Hi,
My wife and I will be visiting our son in New Jersey (New Brunswick) during the last week of September. Before flying back home, we are planning to spend 7 or more days (depending on the final itinerary) in New England. We would like to avoid big cities and spend most of the time hiking, walking, enjoying scenery. We would appreciate your suggestions on the itinerary very much!
Thanks. Lev.

Jackson, NH is a great place to stay. It's a quaint little village which you reach by passing through a covered bridge. You feel like you are taking a step back in time.

There are several great upscale restaurants and B&B's. You can walk the loop (about a mile, very flat), play golf and walk up to view the Jackson Falls (1/4 mile hike or drive). There are lots of nearby hiking choices.

You can quickly reach the Kanc by way of Bear Notch Road for great foliage viewing. It's very close to Mt. Washington Auto Road - You don't have to drive yourself, you can hire a van to take you up. I believe for about $35 pp.

There is a new hotel called the Snowflake Inn. It's an adult only hotel with a Jacuzzi in each room. Each room also includes a free massage. It's larger and more modern than a typical B&B. The owners were very nice. They were also featured on the travel channel.

The Inn at Thorn Hill looks nice as well (we have only visited the restaurant which was excellent).

The Wentworth is nice but if you book take care to request a room that is pictured on the website. We rented a room here last New Years and were very disapointed.

The Christmas Farm Inn is about 1/2 mile outside of the main town but is quaint. We have only visited the restaurant and had massages at their spa - excellent experience at both.

Last, we were very impressed by the Ellis River House. The owners were very nice. Each room had been newly refurbished and all were beautiful. I believe that this is also and adult only establishment.

For a nice dinner try the Thompson House Eatery, Wilcat Tavern, Inn at Thorn Hill or the Christmas Farm Inn. The Shannon Doer is fun for more casual dining - they have a singalong on weekends. Fun for kids and adults.

NH's White Mountains ought to have some nice foliage at that time. Adnil made some great suggestions. With a week's time I would suggest splitting your time with a few days in VT. The scenery is a lot different, more rolling, open farmland. Shelburne Museum between Burlington and Middlebury is very popular. Some people spend two days there. We've split a week between two VT locations. Along Lake Champlain there's a lot of farmland.

I don't know how much driving you want to do, but I'd reccomend the Berkshires (Lenox, Stockbridge, Great BArrington area)in Massachusetts for beautiful scenery, rolling hills and classic New England Towns. Northern Connecticut is beautiful as well. Perthaps a drive to Rhode Island for your water part of the trip. Southern New England has the typical New England towns you think of- more so than VT and New Hampshire, and I live in Vermont. For your mountain portion I also reccomend
the White Mountains of New Hampshire. I always go to Franconia Notch Stae Park.
Great hiking. A drive on the Kanc is a must too.I reccomend the Flume in the Park, a short beautiful easy walk through a Gorge. I also reccommend Polly's Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill not far away from the Park, a true landmark. Call an hour before its always packed.

I second Jackson as a great place to use as a base for great leaf peeping in the White mountains.We stayed at the Covered bridge motel and the proprietor did everything to make as feel comfortable. In the evening he lit a bonfire in the garden near a beautiful babling brook.On the other side of the road you have a good restaurant. The village itself is really out of this world.Outlets shops in N.Conway are just miles away. Paul

I'd like to thank everyone who responded to me. We changed our plans and spent a week in French Canada (Montreal and Quebec City) after visiting our son in New Jersey. But next year it will be New England and we will follow your advice.