fall foliage with a 5 year old

[Guest]

We will be flying into Worchester Oct. 9 and then driving through the New England area. Could you please give suggestions about places to visit with our 5 year old boy? We like to visit small out of the way places. We will have approximately 4 days to spend in the area. What are the 'must see' places for us? Thank you for your help!

[svmoderator]

Hi, This first idea is not exactly out-of-the-way, but you really should visit Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream factory in Waterbury Center, just south of Stowe, Vermont. Take Exit 10 of I-89 and go north on Rte. 100 toward Stowe, Ben & Jerrys is on the left. Cold Hollow Cider Mill is a little further on and worth a stop. They have apples, cider, pies, etc. And the bike path in Stowe is paved, nice for walking, biking and inline skating or riding a scooter. More out-of-the-way than Stowe, you should head south on Rte. 100 to Waitsfield in the Mad River Valley and take your 5-year-old to American Flatbread Pizza baked in a wood-fired oven right in the center of the restaurant; which happens to be on a farm located in a scenic spot on the Mad River. Also, if you haven't made all your overnight reservations, I'd go a little further south to Rochester and stay at Liberty Hill Farm (www.libertyhillfarm.com), a B&B that caters to children...and your family can have a wonderful farm experience there, not any commercialization of any kind, they have Jersey cows and maple syrup, and will show you the entire operation. They also serve wonderful meals. You'll have great views along the river valleys from Stowe to Rochester, and the farm experience at Liberty Hill Farm will be a memory your whole family will treasure. It's well worth staying as long as your schedule allows if you want a truly down-to-earth Vermont farm experience. Susanne<BR>PS: Also in Rochester, you'll be in the heart of the Green Mountain National Forest, and the Rochester Ranger station along Rte. 100 can provide lots of naturalist information and nature hikes for the family. The scenery is beautiful, and it's still an unspoiled, natural forest.<P>[This message has been edited by svmoderator (edited 08-23-2001).]<p>[This message has been edited by svmoderator (edited 08-23-2001).]

[Guest]

Thank you for the information. We booked Liberty Hill Farm for a night of our stay and my little boy can't wait. We will let you know how everything goes.<BR>

[svmoderator]

I'm certain the whole family will love Liberty Hill Farm, it's a truly natural farm experience, really a down-to-earth place and hospitable people. They have many repeat guests who want to come back year after year.<P>I did forget to mention in the Northeast Kingdom The Great Maze, the corn maze in North Danville, 802-748-1399 <A HREF="http://www.vermontcornmaze.com." TARGET=_blank>www.vermontcornmaze.com.</A> That is lots of fun for kids and adults, too, trying to find your way through the corn maze. <P>Enjoy your trip and let us know how it was! Susanne<P>

[svmoderator]

Also recently discovered a sunflower maize at Hartshorn's Farmstand right on Rte. 100 just north of Waitsfield, near the junction of Rtes. 100 and 100B. Lots of fun for all ages, and the kids love it! Susanne