How to Plan a Fall Foliage Trip in New England
Many people ask me to give my opinion on their travel plans and ask for advice on things like “What is the best day to arrive during peak season?” To help with this, I have compiled a list of important things to keep in mind if you plan on visiting.
First and most vital, what do you want to see?
What is it that you wish to see? If you only desire to witness the beauty of colorful leaves, you could perhaps find some nearby and save some money. However, if the desire to explore New England still persists, I recommend conducting some research.
- History
- Meeting houses
- Covered Bridges
- And there is so much more (I left off cider donuts!!!)
Which of these is the “New England fall foliage “experience” you will enjoy? Much depends on your planning. When and where you plan to visit, the activities you decide to do, and your expectations all contribute to a successful experience.
If you’re feeling lost and don’t know how to get started on your foliage journey, don’t worry! Simply look for the menu listing for planning and click on it. This will take you to a section where you can find all the information you need to begin your journey through the world of foliage. To get started, we recommend checking out our Beginning your foliage journey article, which will give you a solid foundation to build upon.
How about the History of New England
History takes a long and winding stroll from the first settlers in the coastal villages as they spread out to the cities, farms, and villages. A visit to New England is like stepping back in time. Vintage buildings built during the 1800s and in many cases the 1700s are still around. New Englanders take pride in their heritage and preserve it at the expense of modern conveniences. I’m not saying you won’t find a mall here but there are many towns with just a town common, a meeting house, another church, and a bandstand for music on warm summer nights. (Yes that is a thing here) *seen below*
From our start at Plymouth to the Boston Tea Party, and a little revolution… our history runs deep in New England. I also identify with the earliest settlers (and the witch trials). I bet many of you have heard tales from your grandparents telling tales of your early ancestors coming over from another country and making their way into this new world. Most of us were all immigrants at one time or another…
Our ancestors who came to this new world may have arrived as indentured servants or even as enslaved people. Despite the challenges they faced, they built a life here and contributed to the development of this new country. There are many reasons to visit New England and explore its rich history, including events such as the Revolution, the Founding Fathers, the Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution. And let’s not forget Dunkin Donuts…
Meetinghouses
Many villages in the United States have an old Meetinghouse that dates back to the 17th or 18th century. These Meetinghouses were used by Puritans for their Sunday services. Even Nathaniel Hawthorne has written about them. Interestingly, some of these Meetinghouses have separate entrances for men and women. While a lot has changed in the last 300 years, it’s worth considering if some aspects of our society have really changed that much.
Many towns still have one or more still near the town common. They reflect religion, law, commerce, and civic duty. So, exploring these buildings and checking them off your list will involve exploring a lot of towns.
Covered Bridges
The covered bridge (also known as a kissing bridge) can really be found in many parts of the country. But when you ask someone to describe Vermont in a few words, you tend to get; farms, cows, and covered bridges. Nowhere else is a place so tied to such ideals. Here is a link to my covered bridge articles on this website.
Why are covered bridges covered?
Covered bridges are covered primarily for protection against the elements, particularly rain and snow. The covering provides shelter to the wooden structure underneath, shielding it from direct exposure to moisture, which can cause rot, decay, and weakening of the wood over time. Additionally, the covering helps to prolong the lifespan of the bridge by reducing the impact of sunlight, which can cause fading and deterioration of the wood’s structural integrity. The covering also serves to protect the bridge’s interior and its users from harsh weather conditions while crossing the bridge. Overall, covering the bridge helps to preserve its structural integrity and ensures its longevity.
Why are Covered Bridges called “Kissing Bridges?”
This is less supported but covered bridges have been called “kissing bridges” since the 1800s. It’s said courting couples often stopped to steal a kiss on the bridge while passing through. These folks were either walking or in a buggy pulled by a horse so stopping did not mean taking your hands off the steering wheel. So it’s purely folklore as far as all that kissing went but I think they were truly built for function versus romance.
Scenic drives
The subject of scenic drives is captivating for everyone. These drives can take you through beautiful landscapes, such as a blacktop road surrounded on both sides by maple trees with colorful fall foliage, or a dirt road passing by farms and forests. Many people look for such drives that offer not only a pleasing visual experience but also an opportunity to visit farm stands and see ponds that reflect the fall colors on their smooth surfaces. Please follow this link to check my articles which will give you ideas for scenic drives.
How about articles that are specific to one or two states?
So I have created listings of my articles that only talk about one state. So if you are researching one state then hit my locations by state page and click the icon for a specific state you want to research. Simply click on New Hampshire and you will see all articles that are about New Hampshire.
Lodging cost and availability
Prices for accommodations around New England can double in October. If you check availability 9-10 months ahead, you may be disappointed that the place you wanted to stay is already filled up. But in 2019 Lisa made all our reservations in mid to late August and we found nice places to stay. We planned our stays for each Sunday through Tuesday from the end of September to the end of October. OR… look your right or below the article and you will see a listing for Hotels.com and Vrbo and you can set up your reservations that way. These are affiliate links so if you get your reservations through my site that will pay me a few pennies, but they don’t charge you more…
Subscribe to my blog to be notified every time I post a new article. Also, follow me on my Facebook Fall Foliage Page for anything New England related.
Can you wing it without reservations?
Are you planning on visiting during Columbus Day Weekend? If so, I would advise against it. This weekend is the busiest of the fall foliage season and traffic can be overwhelming. While it is also the most beautiful time to visit (in most years), it’s better to plan your trip for September, the first week of October, or the weeks following Columbus Day Weekend if you want to avoid the crowds and traffic.
I found affordable lodging in Stowe on a weekend (5th October) for only $97. However, it was already 8 PM when I checked in. I noticed that some hotels lower their rates during this time to attract guests and fill up their remaining rooms. Therefore, weekdays might be a safer bet if you’re looking for affordable lodging options.
If you can’t fully relax and enjoy yourself until you have a room reserved for the night, then this may not be the best option for you. However, if you can avoid getting too stressed about it, then you may be able to find some great deals. The downside is that there is a small chance you may end up sleeping in your car.
Lisa and I have made last-minute reservations ourselves. We pulled over in Rangeley Maine on 19 Oct 2017 (notice the date) at about 4 PM and Lisa got on her phone and made a reservation on (Hotels.com) which I’m an affiliate of so using this link will pay me as well as help you. It’s Just like Kayak and Booking.com, Hotel.com aggregates many different site listings for lodging. We ended up staying at the Rangeley Inn (If you think 18 Oct is too late for Northern Maine, read about it here).
Other Planning Considerations
- Make sure you think about these items and bring them with you as needed:
- Hotel booking receipts or email links
- Flight tickets (Goes without saying, you might need these)
- rental reservation receipts and contact numbers (don’t get here and forget where your Airbnb is)
- Medical documentation/verification.
- If driving your own vehicle, check the tires, brakes, and do an oil change…
Weather
The weather impacts every aspect of what you will be doing. You can expect temps in the 80s down to the 30s, rain, snow, sunshine, or some combination of the above.
Clothing requirements
This is much easier if you are driving from home and have lots of room in the car. I have an Amazon affiliate shop and you can check my suggestions. But what if you are flying in and renting a car? Some things to think about are:
- Rain gear, this happens a lot in October so be prepared.
- Shorts, It’s just as likely to warm in the afternoons although the morning can and hopefully will be frosty.
- Jeans, my day starts with a comfy pair.
- Think layers for comfort, an outer shell jacket to block rain/cold wind. A mid-weight or lightweight fleece layer/s plus lightweight shirts. Pull these off as needed to maintain a comfy temp.
- Comfortable and supportive shoes. I usually travel in my Bean boots but will have Merril’s slip-on shoes for comfort. Hiking sneakers to full boots can be needed if you are a trail hound.
- Evening wear… Ok, well this may mean black tie and evening gown for you but for me, it means I wear my nice fleece. Wear what you can carry and remember this is a vacation. Unless you like to dress up to go out to dinner, wear what is comfy.
Photography considerations
- Camera
- Extra memory cards
- Extra Batteries
- Charger/s you should not forget the phone charger or the camera battery charger.
- AND OF COURSE, READ MY BLOG FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL IDEAS!!!
And that wraps up this subject for today. Did I miss anything? Of course, I did but if you have questions, hit the contact page or leave a comment down below…
Jeff Foliage Folger
Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage
- Visit my Fine Art America Gallery
- Visit my Amazon store to pick up New England-related materials
- Visit my Pictorem Gallery (Free shipping in the US and Canada)
- My Facebook foliage page
- Threads.net/@Jeff_Foliage
- Follow our new Fall Foliage FB Group!
- You can visit Lisa’s Artist Facebook Page by clicking here
Folks, whatever you do…, DO NOT trust the SmokyMountains.com fall foliage prediction tool, it is way OFF by 3-4 weeks compared to historical averages (almost seems malicious). You’ll be showing up when most of the leaves are still very much green & summer like.
Thank you for that statement. I’ve been saying that for a while. I don’t think it’s malicious but I do think it is marketing to get the people to bite on their advertising.