The late television commentator Charles Kuralt once said, ``To drive along a Vermont country road in [autumn] is to be dazzled by the shower of lemon and scarlet and gold that washes across your windshield." Such splendor demands more than a drive-through, so let's look at some lodging offers that might help you fully capture the state's autumn atmosphere:
A good place to start is www.vermontvacation.com , the state's official tourism website, which has a Fall Foliage Central that lists scenic drives, gives leaf-turning forecasts, and even explains why leaves change. In addition, some of the site's many lodging offers, including a few listed below, cannot be found on the inns' own websites.
Killington Resort Villages has two- to seven-day Fall Foliage Getaways that feature a one-night condo stay and a gondola ride to see the colors from the top of Killington. Prices start at $28 a night per person based on four people, and the offer is valid to Oct. 9.
Call 877-458-4637 . For resort information, visit www.killingtonresortvillage.com .
Also at Killington, the Cascades Lodge and Restaurant calls its special the Three Night Delight. In addition to three nights' lodging, guests get two breakfasts, a Killington gondola ride, and a bottle of champagne. Rates through Sept. 28 are $169 midweek and $179 weekends per person; Sept. 29-Oct. 15, $209 and $249; Columbus Day weekend, $249.
Call 800-345-0113 . The website is www.cascadeslodge.com .
The Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes has several fall packages, including Autumn on the Lake, which stresses simple pleasures: a room, daily breakfast, freshly picked apples in your room, and a cruise on Lake Champlain. Rates start at $133.
Call 800-622-4000 or visit www.basinharbor.com/specials.asp .
The Four Columns Inn in Newfane is tucked into the base of a mountain, so that brilliant foliage surrounds it. And a country store -- a Vermont institution -- is nearby. Rates are $160- $385.
Call 800-787-6633 or visit www.fourcolumnsinn.com .
For those who want to take in the foliage by bicycle, Peace of Mind Guaranteed Bike Tours has a five-night package, Oct. 1-6, that begins and ends in the Champlain Valley with many scenic rides in between. Lodging at five bed-and-breakfasts is included, as are five dinners, five breakfasts, and snacks along the route. The price is $1,235.
Call 888-635-2453 or visit www.pomgbike.com .
Prefer to see the leaves through a train window ? The Park Light Inn in Chester puts you on a 1930s restored coach train, from which you can view foliage plus covered bridges, rivers, and farmlands. Included are lodging, train tickets, maps and guides, breakfast, and lunch. Prices for the Fall Scenic Rail Tour package begin at $74.50 a person.
Call 888-875-4417 . The website is www.parklightinn.com .
Hotel taxes and other charges can add to the price of a trip. Most prices quoted are for double occupancy; solo travelers usually pay more. Offers are subject to availability and blackout dates. Contact Richard P. Carpenter at carpenter@globe.com. 
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