Northeast US Fall Foliage Trips
How to Get the Most out of the Colors of the Fall Season
Seeing fall foliage actually makes the end of summer not seem so bad. Try taking a drive, a tour or even a fall cruise to get the most out of the season.
One of the wonders of living in a temperate climate is that the best of all four seasons get to be experienced. As the warm, long days of summer slowly begin to shorten, slowly, leaf-by-leaf, trees begin to change from a deep green to fiery tones of yellows, oranges and reds. Arguable the best place to experience fall foliage is throughout the northeast United States and the Canadian Maritimes.
There are various ways to see the vibrant colors of fall. Whether on a daytrip, a guided coach tour or the ever-growing in popularity fall cruises, there is just something unforgettable about passing by a colorful forest on a crisp autumn day.
Day Trips
Depending on where in the Northeast US your hometown is, there are many possibilities for fall daytrips. If you live in and around the New York City area, there is Harriman State Park and Ringwood Manor State Park which is in New Jersey, which are both just 30 miles from Manhattan. Both parks offer different trails perfect for fall hikes.
If you live closer to Boston, although it is only open for camping until the end of October, Wompatuck State Park is less than 40 minutes outside of the city. Another state park, perfect for a fall day trip, is Massasoit State Park. Approximately 30 miles south of Boston, like Wompatuck, Massasoit’s camping season ends in October.
Fall Cruises
As the market for cruises continues to soar, the demand for fall cruises rises as well. More and more cruise lines are beginning to offer Canada and New England cruises that run during the fall season and provide a perfect opportunity to see fall’s beauty along shorelines. Fall cruises are great option for those who may not live in the Northeast and are able to take a day trip.
The benefit of these cruises are not only do travelers get to experience the scenery from the water, but they get a chance to visit a variety of cities as well. Most of the cruises stop in major ports along the Eastern Seaboard, providing not only a scenic trip, but a chance to visit cities like New York, N.Y., Boston, Mass. and Halifax, N.S.
Here are a few examples of some fall cruises offered:
Carnival Cruise Lines offers a 5 night Canada/New England cruise from $499 US departing on September 1st 2008. This itinerary starts and finishes in New York City and visits Saint John, N.B. and Halifax, N.S.
Royal Caribbean also offers a 5 night Canada/New England cruise from $649 US departing on October 18th 2008. This itinerary starts and finishes in Boston and visits Portland, Maine, Bar Harbor, Maine and Halifax, N.S.
Coach Tours
There are various coach tours that take scenic routes through the northeast to get travelers the most of their trip. Travelers have the option of choosing day trips or multi-day trips.
Here are a few examples of some coach tours offered:
Viator tours offers a 10-hour bus trip that leaves from various locations in the Boston and Cambridge areas from the end of September to the middle of October. The busses pick passengers up at different hotels, making it easy for tourists who don’t live in the city to go on the trip. Prices start at $55 per person.
Caravan Tours runs an 8-day trip starting from $995 US per person beginning and ending in Boston. The trips visit Hyannis and Martha’s Vineyard among other cities in the northeast. While this trip runs throughout the summer, there are three or four times as many tours leaving during the months of September and October.
No matter which way you choose to visit the northeast this fall, the views of the foliage are incredible. Whether cruising, driving or even just taking a hike, enjoy the scenery and, most of all, have fun!
