This Issue | October Surprise

Last October I did something I never thought I’d do: I boarded a tour bus in Boston with some 50 strangers for a weeklong foliage journey around New England. For most of my adult life I’ve had an almost allergic reaction to traveling with more than a few people at a time, and since I’m a New Hampshire boy it seemed borderline silly to commit seven days to sight-seeing in the part of the country I know best.

But the writer in me was intrigued by all those big buses that roll through New England every autumn, and at 43, I decided, heck, maybe it was time to bust out of my comfort zone and do the hard work of traveling in a $700,000 vehicle, staying at fancy hotels, and letting others move my luggage for me. (Talk about taking a risk.)

Here’s the thing, though: As we moved deeper into New England, and deeper into autumn, I saw the region with fresh eyes. I was a tourist on my own turf, and the excitement that my fellow travelers—all of whom came from other parts of the country—felt for what they saw became a part of my experience, too. Hey, look! It’s Fenway Park! Is that really Mark Twain’s house? My God, these maples are gorgeous!

A good travel experience does that. It can make even familiar sights and destinations feel new. Different. Thrilling. My story about the bus trip appeared in Yankee’s September/October issue, and you can read it here.

I hope you go deep with this new issue, which offers a road map for exploring New England that caters to both newcomers and longtime visitors to the region. You may be surprised to find where it leads you.

Ian Aldrich Deputy Editor @ialdrich