Fall is in the Air in Bennington!

Fall in the Northeast is magical!

Picture a chilly, clear blue sky....then add a canvas of fall foliage that takes your breath away....as far as we're concerned, this is heaven!

Fall is our favorite time of year. It's the surest signal that the holidays are fast approaching. It's our time to relax, get outside, and prepare for lots of great family time.

Armed only with a rolling picnic of our favorite snacks, a handful of Marriott Awards points, and dueling cameras, we drove north to Bennington, Vermont. Located in Southern Vermont, this sleepy town is a popular tourist destination for admirers of Fall Foliage - after this trip we can understand why. Poet Robert Frost (Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening) is buried here also.

It's only about three hours from our home to Bennington!

Vermont is known for its covered bridges - we stopped here to admire the scenery. Note the man fly-fishing in the bottom right of the picture - very relaxing to watch.

KC and Will (now known as Firefighter) take a moment to pose near the bridge. Check out KC's new hair-do...very sassy!

Next stop, Bennington Battle Monument - 306' to the top!

Built in the late 1880's, this monument is a dedication to the famous Battle of Bennington that took place during the Revolutionary war in 1777.

Brigadier General John Stark ("Live free or die!") led a small group of Continental Army soldiers against the Red Coats and mercenary force. Before engaging the enemy, Stark prepared his men to fight to the death, shouting, "There are your enemies, the Red Coats and the Tories. They are ours, or this night Molly Stark sleeps a widow!"

Before going to the observation area in the tower, Will offers some grass to a Moose statue.

In the tower...looking towards downtown Bennington. This picture does not even come close to capturing the beauty of the skyline.

The Battle of Bennington Monument

The monument is the tallest man-made structure in Vermont. From its observatory level at 200 feet, which can be reached by elevator (but not the stairs, which are closed), one can see Vermont, New York, and Massachusetts

Downtown Bennington is also home to about a dozen bronze sculptures of ordinary people going about their business. Dave scopes out an old ladie's bag of groceries...hmm...he must be hungry.

KC looking for sale ads in a local "business man's" paper. Note Firefighter flanking Mommy to the bottom left.

Ah HA! Finally something for me! I want some ice-cream, shouts William!

Firefighter runs through a patch of pumpkins!