Vermont has always been a place unto itself. When the rest of the United States first banded together, Vermont chose to go it alone and was an independent nation for 14 years. Nowadays, Vermonters are still doing things their own way: They've elected the only Socialist in the U.S. Congress, and one of their U.S. senators recently left the Republican party to become an Independent. Vermont also stands apart as a travel destination. The small towns have a real sense of community visible even to outsiders and progressive thinkers have gone so far as to pass a law that outlaws billboards. The state, whose name is French for "green mountains," is home to quaint villages, twisting rural routes, stone fences and tree-covered mountains. Known for its spectacular scenery, Vermont maintains more than 50 state parks, as well as Green Mountain National Forest, which extends nearly two thirds the length of the state and has hundreds of miles of hiking and biking paths. Several of the state's most popular ski areas also lie within the National Forest. Regardless Vermont's many attractions for winter-sports enthusiasts, the state is at its most spectacular in the fall, especially late September-mid October. Visitors hoping to see fall foliage will find it as close as the nearest rural road.