My husband and I would like to experience the feeling of fall by taking a trip to the NE - mid-Oct, week in length with Columbus Day in the middle of the week. We live in the southwest and Fall is just a few degress change in the temp, from very hot to not so hot. Several years ago we traveled to NH and VT and would like to experience something different. KEY - port of arrival and departure via plane needs to be with a Southwest Airlines hub. Can travel to area from hub, example from RI to Boston. Any suggestions?

You can fly into Albany, NY (which Southwest now serves) and spend some time in the Hudson Valley. The fall foliage should be incredible at that time and there are gorgeous parks, wineries, historic sites, great restaurants, etc. Not sure what you're looking for but this area is so beautiful, especially in the fall. Check out the Mohonk Mountain House for an incredible place to stay.

Columbus Day is rather late this year, October 14, so you'll probably be better off staying in the southern tier of the foliage states. There are many web sites that track the foliage, try searching on google or even here on the Fodors board to find them. I suspect that VT, NH and upsatte NY will be well past their prime by mid-Oct. this year. if so, you can't go wrong in the Providence/Newport area, there's lots to do and charming scenery.

Also, you're looking into this VERY late, most of the nice places in the famous foliage areas get booked up months in advance.

take a look at this online brochure.
http://www.discoverbristol.com/

I'd go with the other suggestion - go to Tennessee, Southern WV or western NC. Although in SW PA our peak is around October 9-15, this area has not gotten alot of rain over the summer which means the leaves will just be falling off before they change to any spectacular color.

some ideas from our host site are on this page about "the ultimate fall foliate tour" http://www.fodors.com/features/nfdis...i_fall_foliage

NH foliage is running a bit late this year, so you may be in luck for most locations. Newport is a lovely place to visit, and so is Providence itself. You'd still be in driving range of Boston and Cape Cod, as well. North of Boston does Halloween up BIG, with celebrations through-out the month. You'd probably enjoy the House of Seven Gables and Witch Museum in Salem and the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester. There are many excellent seafood restaurants and antique shops in Essex. Also, that area is only about an hour and a half from southern Maine, where you could enjoy the sights of Ogunquit and outlets in Kittery. On the way, Portsmouth, NH and Newburyport, MA are lovely.