Fall New England Hikes, Wine, Farms?
 

Hello,

My husband and I are new to new york city and for my 31st b-day in mid October, we would love to see New England fall foliage!

We are looking for recommendations on where to go to see some spectatular views. In addition, we want to hike, would love a wine tour, and would enjoy picking apples and visiting some working farms.

We are willing to travel within 4 hours of new york city.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Four hours from NY will either get you along the southern NE coast, or inland, as far as southern Vermont. For foliage in mid October you definitely want the latter route. Western Conn and Western Mass will have all that you are looking for, but depending on the exact dates you could be a little early for foliage. In Western Mass peak weekend is usually considered to be Columbus Day. Litchfield County Conn or Berkshire, Hampshire and Franklin Counties Mass all have farms, apples and wine. There are lots of Fall Festivals in the small towns every weekend in October. Same for southern Vermont.

The areas I mention do not have the more spectacular scenery of the White Mountains (NH) or further north in Vermont, but those areas are more than 4 hours from NY, and for farms, apples and wine the areas I mention are actually better. How much time do you have?

Just to add to isabel's comments, there is also pretty good hiking in NW Connecticut and the Berkshires. From easy walks like Bartholomew's Cobble, to the short but steep Pine Knob Loop to the five mile round trip up Bear Mountain (That's CT's Bear Mtn, not NY's) you'll find enough to keep you busy.

Although a little further than you requested, Vermont is a must see in the fall. It's also great for winter skiing in Stowe. You take skiing gondolas or chairlifts up the mountains to see the fall colour views. It's all the maple trees that give it the wonderful red, orange and yellows. Further west NY, the Finger Lakes area south of Lake Ontario has many wineries and wonderful scenery. If you ever want to venture to Canada for apples, wine tours, check out Prince Edward County, Picton, Bloomfield, west of Kingston on the north shore of Lake Ontario. Many great restaurants and B & B's there as well.

You can do a good hike with spectacular views along the Appalachian Trail between the NY/CT state line on RT 55 in the Dover/Pawling area and head along the trail to Bull's Bridge in Kent CT.

I know there's an organic milk farm in Kent along Route 7. Further up in Lakeville, CT near Lime Rock Whipporwhill Farm raises grass fed cattle and organic eggs. In getting there you will likely pass Larson's Farm which will probably have the corn maze open at that time and I think they sell some vegetable products. If you head up towards Litchfield on 202 you will go by a sugar shack on the right that makes maple syrup.

If you search for CT wine trail you will see some wineries in the area. I think Haight is very nice and Hopkins on Lake Waramaug is the most obnoxious place I've ever been, but they have a great Cab Franc.

We have 3 day - 4 days to do this trip. I have heard wonderful things about the NH White Mountains -- does that area not have many local farms or wineries to visit?

Thanks, Isabel, and everyone else who has posted responses!

-Ligree

White Mountains are more than 4 hours from NYC. I believe its more like 6-7 from NYC? Thats just a guess. Is this Ok?

The White Mountains is not an agricultural area, so very few farms. If you want farms and wineries, you want Vermont &/or upstate NY.
The Middlebury, VT area is a great place to visit if you are interested in agriculture. There are also a couple wineries in the area. You are also a hop skip and jump away from the Green Mountains.It has everything you are looking for.
In NY, the Finger Lakes region is great for wineries.

PS. You should also look into accommodations ASAP. You may end up going where you can find availability. It's a tad late to be planning a weekend fall trip (assuming you are planning on coming on a weekend?).

The white mountains are about 7 or more hours from NYC and there are much less in the way of farms, apples, quaint towns, etc. People keep mentioning the finger lakes, wonderful area but much more than 4 hours from NYC. Really, the four hours is a good idea, it will get you up into some nice territory that has all you are looking for but still leave you enough time to enjoy yourself.

For farms, apples and hiking - you should be able to find that anywhere in the area. For wineries try:

http://www.massvacation.com/westernM...ightseeing.php
www.ctwine.com/
www.enjoyma.com/wineries/
www.weekendwinery.com/Wineries/Wineries_MA.htm