You might want to explore photographer Jeff Folger's website
http://jeff-foliage.com/
and follow links to Yankee Magazine's website.
Keep in mind the north/south route from Burlington along Lake Champlain is farm country. You'll get fields with hills as a background. The eastern half of VT along the NH border (and CT river) is much more wooded. You have to go across the Green Mountains (which aren't that high) to go from east to west. Some of these "passes" are along narrow rivers with small waterfalls. There's one in Bristol we esp liked that is a popular swimming spot in summer. It's right next to the road.
If you get a VT Atlas and Gazetteer published by Delorme you will have very detailed road maps to the state including seasonal roads. It's not perfect but it will help you find waterfalls and other interesting spots. All bookstores and some supermarkets and convenience stores carry them. It's an oversize softbound book.
You can do a road tour north and come back down the islands and be back in Burlington by lunch if you don't make many stops. Since you will want to make stops, plan on a full day.

If you go across the lake to Ausable Chasm, there's a pricey hike you can take thru the gorge with a boat ride at the end. We haven't been in several years but when we were there, there was a piece of twisted steel bridge on display. When I was young, the boats were wooden but a lot of things were destroyed in flooding. They use rubber rafts now and haul them up the slope to return to the start.

Google Vermont swimming holes to find other interesting water places. Don't know exactly when you are coming but in NH, the last country fair is in Sandwich NH (just north of Lake Winnepesaukee). Here in NH there are horse and oxen pulls at every fair. You might check to see if there is any fair going on during your visit. If you like cows and haven't been around working steers (oxen) before, you're in for a treat. If you are really really lucky, you'll find a young 4-H kid walking a young pair. It's amazing to watch an 8 yo take their team thru an obstacle course. By the time they're teens, they have a full grown team that is just enormous but well-trained.

For high contrast, I would suggest belted Galloways and fall foliage. They aren't a common breed but if you see them, you'll know why they are called oreo cookie cows.

Moss Glen Falls in Granville and lots of other places along Rte 100 which I think is one of the best ways to see the foliage. Last year, various parts of the route were shut down due to the flooding/hurricane damage but that's a memory now.

If you guys have a rental car would you be fine driving to Northern NH. If it is fine then head to Cannon Mt or Mount Washington and take the chairlift up Cannon or drive up Mount Washington. If you guys are going last weekend of Sept. or first week of Oct. this year it will be perfect. Sounds like a great trip.

If you drive to southern Vermont one stop should be the Weston Priory...great photo ops there. It is a benedictine monastery on top of a beautiful countryside hill. They have a web site. There are some great small towns that are in southern Vermont as well.

Drive to the area on the eastern side of Mount Mansfield for beautiful views and colors.

Click on my name and read my report on my trip thru NH, VT, and a tiny part of Quebec last weekend.

You don't say when you are going but pay particular attention to the need for reservations.

Do you think your daughter would enjoy a pick-your-own-farm? Pumpkin patches can be photogenic too!

http://www.pickyourown.org/VT.htm

http://www.vermontagriculture.com/buylocal/buy/pyo_map.html

and all about maple syrup things to do

http://www.vermontmaple.org/

If you're on southern Vermont, route 9 across the bottom of the state (Brattleboro to Bennington) has some stunning outlook points (like Hogback mountain).

http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/VTpumpkins.php#listings

Another good foliage & photography resource for Vermont is:
http://www.scenesofvermont.com/phpbb2/viewforum.php?f=1

Apple orchards are all in full swing and would be fun to visit:
http://www.vermontapples.org/

Your daughter would probably love a visit to the Ben & Jerry's factory, Teddy Bear Factory in Shelburne, a cruise on Lake Champlain? ECHO in Burlington. Gondola ride in Stowe.
Have a great time!

We were also in Pittsburg, NH for a few days this past weekend. I was pleasantly surprised at how much color there was but certainly not peak yet. We had a frost there Sun nt so that should hurry things along. For those contemplating a trip to Pittsburg, I can highly recommend The Cabins at Lopstick. They own and manage quite a few - some are more modern than others, some on lake, some not. Very well maintained and they have a good website www.cabinsatlopstick.com. For restaurants, the Rainbow Grille is excellent for more upscale dining (need reservation), Happy Corners Cafe and Dube's Pittstop are good for brkfst. We are headed to Killington and Stowe, VT this weekend so will report on color upon return. Reservations are a must for northern New England and the Berkshires during foliage season, esp on weekends.

I second all of bm's suggestions for your daughter in the Burlington area. Also agree that VT rt. 100 is a very scenic drive. Franconia Notch, NH and the surrounding area has beautiful scenery - much more "rugged" than VT's rolling mts.

I am so grateful to all of you who took the time to answer my questions! Thank you. Am heading there Tuesday the 25th thru Sunday the 30th. So many fun things to do, and so many pictures to take!!