Going to Salem, MA the 29,30,31 Oct. Everything seems to be full & expensive. Any suggestions. We will be on vacation the last week of Oct 09. flying into Boston, want to drive to quaint villages, beautiful colors, covered bridges, etc. I have been several times before, my daughter has never been. She also wants to go to Fall River, Lizzi Borden. Looking for a pretty drive the days leading up to the end of month. What about Conn? Have been the route up to Stowe, VT, beautiful!

Sorry, but the foliage will likely be gone by then.

Click on your dates

http://www.yankeefoliage.com/peakmap/

Note also that Salem is busy those dates because it's a very popular Halloween destination - and, Halloween falls on a Saturday this year.

A little late for foliage. But an easy drive is to get on Route 95/128 south, take Route 2 west - you can detour thru Lexington and Concord. There are no covered bridges along that route. And you only have 3 days.

Are you sure you want to be in Salem, MA Halloween weekend - it will be mobbed, crowds of drunk people celebrating, and every year a bunch of arrests for that sort of behavior. Parking is impossible, everything expensive, and hardly the quaint experience you want.

You may have better luck going South of Boston instead of north. I agree that you should avoid Salem unless you want to partake the Halloween festivities.

How about Portsmouth, NH. It's a really fun place to exlpore with lots of great restaurants.