8 Great Things to Do in New England This Fall Weekend

The leaves may be starting to turn, but autumn in New England is much more than where the foliage is peaking now. It’s freshly picked apples and cider donuts, harvest festivals, pumpkin-flavored treats, and the long-awaited return of sweater weather. To find the best of the best, forget using AI and instead rely on our team of editors, who collectively bring over a century of experience researching and writing about as well as photographing New England at its finest. Here, our editors (Jenn, Ian, Amy, Kim, Aimee, Heather, and Katrina) share their top seasonal outings from across the region.

So, if you are looking for things to do in New England this fall, look no further! There’s classic fall fun to unexpected new finds. Tip: bookmark this page, returning each week to discover new picks for Labor Day through the weekend of October 24–25. Then, keep scrolling to peruse all of our recommendations, many of which are worthwhile anytime this season.

October 16–18, 2026

Foliage Drive: Farm Coast (RI Route 77) | Little Compton to Tiverton, RI

The 28-miles of coastline and farmland that run from Little Compton at the Massachusetts border northward along the Sakonnet River to Tiverton remain a relatively undiscovered wonder in New England. Preserved agricultural land slopes down to Rhode Island Sound. Two-lane roads are dotted with farm stands and lined with stone walls. The autumn landscape here isn’t as dramatic as, say, the White Mountains. Think of it as a series of gorgeous vignettes: corn fields bordered by technicolor maples, vineyards with water views, and nature preserves everywhere. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Nature Experience: Kent Falls State Park | Kent, CT

If you’re looking for a short walk with stunning views, try the nearly 1-mile out-and-back Kent Falls Steps Trail, which takes you through a covered bridge to a 250-foot cascade. Picnic tables make this an ideal spot for a family gathering.

Festival: RiverFire | Berlin, NH

Make Saturday’s creative celebration a new fall tradition. Enjoy live music, food vendors, hayrides, children’s activities, and a beer tent while you wait for dark and the glow of fires dotting the Androscoggin River. Stretch your legs in the 5K earlier in the day.

Orchard/Farmstand: Stutzman’s Farm Stand | Sangerville, ME

The sweeping views over the farm fields is reason enough to stop, but then I step inside this family-owned establishment where there are bins full of fall-harvest vegetables, shelves laden with scratch-made baked goods, and a café serving pizza hot from the oven. I want to try it all. —Katrina Farmer, associate editor

Outdoor Adventure: Horseback Riding at Mountain Top Resort | Chittenden, VT

Ski lifts, train rides, rail bikes, even hot-air balloons—there’s no shortage of memorable rides through New England’s foliage display. But as a Kentucky girl, I’ll take four-legged transport any day. And there are few spots as lovely for a scenic trail ride than this 700-acre resort set amid the Green Mountain National Forest, where you can book a one- or two-hour jaunt through the end of October. Happy trails! —Jenn Johnson, senior managing editor

Food/Drink: Pumpkin Pie at Petsi Pies | Somerville, MA

Years ago, as food editor of Boston magazine, I did a taste-off of pumpkin pies from bakeries around the city. The winner: Petsi Pies. The magic lies in the buttery and flaky crust, the perfectly balanced spices, the smooth and creamy custard, and the use of honey, rather than sugar as the sweetener. Founder Renee “Petsi” McLeod learned to bake in her grandmother’s kitchen. Now owner Jill Remby carries on that legacy. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Family-Friendly Pick: Scarecrows on Main | Old Wethersfield, CT

Creativity abounds as more than 100 scarecrows take up residence along Main Street in the historic district of one of Connecticut’s oldest towns. Old Wethersfield is one of New England’s best places to see historic homes, and throughout the month of October, it’s also one of the region’s best places to pose for seasonal portraits and selfies (with an extra character or two). Have lunch at one of my two favorite spots in town: The Charles or Heirloom Market at Comstock Ferre. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

Hidden Gem: Mount Auburn Cemetery | Cambridge/Watertown, MA

Even if you don’t snag a spot in one of the popular “Awash in Color” walking tours (scheduled for October 24 and November 1), this historic garden cemetery and arboretum ranks as a must-visit for anyone in the Boston area this fall. It dazzles with the colors of more than 2,000 different types of trees, shrubs, and other plants across its 175 acres, and offers the chance to linger in the earthly Eden where some of New England’s most famous figures have been laid to rest. —Jenn Johnson, senior managing editor

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October 9–11, 2026

Foliage Drive: Cadillac Mountain | Bar Harbor, ME

The Cadillac summit road winds for just over two miles to the windblown, pink granite, 1,530-foot crest that stands as the East Coast’s loftiest spot … with sweeping vistas of Bar Harbor, the islands of Frenchman’s Bay, the Schoodic Peninsula, and the vast Maine blueberry bushes, which in autumn turn fire-red.

Nature Experience: Beavertail State Park | Jamestown, RI

Enjoy the publicly accessible shoreline and trails, and don’t miss the chance to watch the sun set over the fiery-hued trees at Beavertail State Park on the southernmost tip of Conanicut Island.

Festival: Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta | Damariscotta, ME

I coined the word “pumpkinsanity” the first time I attended Midcoast Maine’s most madcap autumn festival. You’ll see giant pumpkins on parade, exploding on impact when dropped on cars (not yours, don’t worry), and transformed into works of art and hollowed-out racing boats. The three-day schedule is packed with even more to savor, from a pumpkin pancake breakfast to a pie-eating contest. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

Orchard/Farmstand: McRay’s Farm | Hadley, MA

Hadley sits square in the fertile floodplains of the Connecticut River, and that flat terrain, surrounded by the hills of the Holyoke Range, makes a particularly pretty spot for a pumpkin farm. McRay’s does much more than just pumpkins—there’s homemade ice cream, a petting zoo, mini-golf, live music, and hayrides—but seeing a carpet of orange pumpkins against the green fields is worth the trip alone. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Outdoor Adventure: Bretton Woods Canopy Tour | Bretton Woods, NH

Some foliage experiences show you the foliage; others, um, bring you right into the color. Take Bretton Woods’s acclaimed Canopy Tour, for example. This multi-hour thrill ride carries you through the forest canopy via thick cables and secure hitches. The reward: a through-the-forest experience with spectacular mountain views. You’ll never look at New England autumn the same way. —Ian Aldrich, executive editor

Food/Drink: Apple Fritters at Dondero Farms | South Glastonbury. CT

The gently rolling hills around Glastonbury are the perfect geography for growing tree fruit, giving each tree extra exposure. It’s also one of the least-known beauty spots in New England. And there’s a bonus: while many pick-your-own apple farms serve delicious cider donuts, Dondero goes a step further with homemade apple fritters (fried dough studded with chopped apple and rolled in cinnamon sugar). —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Family-Friendly Pick: Santa’s Village | Jefferson, NH

Do yourself a favor and take your family to Santa’s Village in the fall. There are fewer crowds, it’s decked out for Halloween, and (best of all) the water rides are closed for the season. —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

Hidden Gem: Dog Chapel | St. Johnsbury, VT

On this 150-acre mountaintop farm, it’s hard to choose which is more impressive: the brightly mosaicked interior of artist Stephen Huneck’s Dog Chapel or the site’s easterly views across rolling hills awash in fall color. Both are reasons to stop at this memorial to “dogs, nature, love, and art.” —Katrina Farmer, associate editor

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October 2–4, 2026

Foliage Drive: Route 100 | Statewide, VT

Starting just shy of Canada and unspooling down the length of Vermont, Route 100 drops leaf peepers into the heart of fall foliage.

Nature Experience: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center | Holderness, NH

My kids love the live animal exhibit trail (especially the raptors) and playground, and this year we’re hoping to add a guided lake cruise. —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

Festival: Apple Harvest Day | Dover, NH

Get a dose of local love at this annual downtown street fair packed with craft and food vendors and community groups. Set for October 3, it’s been running more than 40 years, so count on the hometown spirit to soar as high and bright as the tunes from the high school marching band. —Jenn Johnson, senior managing editor

Orchard/Farmstand: Cider Hill Farm | Amesbury, MA

This family-run farm is the kind of something-for-everyone destination where you can easily spend a whole day: mornings in the trike yard and pumpkin patch, a mid-day hayride followed by lunch at Eleanor’s Lunch Box, followed by apple picking in the orchards, shopping in the farm store, and, for the adults, snacks and house-made ciders at The Cider Box. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Outdoor Adventure: Moosehead Seaplane | Greenville, Maine

If you can muster the courage to board these single-engine beauties, you won’t regret it. Several reputable operators are based in the Greenville region, and for good reason: I can’t think of a better way to see the Northwoods foliage. And as you’d expect, the landings are just as memorable. —Ian Aldrich, executive editor

Food/Drink: Pumpkin Spice Latte at Nitro Bar | Providence and Newport, RI

The coffee, all custom blended and roasted locally, is enough of a draw to lend this cafe cult status. But when PSL season rolls around, Nitro Bar goes one step further by making its own pumpkin syrup. The flavor is richer and more complex than your typical spiced syrup—you actually taste the pumpkin. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Family-Friendly Pick: Bunnell Farm Pumpkins | Litchfield, CT

In one of the 25 best foliage towns in New England, don’t miss the town’s half-dozen specialty and organic farmstands—especially the PYOP (pick-your-own-pumpkin) hayrides at Bunnell Farm.

Hidden Gem: Light into the Dungeon: A Jack O’ Lantern Experience at Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine | East Granby, CT

My shorthand when describing Light into the Dungeon to friends is always simply: pumpkins in jail. But there’s so much more to this annual underground display of 400 illuminated jack o’ lanterns at Connecticut’s authentically creepy colonial copper mine turned prison. You’ll have perma-goosebumps by the time you resurface to explore the rest of the ruins. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

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September 25–27, 2026

Foliage Drive: Currier and Ives Scenic Byway | Henniker, Hopkinton, Warner, Webster, and Salisbury, NH

This 40-mile scenic route in the heart of central New Hampshire has all the small-town bingo card essentials: charming village centers, orchards for apple picking, covered bridges, rolling farmland, scenic hikes, and historic sites, including Daniel Webster’s birthplace and the Franklin Pierce Homestead. —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

Nature Experience: Northwoods Outfitters Moose Tour | Greenville, ME

The Moosehead Lake region supports some of the densest populations of moose in the country, and Northwoods is so confident of finding the gangly critters that it offers a money-back guarantee. —Ian Aldrich, executive editor

Festival: Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival | Stowe, VT

It’s the ultimate game of fall one-upmanship. Held at Mayo Farm Events Field, the Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival challenges kids and adults to build a better trebuchet: a modern version of the medieval catapult. Spectators watch pumpkins soar … and smash. But for competitors, this is a serious intellectual exercise. Low-cost entry and admission fees support local charities.

Orchard/Farmstand: Moulton Farm | Meredith, NH

If you’re leaf peeping in the New Hampshire Lakes region this fall, add Moulton Farms to your itinerary. More farmstore than farmstand, they’ve got it all: fresh produce and baked goods, prepared salads and entrées, local gourmet snacks and treats, and oodles of in-season decor, including pumpkins, mums, and sunflowers. I suggest grabbing a few Cider Bellies cider doughnuts and tackling the corn maze. This year’s theme honors America’s 250th birthday, and honestly, I prefer cider doughnuts to birthday cake any day. —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

Outdoor Adventure: Berkshire Balloons | Plainville, CT

Here’s a floating new perspective on those fleeting fall colors. Berkshire Balloons offers early-morning hot-air balloon flights, and once you’re up, up, and away, you’ll revel in above-the-treetops views spanning four states.

Food/Drink: Tree House Brewery | Deerfield, MA

Endless Adirondack chairs, room for the kids to run, tasty food truck pizza, and arguably the best hazy IPAs in the world make this a perfect foliage drive stop … or destination. (Additional locations include the Charlton headquarters, Tewksbury, Sandwich, and Boston, Massachusetts, and Woodstock, Connecticut.) —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

Family-Friendly Pick: Clark Farms Fall Fest | Matunuck, RI

Featuring a corn maze and over two miles of family-friendly trails, plus, on weekends, corn cannons, hayrides, a petting zoo, and so much more.

Hidden Gem: Gibbet Hill | Groton, MA

En route to the summit and its panoramic vistas, which are at their most resplendent with the fall colors, you’ll see the ruins of Bancroft’s Castle, a 1906 stone structure that’s been in its current state since Fourth of July fireworks set it aflame in 1932. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

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September 18–20, 2026

Foliage Drive: Mount Greylock Auto Road | Lanesborough, MA

A breezy fall day is the best time to drive this gently meandering, eight-mile road to the summit of the highest peak in Massachusetts. Awaiting you there is the 92-foot-tall War Memorial Tower, which you can climb for views of five states, and Bascom Lodge. My most memorable drive up was a photographer’s dream, as paragliders swooped over the shadowy valleys below. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

Nature Experience: Hawk Mountain | Waterford, ME

One thing I like about this hike is that you have these little bits where it’s steeper and then you get smooth level breaks. When we get to the top … so beautiful! I really want to spend more time here. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Festival: Johnny Appleseed Festival | Leominster, MA

John Chapman, known as Johnny Appleseed, was born in Leominster, Massachusetts. The town celebrates him with this annual festival featuring live music, food, kids’ games, and over 150 vendor booths.

Orchard/Farmstand: Lyman Orchards | Middlefield, CT

Only a handful of America’s family-owned businesses are older, but you’ll also find a day’s worth of 21st-century agritainment on this hilltop as two dozen pick-your-own apple varieties ripen. Lyman keeps families well fed, too, with picnic fare, soft-serve ice cream, indoor-outdoor seated dining, and the Apple Barrel’s produce, gourmet goods, cider, and legendary high-dome apple pies to take home.

Outdoor Adventure: East Bay Bike Path | Providence to Bristol, RI

The sights, sounds, and scents of Narragansett Bay accompany your walk or ride along this shoreside path from Providence’s India Point Park to Independence Park in Bristol. Possible stops include the Crescent Park Carousel in East Providence or the Audubon Center and Aquarium in Bristol along the way, one of the best New England rail trails.

Food/Drink: Kimball Farm Pumpkin Ice Cream | Locations in Westford, Lancaster, and Carlisle, MA, and Jaffrey, NH

It’s been decades since I spent my college summers scooping at Kimball Farms’ original Westford location, but I still crave their homemade pumpkin ice cream every fall. Try it! —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

Family-Friendly Pick: The Great Vermont Corn Maze | Danville, Vermont

Set on a third-generation dairy farm, the biggest corn maze in New England is a 24-acre mind-bender whose setup includes an underground tunnel and a 28-foot cabin cruiser parked amid the corn. On average, completing the maze—redesigned every year—takes nearly three hours, or take the official shortcut (less than an hour). —Ian Aldrich, executive editor

Hidden Gem: Local Used Booksellers | Henniker, NH

If you’re in the heart of central New Hampshire this fall, leave time for a stop in Henniker to browse Henniker Book Farm and the Old Number Six Book Depot—two magical used bookstores absolutely packed to the rafters with every kind of volume. —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

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September 11–13, 2026

Foliage Drive: Route 108 Through Smugglers’ Notch State Park | Stowe, VT

Did smugglers really use this route more than two centuries ago to secretly transport supplies to the Canadian-based British army? If not, they should have: it’s the most direct way through the northern Green Mountains. Today, the 18-mile stretch is a destination itself, a blacktop corkscrew with a 16 percent grade, chock-full of sharp turns and some of the prettiest foliage. —Ian Aldrich, executive editor

Nature Experience: Ponemah Bog Wildlife Sanctuary | Amherst, NH

The boardwalk trail through this unique bog-meets-pond ecosystem is such a cool alternative to a traditional fall nature hike, and it’s one of the earliest places to spot fall color. One caution: the wood is often slippery! —Aimee Tucker, senior digital editor

Festival: Norwalk Oyster Festival | Norwalk, CT

Oysters may be the headliners, but the festivities go far beyond shucking and slurping. Veteran’s Memorial Park will rock with live music, international foods, kids’ activities, a lumberjack show, and a juried arts and crafts show.

Orchard/Farmstand: Jaswell’s Farm | Smithfield, RI

Fourth-generation farmers, who inherited acreage their great-grandfather purchased in 1899, lead the way with their crisp, refreshing cider that is flash pasteurized before it’s sold on-site and in gourmet markets. It’s doubly apple-licious paired with their legendary, handcrafted candy apples.

Outdoor Adventure: 7 Seas Whale Watch | Gloucester, MA

The most exhilarating ocean safari I’ve ever been on was a September sailing with 7 Seas Whale Watch. Our captain knew where the whales were and was determined to show us these megafauna spouting, diving, rolling, and waving hello with their tails. Looking now at the photos I shot, I’m reminded of how amazing it is to witness these hulking mammals. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

Food/Drink: Lobster Roll from Red’s Eats | Wiscasset, ME

With tail, claw, and knuckle meat from a plus or minus 1-pound lobster, this roll is bigger than most and may be had with mayo, warm butter, neither, or both. Is Red’s really worth the wait? You decide … while you still can (the stand closes in mid-October)!

Family-Friendly Pick: Conway Scenic Railroad | North Conway, NH

Even at age 16, my son’s favorite White Mountains attraction is still a ride on the Conway Scenic Railroad. Bonus: the seating in the observation car or the historic Gerturde Emma train car are favorites with the grandparents, meaning there’s three generations of fun to be had. —Katrina Farmer, associate editor

Hidden Gem: Schoodic Peninsula | Winter Harbor, Maine

On the Schoodic Peninsula, a quiet section of Acadia National Park, don’t miss Instagram-worthy Ravens Nest’s dramatic cliffs. Or head out for a short hike on the Anvil Trail to pretty ocean views. Our favorite: a blueberry and espresso soft serve twist at Me & Ben’s Dairy Creme, just a short drive from the park exit in Birch Harbor. —Heather Marcus, senior photo editor

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September 4–7, 2026 | Labor Day Holiday Weekend

Foliage Drive: Kancamagus Scenic Byway (Route 112) | Lincoln to Conway, NH

Of all the New England fall foliage drives, none is more well known (or mispronounced) than the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire. Famous for its majestic scenic views, “The Kanc” offers 34 miles of breathtaking mountain and valley vistas, winding and curving along with no retail interruptions.

Nature Experience: Cut-Your-Own Flowers at The Farmer’s Daughter | South Kingstown, RI

On a beautiful South County property that looks like a shingled cottage colony devoted to gardening, wander the flower fields to pick your own bouquets of the most beautiful late summer and early fall blooms, like zinnias, cornflowers, snapdragons, scented geraniums, and, my favorite, dahlias. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

Festival: Blue Hill Fair | Blue Hill, ME

This “down to earth” fair was the model for the one in E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, and to this day, a special tent holds all the animals from the book (which was written in nearby Brooklin). The rides, farm exhibits, and fair foods that Charlotte and Wilbur’s human friends enjoyed are here, along with sheepdog trials that draw competitors from all over. The fair is one of “75 Things Every New Englander Should Do.”

Orchard/Farmstand: Waitsfield Farmers’ Market | Waitsfield, VT

Kick off a tour around the Mad River Valley with this farmers’ market: held on the Mad River Green every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. from mid-May to mid-October, rain or shine. It’s one of the liveliest in all of New England, with local produce, cheese, maple products, brews, and live entertainment.

Outdoor Adventure: Mountain Coaster, Cranmore Mountain Adventure Park | North Conway, NH

Feel the flow as the coaster sweeps down the side of a ski area, through open meadow, and banks gently around young pine and birch trees from which leaves fall like confetti. The thrilling, gravity-powered ride is over quickly, but the smiles plastered on my family’s faces are long-lasting. —Katrina Farmer, associate editor

Food/Drink: Cider Donut French Toast, Clark Farms at Bushy Hill Orchard | Granby, CT

What’s even better than a cider donut to power you through a day of autumn activities? Cider Donut French Toast! The café at Clark Farms serves this decadent breakfast specialty (that I’ve never seen elsewhere), made with their own sliced and griddled fresh donuts and topped with maple whipped cream. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

Family-Friendly Pick: King Richard’s Faire | Carver, MA

New England’s largest and longest-running Renaissance festival kicks off its 45th season this weekend, and you’ll have a realm of opportunities to visit on weekends and Monday holidays through October 25. Do go in costume … and do devour a giant turkey leg. —Kim Knox Beckius, travel editor

Hidden Gem: The Museum of Everyday Life | Glover, VT

Housed in a ramshackle shed in the Northeast Kingdom, this self-service, “revolutionary museum experiment” has a mission to offer an “heroic, slow-motion cataloging of the quotidian,” to celebrate the small things that make up the majority of our days. Read a philosophical contemplation of the toothbrush, take in an exhibit on the safety pin. After a turn through its rooms, I see my daily life with fresh eyes. —Amy Traverso, senior food editor

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