All communities in New England have fall foliage, but the key
is to find lodging in a beautiful vacation town that offers the option to do lots
of things -- or just plain relax.
There's really nothing like experiencing the refreshing fall air,
rustling though leaves at a classic New England town common, a
wonderland of fall foliage colors during a Sunday drive, the taste of
apple cider and the fresh taste of a freshly-picked apple at an apple
orchard, and experiencing true New England community spirit during a
fall festival.
We recommend a visit to the following towns because of their
lodging options, true New England community spirit and "look," and the
potential to see some amazing fall foliage. Each link will take you to
a list of hotels, motels, inns and bed and breakfasts in that area,
including descriptions, photos and the chance to make instant
reservations (and memories) online:
Woodstock, CT
We highly recommend the "quiet corner" in northeast Connecticut. This
is a pure, pristine, largely unspoiled area that features small,
classic New England towns with town commons and churches with tall
white steeples and beautiful "New England" drives along Route
169. You can enjoy some nice restaurants, fine inns, antique
shopping and great places to hike and stroll. We love the Inn at
Woodstock, an 1816 Federal/Georgian style mansion with a carriage house
and two barns. To us, it is everything you could ask for in a New
England country inn -- charming, quaint and full of character. They
also have a wonderful upscale, but casual restaurant. What a special
travel getaway!
Log
onto our Inn at Woodstock article to learn more about the inn and make
reservations.
Lexington/Concord
MA
Walking the historic Lexington Battle Green, Walden Pond, the Old North
Bridge Area, Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, and historic
Monument Square in Concord seems all that much better when there's
color in the leaves. Walden Pond usually offers the best fall foliage
experience here, as its innate, expansive natural beauty remains
intact. You'll experience a scenic 45-minute, 1.7-mile hiking path
around the beautiful 61-acre pond filled with different perspectives of
the clear pond as well as a virtual forest featuring different types of
trees.
Top hotel pick in Lexington/Concord: Concord's Colonial Inn
Find lowest hotel rates in Lexington and Concord
Lenox,
MA
Often thought of as one of the most pleasant Berkshire Mountains
vacation destinations, this small town -- best known for the Tanglewood
Music Festival summer concert series -- offers rural beauty and
splendid lake and mountain views. It is a town of a town of quaint
shops, fine dining choices, and historic buildings. During its peak,
the fall foliage ranks up there with the best in New England. Mt.
Greylock -- about 45 minutes north of Lenox -- boasts the highest point
in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet, but the height just begins to tell the
story: the "Hairpin Turn" affords absolutely spectacular 100-mile
autumn views of Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Connecticut and New
Hampshire.
Top hotel pick in Lenox: Yankee Inn
Find lowest hotel rates in Lenox
Stockbridge, MA
This appealing Berkshire Mountains town has one of the nicest small New
England downtowns, anchored by locally-owned businesses and the
landmark Red Lion Inn. Stockbridge has been made famous by James Taylor
("Sweet Baby James)" and Norman Rockwell (there is a Norman Rockwell
Museum in Stockbridge).
Top hotel pick in Stockbridge: Red Lion Inn
Find lowest hotel
rates in Stockbridge
Sturbridge,
MA
On Route 20, Sturbridge is a mish-mash of stores and lodging, but
serves as a great starting point to Old Sturbridge Village, an outdoor
living museum recreating the 1830s and the lovely, unspoiled Quobaog
Hills Region. Here, you can find some of New England's most beautiful,
virtually untouched towns and villages (West Brookfield, Brookfield,
Brimfield, etc.) with appealing town commons, country stores, apple
orchards, fresh air, nice country drives and some truly colorful fall
foliage.
Top hotel pick in Stubridge: Publick House Historic Inn
Find lowest hotel rates in Stockbridge
Bretton
Woods, NH
This mountain resort town is right near Mt. Washington the highest
point in New England at 6,288 ft. It's a resort area at the base of the
mountain where the foliage and nearby fall events and attractions make
for a perfect, scenic New England autumn destination. Bretton Woods is
a great foundation to the 18,000 acres of forest land in White Mountain
National Forest providing additional spectacular mountain and forest
scenery and numerous recreational opportunities.
Top hotel pick in Bretton Woods: Omni Mount Washington Resort
Find lowest hotel rates in Bretton Woods
Jackson,
NH
A famous covered bridge, Wildcat River's water rushing over rock
formations and Storyland (storybook settings for children in this theme
park) highlight this quiet New Hampshire retreat in White Mountain
National Forest.
Top hotel pick in Jackson: Christmas Farm Inn and Spa
Find lowest hotel
rates in Jackson
Christmas Farm Inn and Spa sitting area. Photo credit: Christmas Farm Inn and Spa.
North Conway, NH
It's busier than in the past -- thanks to outlet stores -- but with
views of Mt. Washington, lots of shopping, dining, and scenery galore
(including proximity to the foliage-famous 34-mile long Kancamagus
Highway), North Conway is a splendid New Hampshire foliage
destination.
Top hotel pick in North Conway: Red Jacket Mountain View Hotel
Find lowest hotel
rates in North Conway
Stowe, VT
The tall white church steeple, panoramic mountain and farm views, and a
relaxing, classic small downtown with a general store make Stowe the
quintessential Vermont town. This idyllic village, tucked away in the
dramatic Green Mountains -- is surrounded by brilliant fall colors. The
winding country roads are so pleasing -- one leads to the notch road to
Jeffersonville with dramatic, twists and turns and spectacular rock
outcroppings, immediately colder temperatures and flashes of intense
colors through the dense forest. A 5.5 mile bike trail winding through
the beautiful country and mountains is another way to take in the
foliage. One of the mountain ranges, Mt. Mansfield, is perfect for fall
hiking (check weather conditions first before embarking on a hike). At
4,395 ft., Mt. Mansfield is the highest point in Vermont and is capable
of having some snow at the peak in the fall, making for some of the
most stunning views in New England. The Village has no chain stores and
features charming, little shops, restaurants, and fine old homes and
inns. Outside of town is Mountain Rd., offers beautiful mountain views,
and has a spread-out variety of more stores.
Top hotel pick in Stowe: Trapp Family Lodge
Find lowest hotel rates in Stowe
Woodstock, VT
Woodstock is another beautiful Vermont small town, often referred to as
the town you'd most likely see on a postcard. The Town Common is
perhaps one of the best examples of its kind in New England and
National Geographic Magazine as one of the prettiest towns in America.
Although modern shops and restaurants line the downtown, there is an
old-fashioned charm to Woodstock that has a timeless feel.
Top hotel pick in Woodstock: The Woodstock Inn and Resort
Find the lowest hotel rates in Woodstock
Fall Scene in Concord, Massachusetts.
Related article: How to truly enjoy the fall foliage season in New England
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Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, New
Hampshire. Photo credit: Courtesy of Omni Mount Washington Resort.