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Fall foliage 2016 – Western Mass, Rt 100 VT, or both

Fall foliage 2016 – Western Mass, Rt 100 VT, or both

Old Mar 10th, 2016, 12:40 PM
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Fall foliage 2016 – Western Mass, Rt 100 VT, or both

My husband and I will be in western MA for a wedding on Saturday, October 8, 2016. We have a return flight out of Boston on Wednesday evening, October 12, giving us 3+ days to explore. Looking to see fall color, hopefully, visit small towns, beautiful scenery, antique shopping, covered bridges, light hiking. We are happy traveling quickly from place to place, putting in lots of miles, and seeing as many things as possible - and we are equally content to slow down and immerse ourselves in an area. I’ve done a lot of research, looked at maps, considered driving distances, and come up with 3 general options. All options start with us arriving on Saturday in Deerfield, MA and exploring the area before attending an evening wedding.

Option 1 is exploring western Mass including the hill towns, Berkshires, Mohawk Trail, Mt Greylock, the area from Ashfield to Northampton, and we have friends we could visit in Lee. Anything else or specific recommendations of things to see in this area? Is it possible to fill 3-4 days here?

Option 2 is Vermont via Rt 100. My thought is to make our way a certain distance north and establish a home base for 3 days then take day trips. Any suggestions for base towns and lodging?

Option 3 is a hybrid combining the best of both options above - the Mohawk Trail, Berkshires, AND parts of Rt 100. What would be the best route for such a scramble?

Is the leaf peeper traffic going to be bad in a particular area? Are there any special events in any towns we shouldn’t miss? Also, vegetarian restaurant recommendations are welcome.

Looking forward to getting advice and forming our itinerary. Thanks!

Ellie May
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Old Mar 10th, 2016, 01:18 PM
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We did Rte 100 one year from as far north to as far south as it goes and it was wonderful. Slow going at times but we also were willing to pull over and just soak some of it in. I don't think you could go wrong with it.
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Old Mar 10th, 2016, 03:59 PM
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Route 100 at least as far as Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory.
From there take US 2 east to St. Johnsbury and I-93 into New Hampshire. Take the Kancamagus Highway east from Exit 32.
There is a covered bridge near the east end of the Kancamangus Highway near Conway NH.
Take 16 and 125 south from Conway avoiding the toll road. If you have extra time you could cut over into SW Maine to add to your collection of states.
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Old Mar 10th, 2016, 04:42 PM
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I think a combo of Western Mass and southern Vermont would be great. I don't think you have time to go to NH or Maine as the poster above suggests. The foliage is just as good in Mass and Vt at that time. Vermont is lovely, but gets more crowded (it's just more well known by people from outside the area). There will be leaf peeper traffic in western Mass as well, but it's not usually quite as bad (I live very close to South Deerfield).

The weekend of Oct 8 and 9th this year is Columbus Day so that's the weekend Ashfield holds it's fall festival, one of the best around (but it's not on Monday, Columbus Day, so you would need to go on Sunday). From South Deerfield to Ashfield you go through Conway (Mass, not NH) and there is a covered bridge (visible from Rt 116). Also in the area, in Shelburn Falls is the Bridge of Flowers, a converted rail bridge that is worth seeing. In Deerfield is "Historic Deerfield" which is a collection of restored colonial homes (http://www.historic-deerfield.org/). Northampton has some of the best restaurants (and shops) in the area.
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Old Mar 11th, 2016, 01:15 AM
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I think events and/or destinations are a great suggestion. It's going to be beautiful lots of places but driving too many miles could get boring.

If you enjoy baking I would head to Norwich VT and King Arthur Flour, less than 2 hours away via I91. The interstate is actually a pretty drive. The Norwich Inn is a great place to stay. You could visit St. Gaudens in Cornish NH and check out the Cornish-Windsor covered bridge.
http://www.nhtourguide.com/covered_bridges/index.htm

You could travel part of Rt 100 but I would not go as far as Ben and Jerry's because of the traffic.

Simon Pierce, a great restaurant, Quechee gorge and the Billings Farm museum are a short drive to the south.

When you return to Boston, I89 to I93 would be quick with I89 fairly scenic. Or drive south for a long drive thru NH's quiet SW corner from Keene (pretty college town) via Rt 101 connecting in Nashua to Rt 3 south to Boston.
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