"October" is technically past peak for the Northern Green Mountains. The colors start to get muted from Columbus Day (or whatever it is called now) onward outside of the Champlain Valley, Mad River Valley, and Killington south. Same with Northern NH and Maine. Assuming you are here before 10/15, Stowe is great but at its Peak tourist season. Woodstock is slammed then too.

In Stowe, Topnotch has spa and good food. It's a nice place. So is Von Trapp Lodge. Also look at the Pitcher Inn in Warren, Hotel Vermont in Burlington, and the Hotel Champlain in Burlington. There are dozens more quaint Inns - but honestly I feel most of them need a refresh.

There are dozens of great places to eat in both Stowe and Burlington and points in between. Depends on what you like to eat. If you around on the weekend, make sure to look at the Burlington Farmer's market (Saturdays) or Stowe Farmers Market (Sundays). Through mid-october, the produce is incredible.