SLIDE SHOW: The Top 25 Foliage Towns in New England
We chose 14 categories we felt best defined a great fall outing: color, scenery, vistas, water reflections, drives, hikes, culture, farmers market, orchards, parks, covered bridges, being away from crowds, shopping, food and lodging. We then gave a score from 1-5 for each. Using hard data, opinion and lots of travel time we have (for […]
By Yankee Magazine|Aug 18 2010|
Coffee By Design | Portland, Maine
Photo Credit : Katherine Keenan
We chose 14 categories we felt best defined a great fall outing: color, scenery, vistas, water reflections, drives, hikes, culture, farmers market, orchards, parks, covered bridges, being away from crowds, shopping, food and lodging. We then gave a score from 1-5 for each. Using hard data, opinion and lots of travel time we have (for the first time!) gone out on a limb. Here are the best foliage towns in New England. (Note that because of ties there are only 13 final places.) Each town is worth a visit.
Special thanks to contributing photographers Thomas Schoeller and Jeff Folger.
View more of Thomas Schoeller’s work at ThomasSchoeller.Photography
View more of Jeff Folger’s work at vistaphotography.com/1. Kent, Connecticut Photo Credit : Thomas Schoeller2. Bethel, Maine Photo Credit : courtesy of Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce3. Manchester, Vermont Photo Credit : Jeff Folger4. Williamstown, Massachusetts 5. Middlebury, Vermont 6. Camden, Maine — tied Photo Credit : Gary DeWalt6. Waitsfield, Vermont — tied 7. Conway/North Conway, New Hampshire 8. Sandwich, New Hampshire 9. Rangeley, Maine Photo Credit : Jeff Folger10. Blue Hill, Maine Photo Credit : courtesy of Jim Kosinski10. Woodstock, Vermont Photo Credit : Penny Steiner10. Waterville Valley, New Hampshire 10. Amherst, Massachusetts — tied Photo Credit : Jeff Folger11. East Haddam, Connecticut — tied Walpole, New Hampshire — tied 11. Grafton, Vermont — tied 12. The Cornwalls, Connecticut — tied 12. Litchfield, Connecticut — tied Photo Credit : Thomas Schoeller12. Jackson, New Hampshire — tied 13. Jeffersonville, Vermont — tied 13. Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts 13. Montgomery, Vermont — tied 13. Stowe, Vermont — tied Photo Credit : H. Eddie Hu13. Hanover, New Hampshire — tied
I’m disappointed not to see Scenic Route 100 on your Top 25 Foliage Towns in New England. The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to explore our towns of Andover, Cavendish, Chester, Ludlow, Mount Holly, Plymouth and Weston.
My personal favorite viewing is at President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site on Route 100a in Plymouth.
We’re thrilled to be included in your Top 25 Foliage Towns! Shelburne Falls is a great place to visit any time of the year, but especially in the Fall. Hope to see you here! In the meantime, please come visit our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/shelburnefalls/ and become a Fan!
Thanks for rating Camden, Maine #6! We should be near peak color the weekend of Oct. 2-3, when visitors can enjoy our HarborArts arts and crafts show, the Lincolnville Fall Festival, VinFest–also in Lincolnville, and the Camden International Film Festival.
Thank you for including Sandwich, NH in your top 25 towns ? Don Sutton takes amazing pictures. The Greater Ossipee Area has unexpected treasures and places to visit. Did you know we have a dormant volcano? It is the Ossipee Ring Dike and the Greater Ossipee Area Chamber and its members will be celebrating this unique natural geological phenomenon on Sept. 25 with VolcanoFest.com. Bonus! Don?t miss the Sandwich Fair on Oct. 9 – 11. All great family events. See you soon.
I don’t know why anyone would go driving all over New England to find views like these. I can save you that traipsing. I lived in Sutton NH and we have views within 30 miles or less that would rival any of these and in many cases are BETTER by a mile.
I have visited Kent on many an ocassion and I find it just wonderful. Summer or Winter…It is such a beautiful town!!!!! It is so New England! A beautiful place to take a ride.
I would recommend the drive to Kent to anyone at anytime….
This Yankee Magazine article published before my new photography art web gallery was launched. Here is the link, anyone that sees this is invited to view my New England collections. http://www.ThomasSchoeller.photography
We have driven throughout the NorthEast and seen many a beautiful
vista – but truly breathtaking views though, we found in Stowe, Vermont and the surrounding areas along Route 100. For some reason, there we found views that were so breathtaking that we felt the need to stop at nearly every turn to snap another shot. America is so blessed to have a region of the country which offers such fine examples of nature in her true majesty ! God Bless America !
Sandwich NH has much to offer besides the stunning mountain, farm and lake views. In this superbly preserved classic NH village, visit four distinctive art and craft galleries, an excellent restaurant, a lively coffee shop, and visit the home workshops of dozens of local artisans. Pick up a Discover Sandwich brochure at any Sandwich business or visit http://www.discoversandwich.com for more information.
I always loved the Mowhawk trail and the Pownal Valley area.I am an original New Englander!Lived in Lenox for many years and I just don’t know how we can rate beauty in New England.it is all awesome.
Now I am living in Tx. and my favorite place here is far west Tx. Fort Davis Mts. So Awesome and beautiful especially in a rainy year.Gods country all the way tothe Big Bend!
Are you sure this is Conway Senic Railroad? The Conway Village Railroad is right in the village of North Conway. This dosnt look like its in North Conway Village. Could it be one of the stations up north where the Conway Village Railroad goes?
I can’t believe you don’t have Lancaster, NH. in the top 25. Stand at the top of Mt. Prospect and look into the village. There’s no prettier scene in all of New England especially this time of year.
The picture labelled as Conway Scenic Railroad is a picture of the Crawford Notch Railway Station in Crawford Notch. You take the “Notch Train” and you’ll arrive at this station
I live in North Adams, directly nexst door to Williamstown, Ma. This area and all of New England for that matter, are absolutely beautiful this time of year. It seems that this year is even more brilliant than I have seen in years. I’m an amateur photographer like many, and these photos take my breathe away.
I was raised in Charlestown, N.H. and now live in Duncanville, Tx. I’ve been in Tx. since 1961 and can still remember all the fall colors, and miss this time of the year. It was my favorite season. I love all these pictures.
Well be sure to check my blog which I just finished for the year but you can look back at the past few years and see pictures that I’ve taken and talked about and continue to enjoy. http://www.yankeefoliage.com/blog
I would never disagree with beauty captured in this article, but I do dispute choices as with almost none of the incredible State of Massachussetts which could easily hold the top 50 spots. More places in the Berkshires than you could count, Concord, Lincoln, South Grafton, Westford, Shrewsbury, and of course, the Cape… This would be fun another time, one state at a time. I did not enjoy this nearly as well as you might have thought it would be received.
Well for all that posted… If you aren’t happy with these places since they weren’t your favs… Maybe suggest to the editors to have a one state at a time top 25 foliage spots for finding New England fall foliage!
This way you can vote for your favorite fall foliage scenic areas…. It could all be done online also and maybe in the future put into an article.
Jeff Foliage
As a high schooler I loved the trips from Northampton to North Adams in the autumn (ostensively for a football game. Both Rt 9 and 8A/116 are gorgeous rides when the foliage is out.
All are beautiful ad wort venturing to for a day or two. I would add one more area/town to the list. That is Weston Vermont!…..you’re already all around it withManchester and Grafton. But coming over the ridge when going into town on Rte. 9 is breath taking.
Great photo’s!! I wish we could make it up there this year. I absolutely love new England area for the fall colors, especially NH. With scenery, it’s the luck of the draw, one day the photo shot is perfect, the next, maybe not so good. It’s almost like chasing peak, like my father in law does. I always tell him, stay up here for a month and you’ll see your peak….lol. Enjoy life and be happy!
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE FALL. I LIVED IN NEW ENGLAND WHEN I WAS YOUNG, TOO YOUNG TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY. WHEN I WANT TO TAKE A VACATION TO SEE THE COLOR, I JUST LOOK AT YOUR PHOTO’S AND GO THERE.
IT’S GREAT, I DON’T HAVE TO PACK. NEXT FALL I AM GOING TO THE BERKSHIRE’S.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
CATHERINE
I plan on making my first visit to VT this fall to view the fall foliage.
I plan on being in VT from 09/29/2014 to 10/04/2014.
I am going to fly into Burlington, VT and rent a car.
Can anyone recommend any sites that are a “must see” for a first timer?
Also, what is a recommended place to stay?
I find the photography very dull and colorless. I’ve been to a lot of these places and the foliage is much prettier than what’s presented here. I’ve taken pictures of the covered bridge in Montgomery, VT, and mine is much better. You really did a disservice to these locations.
I’m disappointed not to see Scenic Route 100 on your Top 25 Foliage Towns in New England. The Okemo Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce welcomes you to explore our towns of Andover, Cavendish, Chester, Ludlow, Mount Holly, Plymouth and Weston.
My personal favorite viewing is at President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site on Route 100a in Plymouth.
We’re thrilled to be included in your Top 25 Foliage Towns! Shelburne Falls is a great place to visit any time of the year, but especially in the Fall. Hope to see you here! In the meantime, please come visit our Facebook Page at http://www.facebook.com/shelburnefalls/ and become a Fan!
Thanks for rating Camden, Maine #6! We should be near peak color the weekend of Oct. 2-3, when visitors can enjoy our HarborArts arts and crafts show, the Lincolnville Fall Festival, VinFest–also in Lincolnville, and the Camden International Film Festival.
Thank you for including Sandwich, NH in your top 25 towns ? Don Sutton takes amazing pictures. The Greater Ossipee Area has unexpected treasures and places to visit. Did you know we have a dormant volcano? It is the Ossipee Ring Dike and the Greater Ossipee Area Chamber and its members will be celebrating this unique natural geological phenomenon on Sept. 25 with VolcanoFest.com. Bonus! Don?t miss the Sandwich Fair on Oct. 9 – 11. All great family events. See you soon.
I don’t know why anyone would go driving all over New England to find views like these. I can save you that traipsing. I lived in Sutton NH and we have views within 30 miles or less that would rival any of these and in many cases are BETTER by a mile.
I have visited Kent on many an ocassion and I find it just wonderful. Summer or Winter…It is such a beautiful town!!!!! It is so New England! A beautiful place to take a ride.
I would recommend the drive to Kent to anyone at anytime….
Stephen
This Yankee Magazine article published before my new photography art web gallery was launched. Here is the link, anyone that sees this is invited to view my New England collections. http://www.ThomasSchoeller.photography
We have driven throughout the NorthEast and seen many a beautiful
vista – but truly breathtaking views though, we found in Stowe, Vermont and the surrounding areas along Route 100. For some reason, there we found views that were so breathtaking that we felt the need to stop at nearly every turn to snap another shot. America is so blessed to have a region of the country which offers such fine examples of nature in her true majesty ! God Bless America !
Sandwich NH has much to offer besides the stunning mountain, farm and lake views. In this superbly preserved classic NH village, visit four distinctive art and craft galleries, an excellent restaurant, a lively coffee shop, and visit the home workshops of dozens of local artisans. Pick up a Discover Sandwich brochure at any Sandwich business or visit http://www.discoversandwich.com for more information.
I look for foilage drives in Northern California
How about someplace to dine in CT. outside looking out at some beautiful foliage?
I always loved the Mowhawk trail and the Pownal Valley area.I am an original New Englander!Lived in Lenox for many years and I just don’t know how we can rate beauty in New England.it is all awesome.
Now I am living in Tx. and my favorite place here is far west Tx. Fort Davis Mts. So Awesome and beautiful especially in a rainy year.Gods country all the way tothe Big Bend!
Are you sure this is Conway Senic Railroad? The Conway Village Railroad is right in the village of North Conway. This dosnt look like its in North Conway Village. Could it be one of the stations up north where the Conway Village Railroad goes?
I can’t believe you don’t have Lancaster, NH. in the top 25. Stand at the top of Mt. Prospect and look into the village. There’s no prettier scene in all of New England especially this time of year.
One of the prettiest sites for color is the Groton Cemetery in Groton ,MA .
The picture labelled as Conway Scenic Railroad is a picture of the Crawford Notch Railway Station in Crawford Notch. You take the “Notch Train” and you’ll arrive at this station
I think the Moosehead Lake region deserves a mention here.
Wow some really beautiful photographs. Thanks so much for sharing! The autumn has hit Cos Cob, CT and the leaves are changing here as well.
I live in North Adams, directly nexst door to Williamstown, Ma. This area and all of New England for that matter, are absolutely beautiful this time of year. It seems that this year is even more brilliant than I have seen in years. I’m an amateur photographer like many, and these photos take my breathe away.
I was raised in Charlestown, N.H. and now live in Duncanville, Tx. I’ve been in Tx. since 1961 and can still remember all the fall colors, and miss this time of the year. It was my favorite season. I love all these pictures.
Well be sure to check my blog which I just finished for the year but you can look back at the past few years and see pictures that I’ve taken and talked about and continue to enjoy.
http://www.yankeefoliage.com/blog
Jeff Foliage
I would never disagree with beauty captured in this article, but I do dispute choices as with almost none of the incredible State of Massachussetts which could easily hold the top 50 spots. More places in the Berkshires than you could count, Concord, Lincoln, South Grafton, Westford, Shrewsbury, and of course, the Cape… This would be fun another time, one state at a time. I did not enjoy this nearly as well as you might have thought it would be received.
Well for all that posted… If you aren’t happy with these places since they weren’t your favs… Maybe suggest to the editors to have a one state at a time top 25 foliage spots for finding New England fall foliage!
This way you can vote for your favorite fall foliage scenic areas…. It could all be done online also and maybe in the future put into an article.
Jeff Foliage
As a high schooler I loved the trips from Northampton to North Adams in the autumn (ostensively for a football game. Both Rt 9 and 8A/116 are gorgeous rides when the foliage is out.
All are beautiful ad wort venturing to for a day or two. I would add one more area/town to the list. That is Weston Vermont!…..you’re already all around it withManchester and Grafton. But coming over the ridge when going into town on Rte. 9 is breath taking.
Nothing is updated. All are dated 2010 and 2011
Great photo’s!! I wish we could make it up there this year. I absolutely love new England area for the fall colors, especially NH. With scenery, it’s the luck of the draw, one day the photo shot is perfect, the next, maybe not so good. It’s almost like chasing peak, like my father in law does. I always tell him, stay up here for a month and you’ll see your peak….lol. Enjoy life and be happy!
Nothing in R.I. ? Shame on you .
Loved these photos. Been living in Florida since ’94 and sure do miss the fall foliage in new England Thanks for sharing
Loved these photos
Marie Kissick
THANK YOU FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE FALL. I LIVED IN NEW ENGLAND WHEN I WAS YOUNG, TOO YOUNG TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTY. WHEN I WANT TO TAKE A VACATION TO SEE THE COLOR, I JUST LOOK AT YOUR PHOTO’S AND GO THERE.
IT’S GREAT, I DON’T HAVE TO PACK. NEXT FALL I AM GOING TO THE BERKSHIRE’S.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
CATHERINE
Hello Everyone:
I plan on making my first visit to VT this fall to view the fall foliage.
I plan on being in VT from 09/29/2014 to 10/04/2014.
I am going to fly into Burlington, VT and rent a car.
Can anyone recommend any sites that are a “must see” for a first timer?
Also, what is a recommended place to stay?
Thanks for any advice.
Blaine
I find the photography very dull and colorless. I’ve been to a lot of these places and the foliage is much prettier than what’s presented here. I’ve taken pictures of the covered bridge in Montgomery, VT, and mine is much better. You really did a disservice to these locations.