Western Connecticut-Fall Foliage Route?
 

I'll be returning from a road trip to the Adirondacks and Vermont in October (spending one night in North Adams, Mass.) before heading back home to Virginia on October 13th this year.

I was thinking of taking a slower route south through Western Massachusetts and Western Connecticut before merging onto the interstate.

I assume the Berkshires will have color but am not sure what "scenic" route if any to take through western Connecticut.

I could easily bag the whole idea and cut over to Albany from North Adams and take the Thruway south but that doesn't seem too appealing.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Here's a fairly good foliage map - just advance the calendar and click on your date(s)

http://www.yankeefoliage.com/peakmap/

Your timing should be just about right for beautiful foliage in the Berkshires and Litchfield Hills.

North Adams is right on the Mohawk Trail, and driving east will take you along the famous "hairpin turn", so you'd want to drive at least that far east and back while you're there, before heading home.

Route 7 through the Berkshires is definitely a scenic drive. In Connecticut, there are several north/south scenic drives through the Litchfield Hills. See www.visitconnecticut.com

Actually, though, the thruways are almost as scenic (without lower speed limits, passing through small towns, traffic signals, and trying to follow those route signs!).

You could take the "slow" route at least as far as I-90 in Stockbridge, and then decide whether to continue on or head for the thruway.

Thanks very much, Djkbooks, for the reply and the recommendations.

I am not familiar with the "hairpin turn" but see it on Rte 2 on a roadmap so will keep that in mind.

Appreciate the links..thanks much.

Route 7 remains quite attractive in Connecticut, to about the border of New Milford. If you have time to explore, villages such as Salisbury, Sharon, Cornwall Bridge and Kent are on or not far off your path.

After a few suburban strip mall miles in New Milford you will reach Route 87 just above Danbury. Head west to make your connections.

Note that while it should be pretty in the area at that time, Oct 13 is a little early for peak foliage.

Fra_Diavolo,

Thanks very much for those additional comments and recommendations..much appreciated.

If you can wind your way through the towns of Kent, Cornwall, Litchfield, tiny little Washington Depot or Norfolk, you'll be surrounded by beautiful hillsides and landscapes. So pretty there! Litchfield county really screams rural New England to me.

Routes 7, 202, 45 and 44 were always my favorite, and I grew up in Litchfield County. We used to drive up Rte 7 and have lunch at the Lenox Inn (in Lenox MA) every fall.

Definitely take Route 7 through the Berkshires and Western CT. It will bring you through Stockbridge and close to the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Fra_diavolo's comment about reaching 87 after New Milford should read Interstate 84 to head west.

Out of curiosity, why did you choose North Adams to stay in?

Oops -- right you are!

I chose North Adams because I'll be coming off the bottom end (and my second half) of Vt Rte 100 and that seemed like as good a place as any to stop.

I currently have a reservation at a place called The Porches for one night.

Admittedly I didn;t do a LOT of research for this aspect of things and would be amenable to another location. My only concern would be booking in for only one night since I cannot stay any longer than that.

I would check to see if anyplace towards Lenox would have 1 night open. It is a lot more scenic in South County, but may be difficult to get a room. There are a lot of B&Bs towards Lenox. Not knocking North Adams but it is definitely less scenic. 1 thing to do in NA is the Mass MOCA museum which would be worth some time to visit.

Yes, Route 7 is the way to go. It "starts" in Montreal and ends in Norwalk, CT. Once you get into CT there are some pretty side trips you could take. For ex, once in Kent go over the hills to Warren and Litchfield, Lake Waramaug and take 202 south to New Milford. In NM take 67 thru the country to Bridgewater and Brookfield, then over to Danbury to get onto Rte. 84 west to 684 south. Color all the way. Unfortunately, on Oct. 13 the leaves in Vermont are at their height and farther south are a sometime thing. Bonne voyage.

There are two restaurants in North Adams we've really enjoyed.

Gideon's, 34 Holden Street

Grammercy Bistro, 24 Marshall St

Both are just off the main street.

There's a new place called Taylor's Fine Dining on our list for next time.

We used to really enjoy staying in Lenox. Lodging is mostly "upscale" country inns and B&B's, with a few deluxe places. But, we've found that prices have gone up while the pleasure of the "experience" has gone way down. And, the shopping and dining has declined over the years.

One of our favorite places to stay is the 1896 Country Inn & Motels just south of Williamstown Center on Route 7. Beautiful setting. Motel rooms are decorated very nice "country inn" but are totally modern.

Thanks once again for all the additional comments and suggestions...they are much-appreciated.

For all of you who recommend Route 7, I think I'll try to do that unless the weather that day is awful, etc. I'd like to take it at least into northwestern Connecticut and then I'll play things by ear.

As to North Adams..yes, although "contemporary art" isn't my greatest interest I'd like to get there in time for the MOCA providing it is open that day (Sunday).

Thanks also for the comments about the quality of lodging, shopping, dining etc. I have, fortunately, visited the Norman Rockwell Museum in the past and very much enjoyed that experience..but I am old enough to actually REMEMBER those "Saturday Evening Post" covers when they arrived in our home so that made the place even more special.

I hope I'll be able to post a trip report after this is all over although I'm afraid it won't be as exotic as many on here turn out to be.

Thanks again, everyone....and Cheers!