New England Fall Foliage Vacations
Fall foliage in New England provides a spectacular showcase for Mother Nature.
Perhaps nowhere else in America, and maybe even the world, are the fall foliage
colors as stunning and spectacular as they are during the month of October in
New England.
Fall foliage in New England really begins it's showcase in
the month of August. The shortening daylight hours trigger the deciduous trees
to begin the process of shedding their leaves. It happens all around North
America, and all around the world. But in New England it results in a display of
special landscapes painted with fiery autumn colors.
Why is fall foliage
in New England so different and special? It?s a factor of many things but mostly
an abundance of different types of deciduous trees, warm autumn days, and cool -
but not freezing - nights. When these and a few other conditions are all mixed
in the right proportions, then you get the world famous stunning shades of reds,
yellows, oranges, and browns on the hills and mountain sides of New
England.
Between mid-September to late-October, visitors flock to New
England to see the fall foliage. Many take special bus tours, train rides, or
drive themselves. If you choose to drive through New England to see the foliage,
here are some great routes.
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FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - CENTRAL VERMONT
AREA
Vermont is a popular destination state in the fall. With many fall
foliage scenic drives to choose from, the Central Vermont area, around
Killington, and the towns and highways of Woodstock, Rutland and Ludlow, offer
up some of the most dazzling. This area is deep in The Green Mountain National
Forest area, and not surprisingly offers dramatic fall foliage color and
scenery.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - MOHAWK TRAIL MASSACHUSETTS
In
Massachusetts the most popular fall foliage scenic drives are along the famous
Mohawk Trail, and the area known as The Berkshires. The Mohawk trail rolls out
through the northwestern part of the state on route 2, and winds through the
hills and mountains of the Berkshires, touching picturesque towns like
Williamstown, Deerfield, Shelbourne, Colrain, Charlemont, and Shelburne Falls.
The road follows an ancient foot path used to move between Massachusetts and New
York by Native Americans. Mount Greylock, the highest point in The Berkshires
and Massachusetts, offers stunning views of the surrounding area and Mohawk
Trail.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - KANCAMAGUS HIGHWAY NEW
HAMPSHIRE
The White Mountain National Forest is home to many wonderful scenic
drives but the most popular - and rightly so - has to be the 34 mile Kancamagus
Scenic Highway that runs along route 112 from Conway to White Mountains Visitor
Center in Lincoln. This drive is considered by many to be the top fall foliage
New England scenic drive. You?ll see beautiful forests ablaze with autumn colors
and plenty of photo opportunities with walks along gorges and streams, and with
breathtaking views of the highest mountains in the Presidential
Range.
FALL FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - CONNECTICUT
Among the best fall
foliage scenic drives in New England, Connecticut is full of its own collection
of foliage scenic drives. One noteworthy trip to take in autumn is Route 169 in
the eastern "Quiet Corner" region. Here the backdrop is rolling farmland, stone
walls, and picturesque towns and villages that line the route.
FALL
FOLIAGE SCENIC DRIVE - RHODE ISLAND COAST
Rhode Island provides open
roads and coastal drives for fall vacationers and leaf peeping. The 61-mile
Rhode Island Coast Scenic Drive follows the coastline east from Westerly towards
Point Judith passing nature reserves and secluded beaches, until turning north
along Narragansett Bay, and eventually over Newport Bridge on route 138. The
drive finishes over the breathtaking Ocean Drive in historic Newport. Always
close to a picnic stop along this short drive it begs to be taken slowly and to
stop occasionally and breathe in the crisp fall salt air.
New England is
literally filled with fall foliage scenic drives, take look at those mentioned
as stepping stones to visiting other country roads that lead to surprises and
discovery at every turn. The backroads of New England are where some of most
spectacular foliage can be sited, so don't be afraid to explore the backroads
while on your fall foliage trip.