New England’s fall season is the stuff of legends. Between the perspiration of summer behind you and the ice of winter ahead, the air whispers with a soft wind. Trees change from emerald green to burned orange, scarlet, amber, and deep purple, creating a colorful display. From Labor Day until Christmas, holiday happiness is almost required, and once September 1 rolls around, hot apple cider pours like a torrent.
I’m not simply waxing lyrical about some other place. I can speak from personal experience since I was born and raised in Rhode Island, attended college in Boston, developed my skiing skills in Vermont, and even got married to a Mainer. I’m pleased to provide some insider advice so you may experience this magnificent area to the fullest since New England is what I know.
How to Prepare for a Fall Visit to New England
Even while New England is the focus of this novel as a whole, it is not a monolith. More than 14 million people live in the more than 70,000 square mile region known as New England, which is made up of the states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. That means you should decide if you want to visit a certain state or take a road trip across many locations before choosing a New England vacation.
It takes four hours to go directly from the capitals of Connecticut (Hartford) and Maine (Augusta). So you won’t have time to wander as you should around the region. The best course of action is to choose a location (such as Newport, Rhode Island; Salem, Massachusetts; or Stowe, Vermont). A route that will take you through some of the most magnificent landscapes. You may also trek a section of the Appalachian Trail, which traverses Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont. And New Hampshire, and Maine, if you like being outside.
The various weather conditions must also be taken into account. State by state, day by day, everything may alter in an instant. It will be chilly in the mornings, mild in the afternoons, and significantly cooler at night. Bring gloves and a hat, and dress in layers. You won’t be sorry.
Fall Activities to Do in New England
Fall is a fantastic time to visit New England since it’s a semi-shoulder season for most places. The right after the summer rush for beach towns and before ski season for the mountains. You may thus visit numerous well-known locations with phrazle less people around.
For difficult-to-get reservations at the trendiest establishments, such as The Newbury, XV Beacon Hotel. And The Langham (all top picks in Travel & Leisure’s 2022 World’s Best Awards), go to cities like Boston. Visit The Freedom Trail while you’re there to learn some history and get a comprehensive view of the city.
New England festivals
Apple picking is another another must-do autumn pastime in New England, despite its cliché status. New England is home to hundreds of apple orchards. But some of the greatest may be found in New Hampshire. Numerous acres may be explored in places like Alyson’s Orchard in Walpole, which also has farm animals you can touch and gaming areas you can play in. The picking experience is same to Plainfield’s Riverview Farm, which also offers a seasonal corn maze.
Due to the ideal weather, fall is a fantastic season to go hiking in New England. Again, there are several access locations where you may join or leave the Appalachian Trail. Alternatively, you can go to Maine to see Acadia National Park, the only national park in New England. It is a spot where you may spend a week. And never get bored since there are more than 150 miles of trails there.
In New England, fall is harvest season, thus there are many fairs to go along with it. This includes the Topsfield Fair in Topsfield, Massachusetts. The Deerfield Fair in Deerfield, New Hampshire (which proudly weighed the biggest pumpkin recorded in the United States in 2018). The New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival in downtown Laconia, and others. There are probably one or two fairs in the state you are visiting.
New England’s Autumnal Colors
In New England, leaf peeping is a competitive activity that benefits all participants. The end of September and the beginning of October are the best times to observe the leaves at their peak. With the help of this useful tool from NewEngland.com, you can also monitor the change in real time. After choosing your trip, check in for the proper timeline since it depends somewhat on location—for example. The leaves in northern Maine will undoubtedly change more quickly than those in southern Rhode Island.
You have a lot of options on where to go. A few of my faves include the sleepy town of Camden, Maine; the busy city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire; cute Old Lyme, Connecticut. And the aforementioned Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire, which is perfect for people who like to feel as if they are traveling through a kaleidoscope. View our list of the top New England locations for leaf-peeping.