South Hero is on an island, which changes the pace of everything. The Champlain Islands are a long, thin chain of low, farm-covered land stretched along the northern end of Lake Champlain, connected to the mainland by causeways and bridges, and South Hero is the southern anchor of the group. Its odd name goes back to the Allen brothers, Ethan and Ira, the Revolutionary-era heroes of Vermont, and local tradition says that North Hero and South Hero were named in their honor.
What makes the island special is the fruit. The climate on the lake is milder than the mountains, and orchards, many of them family-run, cover the slopes, so in September and October the farm stands overflow with apples, cider and pumpkins. Pick-your-own orchards draw visitors from Burlington, and there is also a growing trade in vineyards. Beyond the apples, there are views of the Green Mountains to the east and the Adirondacks to the west, a long, gentle panorama that is the island's best feature.
Riding here is easy, flat and leisurely. US 2 runs up the length of the islands over a series of bridges and causeways, passing farms, small villages and lakeside parks, and the surface is smooth with long straight stretches and gentle bends. The wind off the lake can be strong, so a loaded bike needs attention on exposed causeways, and traffic can be heavy on summer weekends. Farther north, Isle La Motte has a quarry with fossil reefs, some of the oldest on earth, about four hundred and fifty million years old, and a quiet shrine on the shore.
South Hero has a small supply of services, a store or two and a few places to eat, but a bigger choice is on the mainland, at Milton or Burlington, and across the water in Plattsburgh. A ferry runs year-round from Grand Isle to Cumberland Head in New York, a short, pleasant hop that saves a long drive around. The best time is September, when the orchards are full and the crowds have thinned, but June is lovely too. Winter on the lake is cold and windy, with ice fishing shanties dotting the frozen surface.