Travel Guide: Fall in Weston, Vermont

Last fall, James and I drove upstate to visit my parents for our annual fall weekend. We usually go to our same fall spots (The Apple Barn to get the best cider donuts ever, and Liberty Ridge Farms to do fun fall things), but not this year. My parents wanted to take us to Weston, Vermont, a small village in Southern Vermont with a population of just under 600. Seriously.

Weston’s main attraction is the Vermont Country Store, a huge, family-owned store that’s a major tourist destination. Because Weston is such a small village, you can pretty much walk to all your destinations. I suggest parking at the Vermont Country Store and starting there. Then after you’ve spent a good hour or two in there (trust me, you will), you can walk around to the other shops and stores that are all along the same road.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of where to eat, shop, and stay in Weston, Vermont.

Shopping in Weston, Vermont

Vermont Country Store

This store has something for everyone, no matter your age. There’s a ton of vintage toys, Christmas and Halloween decorations, candy, bath products, and more – all from the past 50+ years. You can see some of the brands from the past that they carry here. They also have a wide variety of modern-day items, like clothing and accessories, kitchen and bath items, handmade items from local artisans, and gifts for practically anyone.

And if you’re always hungry like me, you’re in for a treat. There are so many samples throughout the store, including the best Vermont cheeses, dips, crackers, fudge, and cookies. All the Vermont staples are available, too, including maple syrup, homemade chocolates, jams and jellies, and penny candy.

They are open seven days a week from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. Sometimes during peak season (late summer and early fall), they have extended hours. They also have an Instagram that they update regularly, which I enjoy following during the fall.

Weston Village Store

The Weston Village Store is another general store that offers the best of Vermont. They have a selection of homemade cheeses and fudge, a variety of maple syrups, and so many souvenirs (Vermont branded sweatshirts and T-shirts, corny mugs with your name on them, sarcastic refrigerator magnets, you get the picture here).

Weston Village Christmas Shop

Open year-round, this store is dedicated to everything Christmas. You walk in and feel like you’re in a winter wonderland. They have hundreds of Christmas trees throughout the store, each with their own “theme”. So a tree that’s sports themed, junk food themed, hunting themed, you name it. It’s a great spot to go for Christmas ornaments, especially if you collect them or like to give them as gifts.

Things to Do in Weston, Vermont

Walk Around and Snap Photos of the Foliage

The main reasons we went to Weston was to check out all the shopping. But if you’re still looking for more, Weston offers a few more activities. I suggest parking your car and just walking around, snapping photos. If you go in peak fall season (typically the first 2 weeks of October), you’d be hard-pressed not to see some beautiful foliage.

Driving along VT-100 is a great scenic route to take if you want to see some nice fall foliage. In fact, you’ll see lots of “leaf peepers” pulling over on the side of the road to take photos. When we drove into Weston, we saw just that – although we weren’t sure if the couple was taking photos of the leaves or of the cows that looked to be having sex. Only in Vermont…

Hiking and Walking Trails

If hiking and walking is more your thing, check out the Vermont Country Store Nature Trail (talk to someone who works at the Vermont Country Store and they can help with details). Or try out the West River Trail , which is an 18-mile trail. Check out this cool YouTube video and print out their maps beforehand.

Check Out a Museum

If you’re interested in 18th and 19th century decorative arts and furnishings or Civil War memorabilia, head on over to The Farrar-Mansur House. There are volunteer tour guides there to walk you through the space, and sometimes you can catch demos of how furniture was made or the milling process. On the premises is also The Old Mill Museum, where you can see beautiful views of an old water mill.

See a Play

If you’re visiting during the weekend, you can catch a viewing of a local show at The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company. Previous shows include Anne of Green Gables, West Side Story, A Doll’s House, and Two Trains Running.

Where To Eat in Weston, Vermont

The Bryant House Restaurant

We were hoping to eat here, but there was an hour-long wait and we decided we’d rather drive to our next destination and try something there. The restaurant is fairly small and gets super crowded during the fall on the weekends. We were there at Saturday around noon, which was probably the worst time to go. So plan accordingly! While I didn’t make a stop there this time, my parents have eaten here before and enjoyed it.

Weston Village Sandwich Shop

A cute little sandwich shop to grab lunch. There’s also plenty of cheese, fudge, and ice cream, if you’re just looking for a snack. This shop is located right between the Weston Village Store and the Weston Village Christmas Shop.

Since Weston is so small, you may want to venture to nearby towns like Londonderry or Peru, which offer more options for food.

Where to Stay in Weston, Vermont

Full disclosure: since I grew up in a town that’s about an hour drive to Weston (and my parents still live in my childhood home), I haven’t stayed at any of the following hotels or inns myself. I usually drive upstate for a weekend and stay with my parents and then we drive to Weston during the day. However, these hotels have been rated highly online and I wanted to offer some options for out-of-towners.

The Inn at Weston

This charming bed and breakfast is pet-friendly, has a greenhouse filled with orchids, and a nice deck and gazebo for outdoor fun. And the dinner menu doesn’t look too bad either.

The Colonial House Inn and Motel

You can choose motel-style rooms (these are in attached wings off the main building), or or rooms at the inn (which are upstairs in the farmhouse section above the guest living room). They also have an Instagram account for their cat, which this crazy cat lady loves.

Weston is also just a few minutes away from Manchester, Vermont, where there are a ton of lodging options.