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July 15, 2017 South Carolina’s only national park, Congaree National Park, is teeming with wonders to explore. At a size of just under 27,000 acres, the park is home to the largest expanse of old-growth forest (significantly aged woodland that has grown without disturbance) in the United States. It’s also home to some of the tallest trees in the easte U.S., giving nature lovers quite the views to gaze up at. Travel + Leisure spoke to Greg Cunningham, an interpretive ranger at the park, to find out what makes this little-known natural wonderland a haven for outdoor adventure lovers. 1 of 12 digidreamgrafix/Getty Images A Hidden Treasure Part of the appeal of the park is that you can explore it without the crowds. According to Cunningham, though the park's location puts it three to four hours from millions of people, the park still remains a hidden attraction within the area. "It's fascinating to see that people an hour from here will come in and say, 'I've been living here for years and have never stopped by,'" he said. "When they do, they just fall in love with the place." Advertisement 2 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / James Tarpley Back to the Roots Today, the park is home to the largest area of old-growth bottomland hardwood forests in the nation, at roughly 11,000 acres. According to the National Park Service, there are some 52 million acres of floodplain forests throughout the southeaste U.S.

When activists began calling for protection of the lands from timber harvesting in the 1960s, the national park was eventually declared in 1976, leaving its nature intact. home elevator cost Company 3 of 12 digidreamgrafix/Getty Images Where Trees Soar Congaree is also home to some of the tallest trees in the easte U.S., with species like loblolly pines that can reach as high as 170 feet (or the height of a 17-story building). In fact, the park is known for hosting one of the highest concentrations of champion trees (the largest trees within a particular species) in North America, according to Cunningham. Thanks to the height of its trees, the park is also where you’ll find one of the world’s highest natural canopies. Advertisement 4 of 12 Harf Zimmermann An Environment Unlike Any Other “What’s really cool here is that the things that do grow here, tend to grow really large,” Cunningham said of the park. That’s due to the combination of warm temperatures the park gets throughout the year and the floods that arise from time to time in the floodplain, helping to maintain a consistent cycle for the area’s biodiversity.

Advertisement 5 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / James Tarpley Floods You Can Admire While you’ll want to check in with the park’s visitor center before considering any type of canoeing or kayaking during floods, the park can actually make for a unique sight when it's overflowing. According to Cunningham, floods typically occur between December and mid-April, submerging nearly 80 to 90 percent of the park. You can enjoy this view from an elevated boardwalk, and it’s one you won’t find in many other locations. “Imagine any other natural park almost completely submerged underwater; it’s just a different type of experience,” Cunnigham said. Advertisement 6 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / Keith Coffer A Base for Biodiversity The environment helps create biodiversity within the park, where you'll spot everything from ducks, deer, and bobcats to the occasional alligator. It's also a popular location for bird watchers, who come here from all over the world to see the migrations that take place from late April to mid-May and from late October to early November. Advertisement 7 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / Greg Cunningham Seasonal Events Besides the bird migrations in the spring and fall, the park is also one of few places where you can witness synchronous fireflies, which is when the bugs light up simultaneously and in pattes to create a mesmerizing, glowing show. The fireflies are typically around for two weeks sometime between mid-May and mid-June, and are easy to access. Just head to the visitor's center, walk a few feet, and you'll be right in the scene. Advertisement 8 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / James Tarpley A Surprising Space for Stargazers While the park is close to towns and cities, it manages to avoid high light pollution, giving stargazers the chance to take advantage of open areas like the Bluff campgrounds and along the river. The park will also be within the zone of this year's total solar eclipse in August, when a new moon will block out the sun for a few minutes to create quite the scene. The park will be hosting hikes and gazing opportunities for the occasion. Advertisement 9 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / James Tarpley Easy Hikes With Lovely Views Speaking of hikes, Congaree is home to more than 25 miles of hiking trails, in addition to an array of off-trail hikes for the more experienced. There are rarely elevation changes when you're hiking within the park, making it an easy activity there. The staff's favorite trail, according to Cunningham, is the Oakridge Trail, a 6.6-mile hike round-trip that takes you through some of the park's best scenery, from its swamp-like territories to the large trees that line its paths. Advertisement 10 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / James Tarpley Backcountry Camping If you want to tu your hiking trip into an oveight stay, the park has various backcountry camping grounds to offer, though you should come prepared with your own supplies and make sure you can track how to get back to the trail for safety. Advertisement 11 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / James Tarpley Cruise in a Kayak or Canoe Kayaking and canoeing are popular here, as visitors are invited to bring their own kayaks or canoes and enjoy the park’s scenery for miles along its rivers. The most popular option is the Congaree River, which runs between the capital of Columbia and weaves you through the park, with sandbars in the river you can camp on. Cunningham also recommends trying the Cedar Creek canoe trail, which cuts through the heart of the park and takes you all the way down for about 27 miles. Advertisement 12 of 12 Courtesy of NPS / James Tarpley Over the Boardwalk Congaree has a 2.4-mile-long boardwalk that winds around, giving you the option to take in the best of the area by foot. It's important to note that Congaree does see cases of poison ivy from time to time, though Cunningham says travelers can easily protect themselves by staying on the main trails.

Traffic came to a screeching halt one Thursday in May 2013 when a truck carrying an oversize load hit Washington’s 1-5 Skagit River Bridge, causing a partial collapse of the 58-year-old steel truss bridge and sending three vehicles into the water below. While there were no casualties and repairs are under way, the incident has drawn attention to the condition of aging bridges across the nation. And now that road-trip season is in full swing, we wanted to take a closer look.  Consider Boston’s Storrow Drive, a double-deck roadway abutting Back Bay. Although nearly 60,000 cars cross this bridge heading west daily, few drivers may realize the condition of what’s beneath their tires: the structure, which carries the road’s westbound lanes over the eastbound, has been deemed “entirely insufficient” based on an evaluation formula used by govement bridge inspectors.

The Storrow bridge’s design flaws and corroding support beams make it one of many highly trafficked bridges in the nation to ea a low sufficiency rating—a score that indicates a bridge’s sufficiency to stay in service. While a bad rating doesn’t necessarily mean danger is imminent, when combined with high traffic volumes, it signals possible trouble for a bridge. A majority of the nation’s dangerous bridges are found in the Northeast, including No. 2 Pulaski Skyway in New Jersey. The disparity can be partly blamed on local conditions, according to Brian Leshko, a bridge expert with HDR, a global engineering firm based in Omaha, NE: steel tends to corrode more quickly in humid climates, especially where salt is used to de-ice roads in the wintertime. One thing these bridges have in common, whether in Oregon or Louisiana, is age. All are more than 45 years old, and they’ve got company nationwide. Many structures from the bridge-building boom of the 1950s were designed for a 50-year lifespan, Leshko says. “When you do the math, you can see why we are where we are.” Although many insufficient bridges are undergoing major rehabilitation or replacement, such improvements require years of work, and in the meantime millions of cars still rely on them daily. William Ibbs, professor of civil engineering at UC Berkeley, points out that the risk is often a fiscal one: these troubled bridges are expensive to fix, yet left untended, they could be forced to close, costing the people and industries that use them time, money, and inconvenience. As the nation’s infrastructure continues to age, more large-scale projects will be necessary to keep our bridges in safe working order, according to David Goldberg of advocacy group Transportation for America, which recently released a report claiming 1 in 9 bridges is deficient, affecting more than 260 million Americans daily. “We’re going to see a wave of bridges that are going to need major overhaul or replacement,” Goldberg says. “That’s something we need to be ready for.” Read on to find out if your travel plans cross any of America’s most troubled bridges.

The Methodology We analyzed 2012 data from the Federal Highway Administration for nearly 700,000 bridges, focusing on the subset with an average daily traffic volume (ADT) of more than 50,000 vehicles. We ranked those bridges according to their 2012 sufficiency rating (SR): a percentage from 0 (worst) to 100 (best), which is determined by a Federal Highway Administration formula that factors in a bridge’s structural adequacy, safety, serviceability for mode use, and essentiality to the public. As civil engineer William Ibbs put it, “Those two variables are the standard measures we use for assessing bridge risk.” The resulting list reveals America’s high-traffic bridges with the worst sufficiency ratings (after removing 11 that are closed or have substantial improvements either completed or expected to be completed in the next year). 1 of 20 Kim Karpeles / Alamy No. 1 Storrow Drive WB over Storrow Drive EB (Storrow Drive Tunnel), Boston ADT: 57,770 SR: 0% This double-deck roadway abutting Back Bay has been a headache practically since it opened in 1951. The problem: the pavement of the upper deck is too thick, straining the corroding steel beams that support the structure from undeeath. Numerous rounds of costly interim repairs (most recently in 2012–13) have kept the artery open, but they’re merely stopgaps to extend its life through 2018 while longer-term solutions are weighed. Advertisement 2 of 20 dbimages / Alamy No. 2 (tie) U.S. Route 1/9 over Passaic River/NJ Tupike (Pulaski Skyway), Newark, NJ ADT: 61,500 SR: 2% Herbert Hoover was president when this 3 ½-mile-long steel structure was completed, at which time its estimated traffic volume was 5,500 vehicles per day. Eighty years later, its capacity demands have increased more than tenfold, and its structural steel and concrete are rusting. A $1 billion rehabilitation under way now through 2016 should address these and other conces throughout the length of the Skyway, including this 550-foot section that crosses 135 feet above the Passaic River. 3 of 20 Tony Kurdzuk/Star Ledger/Corbis No. 2 (tie) U.S. Route 1/9 over Hackensack River (Pulaski Skyway), South Keay/Jersey City, NJ ADT: 61,500 SR: 2% The Skyway’s other 550-foot river crossing will also benefit from the $1 billion rehab, which includes a deck replacement, repairs to its concrete and steel supports, and an enhanced ability to handle seismic events. The repairs will close the Skyway to northbound traffic for 24 months starting in 2014, but southbound traffic will remain on the bridge during construction. Advertisement 4 of 20 Mario Burger/ Burger Inteational Photography No. 4 NY Route 907C (Belt Parkway) Mill Basin Bridge, Brooklyn, NY ADT: 142,600 SR: 3% Opened in 1940, this Brooklyn span is the only drawbridge on New York’s Belt Parkway.

Its outdated design has led to frustrations, including a major traffic jam caused in July 2012 when the bridge became stuck in the up position for more than an hour. Construction is just beginning on a new, 60-foot-tall fixed bridge to replace the Mill Basin Bridge; cars will continue to use the old structure until the new one is complete in 2017. Advertisement 5 of 20 Google No. 5 NY Route 987D (Saw Mill River Parkway) over NY Route 907K (Cross County Parkway), Yonkers, NY ADT: 73,000 SR: 5.3% In a May 2011 inspection, this 1940 concrete bridge scored the lowest possible rating for its structural evaluation—an appraisal of its overall condition—that is permitted for a bridge that remains open to traffic. The Federal Highway Administration defines a structural evaluation score of 2 as “requiring high priority of replacement,” as compared to a bridge built to current standards. Advertisement 6 of 20 WorldFoto / Alamy No. 6 SR 520 over Lake Washington, Seattle ADT: 97,870 SR: 9% At nearly 1½ miles long, this span across the 200-foot depths of Lake Washington is the longest floating bridge in the world. But time has taken a toll on the 50-year-old engineering marvel: crews have repaired 30,000 feet of cracks in its concrete pontoons, and its design makes it susceptible to closure during windstorms. A wider, stronger replacement—which will be the world’s new longest floating bridge when it opens in 2015—is currently under construction. Advertisement 7 of 20 David Backlin No. 7 1-10 Calcasieu River Bridge, Lake Charles, LA ADT: 63,000 SR: 9.9% While the arching profile of this cantilever bridge may be aesthetically pleasing, its steep grades have been cited as a traffic conce, especially given the high volume of trucks the bridge carries along this major east-west corridor.

Proposals to replace the 60-year-old structure have been discussed for more than a decade, but so far improvements have been limited to repairs and maintenance, including a $5.7 million project in 2012 to remove rust and replace damaged rivets. Advertisement 8 of 20 Google No. 8 NJ Route 21 SB Viaduct over NJ Route 21 NB, Newark, NJ ADT: 53,300 SR: 11% Built in 1953, this section of overlapping highway has a list of flagged structural elements that includes an aging concrete deck and steel beams in need of repair. Plans are in the works to make the necessary improvements, but the project, now in the bidding stages, likely won’t see completion until late 2016. Advertisement 9 of 20 Mario Burger/ Burger Inteational Photography No. 9 NY Route 907C (Belt Parkway) Gerritsen Inlet Bridge, Brooklyn, NY ADT: 134,400 SR: 15% Another historic Belt Parkway bridge, opened a year before No. 4 Mill Basin, this nine-span structure passes through the environmentally sensitive Gateway National Recreation Area. The rusting steel bridge will be replaced with a three-span version mimicking the historic character of the original and scheduled for completion in 2016. Advertisement 10 of 20 Michael Goff No. 10 Coburg Road over Willamette River (Ferry Street Bridge), Eugene, OR ADT: 72,862 SR: 15.7% Eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, this 1950 steel truss bridge was reconstructed in 1999. However, like many of the compromised bridges on the list, the Ferry Street Bridge’s design is considered “fracture critical,” meaning that it lacks a redundancy among its components, which makes the bridge susceptible to partial or total collapse should any one of those components fail. Advertisement 11 of 20 Patti McConville / Alamy No. 11 (tie) NY Route 907L (FDR Drive) over 34th Street, New York ADT: 132,734 SR: 17% This concrete-and-steel structure paralleling the East River in Midtown hasn’t been reconstructed since it was built in 1966. As a fracture-critical bridge, its vital features require inspection every 12 months—instead of the more standard two years—and a July 2011 inspection recommended the bridge undergo a deck rehabilitation. The New York City Transportation Coordinating Committee endorsed a proposed $230 million replacement in early 2013, but construction has yet to begin. Advertisement 12 of 20 Google No. 11 (tie) MA Route 145 (Revere Beach Parkway) over MBTA and railroad, Boston ADT: 77,000 SR: 17% The oldest member of the list, this bridge in the northe suburb of Revere opened in 1903. Unable to handle mode demands, the bridge is closed to truck traffic. A 2013 state report found that: “As conditions worsen, the bridge will pose serious and unacceptable safety hazards to the traveling public and would place intolerable restrictions on transport and travel.” A proposed $9.1 million bridge replacement is now in the planning and review phases. Advertisement passenger elevator Company 13 of 20 Google No. 13 I-84 WB over Amtrak, parking, local roads (Aetna Viaduct), Hartford, CT ADT: 74,850 SR: 17.8% This stretch of elevated highway snaking for two-thirds of a mile through the city center has its share of detractors, some of whom advocate removing it entirely to reunite the downtown neighborhoods it bisects. A $22.3 million rehabilitation project in 2009–10 addressed immediate issues including repairs to its structural steel and concrete decks, but longer-term solutions are currently unfunded through 2014. Advertisement 14 of 20 Google No. 14 NY Route 907L (FDR Drive) over Avenue C Bridge, New York ADT: 130,500 SR: 18% Located on the FDR Drive less than a mile south of bridge No. 11 on the list, this 1947 structure also has fracture-critical features that require inspection every year. The six-lane bridge was reconstructed in 1998, but more recent inspections recommend it be widened and its concrete deck be rehabilitated or replaced. Advertisement 15 of 20 Michael Goff No. 15 I-5 over the Columbia River SB, Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA ADT: 61,620 SR: 18.3% An average of one car accident per day occurs on the five-mile segment of I-5 surrounding this drawbridge, and crashes increase by three to four times when traffic must stop for the bridge to lift open. A project to create a five-lane replacement bridge was proposed about a decade ago, but became politically contentious and failed to secure necessary funding in June 2013.   Advertisement 16 of 20 Michael Goff No. 16 I-5 over the Columbia River NB, Portland, OR/Vancouver, WA ADT: 64,286 SR: 18.5% Before the No. 15 southbound span was built in 1958, this 1917-era structure carried both directions of traffic across the Columbia. It, too, was to be replaced as part of a proposed $2 billion project that was called off due to a lack of funding in June 2013, after millions had already been spent in planning. Advertisement 17 of 20 Google No. 17 I-84 EB over Amtrak, parking, local roads (Aetna Viaduct), Hartford, CT ADT: 74,850 SR: 18.6% In August 2012, local news reported that a three-foot chunk of concrete came loose from a joint in this section of elevated interstate, causing a vehicle to flip onto its side when the driver swerved to avoid it. As with the westbound direction of the same maligned stretch of highway, repairs have kept the nearly 50-year-old bridge open, but more permanent improvements are currently unfunded through 2014. Advertisement 18 of 20 Craig Philpott No. 18 CA Route 99 SB over Stanislaus River, San Joaquin County, CA ADT: 53,500 SR: 19% A February 2012 inspection found this concrete arch bridge’s superstructure—the portion of the bridge that supports the deck—to be in critical condition, indicating deterioration of primary structural elements. Replacement was recommended, and the bridge was included in a study for the reconstruction of a nearby interchange, but the proposed plan stops short of the river crossing. Advertisement 19 of 20 Google No. 19 NY Route 907P (Harlem River Drive) over ramp to NB Harlem River Drive, New York ADT: 92,890 SR: 19.2% Built in 1958, this six-lane bridge adjacent to the Harlem River scored a structural evaluation rating of 2 in a June 2011 inspection, the lowest possible for a bridge that remains open. Its fracture-critical elements require inspection every 12 months, and it has been recommended for replacement. Plans for a new bridge are underway, with construction expected to last from late spring 2014 through spring 2017. Advertisement 20 of 20 Google No. 20 I-495 NB over abandoned railroad, Amesbury, MA ADT: 55,100 SR: 19.9% This three-lane bridge built in 1964 was given a “poor” rating for both its deck and its superstructure, which supports the precast concrete deck that cars travel over. Two arched replacement bridges are in the design phase for this and its matching span in the opposite direction, but construction won’t begin until 2015.

February 06, 2018 Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may ea commission.

There are a lot of dos and don’ts when it comes to taking care of yourself during a trip, but even the well-prepared traveler might be overlooking one major safety precaution: wearing sunscreen on airplanes. Despite being inside, sitting on an airplane leaves you more exposed to the sun’s harmful rays than you may realize. “Although plane windows can block UVB rays, UVA rays can still pass through and given the elevated level, the UV rays don't have to travel as far to cause damage and can be much more intense at higher altitudes,” NYC-based dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Weill Coell Medical College Dr. Marisa Garshick told Travel + Leisure. lift elevator Suppliers The link between sunbus and flights was also evaluated in a study published in JAMA Dermatology in 2015, which measured the amount of UV radiation inside a plane’s cockpit against that of tanning beds. Researchers found that at an altitude of 30,000 feet, 56 minutes of exposure to harmful carcinogens is equivalent to what you’d get from lying in a tanning bed for 20 minutes.

Even though pilots and cabin crew are at a higher risk than the average traveler due to prolonged stints in the air, all passengers – especially those in window seats – should take the strength of the sun at higher altitudes seriously. While flying, Dr. Garshick says, “It is important to protect from UVA rays in addition to UVB as UVA rays can lead to skin aging as well as skin cancer.” She recommends “finding a sunscreen that is broad spectrum, which provides coverage for both UVA and UVB, and at least SPF 30. The sunscreen should be applied approximately 30 minutes before flight and you should remember to reapply every two hours, especially if you are traveling on a long flight.” As long as your sun-shielding products fit the TSA's 3.4-ounce limit, both creams and sprays are allowed on planes in your carry-on bag. For a fast-absorbing sunscreen, try: Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, $11 at amazon.com. If you travel with makeup on, check the label to make sure it's at least broad spectrum SPF 30 as well, and reapply every two hours the same way you would a regular sunscreen. Something like: DR Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm, $39 at sephora.com. Dr. Garshick cautions, however, "Most makeups don't fully meet the requirements, in which case it would be fine to use an additional sunscreen on top. There are some sunscreen powders, like Colorescience Sunforgettable Mineral SPF 50 Sunscreen, which can be easier to apply in these cases." Find it here: Sunforgettable Brush-On Sunscreen, $64 at colorscience.com. If your skin gets dry on flights because of the drop in humidity, you can apply a moisturizer with SPF to restore your skin's hydration while combating harmful radiation. One option: Coola's Classic Face Sport, $32 at sephora.com. Don't forget to reapply during your flight!

 If you think a box of chocolates is a bland Valentine’s cliché, then you’re not shopping at the right places. Chocolatiers have elevated the sweets into an art form and are opening appealing shops that cater to both locals and tourists. The finest new truffles and bonbons often reflect local tastes and unexpected pairings. Consider the white peach and apricot caramel chocolates sold in Mexico City’s artsy Condesa neighborhood or the Blanc de Noir ganache covered in gold dust available at a Basel shop also known for its wine tastings.

These bite-size treats are an easy, affordable luxury—a satisfying treat in the moment and a souvenir to savor long after your travels. For years, the big news in chocolate has been the bean-to-bar movement, a worthy farm-to-table-inspired trend that focused more on varietals and provenance than culinary-driven flavor combinations and artful presentations. But recently, truffles have come into focus. And indeed, one trend has flowed into the next, with careful sourcing and community involvement playing a large role for some recently opened chocolate shops. In Berkeley’s Elmwood district, for instance, it’s all about cocoa with a cause at Casa de Chocolates, a hacienda-inspired boutique slated to open in February 2012. Owners Amelia Garcia and Arcelia Gallardo are sourcing their beans from various South American communities, and their plan is to launch a nonprofit organization to give back to the farmers who cultivate the shop’s cacao. Their beans go into creative flavors like dark chocolate with goat’s-milk caramel. The market-driven tenets of farm-to-table cooking have also made their way into the chocolate lab. In London, Paul A. Young (who just released a beautiful cookbook for the chocolate-obsessed) focuses on hyper-seasonal flavors, with a selection that changes each week. Soma, Toronto’s favorite small-batch producer, has taken the approach in a different direction, opening a new factory-like space where customers can watch the bean-to-bonbon process happen before their eyes. And in Mexico City, local fruits like mango and passion fruit are put on display inside colorful chocolate shells at Tout Chocolat, a trendy new shop by a former NYC pastry chef. Whether as souvenirs or exercises in virtual travel, these spots satisfy the urge to indulge, bridging a familiar medium with the essence of a destination—and what can be sweeter? 1 of 9 Andrew Ramsay / Courtesy Cocao Ooze Chocolates Cocoa Ooze, Aberdeen, Scotland The Vibe: Chocolate tempered by hand in a country-like setting. The Flavor: Lemon. $12 for $12.55, 255 N. Deeside Rd.; 44-7534/103-249, cocoa-ooze.co.uk Advertisement 2 of 9 Ingrid Sanchez / I Studio Photography; Enrique Meza / Meza Flicks Casa de Chocolates, Berkeley, CA The Vibe: A hacienda-inspired shop selling treats made with traditional Latin American ingredients. The Flavor: Dark chocolate with goat’s-milk caramel. 6 for $15, 2629 Ashby Ave.; 510/859-7221, casadechocolates.com 3 of 9 Courtesy Tout Chocolat Tout Chocolat, Mexico City The Vibe: Bold flavor combos from a former NYC pastry chef, sold in arty Condesa.

The Flavor: White peach and apricot caramel. 14 for $12, 154 Amsterdam; 52-55/5211-9840, tchocolat.com Advertisement 4 of 9 Katie Moorman Cacao Atlanta Chocolate Co., Atlanta The Vibe: The cult favorite expands, adding pastries and preserved Southe fruits. The Flavor: Cola. 10 for $25, 1046 N. Highland Ave.; 404/892-8202, cacaoatlanta.com Advertisement 5 of 9 Courtesy Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates Paul A. Young Fine Chocolates, London The Vibe: Finally a store big enough to celebrate the confectioner’s weekly-changing flavors. The Flavor: Coffee and passion fruit. 9 for $23.50, 143 Wardour St.; 44-20/7437-0011, paulayoung.co.uk Advertisement residential lifts Suppliers 6 of 9 Arounna Khounnoraj Soma Chocolatemaker, Toronto The Vibe: A small-batch producer tus beans into bonbons in a factory-like space. The Flavor: Dark chocolate and almond. 13 for $25, 443 King St. W.; 416/599-7662, somachocolate.com Advertisement 7 of 9 Frank Oudeman Xocolatti, New York The Vibe: Truffles as seen through the eyes of a jeweler’s son. The Flavor: Pistachio. 9 for $29, 172 Prince St.; 212/256-0332, xocolatti.com Advertisement 8 of 9 FICTION / Tony Smith Videri Chocolate Station, Raleigh, NC The Vibe: Bars are made and sold in an industrial, laboratory-like space across the street from legendary BBQ spot The Pit. Ganache-filled truffles will stock shelves by late February 2012. The Flavor: Pink pepperco. Two packs of bars for $7.99, 327 W. Davie St.; 919/967-9760, viderichocolatefactory.com Advertisement 9 of 9 Lars Klove Choco Loco, Basel, Switzerland The Vibe: A chocolate and wine boutique and tasting table. The Flavor: Blanc de Noir ganache with gold dust. 9 for $22, 38A Spalenberg; 41-61/261-0675, chocoloco-shop.ch

Advertisement home elevator cost Manufacturers 10 of 12 Frank Biskup/Getty Images Vergennes What to do: On the banks of Lake Champlain, Vergennes is Vermont’s smallest and oldest chartered city. 3 of 12 Getty Images Jeffersonville What to do: Just north of Smugglers’ Notch pass in the Green Mountains, Jeffersonville offers visitors a wealth of outdoor activities. Where to stay: The Pitcher Inn combines a high-end boutique experience with tremendous food and a quirky—and very Vermont—sense of style. Where to stay: Riverfront boutique hotels On the River Inn and The Shire are both charming options. Where to stay: B&Bs are where it’s at. Where to stay: Try the High Hill Inn, which offers tremendous views, or the Inn at Montpelier downtown. 

What better way to see the leaves than zip-lining through them with ArborTrek Canopy Adventures (one of T+L’s world’s coolest zip lines)? Vermont Canoe and Kayak provides a waterside perspective on the scenery, and the particularly adventurous can try a ride on the improbable looking Flyboard at FlyBoard of Vermont. Where to stay: The quirky Phineas Swann Bed & Breakfast combines accommodations with an antiques gallery, and The Inn has converted a former lumber baron’s 1890 home into a boutique hotel. The Storm Cafe serves up a great breakfast and lunch, while Jessica at Swift House Inn focuses on fresh, local fare in an elegant setting. Check out the eclectic, enormous Shelbue Museum, which includes—among many other things—39 structures on 45 acres of land. Advertisement 4 of 12 Getty Images/Photononstop RM Mad River Valley What to do: Explore the wild slopes of the Mad River Valley on foot (Vermont’s Long Trail runs along the nearby peaks) or by air (Sugarbush Soaring offers spectacularly scenic flights in gliders). While exploring the great outdoors (try Camel’s Hump State Park), don’t forget to eat.. Advertisement 2 of 12 LightRocket via Getty Images Grafton What to do: If the tiny village of Grafton (population 679) looks like it’s from another time, that’s because it is—the town’s historic buildings have been restored and maintained by a local nonprofit. Woodstock is also great for walking, with easy paths through meadows or along carriage roads, as well as challenging hikes along the Appalachian Trail.) You can take the long Coish-Windsor Covered Bridge over to New Hampshire to see the stunning home and grounds of 19th-century sculptor August Saint-Gaudens (he created the statue of Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial), now a national historic site. Where to stay: Snapdragon Inn has the B&B game on lock. Advertisement 11 of 12 Getty Images/AWL Images RM Windsor What to do: The constitution of the short-lived Vermont Republic was signed here in 1777, and since then Windsor has taken up the moniker, the “Birthplace of Vermont” with gusto. Billboard-free Route 100 and even I-91 provide good views as you traverse the state on your search for the best fall foliage shows, though state roads can be crowded with other leaf-seeking travelers. Advertisement 7 of 12 Getty Images/Gallo Images Montgomery What to do: “The Covered Bridge Capital of Vermont,” Montgomery boasts six covered bridges within the town and a seventh on the border. For a classic B&B experience, seek out The Inn at Manchester.June 28, 2016 In Vermont they call it “leaf peeping,” a phrase one-part awkward and one-part charming—as if the people doing the looking were catching nature in flagrante. Advertisement 9 of 12 Getty Images/iStockphoto Stowe What to do: The hills are alive with the sound of autumn in Stowe. 

Where to stay: The gorgeous Grafton Inn is an easy sell—those looking for something a little more rustic (did someone say ba suite?) should check out The Inn at Woodchuck Hill Farm. Advertisement 8 of 12 Getty Images Montpelier What to do: The least-populous capital city in the entire United States, Montpelier more like a cozy small town stumbled upon gold-leafed capitol building. Up for Breakfast (4935 Main St. The village is packed with galleries (Hunter Gallery of Fine Art, Gallery North Star, Jud Hartmann Gallery), and museums (Grafton History Museum, Vermont Museum of Mining & Minerals, the Nature Museum). Where to stay: The recently renovated Equinox Golf Resort & Spa offers a luxurious take on rural Vermont, while the boutique-y Reluctant Panther has a spectacular wine list. A car provides the maximum flexibility for traveling around Vermont, but several train and bus options are also available—many catered specifically for those who want to see the change of the seasons. Where to stay: Smugglers’ Notch Resort is great for families, and Nye’s Green Valley Farm offers the B&B experience in a former 1811 stagecoach tave. Breakfast at Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, lunch at Sarducci’s, and dinner at Kismet. Where to stay: The Trapp Family Lodge’s “Austrian-inspired” lodging will appeal even to visitors who aren’t fans of the Austrian-inspired musical. (Because this one of Vermont’s busiest times of year, it’s best to book well in advance. The town is also rich with the best of bed and breakfasts: try the Jackson House Inn or the Village Inn of Woodstock. At least they are for fans of The Sound of Music: the real-life inspiration for the fictional Von Trapps settled in nonfictional Vermont. The Hildene Estate (built by Abraham Lincoln’s son Robert Todd) is catnip for history buffs, while the independent Northshire Bookstore is the same for book nerds. 1 of 12 Brian Scantlebury/Getty Images/iStockphoto Brattleboro What to do: Go hiking across the river on the Wantastiquet Mountain Trail (yes, technically in New Hampshire), but retu for a drink overlooking the Connecticut River on the roof deck of the Whetstone Station Restaurant and Brewery.) Why not enjoy the scenery from one of Vermont’s picturesque lake, river, or mountainside villages? Whether you’re pulling up a porch chair or pulling on your hiking books, there’s something here for everyone. A seasonal resort that’s been in operation since 1886 and run by the same family (now in its fourth and fifth generation), it rents out cottages of various sizes. Check out local favorite American Flatbread or the “uncommonly” good food at The Common Man. Check out 1868 Crosby House, Green River Bridge House, or Forty Putney Road Bed and Breakfast. Technically they aren’t wrong: “in flagrante” translates from Latin to “in blazing,” and what are these stately Vermont mountains, undulating Vermont forests, in autumn if not ablaze with color? Periods of peak foliage, when the leaves are at their most riotous and vibrant, move from the north of the state to the south, and from its highest elevations to its lowest, as fall progresses. It’s home to Harpoon Brewery, which makes it a great destination for beer enthusiasts who want a craft brew to go along with their spectacular scenery. The Jay Peak Resort also keeps its aerial tram open all year round—and there’s not a better way to see the autumn leaves in all their glory. Check out local cheesemaking Grafton Village Cheese and syrup tapping at Plummer’s Sugar House.) is delightful for a moing meal; The Silver Fork is a perfect pick for dinner. Stop in for breakfast or lunch at the lovely Vergennes Laundry. Gorgeous vistas lit up with gold, orange, yellow and red (and everything in between) are visible from mid-September through mid-October, but it’s a good rule of thumb to head farther north the earlier it is. The Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Park is a great starting point. Don’t forget to take in the leaves (and apples) at the nearby Shelbue Orchards. Check out the local club, Grateful Treads, for the latest information on routes. (For those who prefer spirits, never fear: SILO Distillery is just down the road. Check out Stowe Cider for a sip of something after spending the day strolling the town’s streets or the mountain’s paths. Though its hop, skip, and a jump away from Burlington, many of the best attraction are closer to home. Advertisement 5 of 12 Getty Images Manchester What to do: The Equinox Preservation Trust maintains beautiful hiking, biking, and riding trails through the woods of the southe Green Mountains. For those with a car, pop up to nearby Putney for roadside gem Curtis’s BBQ as well as Green Mountain Orchards, whose apple cider donuts are hard to forget. A great area for mountain biking, especially as many of its cross-country ski trails are opened during summer and fall to bikes. For something more mode, check out The European Artists Bed & Breakfast in nearby Underhill. Where to stay: Basin Harbor Club alone makes Vergennes worth it. Advertisement 12 of 12 Getty Images/Gallo Images Woodstock What to do: Check out the working dairy farm (that means both cheese and ice cream) Billings Farm and Museum and one of the oldest covered bridges in Vermont, the Taftsville Covered Bridge, built in 1836 to span the Ottauquechee River. Tour aforementioned 1859 building, peak inside the Vermont History Museum, and then sample the state’s great craft beer tradition at the Three Penny Taproom. Don’t forget to stop at the cheeky “almost world-famous” Warren Store. The smaller-scale Stone Hill Inn and Brass Lante Inn provide a more intimate experience with, you guessed it, breakfast. Advertisement 6 of 12 Getty Images Middlebury What to do: Home of Middlebury College, there’s plenty more to do in this foodie and culture-friendly town. West Hill House B&B is a cozy alteative, a charming bed and breakfast that fast feels like home. In case of rain, check out the eccentric Estey Organ Museum (the musical instruments, not the body parts) or catch a movie at the Art Deco Latchis Theatre. And less than ten miles down the road is the Ben & Jerry’s factory, an essential Vermont experience. Catch a play at Town Hall Theater and sample an array of hand-crafted beverages at Appalachian Gap Distillery, Lincoln Peak Winery, and Otter Creek Brewing Company. What better way to appreciate the scenery then when you are well fed? Where to stay: Both the gracious Middlebury Inn (a hotel) and the charming Inn on the Green (a B&B) overlook Middlebury’s green