First Day of Fall in Stowe, Vermont

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View into Smuggler's Notch at the top of Vermont

 

   September 22 means the first day of Fall, and that is a big deal here in Stowe, Vermont. This part of the Northeast of the United States, is quite famous for its beautiful fall foliage. To celebrate the turning of seasons I hit the mountains with the whole family. First we grabbed our Epic ski passes for an early season trip up the Gondola at Stowe Mountain Resort. This took us very close to the highest peak of Vermont, called Mount Mansfield. We had a great view from the top. The kids really wanted to do some rock climbing and some mountain goating, which is what they call hiking on the boulder strewn trail heading up towards the peak. It is pretty impressive to see how there hiking skills and coordination have really improved.

    After waving at every gondola on our way down, we had one more stop to check out. At the entrance to Smuggler's Notch, there is a beautiful boardwalk trail which heads into a beaver-created wetlands. It is called the Barnes Camp Loop. It is very easy and so beautiful at this time of year. Many of the trees have already started changing into their Fall colors, but the peak is probably still a week or two out. Things are getting pretty exciting here in the mountains of Vermont.... and winter is right around the corner!
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The boardwalk with the beginning of fall showing all around.
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Looking towards Smugglers Notch from our trip up the gondola

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This mountain estate is like a postcard. And the colors are only going to get better!

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Waving to the people in the gondolas on our way down.

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The kids pointing to which trails they want to ski when the snow comes this winter.

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We had a beautiful first day of Fall!

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We had to stop for a hill rolling break

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Can you tell we are ready for Fall here in Stowe?

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No warning sign would deter this little mountain goat.

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Exploring a moose trail around the beaver pond

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Even my 2.5yr old wanted to get in on the mountain goat action.

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So much fun outside if you just look and immerse yourself in it.

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Looking for frogs and newts at the beaver ponds on the Barnes Camp Boardwalk trail.

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My little rock climbers.

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