New England Fall Foliage Travel Guide
I'm thrilled to share my 2024 Fall Foliage Guide with you! This is a roundup of our favorite destinations across New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York to take in fall color, and I've listed our favorite hotels, restaurants, and things to do to inspire your own fall road trips. We'll be revisiting many of these places this year and hope you find new favorites in this list to incorporate into your own autumn traditions. I've linked recommendations below, as well as the full blog posts for each destination if you want more photos of the hotels, restaurants and surrounding area, as well as a little outfit inspo. I hope you have the most magical autumn ever creating memories with your friends and family!
xx, Stacie
White Mountains, New Hampshire
We head up to the White Mountains at least once every year to drive the Kancamagus Highway and take in the fall foliage. The Kancamagus stretches the full width of New Hampshire from Conway to Bath along Route 112, and is considered one of New Hampshire's most scenic drives. We recommend starting out very early to beat the crowds if you want to have quieter trails and avoid a long wait for lunch along the way.
Stay: We stay at the iconic Omni Mount Washington or its smaller sister property the Bretton Arms Inn every October. I love how the Bretton Arms is connected to the larger resort by a wooded path and has a lovely intimate feel to it. We always try to enjoy a sunset happy hour as well as enjoy our morning coffee on the Omni's magnificent porch to take in the almost 360 degree views of the mountains. (Even if you don't spend the night you can stop in for a drink or coffee on the porch.) Wander down to the fire pits on the lawn for other wonderful views. We also want to visit the recently remodeled Wentworth Inn in Jackson, NH.
Eat: Several favorites in the White Mountains include Rek'lis Brewing, Black Mountain Burger Co., The Common Man Restaurant (dinner only in Lincoln), sandwiches and cider from White Mountain Cider Co. I also love getting the big buffet breakfast at the Omni, but make sure you go early to snag a table by the windows to enjoy the incredible fall color!
Do: Just 10 miles out of Conway is an antique shop called The Red Barn which is fun to poke around and I love Lonesome Woods for beautifully curated camping equipment and vintage Pendleton blankets in Bethlehem. There are countless hikes in the area and it's really mostly a matter of where you can snag parking in high season but we love anything in Crawford Notch the best. You can bring your fishing rods and drop a line at Beaver Pond just west of Lincoln. The vistas are beautiful and we saw several people hook trout!
Read the full blog post here.
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire
Stay: Church Landing at Mill Falls is an Adirondack's style inn on the waterfront. I love the common area's lovely rustic charm and many rooms have fireplaces and balconies with excellent lake views. Happy hour in an Adirondack chair overlooking the lake is my idea of bliss - you can even roast some s'mores on the weekends! I've also been wanting to try The Common Man Inn which is slightly north of Meredith. We've been to several of their restaurants which are all the perfect kitschy mountain cabin vibe and the inn's suites are reminiscent of a vintage log cabin in the best way possible!
Eat: Dinner at Camp (a member of the Common Man Group and feels just like a 50's sleep away camp!) and have brunch at The Lakehouse Grille – I grew up coming to brunch here on Sundays while staying with friends at a cabin on neighboring Newfound Lake and still think their pastrami sandwich is the best in the world!
Do: Gallery hop in Meredith, a charming lakeside town that can be walked in under and hour. Stroll through the town with coffee in hand admiring galleries and end at the northernmost point of the lake by the yacht club for wonderful views of the town and the perfect photo op (seen below). Getting out on the water is another great way to explore the lake, and you can rent a boat, kayaks or canoes by the day or half day. Pop by Moulton Farm for charming harvest displays and go early to snag a few Cider Bellies (cider doughnuts) before they run out. You can also explore their famous corn maze and load up on their homemade jams, dressings, cookies and other goodies to enjoy on the next leg of your drive.
See the full blog post here.
Woodstock, Vermont
Vermont in autumn is glorious, with lots of sweet towns worth exploring. Since fall color typically hits Vermont before New Hampshire, we like coming here earlier in the season before the foliage starts to change at home. Some of our favorite destinations in Vermont include Woodstock, Manchester, and Warren.
Stay: Woodstock has been a popular getaway since 1793, when Richardson's Tavern (a small pub with rooms) was first built in the very place that The Woodstock Inn stands today. In response to the tourism boom of the mid-19th century, the new Woodstock Inn was built on the tavern's original site and is still considered Vermont's most beautiful address.
Eat: I love starting the trip with a cocktail by the Inn's massive lobby fireplace before dinner at Richardson's Tavern (where you will want to ask for a table by the fire) or The Red Rooster then dive into a delicious meal starting with their famous fondue and a Vesper made with Vermont's own Bar Hill Gin. Make time for dinner at The Prince and the Pauper just down the road - their 3 course prix-fix dinner is fabulous and we felt like we escaped to Europe for the evening. (I recommend the duck and their Black Manhattan made with Averna, and call ahead to be seated in a booth.) We also love the fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and a pint at the delicious Worthy Kitchen, or if you head to Simon Pearce, The Mill (their restaurant) has beautiful views over Quechee Falls.
Do: Woodstock's architecture is beautifully preserved thanks to the Rockefellers' generosity, and the shopping is good too. F.H. Gillingham & Sons, a quintessential New England general store has been selling everything from snacks to hand-dipped candles, puzzles to flannels for over 130 years. I also loved poking my head into “Who is Sylvia” for vintage clothing. (Hit or miss but they had the most incredible 50's Dior dress last time I visited!) Farmhouse Pottery and Simon Pearce's glass blowing studio are both fabulous and route 4 to Simon Pearce is one of the most scenic drives in the area. (We have lots of Simon Pearce glassware at home and love it!) Billings Farm is the launch point for a wonderful 3 mile hike through the Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park. Our route went up to The Pogue (Irish for “kiss”) then back via the “Road Less Traveled” trail – before finishing up with hot chocolate at Billings Farm. There are other shorter trails that the activity center can point out if you have kids in tow.
We have yet to make it up to Stowe, Vermont for the fall color, but if you do I'd stay at The Pitcher Inn in the Mad River Valley on the way!
See the full blog post here!
Manchester, Vermont
Stay: at Sagra Hill Farm – it's a little outside of town but it's worth it for the views and complete serenity. Start or end your evening with a drink by the fire in the inn's living room, and make sure you get dinner there and stay for breakfast, where everything is made onsite from Vermont's most delicious offerings.
Eat: A meal at The Restaurant at Hill Farm is not to be missed, dinner is served in a lofted barn with sweeping mountain views and there's wonderful outdoor seating for warmer nights. At The Crooked Ram sample craft brews from across New England in this simple roadside bar, pairing your beverage to some of Vermont's most delicious meats and cheeses.
Do: Walk Equinox Pond Loop and see Equinox Mountain beautifully reflected in the pond's still water and looks especially pretty at sunrise, then hike or drive to the top of Equinox Mountain for wonderful views. Orvis's Flagship Store is in the center of town and I'd love to return for fly fishing lessons and to try the Land Rover terrain course. Hildene is Abraham Lincoln's family home and a wonderful place to visit to learn about his life and values. Vermont is known for it's charming country stores and Dorset Union Store is one of the cutest. They always have hot chili ready and I love the little cubbies for residents to receive the local paper, or if you're headed to Woodstock stop by the slightly overwhelming (in a good way) Vermont Country Store in Weston, VT. I loved Mercantile in Grafton, full of gorgeous antiques and Simon Pierce glassware, and while you can buy everything from socks to wine to wrapping paper at J.J.Hapgoods, their eatery is what makes this tiny outpost stand out.
Read the full blog post here.
Lenox, Massachusetts
Stay: at 33 Main – a darling bed and breakfast in the center of town with cheerful decor and a great breakfast. The interiors are designed by Annie Selke and if you love something you can walk across the street to their shop to purchase it for your own home!
Eat: Dinner at Brava – a wine and tapas bar a block from 33 Main, and be sure to order a pizza from their extensive menu! Frankie's (Italian) and Mezze (Mediterranean) are also good!
Do: Tour The Mount – former home of one of America's greatest authors, Edith Wharton. She penned The Age of Innocence, Ethan Frome, and the House of Mirth as well as books on architecture and decoration, and was the first woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Hike Mount Graylock – the highest point in Massachusetts, and have lunch at Bascom Lodge. I love visiting the old National Park Lodges around the country and not only is Bascom's beautiful it has a stunning view from their dining room. Visit Olivia's Overlook – At the center of the 734-acre Yokun Ridge Reserve this popular overlook. Trails range from the easy access Walsh Trail (a gradual climb to stunning views all the way to Great Barrington) to the long inter-locking loops of the Burbank and Brothers Trail. If you love the arts Tanglewood is a must to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra, or visit the Normal Rockwell Museum for a dose of classic Americana!
Find the full blog post here.
Lexington & Concord, Massachusetts
This area is as Americana as they come - both picturesque and chock full of history. From Paul Revere's ride to the Minutemen, Louisa May Alcott's home to Thoreau's Walden Pond, you could stay very busy for days. Downtown Concord has several small but wonderful antique shops and a must-visit cheesemonger perfect for picnic supplies then rent a canoe and paddle up to the North Bridge. I usually stay at a friend's house, but the Inn at Hastings Park is on the top of my list. Photo diary here.
Stay: I usually stay with friends while in Concord, but have visited the Inn at Hastings Park for lunch and met the owner, Trisha, and it's on my list for places to try! (It's part of Relais & Chateaux so you know it's fabulous).
Eat: I love picking up provisions from local farmstands (especially Codman Community Farm) or The Concord Cheese Shop for a picnic or to make a pie. I've also had dinner at 80 Thoreau and Town Meeting Bistro which are both wonderful.
Do: There's so much to do in this area. On a sunny day, pack a picnic and rent a canoe at South Bridge Boat House. Row up the river to North Bridge (Where “the shot heard around the world” was fired starting the American Revolution) and pull off onto a riverbank for a picnic on your way back. Concord has several small but fabulous (and fairly priced) antique stores in town, including North Bridge Antiques, Thoreauly Antiques, and Walden Street Antiques. Literature buffs will also enjoy walking around the Walden Pond that inspired Henry David Thoreau as well as touring Orchard House, which was the setting for Louisa May Alcott's “Little Women” as well as her home as she wrote the novel!
Read the full blog post here.
Kennebunkport, Maine
Stay: The White Barn Inn is one of our favorite hotels and it's especially fun in the fall. Each October, they create a stunning autumnal display in the large picture window of their fine dining restaurant, often featuring an enormous pumpkin. They have an extensive list of fall activities in the region, from leaf peeping by boat to pumpkin carving classes.
Eat: at The White Barn Inn of course! Join them for their annual Oktoberfest dinner, complete with German specialties, beer and a polka band, or just book in for a beautiful dinner in their rustic barn restaurant. Earth at Hidden Pond is another incredible option.
Do: Take a wreath making class at Snug Harbour Farm, or shop for antiques at one of the many shops around town. You can also check out the full list of local activities and experiences here.
The Catskills, New York
Stay: We love the Deer Mountain Inn in the Catskills for a laid-back weekend celebration. We've visited twice in late October, and despite a fear the fall foliage would be well past peak we enjoyed eye-popping color everywhere we turned. The Inn's cozy Ralph Lauren vibe was the perfect setting to curl up by the fire with a book after a day of hiking, or you can end the evening with a cocktail by their outdoor fire pit. The top floor of the inn has a game room complete with fireplace, billiards table and honor bar. Such a sweet escape and easy to reach from New York City or New England.
Eat: We did one dinner at the inn (highly recommend!), one at Jägerberg (a German-style beer hall) and made a trip to neighboring Woodstock for dinner at Silvia. (Exceptional!) We also had fun ordering takeout from Mama's Boy Burgers and bringing it back to the inn to enjoy at one of the picnic tables scattered throughout their grounds.
Do: Hikes are a must and Artists Rock and and Kaaterskill Falls are both within 20 minutes of the inn. Artist's Rock offers expansive views of the Catskills (photo above!) so incredibly stunning!There are a few antique shops in Tannersville worth popping into and several more in Saugerties as well, where I picked up a set of flow blue bowls as a souvenir.
Read the full blog post here.
