When do the leaves change
 

I am planning a fall trip to mass and I wasn't sure when the best time would be to go to see the changing in the leaves. I have never seen the changing of the seasons and would like to get the full effect. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

You never know, and it depends on which part of Massachusetetts. Around Columbus day is a good guess for southern New England. No guarantees though.

Celfan's advice is good. The actual change is gradual and takes place over a couple of weeks. Everyone always argues about peak time and where it occurs. It can be different depending on where you are since it starts changing in the north and at higher elevations. Differences also depend on the variety of trees. Maples turn sooner (swamp maples reddened up the soonest), oaks, beeches etc are later but all can overlap providing some brilliant varieties of color. Should you be a little early for color you can easily drive a couple hours north and further south if you are late.

I'm in Minnesota, not Massachusetts, but would say the 1st half of October is likely the best. The other advice has been sound; leaf changing depends on several things: The amount of moisture during the year, other "stressors" on the tree that would accelerate the leaf change, and the weather late in the season that affects the amount of sugar in the leaves.

With all that said, if you have any flexibility, it might be good to wait to plan the trip until August-ish, and then go to the Mass Dept of Natural Resource website. At least in Minn, they usually begin forecasting when the peak time will be.

With all that said, not catching the "peak" time is no travesty, as the whole fall period has colors and smells that are refreshing. My preference is to err on the early side of peak, as I think the weeks leading up to peak are just as pretty as peak, with lots of greens mixed in with the reds, oranges, and yellows.

Several years ago we went to Rutland VT on Columbus Day Wkend. The leaves were fantastic. Thre are websites that follow the changes. Prob. can google them. Or ask again on the site in the late summer/early fall

If I were booking this trip, I would aim for the week before Columbus Day, which is a public holiday in New England and always packed. By going north or climbing higher, you can assure color. You will need to make reservations _early_, like maybe now, if you want to stay in a peak area. If you want to remain in Massachusetts and take one or more day trips north (easy), it is a lot less difficult to find a place to stay.

And, even if you choose the wrong place, a drive of an hour or less will get you to the peak region -- so don't obsess too much over it.

For the Berkshires, shoot for the time period around Oct. 10. It won't be past peak, may be peak or just before, and as capxxx said, even if it's not peak right there, you can drive an hour and find even better leaves. The problem with waiting to see how the leaves are progressing is that reservations are hard to come by. If you make the Berkshires your base, you can easily do circular day drives up route 7 to Manchester, VT, over on 11 to Grafton or 30 to W Townshend and Newfane, then take either 9 to Bennington and 7 back south, or 2 to North Adams then south again. It's a beautiful drive, you can do it all in daylight hours and still have some nice stops as you go.

If you do the Grafton route, you'll encounter a covered bridge on the way, and once in Grafton, don't miss their cheese shop. Grafton cheese is becoming "in", appearing now even in our one luxe San Antonio grocery market!

It's such a lovely drive in fact, that even if leaves were peak in the Berkshires, I'd do it while you are there, shooting for a weekday, not weekend when traffic can spoil your enjoyment. I grew up in the Berkshires, but never appreciated the area until I was grown and gone. I'd go back each fall and do this drive with my parents...never ever tired of it! We'd generally stop for lunch in the lovely Equinox Inn in Manchester (where you can dine by the fireplace), or the Inn at Grafton, also a beautiful dining room. Although it sounds as if you are doing a lot of driving, it's really a leisurely trip.

Its nice to see the leaves peak, but I try not to get caught up in that. Sure, you can drive a bit to find brighter colors, I do that myself. But too many people are disappointed if they think they haven't seen the brightest colors. Just relax and enjoy whatever stage you're in.

I'm a bit of a bright red freak. I find myself disappointed if I only see orange
and gold. I just have to remind myself that its all beautiful, then I settle down.:)

Come up to Vermont! Usually the first weekend through the 2nd week of October are good.
Wherever you decide to go, if you can't find good color find a swampy area. The colors change there first.
Last fall I was flying over North Hero and there was a swath of bright color. I was told it was because it was a swampy area. Good luck.