Plan Your Next Getaway To Manchester, VT But Don’t Do It Without Reading This First!

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Fashion. Food. Friends. Fall Foliage and tons of Fun.  That pretty much describes the incredible girls’ getaway I just experienced in lovely Manchester, VT!  I had never been to Vermont in the fall nor have I been away from my family or my daughter for more than 24 hours so this 3-day trip was filled with excitement and anticipation.  And it was extra indulgent because thanks to Manchester Designer outlets sponsoring us style bloggers, it involved a shopping spree at their glorious outlets!

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They had me at shopping spree.  (Or was it hello?! )  Just about a 3.5 hour drive from Manhattan, suddenly our concrete jungle views were replaced with breathtaking, fall foliage (and without an angry NY-er in sight!)  Think mountains sprinkled with fiery vibrant colors, darling apple trees, picturesque river views, pretty pumpkin patches and PEACE.

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Photo credit: Getty Images

What a getaway! Every New Yorker NEEEEEDS this!  It was amazing to let go of the chaos, hustle and bustle of Manhattan and the responsibilities of motherhood.  Oops did I say that last part out loud??  Ehem, lets suffice it to say that this mommy really enjoyed the rest and relaxation.  What a memorable way to soak in all the fall feels this season!

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Read on for all my tips on where to stay, what to do, what to eat, and who to bring.  Oh wait, you can’t borrow my friends..sorry to say you will be hard-pressed to find travel partners as fun and fabulous as these… (pictured below are Suzanne from Gotham Love and Nicole from Mom Trends)

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Where to Stay

There are lots of places to witness the pinnacle of fall foliage ranging from AirBnBs (which is what we opted for), to beds and breakfasts, to your classic hotels. Next time I come back (and I do plan to return!), I’ll make sure to stay at Wilburton Inn  where we enjoyed breakfast with a view.

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This elegant hilltop estate, noted as one of the top 8 mansion hotels by CNN, offers such fun themed events (and you know how much I love a theme party!!!)  Murder mystery weekend, anyone?  Doggie slumber party and canine costume ball?  They have it ALL!
257 Wilburton Drive. Manchester, VT. 802.362.2500

What to do

1. Manchester Designer Outlets.  With ZERO sales tax on apparel and footwear on top of the already spectacular sales in Manchester, VT, you should know this will not be your average shopping trip!  Expect heart-pounding deals that will make you want to shout from the rooftops.

Can you believe I bought a glam velvet tee AND a pair of tights for just $5.40?  OMG YES!

Combine the unbelievable deals with the fact that the sales staff are so friendly, and helpful (no Pretty Woman shopping experience at any of the 40 stores here!) and you’ll never want to shop NY retail again!  Here we are racing to some of our favorite stores: Kate Spade, JCrew, Ann Taylor, and Eileen Fisher.

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Click here for the Mom Trends video recap of our shopping adventures!  And see the Marimekko tunic top that I paired with my Ann Taylor skirt (both purchased at the outlets) below!

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Did you know that Manchester Designer Outlets had the nation’s only Marimekko outlet?

2. Equinox Valley Nursery. We fulfilled ALL our fall fantasies by stopping by this one, family-owned, nursery and pumpkin patch.  Trust me, THIS is where you go to check off your fall bucketlist.  Hay ride? check.  Fresh apple-cider doughnuts? check. Corn maze? check.  Pumpkin patch? check.  Barn, scarecrows and endless flower selection? Check check and check!

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Wanna give everyone a major case of FOMO?  Go here and take lots of pics. Your people will love and hate you for it.  We Instagram-ed the HECK out of every corner and view because it was just that beautiful!

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See my saved videos for more autumn eye candy in my Instagram highlight reel here.

3. Biking.  Grab your favorite people and hop on a bike.   Manchester has everything for the leisurely riders who want simply to enjoy the view to something special for thrill-seekers who want to race down a mountain!  Click here for more!

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For more ideas on fun activities in and around the Manchester, VT area, click here.

What to eat

Ever go on a trip and totally luck out with being able to feast on the most flavorful foods?  I felt this way thanks to those who organized this trip and their on point recommendations!  Lucky for you, I’m passing them all on!  Unlucky for me, my waistline now needs a workout!  Here’s where to stop for a bite in Manchester, VT:

1. Seasons: Irresistible American food in the coziest of atmospheres that will have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.  Imagine enjoying a seasonal cocktail by their open fire pit here!
4566 Main St.  (802) 362-7272

2. Copper Grouse Located within the beautiful Taconic hotel, the breakfast menu had something for everybody with “inventive takes on tavern fare.”  Avocado toast was a huge hit as was the steel-cut oatmeal and fruit (shown below)!
3835 Main St.  (802) 362-0176

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3. Depot 62: I’m a NY-er so when I say the pizza here is good, BELIEVE ME.  That mushroom pizza was so freakin’ mouthwatering that I don’t even want to think of it as I write this at 1am in the morning lest I start salivating, break down and start scavenging through my fridge.  Wood-fire oven.  Enough said. Plus you’ll enjoy the funky home decor and exotic rugs since this is part eclectic furniture store.
515 Depot St. (802) 366-8181

4. Barrows House: Southern Vermont Hotel & Inn: This warm and welcoming venue was a wonderful dinner find.  Everyone couldn’t stop raving about how delicious their food was!  Plus, they specialize in special events (weddings included), are known for their outdoor dining and seem to have a happening bar too!
3156 VT-30, Dorset, VT 05251 (802) 867-4455

THANKS

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Thanks to the wonderful company I had and that goes not just for the fabulous fashionistas that were participating in the incredible shopping getaway with me.  I’m speaking of the entire crew from Mom Trends, Gale Branding, and Manchester Designer Outlets.  Everyone was SUCH a delight to not only work with but simply BE with and that MADE the trip.  What an honor it was to be chosen to participate in this memorable opportunity.

Make sure to follow me on Instagram, as I further showcase all my stylish finds, steals and deals from Manchester Designer Outlets!

Tell me in the comments below, what things are on YOUR must see and do checklist every fall!

Dining By Design – DIFFA Fab Decor

Dining by Design is DIFFA’s marquee event showcasing designers, manufacturers and creative individuals who bring their vision and passion to the table.  It’s seriously my favorite ‘trade show’ and I feel so lucky to live in NYC and to have attended it for the past 5+ years.  Dining by Design runs March 17 – 20 in conjunction with the Architectural Digest Home Design Show and all event proceeds go toward DIFFA’s work to fight HIV/AIDS.  This year, I was invited to a special media sneak peak and personal tour through the space.  There were so many fabulous finds – too many to feature here so I’ll focus on sharing my favorite creative spaces that featured my favorite colors, black and white.
This all white room sponsored by Benjamin and Moore featured variations on their white paint options.  Each square art piece that hung on the wall for instance, was painted in one of their popular shades of white and noted (title style) with the exact paint chip color. What a beautiful way to showcase your whites!
DIFFA dining by design
The florals, chairs and tablescape were simply breathtaking, don’t you think?
benjamin moore, dining by design 2016
Another all-white room that had me gasping was one designed with Crate & Barrel products.  Look how they created that art installation on the wall with their plates and bowls!
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I now NEED to have those furry white chairs.  They’d look so fab next to my dining table.  And can’t you just see them at a vanity or office space too?  Also, can we talk for a minute about those cloche platters??  They make me want to move to a suburban house just to have the room to store these beautiful finds!
Moving onto the next space, this one featured a live grafitti artist who we were excited to see decorate the walls right before our very eyes. I couldn’t help but imagine how much fun my daughter would have had scribbling all over the walls and furniture in the same manner..
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He was kind enough to pose for pictures and give me this amazing Pra-DUH sticker which I will treasure forever.  Hands off my sticker, Juliet!  This one is MOMMY’S!
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Here is the finished room.
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Imagine getting to dine with a zebra, and a fashionable one at that!  This room’s fusion between fashion, function, and furnishings was from Echo, a brand long known beautiful prints and patterns.  Many know of the brand from their famous scarves, but they have creatively branched out into wraps, bags, rugs, table linens, wall coverings, gloves, outerwear, beach ware and more!  At their booth you could see the brand on the hale bay bench fabrics, on their wallpaper and on the tenting.
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Also interactive, they encouraged selfies with their polka-dotted zebra named Dot.  Who could resist?
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Kate Spade.  I just love everything about the brand.  To me it exudes happiness.  I love the bright pops of color against graphic black and white elements, the usage of stripes and polka dots and their quirky advertising.  So I was super psyched to see their table decor come to life at DIFFA.

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kate spade diffa

Wouldn’t this be such a fun, girly place to have a girls’ brunch?  I would die.

For more video coverage of DIFFA 2016, follow me on Instagram @stylishlystella where I re-capped even more highlights!  And click here to see some DIFFA blog posts from past years!
Please leave a comment below with what your favorite vignette was. I’d love to hear!
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