Scenic Drives Archives - Happy Vermont

Scenic Drives

  • Podcast: Turnpikes, Toll Roads and Historic Routes
    Podcast: Turnpikes, Toll Roads and Historic Routes

    Driving west on Route 17, the road’s pitch starts to noticeably change as it rounds past Mad River Glen and climbs to an elevation of 2,375 feet in Buel’s Gore. The area, known as the “App Gap,” is also referred to as the McCullough Turnpike—a...

  • Forest Service Roads in Vermont to Seek Out This Season
    Forest Service Roads in Vermont to Seek Out This Season

    Leaf-peeping on U.S. Forest Service roads in Vermont is a good option for out-of-the-way scenic drives and outdoor exploration. Forest Service roads in Vermont can be found across the Green Mountain National Forest, from Searsburg and Sunderland to Goshen and Granville. The national forest encompasses more...

  • Where are the Most Maple Trees in Vermont?
    Where are the Most Maple Trees in Vermont?

    If you're wondering if there's an epicenter of Vermont maple trees, look no further than rural Orange County. The county, home to the most maple trees in Vermont, is located east of the Green Mountains. The region includes Newbury, West Topsham, Vershire, Strafford, Thetford, Brookfield, Chelsea, Randolph,...

  • Where to Go and Things to Do in the Green Mountain National Forest
    Where to Go and Things to Do in the Green Mountain National Forest

    It’s hard to imagine Vermont without the Green Mountain National Forest. Exploring sections of the forest’s 400,000-acres is a must for anyone who loves the outdoors. If you’re interested in finding things to do in the Green Mountain National Forest, options include hiking, paddling, fishing,...

  • The Best of a Woodstock Fall Foliage Getaway
    The Best of a Woodstock Fall Foliage Getaway

    Planning a Woodstock fall foliage getaway is a perfect choice for anyone looking to explore Vermont. Consistently ranked as one of the best and most beautiful towns to visit, Woodstock is gorgeous and enjoyable any time of year. And when it comes to fall, this Windsor...

  • Stephanie Lary Returns Home to Run the Rochester Cafe
    Stephanie Lary Returns Home to Run the Rochester Cafe

    Tucked halfway between Killington and Sugarbush is the small town of Rochester. In the heart of Rochester on Main Street are places like Sandy’s Books and Bakery, Maple Soul restaurant, and Green Mountain Bikes. Traveling along Route 100, one place that’s hard to miss is the...

  • Braintree Couple Stays Connected Walking Vermont Dirt Roads
    Braintree Couple Stays Connected Walking Vermont Dirt Roads

    More than 8,500-hundred miles of dirt roads zig-zag across Vermont, and that’s a lot of ground to cover by car, foot, or bike.  Paulette Staats and her husband, Paul Shriver, take it one road and one step at a time. The retired couple, married for 43...

  • Vermont’s 251 Club Inspires Exploration of Towns, Cities, Grants and a Gore
    Vermont’s 251 Club Inspires Exploration of Towns, Cities, Grants and a Gore

    Lewis is one of those towns that’s hard to find. Just ask any member of the 251 Club of Vermont. Located in Essex County in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, Lewis has no residents, no post office, and no roads other than logging roads and hiking trails. It’s a...

  • The Best Vermont Towns to Visit This Fall
    The Best Vermont Towns to Visit This Fall

    Fall in Vermont is all about hiking, scenic drives, apple picking, and exploring small towns. You can’t go wrong wherever you are in Vermont this fall. The leaves are changing color across the state and there’s beauty to be seen in every direction. Cold weather in September—and...

  • Explore the Outdoors This Fall on These 6 Vermont Scenic Dirt Roads
    Explore the Outdoors This Fall on These 6 Vermont Scenic Dirt Roads

    An interesting but not surprising fact: Vermont has more dirt roads than paved ones. With nearly 8,600 miles of unpaved roads across the state (compared to 7,151 miles of paved roads), Vermont has no shortage of scenic dirt roads to explore by car, bike, or on...