I've always wanted to visit Vermont in the fall. The foliage, the views , the cozy atmosphere! I love it all! And this year, we finally made it happen! We escaped to the north with some great friends for a wonderful, relaxing, foliage filled weekend in Ludlow Vermont (where Okemo is located) and it was straight out of my basic dreams!! Pro tip, when planing your fall trip, use a foliage tracker to maximize the foliage seen. They're not always exactly accurate, but they can be helpful in the planning process!
Last year was the first time I visited Ludlow/Okemo and I loved it right away! We hit it up for our annual college ski trip weekend and I thought it was the most perfect, quaint little mountain town. It was so cute in the Winter, I knew it would be a perfect destination for a fall weekend as well. Plus, our friends also love Ludlow, and go their a bunch of times a year, so they were real experts on what Ludlow and the surrounding towns had to offer!
Where We Stayed:
Surprisingly enough, as well known as Vermont is for being a famous fall destination, the accommodations were so much cheaper than when we go for our annual ski weekend, making it really affordable. #boujeonabudget!! Because of this, we were able to get a condo in a perfect location for a great price! We only payed 100 bucks a person for two nights! This time, I used VRBO and it worked out well. We stayed right at the base lodge of Okemo so we were right on the base of the mountain and centrally located in the town. We had a small one bedroom condo with a pull out couch, which worked well for two couples. One thing that was a little misleading was the fact that it was classified as "ground level". Because of this, I thought it would work well for the wheelchair. Unfortunately, it was only ground level in the back, and the actual entrance was up several stairs. Luckily, we had our friends there to assist with bumping stairs, but if it were just us, it would have been tricky! As far as accessibility goes, I probably would search for a different accommodation, but otherwise I would recommend it for able bodied travelers! Plus, check out these amazing fall views from our deck below!
This property would also of course be amazing for a ski weekend as it is ski on/ski off and right across from a ski lift and the base lodge, however anticipate jacked up prices in the winter months! Click the picture below to book this condo on VRBO
What We Did:
Long Trail Brewing- The first day we were there, we hit up Long Trail Brewing located a half hour away from Ludlow. This is one of my favorite breweries. I love the location and the vibe. In the back, there's a beautiful deck and patio with a little brook running through the woods. I've been there before in the winter when its all snowy and pretty and in the fall it was just as pretty! The leaves were perfect and the beer and food were great! I highly suggest the open faced turkey sandwich, perfect for a cold fall day!
Buttermilk Falls- After filling up on beer and lunch, our friends took us to Buttermilk Falls. A picturesque area located in the Vermont State Forest with various waterfalls and swimming holes. It was filled with beautiful foliage and in the summer, serves as a great place to cool off. It was relatively flat, so were able to wheel Stath around so he could enjoy it too! Look at these colors! It was a great place to snap some fall pics!
Okemo Mountain Summit- The next day, we drove all the way up the mountain to check out some awesome views. You can drive pretty far up and then it was about a 10 minute walk up to the actual summit. Stath skipped out on that part, as it would have been tough to push him up, but he was able to get out on the last look out point on the road which was so pretty! Up at the summit, you could see everything! The surrounding mountains, and miles of colorful trees and little towns. On the lookout points, there were also perfect fall views! I definitely recommend doing this before the snow comes in the and the mountain is used purely for skiing and you cant drive up it.
Summit Winery: Located about an hour away from Ludlow, we hit up Summit Winery on the last day, located in Westmoreland, NH. I definitely highly recommend visiting here on your way in or out of Vermont! It was so charming and the wine was delicious! They had a beautiful outside area with a great mountain view and the wine tasting was very affordable!
Where We Ate and Drank:
Obviously, this is my fav part of travelling, as eating is pretty much my fav thing to do, so I need to share with you all of the delicious food I ate on this trip! Who knew Vermont would have such delicious restaurants and fun funky bars!?
Downtown Grocery- Our friends have been raving about this place for years as it is one of their favorites! I have been dyingggg to try it and it did not disappoint!! This adorable farm to table restaurant is a Ludlow staple! The delicious food, vast wine and cocktail list and cute, cozy vibes make it a must if you're visiting the area! Pro trip: Book in advance!! It is small in there, so make a rez a few weeks before your trip, you wont be disappointed. BTW, this is a bit of a splurge, but so worth it, just look at that food below!
Green Mountain Sugar House: The next day, we hit up Green Mountain Sugar House, a cute little rustic shop, famous for their Maple Creemees Ice Cream! This ice cream was insanely delicious and the grounds of this shop were so beautiful in the fall. Located on a lake, with vibrant foliage all around, we enjoyed our ice creams outside taking in the Vermonty views. So basic, I loved it hahah!
Tavola Italiana - Located just a bit outside of downtown Ludlow, Tavola was perfect of our Saturday night dinner location. Its a much bigger restaurant, so it would be good for a larger group. The owner was so cute and funny. The food was delicious and they had one of my favorite wines on the wine list, plus amazing calamari! Win Win!
Tacos Tacos- I'm a sucker for tacos! I never though Vermont would be a place to get some delicious Mexican food, but Tacos Tacos was a surprising delight! Located right in the center of Ludlow, Tacos Tacos was the perfect place to grab some tacos, chips and guac for lunch! It was delish and affordable!
Java Babas- The perfect Vermont Coffee Shop! And for me, a non coffee drinker, the hot chocolate and breakfast sandwiches were the perfect thing to get me going!
Main + Mountain- I LOVE this cocktail bar! Between the delicious specialty cocktails, the adorable decor/vibes and the outdoor fire place, this place was made for me! Cozy up with a glass of champagne by the fire and soak up the Vermont air! This is a must when visiting Ludlow!
Tom's Loft Tavern: I first fell in love with this place on our ski trip last year! The Loft is the perfect Apres Ski Bar, with a divey twist. Its well known to skiers around the world, but it was still bumping this time of year! They have lots of beers on tap and good bar food, you're sure to have a great night here!
Well now you're in the know to plan your perfect, basic fall getaway! But you better hurry because those leaves, they are a fallingggg!
Thanks for reading!
xoxo
Elisa
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