Here are ten places to explore this fall that are off the beaten Path. Lisa and I created a list of things that are not the big popular stops like Smugglers Notch or the Kancamagus Hwy that people flock to. These are some beautiful places that can make your trip more interesting.

I included dates when they “should” be colorful…Also, based on these dates, they are (more or less) N to S…

1. Brownington Stone House Museum and Village. Brownington Vermont. 3-7 Oct

Lisa and I visited this museum on Oct 3rd and the fall colors were almost there, if the colors are on time or a little early you could move the date up a little. You’ll find this off Route 56 at Hinman Settler and Old Stone House Road.

This schoolhouse was built under mysterious circumstances and by all accounts, Alexander Twilight built it by himself but no one knows how he paid for it. Also Alexander Lucius Twilight was the first African American to Graduate with his Baccalaureate (according to Middlebury College)

2. Montgomery Vermont covered bridges. Hopkins, Fuller, Comstock, West Hill, Hutchins. 5-10 Oct

These 5 covered bridges are either downtown (Comstock and Fuller) or just outside. (the Longley and Hopkins) The 5th covered bridge (West Hill covered bridge) can be found between the West Hill and Hill West roads on Creamery Bridge Road. Please read about my adventure in finding this confusing bridge here.

3. Screw Auger Falls in Grafton Notch State Park, Maine. 5-8 Oct

Grafton Notch State Park is where you will find Screw Auger Falls. You can find this by coming in on Route 26 from Errol New Hampshire or traveling north from Newry Maine. Of course Near Newry Maine (just down the road and then up Sunday River Road, but that is another story.

4. The Basin on the Maine/New Hampshire border, just off Route 113, 5-10 Oct

The Basin is just off Route 113 which straddles the Maine/ New Hampshire border. The Basin Pond sits inside the New Hampshire border and you will make the turn when you see the White Mountain National Forest sign for the Basin.

In the early morning, you are likely to get low clouds and or fog which can always be fun.

5. Shelburne Vermont (farm, museum, and town) 8-20 Oct

The Shelburne Farm or Shelburn Museum are great outdoor visits in Vermont. The Shelburn Farm has walking trails, a children’s farmyard, a formal garden, and an Inn… (And a lot more!!!) You can dine there, stay there, or take in one of their farm programs that go on daily. Check their website here.

You can find the Shelburne Museum on Route 7 just south of Burlington. In 1947, Electra Havemeyer Webb, founded the Shelburne Museum to house her family’s collection of horse-drawn carriages. She soon turned it into a collection of collections. Many things you can find here are everyday items like the Lighthouse that used to be on Lake Champlain. Buildings, art, textiles, you name it, and you will probably find it here. Check the Museum website here.

You can find them both just south of Burlington Vermont. You take Route 7 south out of Burlington and when you reach the town of Shelburne you turn west on Harbor Road and follow the signs to Shelburne farm. A short distance past Harbor Road you will find the entrance to the Shelburn Museum.

6. Cathedral in the Pines in Rindge New Hampshire 8-17 Oct

The cathedral in the Pines can be found in Ringe New Hampshire. The sanctuary grounds are outdoor and open all year round. It’s a beautiful and restful setting and there is a beautiful view of Grand Monadnock in the distance.

You can find more about the Cathedral in the Pines by checking their website here.

7. Derry New Hampshire with Robert Frost Farm on Route 28, 15-20 Oct

There are many Homes that Robert Frost lived in over his life. I have visited several of them over the years and this is one of my favorites. You can read this article that I wrote about his Derry New Hampshire home. The nice thing is you can walk the property at any time and like most of his properties, there are trails with stops to read poems of his.

This one has a bench under an old maple tree next to his apple orchard which is very peaceful. If you are there at the right time you can also take a tour (click the link to get times).

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8. Poets Tower in Greenfield MA 14-21 Oct

Lisa and I were in the Pioneer Valley a couple of years ago looking at the farms, old barns, and huge pumpkin patches. We were starting to head home and were driving through Greenfield Massachusetts When Lisa spotted a castle on a far hill.

So I stopped and we got out our Massachusetts Gazetteer (affiliate link) which I never leave home without. We could see the State Park on the ridgeline and there was a road to get up there… This is a great little spot and from the ridgeline and the top of the tower, you can see for miles across Massachusetts.

9. Stockbridge Massachusetts, Norman Rockwell Museum, and town. 15 – 25 Oct

Stockbridge Massachusetts is a beautiful town to explore. Norman Rockwell had his art studio there and a museum dedicated to his illustrations can be found there. Lisa and I went to the Naumkeag Estate for a big pumpkin display. It does cost a little to get in but it was really well done for the whole family (seen below)

You will also find references to Arlo Guthrie who sang Alice’s Restaurant back in the 60s (more on that here). The Norman Rockwell Museum displays Norman Rockwells many illustrations that will remind us of our childhoods. More info on times and directions can be found on their website here.

10. Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) a 1730s recreated village visit
15 – 25 Oct

This outdoor museum is open year-round and in autumn you will find a covered bridge there (It used to be a Vermont covered bridge, click the link to read about it). and in autumn you will find the 1730s recreated village. The outdoor museum has re-enactors who explain their daily lives and how they go about making the products of this period.

You can find out more about their programs like the Phantoms by Firelight programs for some ghostly fun this October…

Safe Foliage Travels My Friends

Jeff Foliage Folger

Autumn is a state of mind more than a time of year – Jeff Foliage

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