Fall in New England is a wonderful experience. From leaf peeping, to maple syrup shacks, pumpkin festivals and more, there is no better place to visit than New England in the fall. Check out our list below of some of the top festive things to do in New England in the Fall.
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1. Leaf Peeping in Vermont:
One of the best New England fall activities is leaf peeping. What is leaf peeping? Leaf peeping is just a term for the activity of traveling to view and perhaps phot0graph fall foliage.
Leaf peeping is in full swing come early October in New England, and the change in seasons and in foliage is gorgeous all over New England.
But where is the best place to see New England fall foliage?
Many argue that the best place for leaf peeping is the Green Mountain state of Vermont. Check out Vermont's Route 100 , dubbed the best foliage drive in the state and the most scenic foliage drive in all of New England!
How long does fall foliage last in New England? When does New England fall foliage happen? The timing varies slightly from year to year, but generally the leaves changing starts in early to mid September, and peak fall foliage in New England hits early to mid October.
You can also check out the dedicated leaf peeping page at Vermont.Com for the most detailed information and current status of the foliage in Vermont.
If you want a more in depth look at fall foliage in New England overall, check. out this New England fall foliage map.
2. Maple Syrup Shacks in New Hampshire: New Hampshire and maple syrup go hand-in-hand, and there is no better fall family activity than to check out the many maple syrup shacks around the Granite State. And while there are many options around the state, here are just a few of our faves:
Parker's Maple Barn: Pancakes and homemade maple syrup? Yes, please! Parker`s Maple Barn is has been around since the 1960's, expanding from The small Sugar House into a charming country restaurant serving up delicious breakfast! Enjoy some pancakes or deep fried donut bites, then check out The Corn Crib Gift Shop for unique gifts and all your maple needs!
1349 Brookline Rd, Mason, NH 03048
Folsom's Sugar House: Located in Chester, New Hampshire, this lovely little sugar house is known for their family friendly vibe and welcoming owners. Offering a variety of syrups from mild to robust, Folsom's has somewhat of a cult following from the locals! Must try: the taffy.
130 Candia Rd, Chester, NH 03036
Blueberry Hill Sugarworks: Authentic, wood fired pure New Hampshire syrup at its finest. Offering interesting flavors like Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon, and even whisky barrel infused syrup, this little sugar shack packs a big punch.
31 Blueberry Hill Rd, Raymond, NH 03077
3. Pumpkin Festivals: A Pumpkin Festival in New England is the quintessential fall activity for the whole family. Pumpkin festivals are no longer just a simple showcase of pumpkins. From pumpkin boat races, to giant pumpkin displays, to massive Jack-o-lantern scenes, in New England have grown exponentially in recent years. Here are some of our tried and true favorite pumpkin festivities:
Damariscotta Pumpkinfest: The current champ of all the pumpkin festivals in New England! People flock to this small midcoast Maine town to experience the huge pumpkin displays, pumpkin regatta (people racing in boats made out of giant pumpkins), and the pumpkin parade.
Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular: This amazing display of 5,000 jack-o-lanterns lit up along the pathways of the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Rhode Island is not to be missed! You can experience this event from September 30 to October 31.
4. Visit Salem, Massachusetts: If you really want to experience the spooky side of a New England fall, plan a visit to Salem, Massachusetts. Witches, fall festivals, ghostly walking tours, and other special events make Salem a perfect place to visit in the fall, and especially popular in October. There are literally hundreds of things to do in Salem in the fall, but here are just a few of the top attractions in Salem:
Visit the The Witch House , also known as The Jonathan Corwin House. This spooky dwelling was the home to Judge Jonathan Corwin. The dwelling holds the only direct ties to the Salem witch trials of 1692.
Check out The Hawthorne Hotel Halloween Ball, a very popular Halloween event which sells out every year!
Dine with the dead at The Dumb Supper, a meal taken in complete silence in order to connect with your loved ones on the other side.. Salem Warlocks Christian Day and Brian Cain guide you through photos and objects, and the only sound heard throughout the meal is music chosen in memory of the departed. Called the most sacred of all the ceremonies of Witchcraft, The Dumb Supper is an ancient tradition where the dead attend the living for a magical night of communion.
If you do plan to visit Salem in October, be prepared as the crowds get much higher.
Check out this awesome, curated list from this great blog called New England With Love of the 15 Best Things to do in Salem in October
5. Take a ride on the Cog Railway in Mt Washington, New Hampshire: Climb aboard the first mountain-climbing cog train in the world! Experience the ride all the way up the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast.
The scenery of the gorgeous White Mountains is breathtaking. Several different trips are available.
6. Apple Picking: It's not a New England fall without apple picking! There are so many wonderful apple picking spots all around New England, with Massachusetts and New Hampshire coming out on top for some of the very best apple orchards. Here are some of our favorites:
Carlson Orchards: A mecca of fall fun in the charming town of Harvard, Massachusetts, enjoy picking apples at Carlson's extensive orchards, delectable sugar donuts and hard cider in their barns, or enjoying a tractor hay ride around the property. Carlson's is famous for their apple cider.
115 Oak Hill Rd, Harvard, MA 01451
Applecrest Farm: There's a fall festival happening eve ry weekend in autumn at Applecrest! From the petting zoo, to the giant pumpkin patch, apple picking, large indoor market and restuarant, Applecrest truly has a little something for everyone.
133 Exeter Rd, Hampton Falls, NH 03844
Cider Hill Farm: There are all kinds of things to do at Cider Hill Farm! This place is family friendly, with a giant sandbox, swings, chickens, goats and more. They also serve up a great hard cider for the adults. s Cider Hill Farm has everything you could hope for, including a farm shop with a full bakery.
45 Fern Ave, Amesbury, MA 01913
Honey Pot Hill Orchards: Hayrides, Corn Mazes, farm animals, delicious cider donuts and more make Honey Pot Hill one of the best apple orchards in New England. People come from miles to experience the wonderful apples and ambiance of Honeypot. And while it does get busy, they do a great job of
directing traffic and everything is clearly marked.
138 Sudbury Road, Stow MA 01775
Doe Orchards: Also located in the quaint town of Harvard, Massachusetts, this orchard spans over 60 acres. Their apple varieties are delicious, but they are also well known for their blueberries in the summer. This orchard is a little bit of a slower speed than Carlson's, and they allow pets.
327 Ayer Rd, Harvard, MA 01451
Stay tuned... more coming to this list soon! Including beer and wine tasting events, places and festivals!