WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Fall Foliage: Peacham

Peacham, Vermont - September 29, 2011

While there are just a few spots of color in the Champlain Valley, the fall foliage season is in full bloom in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont. Everybody knows this is the where it begins, which is why the NEK hosts an annual, week-long Fall Foliage Festival to kick off the season.

Thursday was Peacham's day in the festival spotlight. Activities ranged from a book sale at the library, arts and crafts sales, ghost walks and a popular farmers market.

Russ and Charlotte Hutchins stopped in from St. Johnsbury to stock up on some goodies.

"We got apple pie and berry, berry, berry jelly!" they said.

Leaf peepers travel from all over to take in the autumn sights.

Sisters Margaret Harper of California and Judy Ryder of Rhode Island gathered their families from as far away as California to rent a camp together in the area, and enjoy all Vermont has to offer.

"This is cider... We're looking for syrup," they said.

Peacham is a cute town to visit, but you'll want to roam around a little bit to take in some of the surrounding scenery. Photographer Bob Davis and I stopped just up the road, at Peacham Pond. You can still see the fall color through the clouds.

And travel just a few miles more and you are in Groton State Forest. Park your car and stretch your legs at Kettle Pond. There is a beautiful 3-mile hiking loop around the pond, with plenty of places to look across the water to the colors on the other side. It was pouring at this point in our trip, but it was well worth the walk in to the dock area, where small boats can be launched. It was beautiful, but raining hard. So we headed back into town to dry off, and to get ready for one of the best parts of any fall town celebration, the annual church dinner.