Autumn and Art: 4 Vermont Colorful and Creative Landscape

Travelers who visit Vermont amid the intense colors of autumn are also greeted with a wealth of seasonal arts events. The state's landscape both inspires and integrates the arts into its environment. This collection of five regions combines opportunities to engage with the arts and view spectacular fall foliage via scenic drives and outdoor excursions.

The abundance of towns with stunning vistas, unrushed roads and hidden art gems provide an immersive "arts and outdoors" vacation. Travelers can experience Vermont's natural beauty by touring trails and byways, and also enjoy galleries, concerts, and arts festivals along the way.

Northeast Kingdom

In Vermont's rural Northeast Kingdom, you'll find unexpected delights. Tour the more than 50 massive and masterful sculptures by David Stromeyer amid meadows and hay fields at Cold Hollow Sculpture Park. Visit Dog Mountain, home of the Stephen Huneck Gallery. Set on 150 acres, the grounds are always open to people and their dogs.

For an especially unconventional arts excursion, head to Bread & Puppet Theater. You'll find one of the nation's oldest, self-supporting theatrical companies and its 140-year old hay barn that has been transformed into a museum for Bread & Puppet's exquisite collection.

Along the Northeast Kingdom Byway, additional arts centers and venues include The Artist in Residence Gallery, Mountain Fiber Folk, Memphremagog Arts Collaborative, Now Playing Newport, Catamount Arts, and the Northeast Kingdom Artisans Guild, with work from more than 100 artists.

Get Outside: Scenic boat cruises on Lake Memphremagog are a perfect finish to a day of arts touring.

Lake Champlain Islands

Jewels within the nation's sixth largest lake, the Lake Champlain Islands are popular with art-lovers, boaters and cyclists. Referred to simply as "the Islands," its 200 miles of shoreline are a prized fall vacation destination, as the milder climate brings on peak foliage later in the season than in the state's mountainous regions.

Along the Lake Champlain Byway, visit Grand Isle Art Works. The Gallery houses an extensive collection of local arts, its cafe serves lunch and a calendar of arts and crafts workshops is available for those wanting hands-on arts activities. Island Arts in North Hero offers courses for children and adults, concerts and arts events. You'll also find art and crafts at the farmers' market on Saturdays in Grand Isle.

Get Outside: The world's oldest coral reef can be explored on walking trails along the shore and through old farmland.

The Mad River Valley

The Mad River Valley is home to several arts spaces, including Bundy Modern. Featuring the clean lines of the International Movement, Bundy Modern is positioned on a natural plateau with incredible views of the mountainside; the perfect backdrop for its exhibits of contemporary art.

Nearby, Mad River Antler, offers "natural shed antler artistry," in the form of chandeliers, lamps, wine holders and more rustic home decor. Other options to explore include the Artisan's Gallery, Mad River Glass Gallery, Walker Contemporary Gallery, Luminosity Studios and Waitsfield Pottery. Waitsfield is also the headquarters of Vermont Festival of the Arts, which hosts a year-round gallery.

Get Outside: Enjoy steady ascents and miles of ridgeline payoffs on the Monroe Skyline, a "gap to gap" hike traversing the Long Trail north from Lincoln Gap to the Appalachian Gap.

MIddlebury

The Middlebury region is brimming with arts offerings a close distance to state and national forests. Visit the Middlebury College Museum of Art, with its extensive outdoors public art collection and Mahaney Center for the Arts.

Explore and shop at Edgewater Gallery's two locations; Gallery on the Green and Edgewater Gallery at Middlebury Falls. Both are hosting fall exhibitions.

Get Outside: Enjoy foliage reflecting on calm water at Branbury State Park and U.S. State Forest Silver Lake Campground.

For more information on Vermont's arts and fall foliage, visit www.VermontArts2016.com and www.VermontVacation.com/Fall