Fall in New England If you couldn’t tell, we’re all about everything “fall” right now. It’s always hard to say goodbye to the summer as we savor our last days sipping frozen drinks at the beach. When the weather turns cool and we flock to local orchards to pick apples, carve pumpkins to roast the seeds and light our favorite fall scented candles, we remember why we’re happy to welcome autumn. New England is made up of: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. If you grew up in the US, you know New England is the most famous region for this time of year. The changing leaves here are unlike anywhere else, striking yellows and reds that pop against the bright blue sky. The scent of dishes steeped in old tradition waft down cobblestone streets begging to be eaten. Here are our top 5 things to do in New England during autumn- we hope you visit this region safely and enjoy all it has to offer!
New England During Fall - Top 5 Things To Do!
1. Leaf Peeping
We know the word “peeping” might make you feel a little funny, but we promise the leaves don’t mind! Leaf peeping just means checking out the beautiful foliage around New England during this special time of year. You can plan a leaf peeping road trip to take you through each state, or go an epic hike to the top of a mountain with stunning 360-degree views. They say the colors get more intense the further north you go, and the region’s only National Park located in Maine, Acadia, is the perfect untouched haven to see the colors.
2. Visit Salem, MA for Halloween
Many towns have fun festivals around Halloween including haunted houses and costume contests, but no place compares to Salem. Salem was the site of the Salem Witch Trials in the 1690’s and has a long and spooky history that elevates it to the next level. Pay a visit to one of the many with museums and shops that sell potions and other witchy goods. Instead of the usual haunted house, stay overnight in a haunted hotel or go on a haunted ghost tour… if you dare.
3. Apple Picking, Pumpkin Patch or Corn Maze
We put all of these fun activities as one suggestion because they often go hand in hand! Many farms and orchards across the region not only offer the fun activity of apple picking, but also the chance to select your favorite pumpkin and get lost in a corn maze. Take a hayride around acres of beautiful land and say hi to the local sheep and cows. Orchards are a great place to try fresh pressed apple cider (you’ll never buy the pasteurized bottled version again), apple cider donuts and epic pumpkin pie slices. Other local delicacies during autumn include anything in season: mushrooms, pears and root vegetables. Don’t forget that the first Thanksgiving took place in this region so almost every dish we eat on this holiday has New England roots! Check out one of the many local festivals Fall festivals abound in New England, so we’ll tell you about some of the different kinds you can find all over the region:
4. Pumpkin & Other Festivals
These festivals often involve hundreds of intricately carved pumpkins, which are lit up at night in artful arrangements. Walk through the festival to see all of the different pieces and how some of them connect together. Harvest festival: these celebrations commemorate the bounty of the fall harvest. Some focus on specific produce (cranberries, corn, etc) while others include every autumnal fruit and veggie you can imagine. King Richard’s Faire: this is an epic festival that recreates 16th century England from live jousting to giant roasted turkey legs. The Big E: think about your local state fair times twenty. The Big E really lives up to the BIG in its name- shop hundreds of unique vendors, get a funnel cake and take a spin on the Ferris wheel.
5. Try some amazing local coffee
Sipping coffee in a shop in fall is truly the epitome of cozy. We’re lucky to partner with some amazing roasters in this area, including: Ungrounded Coffee, Rawsonville, VT Kestrel Coffee Roasters, Burlington, VT Big Gear, Montpelier, VT If you’re basing yourself out of New England’s biggest city on this trip, Boston, then we recommend local chains Thinking Cup, Tatte and Pavement Coffeehouse for some of the best cups of joe. You can’t go wrong ordering hot spiced apple cider or pumpkin pie spiced coffee at any local New England shop, though!