New England in the Fall: 7 Places You Must Visit

Nothing compares with New England in the Fall – curls of Cherrywood smoke escaping tall chimneys; pumpkins taking up residence on every doorstep; and sunburnt leaves dancing to the crisp wind’s song as they fall to the ground. Summer just gave its last curtain call and  therefore, I am reminded that Fall is here.There is a colorful portrait of beauty in autumn leaves, especially when it forms a colorful quilt of rusts, oranges, yellows, scarlets, and maroons, over an entire town. Autumn casts its spell on me every time it makes its appearance. I love the sound of leaves and acorns crunching beneath my feet as I walk through a quaint New England town square. I love the crispness in the air and the promise that Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday) is right around the corner. Therefore, above all,  I love being in New England in the Fall.

I have spent 4 magical autumns in New England because I love it there so much. Furthermore, I never grow tired of the beautiful autumn landscape and the crisp autumn air. There is no better place for leaf peeping than in New England in the Fall. Therefore, people travel from all over the world to capture the beauty of New England during this time. Small picturesque towns in Autumn are booming and some of the best places to stay are quaint and charming country inns. My favorites are Top Notch at Stowe, The Inn at Sawmill Farm, and The Trapp Family Lodge. Most noteworthy,  the Trapp family depicted in the Sound of Music movie own the Trapp Family Lodge.

Massachusetts

New England is gorgeous in the Fall and in addition to leaf peeping, there is so much more to see. Of course, I won’t go into all the shopping I did on Newbury Street for the simple reason that this blog post would be 10 times as long. Therefore, I will save that for another post.  On this particular visit, my journey began in Boston, in the North End, where I visited The Old North Church, Paul Revere’s home, and Faneuil Hall.

The Old North Church

The Old North Church is the site of what started the American Revolutionary War. Read all about here. Paul Revere’s plan was to stop the British from seizing the arms and ammunition the colonists had stored.  A rumor was that General Thomas Gage and his men were headed to Concord to capture that ammunition. Paul Revere placed several men along the route and the militia leaders were told to keep an eye on the top of the church steeple. If one lantern was lit that meant that the British were coming by land; if two lanterns were lit, they were coming by sea. Two lanterns were lit on the steeple of the Old North Church the evening of April 18, 1775 and because of this the militia waited for the British Troops at Lexington. The Revolutionary War was a result of the battle which broke out halfway to Concord.

Paul Revere’s Home

Boston isn’t Boston without visiting Paul Revere’s colonial home, which was built in 1680. It is most noteworthy that Paul Revere bought the home in 1770 and owned it for 30 years. The home is located in the North End of Boston, as is the Old North Church.  It is now operated as a museum and has a visitor and education center attached to it. I was thrilled to visit both places and I could only imagine what it was like here at the Old North Church during the Revolutionary War time. To think that I walked down the same street that Paul Revere did. Here is more information on his home if you want to check it out.

Faneuil Hall

Faneuil Hall is located near the waterfront.  In times past, important speeches were given here, as well as important meetings about our independence from Great Britain. Today Faneuil Hall is one of four buildings. The other three are Quincy  Market, South Market and North Market, a shopping mecca, with high-end retail shops, such as Coach, Urban Outfitters, Vera Bradley,and Michal Negrin. There are also numerous pushcarts offering a wide array of merchandise. I had a wonderful morning here and of course I couldn’t resist some of the great food.

The  restaurants  and eateries are numerous and will satisfy any palate. There is Wicked Good Cupcakes, McCormick & Schmick’s, Gourmet India, The Green Organic Bowl, Dottie’s Sweet Beignets, Boston & Maine Fish Company, Coco Bar, Aris Barbecue, and Boston Kitchen. Of course, there is also the famous Cheers pub, just to name a few of many.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire is gorgeous during Autumn and it is the perfect time for a scenic drive. One of the most beautiful drives is on the Kancamagus Highway. It takes you through the White Mountain National Forest.

Pickity Place

New England in the Fall must include Pickity Place, located in Mason, New Hampshire. It is a hill top hideaway that welcomes visitors all year long. This is one of my favorites.  It is a lovely place with beautiful flower and herb gardens. There is also a restaurant, a herb shop, a garden shop, and a gift shop. Lunch is served daily and fresh herbs and flowers are incorporated in most of the meals. I was won over by the creamy dill soup, autumn salad, dinner roll with herb butter, and the chicken entree. Likewise, the dessert was just as scrumptious – apple pie with a nice tall glass of lavender lemonade. It is probably one of the most delicious lunches I have ever tasted. The gift shop was fun and carried several packages of herbs and spices, and specialty gifts.

Little Red Riding Hood

Pickity Place doesn’t disappoint and is a wonderful place to visit. The 1786 cottage is the inspiration for the Little Golden Book, Little Red Riding Hood, by Elizabeth Orton Jones. In fact, one of the rooms is setup as a scene right out of the fairy tale. Here is their luncheon menu through December. The menu changes monthly.

The Canterbury Shaker Village

The Canterbury  Shaker Village was an educational delight, located in Canterbury, New Hampshire. It is an hour and a half north of Boston. The village is one of the oldest and most preserved of the Shaker villages. In its heyday, the village housed 300 Shakers in over 100 buildings. The photo below is of the Ministry House.

The Shakers

The Shakers were a religious sect that was established in England during the 18th century. They were known as the “Shaking Quakers” because of their shaking movements and dancing during worship. Their community was based on prophetic beliefs and messages that they claimed to have gotten from God during meditation. The Shakers believed in community, celibacy, confession of sins, and the simple life away from the outside world. As a result, they supported themselves through agriculture and craft-making. I loved roaming around the village. It was easy to imagine what life was like here.

The Village

The Canterbury Shaker Village has been a museum since 1992 when the last Shaker-in-residence passed on. The 200-year legacy lives on.While I was there, I had a lovely wonderful guided walking tour that provided a history of the Shakers and the village. After the tour, I enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Shaker Table.  Workshops are plentiful and offered continually. I would have loved to have taken one of the workshops, but none were available on the day I was there.  Some of the workshops offered are: letterpress printing, crochet and knitted rug making, and broom making, just to name a few. I loved looking at the beautiful Shaker-inspired arts and crafts in the museum shop.

Shaker Boxes

One of my most treasured things are two oval Shaker boxes (see below). I purchased them in their museum shop. The Shakers used these boxes for dry goods. They were made in large numbers at The Canterbury Shaker Village and also at the Sabbathday Lake Village in Maine. The Canterbury Shaker Village is located in one of the most beautiful scenic areas in New England I have ever seen. Therefore, certainly, a visit here is almost a must.

Vermont

My jaw dropped, as I crossed the state line into Vermont. The trees were exploding with the most colorful leaves I had ever seen, in hues of amber, russet, sepia, scarlet, crimson, and maroon. The scene was breathtaking and certainly one I wanted to hold on to for as long as I could.  Vermont captured my heart and I  visited it often. As a writer, I have dreamed of experiencing the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference in Middlebury. Perhaps one day!

Woodstock

During my visit, I stayed in the most quaint, cozy, country inns and ate the most delicious hearty New England fare. One of my favorite Vermont towns is Woodstock, Vermont. It is a beautiful quaint New England village. It is gorgeous, not only in the Fall, but also in winter as well.  When the snow appears, it turns the town into a Currier and Ives painting.  The Woodstock Inn, located  in the center of town, is a lovely place, not only to stay, but also to enjoy lunch or dinner. Woodstock has several quaint shops. One of my favorites was The Yankee Bookshop. It is the book lover in me. What can I say!

The Shelburne Museum

Also, I visited The Shelburne Museum, which is located in a village-like setting, 7 miles south of Burlington in the Champlain Valley. It comprises 39 relocated buildings on 45 acres. I enjoyed  walking through the museum grounds because the surrounding area is so very beautiful. The museum has numerous special collections, such as decoys, quilts, textiles, decorative arts, and horse-drawn carriages, just to name a few. The buildings are fun and unique.

Below is a photo of the  5-sided horseshoe barn and the lighthouse. I talked with the gentleman running the General Store also (photo below). He was very nice and seemed to fit right in. He reminds me of Orson Bean, who played the Loren Bray character, who ran the General Store, in the Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman TV series.  The Shelburne Museum also has special exhibitions, events, and educational programs.The cafe serves crepes, sandwiches, hot dogs, and hamburgers. There is also a lovely gift shop.

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory

First of all, Vermont isn’t Vermont unless you visit Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory in Waterbury. It is just a few miles outside of Stowe. Learn how ice cream is made.Tours run 362 days of the year. I took the tour and it was great. I wouldn’t leave without the free scoop sample of my choice – strawberry. T-shirts and hats are also available in the gift shop. Finally, don’t leave without visiting the Flavor Graveyard. It’s a tombstone tribute of past ice cream flavors, such as Turtle Soup, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Purple Passion Fruit, and Chocolate Macadamia, just to name a few.

Closing Thoughts

Finally, I haven’t begun to scratch the surface of the amazing wonders in New England, not only during Autumn, but any time of year. Above all, this is the place you want to be to take in all of Autumn’s splendor. I have taken some amazing walks with leaves crunching beneath my feet, while smelling the scent of Cherrywood burning in fireplaces,  and observing some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever laid eyes on. Certainly, Robert Frost said it best:

Gathering Leaves

Spades take up leaves

No better than spoons,

And bags full of leaves

Are light as balloons

I make a great noise

Of rustling all day

Like rabbit and deer

Running away.

But the mountains I raise

Elude my embrace,

Flowing over my arms

And into my face.

I may load and unload

Again and again

Till I fill the whole shed,

And what have I then?

Next to nothing for weight,

And since they grew duller

From contact with earth,

CoverNext to nothing for color.

Next to nothing for use.

But a crop is a crop,

And who’s to say where

The harvest shall stop?”

                                                           ~ Robert Frost *    

(Featured top image credit: Photo by Valentin Sabau is available under the Creative Commons CCO 1.0 license on Pixabay,com.)

*Robert Frost and Edward C. Lathem. The poetry of Robert Frost: The Collected Poems Complete and Unabridged. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1969.