I'll be in Massachussetts Oct 19 through the 31st. I'll be driving to Vermont to see the foliage and also enjoying it in Boston where I'll be staying. Is this a good time frame to enjoy the colors of the beautiful leaves? Or is too late?

It will definitely be too late in Vermont. We have had a dry season up here in new england and some leaves have already started turning colors.

Agree that it will be too late. Typically, the colors have changed all the way to gold and brown and most have dropped by Columbus Day. You might see some nice foliage around Boston, but it definitely wouldn't be worthwhile to drive to Vermont. If you're going to be in Boston anyway, though, just keep checking the foliage report at www.newengland.com prior to your trip. You never know, there might be some good viewing spots left at that time.

So, last week of Sept - fisrst week of October would alright too? Up to the 13th of October?? that's better for Boston AND Vermont..I'm staying more in boston, but was going to Vermont ONLY if Boston was still green.

That should be okay.

way too late this year. you'd be better off going south if you can. Mass and Rhode Island or even Connecticut would be better

I think Connecticut and Rhode Island will be your best bet this year. The New York Times just had an article (in the last week or so) specifically about how the foliage will be bad this year due to the drought. It discussed the economic effects on all of New England and B&Bs. Both CT and RI are close to Boston and by mid.-October should still have some leaves left on the trees.

Just last night, the local news mentioned that the foliage would change earlier this year. They also mentioned a website (whose URL I didn't write down for fear of abandoning an intense stir fry and burning down my building) that posts updates on the foliage. I have heard of several websites which track the pattern of leaf-turning daily throughout the season. These sites might not help you plan your trip in advance, BUT they could help you decide exactly where to drive once you are here.

Does anybody know the URL's of the fall foliage sites? Maybe a keyword search on this site would turn up results too.

Thank you all so much. I also read the article. I've changed my trip to 9/22. Hopefully that will be okay for Boston, Cambridge and the Cape.

I think the site is: www.newengland.com

You're correct, Cindy, that website is for Yankee Magazine's Foliage Update, complete with a map of the color moving from north to south. I'm in southern NH and there are a few spots of color already, mostly red on the swamp maples (even though there's not much swamp this year). The whole thing is difficult to predict, especially this early.

Here some foliage websites and phone numbers from last year. They're probably good this year, though it may be too early to get foliage info now.
National Forest Service: 800-354-4595
Vermont: www.travel-vermont.com; 800-837-6668
New Hampshire: www.visitnh.gov; 800-262-6660
New York: www.Ilovedny.state.ny.us; 800-225-5697
Massachusetts: www.mass-vacation.com; 800-227-6277
Connecticut: www.state.ct.us/tourism; 800-282-6863
Rhode Island: www.visitrhodeisland.com; 401-222-2601