haul…

So we ate the rest on our travels.

We caught the very last on the sunshine on the way home, climbing to the top of the hill to watch it go down.

I spy my Silver May acorn necklace hidden away up there… ^

We reached the hotel just before it got dark.

A little Relais & Chateau spot called The Pitcher Inn.

Each bedroom is uniquely decorated and sort of becomes its own little world.

We opted for the “Mountain” room. Complete with sitting room, open fire and a little wooden cabin to sleep in.

While my inner child was squealing with the delight, the adult in me was busy swooning over the steamroom shower and bath.

Which is going firmly on the list for when I build my dream house!

We spotted the sweetest gift basket, stuffed with local treats.

So lit the fire, called the others to come join us for a pj party and got stuck in.

I can’t even begin to imagine a better start to our trip.

Pop back for the next chapter tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after… I’ve got lots of adventures for you to come on!

In the meantime check out Julia’s pics!