Autumn Colors

Fall in New England brings tourists who will travel thousands of miles combined and spend up to $3 billion dollars every year to see the brilliant colors that mother nature provides to the region. For many in the area it is the annoyance of traffic on a weekend day, others will use the income from these visitors to help make it through the winter financially.

Here it is September 29th 2020 , I spent last Saturday taking a road trip from our home in New Hampshire to Southwick Zoo in the center of Massachusetts. My family and I decided to take the backroads to the zoo so we could avoid the highway traffic and enjoy the slow pace of the New England windy roads. All along the journey we noticed the change in colors of the trees and how bright the reds are this year.

If you are wondering which road trips are good for leaf peeping in each state let's start in Massachusetts where Route 2 along the Mohawk Trail seems to always be a favorite to tourists and locals alike. It stretches from Greenfield to North Adams and has numerous stops along the way for breathtaking pictures.

Our next trip will take you on a 35 mile trip around Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway starting at Smalls Falls in West Central Franklin, Maine and ending in Houghton, Byron, Maine. The best time for this trip is usually from Mid to Late October.

My favorite trip of all any time of the year but especially during leaf peeper season is definitely in the state I call home New Hampshire. In the heart of the White Mountains along the Kancamagus Highway from the beautiful scenic towns of Conway, NH. to Lincoln, NH. this 34 mile drive will fill you with a lot of what New Hampshire has to offer.

Vermont has a beautiful , but much shorter trip for a scenic wonderland and at only 11 miles you just may be able to enjoy two states in one day. The Green Mountain Byway stretches from Waterbury, VT. to Stowe, VT. While it is a shorter trip than most it doesn't lack in appeal as you can visit Ben & Jerry's factory (Waterbury) and stop at many local farm stands along the way.

Last Green Valley Scenic Byway is a 35 mile stretch of road in Connecticut that starts in Norwich, CT. and goes through a total of 35 towns before ending in Woodstock, CT. make sure to stop when you're in Norwich at the Benedict Arnold Trail, where you can see the home where the Revolutionary war general was born.

Our final state is Rhode Island and our journey will take us to Newport, RI. where we will embark on a 10 mile ride either by car or if you are lucky by bike. The winding roads of Newport will offer dual views of the sparkling Atlantic and the foliage at Brenton Point State Park in its October peak. The park overlooks Newport Harbor, which means you’ll see some impressive sailboats docked in Narragansett Bay. Be sure to save some time to visit a Newport Mansion or two or take a walk on the 3.5 mile Cliff Walk.

Although New England is a beautiful region to visit during all seasons the time of the year where leaves change to colors of beauty will always hold a very special place in my heart.