Fall Foliage Travel in New England
A Memorable Autumn Vacation in the Northeast United States
Whether the destination is Vermont or Massachusetts, New Hampshire or Maine, Connecticut or Rhode Island, careful planning is key for enjoying the colors of the season.
There is nothing in the world that compares to the gorgeous scenery of a New England autumn. Picturesque towns with white church steeples, brilliant red maples, and rolling hills painted with splashes of vibrant colors immediately come to mind when thinking of a New England vacation in the fall. All leaf peepers should thoughtfully plan their itinerary in order to make the most of the opportunity.
When to Go
When is peak color? This is the question every traveler to New England wants to know. When will the leaves be at their best? It is impossible to know for sure. As the saying goes -- One person’s peak is another person’s near miss. Weather can vary the peak dates from year to year. The color can be gorgeous one day and a storm can knock everything off overnight. That is the chance one takes in going for the color. However, there is a general timeframe when most areas can expect peak color. The color moves from north to south during September and October. If one researches the target areas, a timeframe will begin to emerge as to the potential best weeks to visit. Also consider the various fall foliage festivals that take place when deciding when and where to go.
Lodging
While it may occasionally be fun to travel on the fly without reservations, a color trip is not the time to do it. Many rooms are booked months if not a year or more in advance. While some homeowners do open up their homes for the travelers who find themselves without lodging (for a fee), it is far more advantageous to plan ahead and make reservations. By leaving it to chance, travelers run the risk of spending hours desperately looking for lodging rather than leisurely driving the gorgeous back roads.
New England abounds with inns, bed and breakfasts, and national chain hotels. Each offers advantages, but to get the real feel for the area, choose an inn or bed and breakfast. The owners and operators are generally excellent sources of information about local attractions, the best dining, and out of the way gems not to be missed.
Strongly consider choosing a few centrally located places to stay and then travel out from there each day. There will be color in almost any direction in the autumn and by driving even just an hour or so the color can be even better. Staying in one place also allows more time for enjoying the sites and less time packing and unpacking.
Dining
New England offers every kind of dining imaginable. From fine cuisine to home-style New England suppers, there is something for everyone. While travel guides can be helpful to a point, the locals will know the best places to eat. Ask the shop owners, the innkeepers, and the friendly folks out and about where to find the best soup, the smoothest mocha, and the quintessential comfort food.
Leaf Peeping
Once the color starts coming it is almost impossible to not see color everywhere. The traveler will not have to go looking for color because it surrounds everything. However, for great photo opportunities, consider driving the back roads. There are rolling hills and scenic drives in every direction. Locals are also a good source of information regarding some of the best drives. But know in advance that during the peak season some of the well-traveled roads can be so congested that traffic literally crawls bumper to bumper. If this isn’t the dream scenario, consider heading in a different direction. Another option is to plan to visit just before or after the expected peak season. Although there may be less color or the color may be more on the ground, the views will be just as spectacular without all of the congestion.
Nothing compares to autumn in New England. Plan carefully and have the camera ready!
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Choosing a New England Inn or B&B
