Boston and New England in the Fall

For 20 years I led two or three tours a year to witness the spectacular Fall foliage of the New England states (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island and Connecticut) and at this time of year I always feel sentimental and can almost catch the scent of pine in the air, cinnamon spiced treats, pumpkin pie and fresh seafood from trawlers pulling into the harbours. Each year, as I checked in for the flight to Boston, I persuaded myself that those images of scarlets, reds, flame oranges and yellows mirrored perfectly in still lakes were picture enhanced. Yet, every year, when caught right, it was gasps of awe at such wonderful scenes, from those on the coach behind me as well as the driver and myself. Nature amazed us and rekindled our autumn love affair every year.

Today I will happily put together a wonderful fly-drive of the region with many hints and tips, or find the right tour operator product for you as there are several. The season books quick so a year ahead is never too early to plan to witness ….Let’s talk

Boston – in all my USA arrivals Boston’s Logan International Airport offers about the quickest and friendliest entrance to the USA, which may just be the heavy Irish influence. over 20% of the city can trace their ancestry direct to migration during the potato famine. The airport is very close to downtown Boston so usually a short transfer. The city is very compact and easy to get around. Written into history as the place where Samuel Adams and the other Founding Fathers primed a nation for independence and where rebels threw chest-loads of tea into Boston Harbour — an act that helped ignite the American Revolutionary War.

Boston is neither staid, nor stuffy. Students and tech entrepreneurs spawned from Cambridge’s MIT and Harvard University give this city an edge found in neighbourhoods such as Brighton and Allston, with their street art, cult restaurants and cool music venues. Wandering the Harvard Yards is also walking onto the set of many movies. The North End and Back Bay areas have a wealth of historical sights and sites and the red line of the Freedom Trail throughout the city is easy to follow and takes you to them all. There is no need to have a hire car is Boston…I’ll get you to collect that when you are ready to leave town.

Plymouth and Cape Cod– less than an hour south is where the Pilgrim Fathers set foot ashore and home to a life-size replica of the Mayflower, quaint and worth visiting. After, drive just 10 minutes to cross the Sagamore Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal onto the Cape itself. Here you’ll find true New England scenery in the Cape’s, inlets, watery bays with dolphins, whales, seals and a huge resting area for migrating birds. You’ll pass clapboard houses decorated with pumpkins and scarecrows, churches with Christopher Wren steeples, signs for homemade cider and see local growers skimming the flooded cranberry bogs. My tip is to ensure whilst on the Cape you stop in Chatham with its boutique village stores and galleries and have lunch at the Chatham Squires to chat with the locals at the bar and try its rich, creamy Lobster Bisque made with a hint of sherry from a family recipe that year in year out tastes as good as my recollections.

New Hampshire – leaving Boston behind and driving less than an hour across the state line to New Hampshire it always worth a stop at the state capitol in Concord for refreshments and comfort and wander Main Street which is quite charming. Leaving Concord, the true scenery starts to open up as you head via Lake Winnipesaukee (On Golden Pond fame) that’s well worth a stop for the scenic boat ride where the foliage reflects on the still waters. You continue on the route of an ancient Native American trail known as the Kancamagus Highway, or ‘Kanc’ for short. With twists and turns this scenic byway takes you through a path cut through the White Mountain National Forest with breathtaking views of the White Mountains where at various points you can wander the scenic spots at Swift River, Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls and Rocky Gorge, all a photographers dream. I would always recommend staying in North Conway for three nights to take explorations to the Mount Washington Hotel, home of the Bretton Woods Conference and a truly stunning setting. Also the Cog Railway will take you to an overview across the entire state and the Aerial Tramway (cable car) at Cannon Mountain for birdlife, chipmunks, racoons and deer. Always look out for Moose and the possibility of Black Bear sightings here! To gain the most I would always put you in this region on weekdays as weekends can be very busy. Working out any fly-drive is always about timing and experience.

From Boston and New Hampshire routes through Maine are also possible for its rocky coastline, maritime history, Moose are plentiful in Baxter State Park. Me, I’d head to Vermont it’s special, quiet, sparsely populated with friendly welcoming folk with a liberal open attitude. None more so that my wonderful acquaintance Burr Morse who has his own Maple Farm just outside of Montpelier, and has a wonderful way of telling tales of the hardy folk and the work that goes into making maple syrup. Listen as Burr tells of a family tradition with Vermont humour that will have you in stitches and give fond memories. There are plenty of products to taste but a maple creamy (soft whipped ice-cream) is a must! I won’t let you go without trying one! In the Green Mountains there is no better place to stay than Stowe. THE place to stay is the Trapp Family Lodge as in 'The Sound of Music'. Here they settled after leaving Austria and touring for several years. Its a piece of Austria in the heart of Vermont. Maria, Georg rest here in the family cemetery. The history of the family and Austrian culture are honoured in the hotel. If budget does not allow a stay here, visitors are welcome and below in Stowe there are wonderful small family-run accommodations offering genuinely warm New England hospitality. I have my favourites I would love you to stay in.

After these nights in Vermont routes can head back to Boston, North to Montreal and Quebec City, south via historic Woodstock Village and to the bright lights of New York City or cross Lake Champlain into stunning Upstate New York and the Catskill Mountains, cities of art deco architecture such as Albany and Rochester as well as Niagara Falls and Toronto. So many choices...LET'S TALK!