This charming village is 'fall's colour capital' and it's a 2.5-hour road trip from Montreal

Have you noticed the crisp air? The Halloween costumes at Dollarama? The Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks? It all adds up to one thing: fall is almost here.

Instead of lamenting the end of summer, why not plan an autumn getaway to "fall's colour capital," which happens to be a short road trip away from Montreal.

It takes just two-and-a-half hours to drive to Stowe, Vermont — a charming small town across the U.S. border.

While you may know Stowe as a premier ski destination (and it is), its vast mountains and tree-lined streets also make it a fall fairytale once the leaves begin to change colour.

But don't just take our word for it.

In addition to describing itself as "fall's colour capital" on its website, Stowe was ranked as the "#1 Fall Foliage Destination in the U.S.” by TripAdvisor. It was also named among USA Today's "10 Best Destinations for Fall Foliage," U.S. News Travel's "50 Small Towns Across America with Gorgeous Foliage" and Travel + Leisure's "The Best Small Towns in the U.S. to See Fall Foliage."

Besides magnificent fall foliage, Stowe's Gilmore Girls vibe is the perfect backdrop to the festive fall-themed activities on offer.

You can grab fresh pressed apple cider with a cider donut at the cozy Cold Hollow Cider Mill, take a scenic drive to the iconic Smugglers Notch, attend the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival, set to take place in early October, or stroll along the quaint main street.

The peak leaf-peeping period varies each year. But the "prime window" is usually between the last week of September and first two weeks of October, according to the Stowe website, when "hues of ruby, crimson, fire orange and gold can be seen."

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your trip.

This story was adapted from the article "This enchanting village is 'fall's colour capital' and it's a road trip away from Ottawa," which was originally published on Narcity Ottawa by Madeline Forsyth.