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Vermont Vacation (VT)

www.vermontvacation.com

It's almost fall! Having just come back from our summer vacations, why not plan for our next get-away? This week, we thought we'd look at ways state departments of tourism are using the Web to lure us their way. Today, for the quintessential Fall Tour, we're visiting Vermont.

No doubt about it, Vermont has a lot to offer the fall tourist. Vermont Vacation, the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing's home page, conveys not only the beauty of the state's spectacular fall color display, but is full of practical trip-planning resources. Here are some of its key features:

• Vermont Getaways. Listings of all-inclusive travel packages, organized according to season, region in the state, or special interest. Among the latter are sports and recreation, arts and culture, antiquing, family travel, romantic getaways, arts or antiques, region in the state, farm visits, and, of course, fall foliage.
• Around Vermont. An events calendar that lists exhibits, festivals and tournaments. Current listings include a parade of colorful, full-size fiberglas llama sculptures on Ludow's Main Street, a photography exhibition on expressions of freedom of speech and a collection of Grandma Moses' art in Bennington, the largest exhibition ever of American quilt making in Shelburne, residential rowing camps for youth and adults in Craftsbury Common, and an exhibit of birds of prey in Burlington.
• Foliage Forecasters and Reports. Interactive maps allow prospective visitors to see when foliage will be at its peak in various parts of the state at various times, as well as up-to-date reports on the actual progress of fall color.
• Scenic Drives. Instructions and maps for 20 auto trips and a handy grid showing the mileage for each trip.
• Vermont By Season. Informative articles about Vermont with lovely photography and an emphasis on what to do, grouped by the four seasons.
• Vermont Life. Teasers only, but they're still informative, for all the articles in the current issue of Vermont's state magazine, a few online-only specials such as recipes, and a search and order capability for back issues.
• Travel Planner, on which one can search for anything – a sight, a product, a sport – and then locate items you have checked on a state map that can be printed out.

Of course, there are the usual listings of lodging and dining establishments, and an order form for promotional literature. Overview sections on Recreation, Arts & Culture, Nature, Products and Farms, along with an overall search capability, complete the picture.

Take a look. The beauty and tranquility conveyed on this site are very seductive.