5 New England Coastal Towns to Visit for Fall Foliage

When tree branches are bedecked with scarlet, vermillion, and saffron leaves, it seems a brisk autumn day can’t get any more spectacular. But pairing this fiery elegance with a striking venue on the coast that showcases harbors, lighthouses, and parks fronting azure waters accentuates the drama. These five New England coastal towns are sure to delight leaf peepers.

5 New England Coastal Towns to Visit for Fall Foliage

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Set on the southern end of a jagged peninsula rimmed by two rivers, Boothbay Harbor has long been a fishing and lobstering village. Though the 19th-century Burnt Island Light House visible from the busy waterfront and the historic pedestrian footbridge are iconic, the dazzling birch-, maple-, and oak-lined streets and shingled dwellings with expansive porches are also captivating. For brighter fall foliage — along with the opportunity to spot nature-inspired sculptures and giant wooden trolls — drive four miles to the 325-acre Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Wander the woodland trails, and find plenty of red, orange, and yellow hues in the terraced Haney Hillside Garden.

Bristol, Rhode Island

Snuggled between Mount Hope and Narragansett bays, Bristol’s Historic District — it’s peppered with Federal and other architectural styles — retains the original grid plan laid out in the 17th century. The district’s vibe is bucolic, with flower baskets gently swaying in the breeze and large trees revealing their fall finery. Waterfront-facing Blithewold Manor, Gardens and Arboretum is a gem of an estate for fall foliage seekers, with more than 300 tree varieties, including Japanese maple, ginkgo, and black gum that transform into a cornucopia of shades. Another treasured, sprawling acreage, Colt State Park, is networked with paths, perfect for walking or biking along the shoreline, past meadows and salt marshes where the golden hues of cord grass are on display.

Essex, Connecticut

Passing historical buildings ringed by picket fences and businesses displaying their fall wares, wander along tree-lined streets showing off a riot of vivid autumn colors. The setting — surrounded by foliage-draped hills and abutting the broad Connecticut River — makes Essex ideal for a placid adventure that starts at a 19th-century train station. Pulled by a steam locomotive, the vintage passenger coaches chug through the woods, meadows, and marshlands of the picturesque Connecticut River Valley on the way to Deep River Landing. There, you’ll board a riverboat that glides along the Connecticut River, past the myriad inlets and coves of this rocky shoreline. A highlight is spotting the medieval-inspired Gillette Castle that stands sentinel high above brilliantly hued woodlands.

Newburyport, Massachusetts

You’ll be drawn to Newburyport’s quaint historic district with its 19th-century brick structures, shade trees, and micro plazas. From there, a necklace of green spaces leads to the Merrimack River. In one of these, Waterfront Park, amble along the serene paths and the lengthy boardwalk, taking in the park’s lively autumn tones. Bracketing it is leafy Market Landing Park where Adirondack chairs and hammocks beckon. After a quick drive, Maudslay State Park reveals some dramatic colors, whether you bike, hike, or horseback ride on centuries-old carriage roads. On Plum Island, just 10 minutes from downtown, you’ll be impressed with the magnificent crimson shades of salt marsh plants along the Hellcat Interpretive Trail within the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Brick lanes weave through historic Portsmouth that played an outsized role in the American Revolution. Its compact size along the swift-flowing Piscataqua River makes walking ideal for experiencing the season’s amber and red foliage amid historical venues. Take a guided or self-guided tour of restored centuries-old buildings at Strawbery Banke, a living history museum on the site of the town’s first settlement. The Portsmouth Historical Society leads numerous walking treks, including to the 17th-/18th-century North Cemetery and Point of Graves Burial Ground, both a nexus for fall colors. Wander on your own, soaking up the waterfront views and abundant foliage at Prescott Park, Peirce Island, and Four Tree Island. Continue to delight in the coastal fall colors by taking a guided sail aboard a flat-bottomed gundalow, a replica of those that plied the waters in the 1700s and 1800s.

What are your favorite New England coastal towns for fall foliage? Let us know!

You may also like…
· 6 Peaceful Fall Foliage Destinations in New England
· Prettiest Fall Foliage Villages in Vermont
· Best 5 Secret Fall Escapes

Jeanine Barone

More by Jeanine Barone