NEW ENGLAND IN OCTOBER
Feb 21st, 2003, 09:40 AM
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NEW ENGLAND IN OCTOBER
Want to see the fall foliage around the second week of October. Fly in and out of Boston probably. Can someone help with a route less traveled for two adults on 30th anniversary trip in hopes of lovely foliage.
Feb 21st, 2003, 10:04 AM
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It's always hard to guess ahead - like picking the right week for cherry blossoms - but if you are coming the second week of October, you'll probably want to focus more on the southern half of New England. Perhaps someone can recommend a route through the Berkshires (I'm more familiar with the northern tier). Also, if you've never been to Newport, RI, it would make a worthy "detour," although it couldn't be considered the "route less traveled!" Perhaps you could even consider flying in and out from Providence.
Also, if you reply with a few more "specifics," you'll probably get more help. Do you like inns or hotels? Price range? Do you like antiquing or hiking? How long do you have? etc...
Also, if you reply with a few more "specifics," you'll probably get more help. Do you like inns or hotels? Price range? Do you like antiquing or hiking? How long do you have? etc...
Feb 21st, 2003, 12:26 PM
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For our New England fall foliage trip, we would like inns. Husband likes history, I like antiques. We would like moderate to upscale places to stay, but not "snobbish". Our vacations are usually along the Gulf coast, so this will be a real treat for us. We don't have to fly in and out of Boston, but will be in Washington just prior. Never been to Boston, either. Thanks for any input and help. I really have no idea where to start planning this trip but know accommodations need to be secured very soon.
Feb 21st, 2003, 01:49 PM
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I don't have enough time to give more information, however, last year we specifically took a couple days off work and found a B&B in Meredith N.H. around the 7th of Oct. No foliage...we traveled north to Franconia Notch and still nothing. Last year was very very late and so if you are planning the second week I would make sure you were mid N.H. or mid Vt. One never can tell, but southern N.E. where I live (Cape Cod) doesn't see fall color until Nov.
Feb 21st, 2003, 03:40 PM
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I'll second that! We went away for our 15th, up to a VERY nice B&B right outside Manchester VT during the 2nd weekend in October and never saw any real foliage to speak of. We did however, have a great time shopping and strolling the streets on Manchester. What a wonderful place to visit.
Feb 22nd, 2003, 02:05 AM
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Boston is a great place to go in the Fall. Quincy market, North End, etc...then you can drive to and through the North Shore--Rockport is an adorable place to stop, Rocky Neck point is a hidden little charming fisherman/artists village with some adorable restaurants and art shops. Just make sure to go before Halloween when it will be closed. You can drive through Gloucester and get some fresh seafood, fried clams, lobster, etc...
The best for foliage would be to go to VT or NH. There are lots of great Inns in and throughout VT--a trip to Quechy would be beautiful...not sure about NH--except the nicest at Mt. Washington.
The best for foliage would be to go to VT or NH. There are lots of great Inns in and throughout VT--a trip to Quechy would be beautiful...not sure about NH--except the nicest at Mt. Washington.
Feb 22nd, 2003, 03:12 AM
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I'll second the vote not to fly into Boston. Boston is a wonderful place to visit but maybe save it for another trip. For history, Sturbridge Village in MA is a treat, so it Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth NH. Although Portsmouth is a very popular weekend destination it's a great place for walking with terrific restaurants. Take a harbor cruise (a great way to see foliage). Route 4 to Concord NH will take you thru "antique alley" Northwood NH. Should you choose to stay in Concord NH, the Museum of NH History is practically across the street from the state house. Very nice downtown area. Instead of taking the hwy (Rt 89) you can take the long way over to VT. From Concord's Main St just turn west on Pleasant St (Rt 103) which will take you the back way thru a couple of pretty towns. Stop in Warner NH for a visit to the Kearsarge Indian Museum. Jump on the hwy and head to Woodstock VT. It's one of the prettiest towns in VT. Maybe mid-week it won't be so crowded. Visit the Billings Farm Museum. When you get to New England, most bookstores carry state maps and the atlas/gazateer. The atlas shows every single road in the state. If you are good at navigating you can find some alternate routes that only the locals know about. If you visited Meredith NH on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH, there will be a lot of traffic but few continue on. Head to Center Sandwich (dinner at the Corner House Inn). The last agricultural fair of the year will be Columbus Day weekend but the Sandwich fair is pretty small. Most of the tourists will not stop to watch the ox pulling. There is a small country doctor museum in nearby Tamworth that we haven't visit. Stay off the interstates on weekends but you might be surprised that Rt 89 (Concord NH to VT) is a very pretty drive. Happy anniversary!
Feb 22nd, 2003, 03:49 AM
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Your head is probably swimming now with the varied replies, and I'll just add to that. Must say that I agree on not flying into Boston, unless you are dead set on a city tour, (and it is a nice historic city). For touring either the Berkshires or southern Vermont, which is where the foliage SHOULD be the 2nd week in October, it is better to fly into Hartford, Albany, or Manchester, NH.
Last year was evidently a freak year for timing the peak because generally by the 2nd week in October, the peak has moved well into southern Vermont and the Berkshires, whose timing varies greatly not only from the Cape, but even from the CT Valley, 50 miles to the east. The elevation is higher and weather cooler than the rest of the state.
I grew up in the Berkshires, and could remember the peak there because it almost always coincided with my Father's birthday and Columbus Weekend....around Oct 10. Moved away after college, but still would go home every year for a combination birthday and foliage tour.
Because we lived there, OUR touring involved getting out of county! LOL We would generally drive up Rte 7 through Williamstown, Pownal, on to Manchester, VT where we would have lunch at the Equinox Inn, then head east on 11 and 121 (a short part of which is a beautiful dirt road all overhung by sugar maples, but smooth, well groomed, no rocks etc so easily traveled at 45). Grafton is a pretty little town, worth a bit of exploring. There is also a nice inn here where we've had lunch on other occasions. Then south to W Townsend, then rte 100 to rte 9 and west back to Bennington, then 7 south again. It is doable in a day and you'll see plenty, but it's a long day. Still we were almost always home before dark driving this circle and exploring interesting shops along the route.
Within the Berkshires, the towns of Stockbridge, Lenox and Williamstown are beautiful and offer plenty of varied lodging opportunities, and it's not too early to book right now. Or...base yourself further north in Manchester area (Equinox Inn is a beautiful old historic inn and the village is beautiful).
If you like less traveled, the Grafton, Townsend leg of the above route is that (though there are people everywhere that time of year) and if you could base yourselves either in Grafton or Newfane, another beautiful little town with a couple of excellent inns.
Generally speaking, if you are arriving around the 14th I would plan on the best foliage being in the Berkshires at that time and if it's the typical year, you will just about hit it at peak. 7 is the heavily traveled route and where you'll find many antique stores, especially south county. Strike out on any of the county roads for gorgeous scenery. When I was going back with my husband and kids, one of our favorite routes was out of S Egremont to Bash Bish Falls...pretty scenery all along the way, then the falls themselves are beautiful and easily accessible. Anoter family favorite was in north county a drive up Mt Greylock, where on a clear day you can see VT, and NY as well. The drive to the top is along a well maintained road, reached via rte 7. 7 through the Berkshires can be slow going because it's two lane for the most part, but it widens around VT and can be traveled with few if any delays until Manchester.
Happy anniversary!!
Last year was evidently a freak year for timing the peak because generally by the 2nd week in October, the peak has moved well into southern Vermont and the Berkshires, whose timing varies greatly not only from the Cape, but even from the CT Valley, 50 miles to the east. The elevation is higher and weather cooler than the rest of the state.
I grew up in the Berkshires, and could remember the peak there because it almost always coincided with my Father's birthday and Columbus Weekend....around Oct 10. Moved away after college, but still would go home every year for a combination birthday and foliage tour.
Because we lived there, OUR touring involved getting out of county! LOL We would generally drive up Rte 7 through Williamstown, Pownal, on to Manchester, VT where we would have lunch at the Equinox Inn, then head east on 11 and 121 (a short part of which is a beautiful dirt road all overhung by sugar maples, but smooth, well groomed, no rocks etc so easily traveled at 45). Grafton is a pretty little town, worth a bit of exploring. There is also a nice inn here where we've had lunch on other occasions. Then south to W Townsend, then rte 100 to rte 9 and west back to Bennington, then 7 south again. It is doable in a day and you'll see plenty, but it's a long day. Still we were almost always home before dark driving this circle and exploring interesting shops along the route.
Within the Berkshires, the towns of Stockbridge, Lenox and Williamstown are beautiful and offer plenty of varied lodging opportunities, and it's not too early to book right now. Or...base yourself further north in Manchester area (Equinox Inn is a beautiful old historic inn and the village is beautiful).
If you like less traveled, the Grafton, Townsend leg of the above route is that (though there are people everywhere that time of year) and if you could base yourselves either in Grafton or Newfane, another beautiful little town with a couple of excellent inns.
Generally speaking, if you are arriving around the 14th I would plan on the best foliage being in the Berkshires at that time and if it's the typical year, you will just about hit it at peak. 7 is the heavily traveled route and where you'll find many antique stores, especially south county. Strike out on any of the county roads for gorgeous scenery. When I was going back with my husband and kids, one of our favorite routes was out of S Egremont to Bash Bish Falls...pretty scenery all along the way, then the falls themselves are beautiful and easily accessible. Anoter family favorite was in north county a drive up Mt Greylock, where on a clear day you can see VT, and NY as well. The drive to the top is along a well maintained road, reached via rte 7. 7 through the Berkshires can be slow going because it's two lane for the most part, but it widens around VT and can be traveled with few if any delays until Manchester.
Happy anniversary!!
Feb 22nd, 2003, 04:01 AM
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Re-reading my reply, I see I totally ignored NH...sorry, NH! There is beautiful scenery there too. We have done and thoroughly enjoyed the Kankamagus Highway loop, but as we lived only 20 miles from VT, most of our leaf peeping tours were to that state, and that's what I'm more familiar with. Certainly did not mean to slight their scenery though. My 2nd paragraph read like fall foliage just passed NH right by. 
gt; I really cannot give you their normal peaks though, again, because we rarely did those routes.
gt; I really cannot give you their normal peaks though, again, because we rarely did those routes.
Feb 22nd, 2003, 06:03 AM
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Thanks for everyone for their wonderful input. Now I have to figure out just where to start and stop. I don't know if it is permitted on this site to provide names of inns you have visited. If it is permitted, could someone please tell me places to stay. If not permitted, you could email me at [email protected] with your recommendations.
Feb 22nd, 2003, 07:23 AM
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It's permitted. I've stayed at the Equinox Inn in Manchester and the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, MA. Both are very old, genteely New England, similar styles, big fireplaces in the lobbys--nice rooms, though smallish as is the case with most historic inns. Both have front porches along their facades with plenty of rocking chairs to view the passing tourists. The Red Lion Inn is on Main St in Stockbridge...which Norman Rockwell painted and it looks today almost as it did then. If you do Stockbridge, don't miss his museum there. The Equinox is on the Main st in Manchester--add carriage traffic to the interesting passing scenery. There are several excellent B&B's in Manchester as well, but we have not tried those.
Feb 26th, 2003, 04:33 AM
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Hi again! Wow, you've had some great input. I especially like OliveOyl's and Dtfrostnh.
Yes, last year's foliage was exceptionally late, and when it finally came, it was still "blah." But chances are even less for that to happen two years in a row. So it's probably an excellent year to come!
I am definitely in the minority on this board when I saw I like the Woodstock Inn. It's such a warm and inviting place, however, with the lovliest lobby and tea time. Even if you don't stay here, be sure to visit to see the beautiful autumn decor through-out the common areas. The Queechee Inn is also lovely. But both are quite pricey.
If you are travelling between Vermont and New Hampshire, but sure to take the Kancamaugus Highway.
You'll find many antique shops around Woodstock/Quechee, and Portsmouth, NH if you venture out that way.
History lovers would definitely enjoy the Billings Farm and Strawberry Banke, and the Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, as well.
If you do decide on this area, the Manchester, NH airport is wonderful. Small enough to arrive and depart easily, yet large enough to accommodate full size jets!
Best wishes for a wonderful trip. My last "tip" would be to make those reservations now, as everything books up quickly for peak season! Congratulations on your 30th anniversary!
Yes, last year's foliage was exceptionally late, and when it finally came, it was still "blah." But chances are even less for that to happen two years in a row. So it's probably an excellent year to come!
I am definitely in the minority on this board when I saw I like the Woodstock Inn. It's such a warm and inviting place, however, with the lovliest lobby and tea time. Even if you don't stay here, be sure to visit to see the beautiful autumn decor through-out the common areas. The Queechee Inn is also lovely. But both are quite pricey.
If you are travelling between Vermont and New Hampshire, but sure to take the Kancamaugus Highway.
You'll find many antique shops around Woodstock/Quechee, and Portsmouth, NH if you venture out that way.
History lovers would definitely enjoy the Billings Farm and Strawberry Banke, and the Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, as well.
If you do decide on this area, the Manchester, NH airport is wonderful. Small enough to arrive and depart easily, yet large enough to accommodate full size jets!
Best wishes for a wonderful trip. My last "tip" would be to make those reservations now, as everything books up quickly for peak season! Congratulations on your 30th anniversary!
