leaf peeper
Noun; informal: A person who visits Vermont to view the autumn foliage.
The brilliance of fall colors in Vermont is legendary. The annual display attracts visitors – leaf peepers – from all over the world who come to admire the red, yellow, and orange hues of autumn.
Make your autumn vacation getaway one to remember by combining your leaf peeping with one of the exciting outdoor activities available at Smugglers’ Notch Resort and nearby. Here are seven of our favorite activities – one for each day of the week, all certain to provide you with a unique peep at Vermont’s leaves.
Sunday — Take on the Treetop Obstacle Course
This 2 1/2 hour guided aerial adventure combines the thrill of being high above the ground with challenges that test strength, balance and agility on features such as tire swings, cargo nets, and zip lines. Four levels of challenge guarantee that all ages, from age 4 to adult, will have fun!
Monday — Ride the trails on a mountain bike
Biking is a wonderful way to enjoy the splendor of the Smugglers’ Notch region during the most colorful time of year. Sign up for a mountain biking introductory clinic, or a group ride to explore our single and double track trails or trail networks nearby. Smugglers’ MTB Bike Shop is open weekdays for rentals. Don’t miss the breathtaking view of the Notch just off our Country Road trail, or the mellow ride through farmland provided by the new Lamoille Valley Rail Trail with a Jeffersonville trailhead only 10 minutes from Smugglers’.
Tuesday — Make your taste buds happy
There’s plenty to love about a day trip that includes chocolate, cheese and ice cream! Smugglers’ Taste of Vermont Tour brings you through spectacular Smugglers’ Notch pass on a scenic route from Smugglers’ to Waterbury and Stowe with stops along the way for delicious Vermont products. In the evening, head to Valley Dream Farm in nearby Cambridge to savor an organic farm-to-table dinner prepared by talented local chefs. A tractor-pulled wagon ride takes you through the farm’s fields, where the greens for your dinner’s salad may have just been harvested!
Wednesday — Fly through the trees on the ArborTrek Zip Line Canopy Tour
Fly high above a rippling mountain stream and take in a bird’s-eye view of the fall colors among centuries-old hemlocks, mature sugar maples and paper birch on Vermont’s first world-class zip line canopy tour. Your adventure takes you on a course of zip lines combined with suspension bridges and rappels. As you zip from tree platform to tree platform, guides share local history and interesting tidbits about northern Vermont’s flora and fauna.
Thursday — Sample award-winning wines and delicious cheeses as part of a gourmet winery experience
Visit the Boyden Valley Winery in Cambridge for a tour of the winery and a tasting of their wines served with artisan cheeses, seasonal or dried fruit, and fresh bread. There’s a feast for your eyes too, as you take in the view of rolling farmland and hillsides from the winery’s outdoor garden patio.
Friday — Hone your skills in disc golf
All ages and abilities find fun on Smugglers’ Brewster Ridge 18-hole disc golf course, ranked nationally among the top 5 courses by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) . Enroll in a guided private clinic for skill development or take part in the fun of a group scramble on this lovely course that meanders through woods and meadows.
Saturday — Explore on a guided covered bridge walk
An easy stroll along the Lamoille River brings you to the Poland covered bridge built in the late 1800s. Enjoy the riverside views as you learn about Vermont’s covered bridge history.
Active, relaxing, tasty, exciting – the different ways to enjoy fall in the Smugglers’ Notch area are as varied as the colors of Vermont fall foliage!
