I have only seen the fall colors of New England once before several years ago and have had a burning desire to go back ever since.

Planning on a very last minute weekend trip from Oct 20-24. Will be flying from Tampa, Fl, so I was looking for a direct flight to someplace like Boston, Philadephia or Providence.

From the research I've done, sounds like the season is running a little bit late this year and that colors are muted from a dry summer, so I'm a little confused about where I should go.

I have ruled out VT, NH and ME. I have thought of flying into either Boston area and driving to the Berkshires or flying into Philly and going to southwest PA.

Can anyone give a report of fall foliage from their Northeast area and let me know if the areas I am thinking of might have some good color?

I'd love any other suggestions where my husband and I can stay in a charming town, drink hot apple cider, shop in quaint stores and see some color. (are the areas I'm thinking of like this?) We visited East Aurora, NY last time to see fall colors and I would love to visit a place like that again, but something new.

Hello goingtoCR,

Try foliagenetwork.com . They've got lots of up-to-date links on color sightings throughout the midwest and east coast areas.

Happy travels!

Here's my foliage report, from the southern border of Boston: Not a damn thing, except one tree that's turning before all the others because it's stressed from damage. Everything else I see out my window looks the same as it did in July, including the lawns and annuals. Normally, the Columbus Day weekend (which just ended) is the peak around here.

Southern New England did NOT have a dry summer -- we had lots of rain when the northern states got none, so the forecast, if the stuff ever does turn, isn't for muted colors.

You're talking about dates a week away, so who knows what will happen. Flying into Boston and heading west sounds like a good strategy.

Colors were peak in Crawford Notch last weekend--and they were bright too, I'm told. They are still just turning in southern New Hampshire--it's still pretty green.

just west of Boston we still have pretty minimal color. I think this is not going to be a very good year for foliage, somehow. We're getting such heavy rain that the leaves which already changed are getting washed off the trees.

That said, I think a visit to the Berkshires late in the month might give you some good color. you could fly into Albany NY rather than Boston, it would be a shorter drive from there.

With the lateness of the foliage this year, the Providence/Newport area might be pretty good. Newport is very charming, as are little towns along the way from PVD like Barrington and Bristol.

Dear goingtoCR,

Good afternoon! My mom and dad live in the Tampa area and they told me theres a special of like $69-99 flights from TPA to EWR (Newark, NJ) and Im pretty sure those rates were for around the time youre looking to fly. Im not 100% but I think it was through Continental. I know this isnt what you asked about but I thought it might help

Enjoy your trip!

*PS the leaves are just starting to turn here in the Philadelphia area!

Sincerely, Carrie

I love the western ma/ berkshire idea. Maybe if flights don't work for you to Albany, how about flights into that Ct airport? is it Bradley Airport? China Cat probably knows if she lives out there. I remember a friend flying into there, and then - anyone - can you drive from there to Sturbridge Village area (which is an old stand by stop and my mother loved eating at the Swan) and out to western ma on rte 2 or the pike? I just like that area better than Newport for foliage b/c you get the hills/valleys/etc which when foliage is good is gorgeous. And I loved heading towards Williamstown/North Adams on rte 2 this summer and there was some hairpin turn in the road that brought you around to this great hilltop restaurant with quite a view (can't remember name or town though, but it was nearer end of rte 2, and remember new modern museum in N Adams was so interesting. Plus western ma has everything else you mention, quaint shops, hot cider, some great restaurants, real new england villagey feel. We stayed at the Porches and loved the place, but no view - Williams or Williamstown Inne looked nice, we ate dinner in Williamstown one night, but haven't been inside - someone from western mass might know a better place. I agree with China Cat, we are losing lots of leaves here south of Boston b/c of rain and winds, so foliage might not be best year for, but there certainly will be more than you'll see in Florida !

hey, escargot, I think we've been in all the same threads lately

I don't live that far west, but my mom does. I'll ask her for the Berkshire foliage report this weekend, and let you know.

Yes Bradley is the airport in Hartford. Its not a bad drive from there to the Berkshires, but Albany is definitely closest. And there's so much stuff to do in the area, if it rains there are museums and antique shops and the like. And lots of good restaurants, in Great Barrington and Lenox.

I grew up in the Berkshires and almost always flew into Hartford when I went home, but then Albany airport started perking up, getting more flights and good rates to attract customers away from Hartford. Now it's about a 50/50 choice as to which I go, although in the winter almost always opt for Hartford rather than drive "over the mountain" from Albany on rte 20--a tough drive if it snows. To me the drive is easier from Hartford...all interstate and when you get off that plane, you want to get to your destination!

I hope the leaves are still good then goingtoCR! I used to plan on going home for my Dad's birthday, Oct 10 and they would almost always peak right around then...during a normal year. Hope you are lucky with your timing--it is absolutely gorgeous, plus you most likely will miss the biggest crunch of leaf peepers from out-of-state who planned on a normal leaf season!

If it is past peak there head either east or south as colors move from north to south and from the western part of New England toward the coast. We've been on the Maine coast in late October and still seen good color!

We drove from York, ME to Elsworth last Friday and through Acadia NP on Saturday. Colors were minimal. Sunday as we drove toward I-95 and the foothills, there was little improvement.

Thursday morning Boston Globe has map and approx peak dates of foliage in Mass - also a web page www.massvacation.com which has foliage updates and phone # 1.800.227.MASS -maybe you can even access artile online according to Globe, western MA is peaking around 10/1-14 and lower part of state central and towards border of west 10/5-18 and southern area 10/17-24....so you might choose flying to providence/newport and driving up into lower cape cod/southern ma. good luck.

I am looking out my Albany-area window right now. My many maple trees have not even started to turn yet. I think we will be raking right up to Christmas this year! We drove through the Berkshires on Sunday and the colors were just starting to turn. I hope our rain will have stopped by the time you are in the area!

Here in South Jersey we usually have some color by now but have nothing yet. I am thinking the dry summer and early fall is going to make for a drab autumn this year.

If you're coming to New England - bring your ark along!

nonnigrace LOL

Or at least a pair of waders - I think we've had 10"+ in the last week here in South MA.

goingtoCR - We drove back from Montreal 2 weekends ago and the trees were showing very little color even in N. Vermont.

Good luck

going:

I live west of Pittsburgh and the leaves are just starting to change as of the date of my thread. Within 10 days they should be brilliant. You may want to consider Harrisburg or Lancaster too as the altitudes aren't high so the colors will not change as quickly as say the Laurel Highlands.

I live in south western Connecticut (Fairfield County), and after 8 - 9 days of constant rain this past week, the sun has finally come out.

The trees are still mostly (90%) green, and the leaves that have fallen on the ground are brown.

The colorful fall season has not yet arrived here.