A road trip through New England in fall is a really popular idea, and trying to drive North on the interstates from Connecticut to Maine during the months of September to November proves it. And don’t get me wrong, it is beautiful up here at that time of year with blue skies as the backdrop for trees blazing with colors. The White Mountains, Acadia National Park, these places are indeed stunning. But if you hate traffic, and the idea of sitting in it for hours each day makes you decide to stay home, you’re not alone. Here are a few places I go to enjoy the fall season.
I love an old cemetery in autumn. Most New England cemeteries have attractive landscaping and trees. We have lots of old cemeteries with history, interesting grave stones, and many of them tell stories. Many towns offer tours and lectures on the cemeteries, too. It is quiet, serene, and peaceful in cemeteries, and I often enjoy just going for a walk in fall through the tree lined paths.
Another place that brings me joy in autumn is a farm. I highly recommend finding a farm that has PYO, or pick your own. In my area of Massachusetts, there are farms that allow apple, pumpkin, potato, and carrot picking to name a few. If you’re unable to go out into the orchard, you can enjoy the farm stand and treats in a quintessential New England setting. Farms are often surrounded by trees, rolling hills, corn mazes, pastures, and other scenic spots. A huge bonus is many farms are decked out with hay, pumpkins, scarecrows, and other autumn decorations that make for great photo areas.
One farm in particular that I want to highlight is DeMeritt Hill Farm in Lee, New Hampshire. This farm has lots of cut outs, cute photo areas, a farm stand, and a play area. But the main attraction for me is Haunted Overload. An October tradition in our house, Haunted Overload offers various levels of frightful fun. You can go during the day, no actors, no effects, just you and the woods and these incredible spooky works of art. After dark, they offer a “lite” version with no actors, but all of the effects, the regular version full of scares, thrills, and chills, and other versions like glow sticks, or walking the whole trail in complete darkness! They even change up the trail every year, so it is always a little bit different. If Halloween is your niche, you must add this attraction to your New England road trip.
Another place you might not think to go is the beach! While the waters of the North Atlantic do get a little chilly come October, even the beach flora changes colors. With the crowds gone, the beach becomes a place to walk, find treasures, and commune with nature. In fall, the harbor seals come out at low tide in Salisbury, MA to sun themselves on the rocks at the state reservation. The sun is warm in October, and the air is crisp. The salty air just adds to the perfection that is autumn in New England.
Another place to see lots of pretty trees and not sit in your car for hours is a state reservation. Massachusetts has lots of state parks, and each offers a unique experience. From Maudslay State Park with bridges, ruins, an old pet cemetery, and plenty of hiking to Walden Pond State Reservation where you can see where Thoreau lived and a replica of his cabin. Even my town of Haverhill, MA has tours along the Merrimack River, lakes, hiking trails, and other scenic outdoor places to visit.
I hope that if the traffic nightmares of fall in New England have kept you from exploring here that you have some new ideas and fresh takes on seeing the foliage in October. From parks to cemeteries, beaches to spooky farms, you can see gorgeous trees, shrubs, flowers, and grasses everywhere here in the northeast without navigating the stress of driving.