New England is recognized as one of the country’s best regions to experience fall. From breathtaking foliage to numerous festivals and fairs, peep our top four reasons to enjoy a wicked-good New England getaway.
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1. Leaf Peeping
Start with a burst of yellow and orange hued colors, add a touch of crisp autumn air, and you’ve got the makings of a spectacular fall trip. The leaves normally start to change color around the middle of September with peak fall foliage in the first two weeks of October.
How you accomplish seeing the foliage—by land or sea—is what will make your New England experience special. Among the top routes are the Kancamagus Highway, a 34.5-mile scenic drive along New Hampshire’s Route 112, with gas stations or restaurants, just nature at its finest.
In Massachusetts, popular routes include the 75-mile Cranberry Course, with colorful leaves and views of cranberry bogs, and the 42-mile route from Boston through Concord and Waltham that traces Paul Revere’s famous ride.
In Boston, you can head to Beacon Hill for a burst of fall colors or walk through Boston Common and the Public Garden. Another great spot to catch fall colors is in Boston’s Back Bay area, close to The Westin Copley Place, Boston.
Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum is also an excellent location to view a vast collection of trees displaying their peak fall colors most of October. Make it a long weekend in Boston and stay at The Liberty, a Luxury Collection Hotel, just one block from the Charles River.
Or climb aboard the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad in Laconia, New Hampshire. The historic trains, dating back to the mid-1800s, travel along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee. Riders can add a picnic to their experience, and disembark in picturesque spots to enjoy their lakeside lunch.
2. Regional Food
A perfect pairing for a fall getaway involves treating your palate to authentic New England fare. From roadside apple stands, maple syrup sugar houses, and restaurants serving up savory clam chowder, your fall escape wouldn’t be complete without some tempting bites along the way.
A visit to the northeast isn’t complete without tasting some maple syrup at Parker’s Maple Barn in Mason, N.H., the boyhood home of “Uncle Sam.” A family-run establishment since the late 1960’s, Parker’s began with nothing more than a small sugar house and has grown to become a popular country restaurant.
3. Wine and Beer
Sip your way around New England and enjoy its wonderful coastal wine trails and beer stops. The region’s northernly location serves up an impressive assortment of breweries and vineyards for travelers to choose from.
If tastings of the wine and beer variety are your way to celebrate New England, look no further than the Coastal Wine Trail, which stretches from Cape Cod and islands through the Southern coast of Massachusetts, including the coastlines of Rhode Island and Connecticut.
You can easily spend two days winding through historic areas and villages while visiting nine locally owned wineries along the trail.
If beer is more your style, then you will want to check out the local brewing scene in Portsmouth, N.H., where the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel is nearby.
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