What better way to kick off fall blog posts, than with the ultimate fall trip and travel guide! I honestly still catch myself day dreaming about our vacation to the east coast, road tripping through scenic New England in early October. Let me tell you…I thought the northwest was beautiful this time of year, but nothing compares to the fall foliage of New England. Everything about this trip was scenic: the drives, the changing colors, the little towns we visited, the national parks we hiked and wandered through. It was truly a trip for the books and if you’re on the fence about going, let me see if my blog post can convince you.

To sum this trip up in a nutshell, it was a bit of a whirlwind. Seven days, five states, road tripping, seeing as much as we could with as much sunlight as we had. This wasn’t a sun tan on the beach, leisurely trip. Our itinerary was chalk-full of destinations and “must-see” sights. Although at times, we deviated a bit, we got to see so much as a result of planning ahead! New England is stunning in the fall so no matter where you wind up and how long you stay at each destination, you are sure to be blown away by the sights. With that being said, I’m a big planner and love to get the most bang out of my buck for traveling to new places. I want to dive in and explore as much as I can – even if that means sacrificing some shut-eye. I find that I get super stressed out if I don’t know “where we’re going next” or how we are getting there or where we are staying or eating. So you guessed it, I took on the role of planner this trip! From airfare, lodging, rental car, determining our route and stops along the way – I took it upon myself to plan this out so I wouldn’t be a stress case later. Tristan makes the ultimate travel companion – he’s Mr. Laidback, always wants to drive and is game for anything (thank goodness, because I’m more of a map-reader, co-pilot, napping, camera snapping, Instagram scrolling kind of passenger by nature). He also reminds me to enjoy our vacay and that sometimes, deviating from the plan makes the adventure even more fun!

As much as you can plan for a trip of this nature, there were a few unknowns – like, the leaves. Were they going to be colorful? What drives/hikes/stop-offs should we go to see the foliage? When we planned our trip, we kept tabs on the fall foliage map. It gives you a sense of how the leaves are changing and when they are predicted to reach their “peak” aka the ideal time to visit. This helped us plan the dates we would arrive, the route we would take and what states we wanted to spend the majority of our time in.

IN GENERAL PRO-TIPS

-Save your maps out in advance! Depending on what routes you take, you may not have service (specifically in the Kancamagus Highway, in the Green Mountains and when you’re in the Acadia National Park).

-Bring a portable charger, and keep it charged.

-Save your starred trip highlights to your Google or Apple maps in advance.

-Get a car with a navigation system or compatible with Apple Car Play.

-Invest in a rental car that gets good gas good mileage.

-Bring a DSLR camera, if you have one.

-Have cash on hand for tipping: tipping tour guides, valet, ‘just in case’ money for tolls or other random purchases.

-Purchase a digital pass for the Acadia National Park the minute you get your rental car, this is a busy time of year to visit the park and you don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to go. Bypass the wait at the park station to purchase one in person. It’s $30 for a week-long pass for passengers in an individual car.

Our itinerary: Here is an overview of our trip highlights and any tips we can provide at each destination!

These were our stops:

Boston, MA > Salem, MA > Portsmouth, NH > Portland, ME > Bar Harbor, ME > Stowe, VT > Providence, RI > Newport, RI > Boston, MA

Boston, MA -

We started and ended our trip in Boston because of the fact it has a major airport to fly in and out of and seemed like a great place to start! I’ll start by saying, red eyes are BRUTAL. We flew out Saturday night and got to Boston Sunday morning and we were exhausted. I knew we’d be beat so I decided to plan a hefty exploring day with a 2+ mile walking tour of the city later in the day. We ended up napping when we got in but after some coffee, breakfast and hitting the streets, we were able to revive for a day of fun.

*Pro-tip: We opted for a hotel since we had a rental car and wanted to be comfortable on our first and last nights of the trip. Boston has a policy against Airbnb’s and is quite strict about street parking, so we figured a hotel was worth the cost and hassle-free dealing with a car. Our favorite hotel in the city? The Revolution Hotel. Funky vibe, great location, walkable to everything, valet parking on site.

-Freedom Trail: We signed up for a free walking tour (highly recommend this company and our tour guide Brian), you just pay in tips at the end. Instead of doing your own walking tour, do this! You get more facts, history and they point out things you wouldn’t notice on your own. We did this after grabbing breakfast and it helped give us the lay of the land in Boston.

-Go explore! After the walking tour, we wandered through the city of Boston, including some of the most iconic streets in the city: Acorn Street (the most photographed street in America – I captured a few snaps but it is a private road that has signage stating ‘no photos’), Pickney Street and Myrtle Street. We took photos outside the Cheers bar, walked through the Boston Commons and around downtown. We even got to see the bench from the movie Good Will Hunting in the Boston Public Gardens.

-Grab a bite at Boston Public Market: this place is the perfect stop-off for a bite to eat midday. We grabbed crepes and were practically in a food coma afterwards.

-Boston Public Library: this library is no joke! Stunning from the minute you walk inside and are greeted by tall ceilings and floor to ceiling marble. Venture upstairs to the main room with the green table lights, such a picturesque scene.

-Fenway Park: Even though a game wasn’t in session, it was on Tristan’s bucket list to do a walk-around the stadium. We also grabbed a beer at the park’s bar so we could see into the park. Highly recommend in the off-season!

-Harvard: We took a Lyft over to Harvard to wander through the campus, pick up some souvenirs and daydream what it would be like to go to a university like this. In the fall, it’s stunning!

-Boston Food/drink highlights:

-Citrus + Salt: We ended our trip at this Mexican joint (that came with high praise and lots of positive reviews) and we couldn’t disagree! Killer atmosphere, amazing drinks, delicious shared menu. We loved it! Be sure to get a reservation in advance, this place gets packed.

-Wink + Nod: We stopped here before dinner at Citrus & Salt and the craft cocktails were incredible (as was the popcorn!) It was packed at the bar on a weekend, but the atmosphere made it enjoyable even when we had to stand.

Salem, MA -

We were only here for half of our second day but it was well worth the visit! This real life Halloween town is wild to see in person – not to mention, the history of this town is a bit eerie.

-Salem Witch Museum: We got here early (arrive no later than 9:45 on a weekday for when doors open at 10am) and I’m so glad we did! By the time doors opened, there was a line winding past the building. We were in the first group to go into the museum. The museum itself isn’t large or super modern – but it gives you the rundown on the Salem Witch Trials and how witches have been portrayed in pop-culture to this day.

-Salem Witch House | Address: 310 Essex St, Salem, MA 01970

We didn’t think paying for a tour inside was necessary, so we opted for photos on the outside of this spooky house. The oldest standing structure of the Salem Witch Trials. This house definitely gives you all the spooky, Halloween vibes!

-Brew Box: We stopped into this cute coffee shop for (delicious) biscuits and coffee. We loved the fact even the coffee shops in Salem looked like they stepped out of a Halloween movie.

-Haus Witch: We picked up a few souvenirs in this boutique. Such a fun vibe with great home décor pieces!

Portsmouth, New Hampshire -

This little maritime town ended up being one of our favorite destinations of the trip. Laidback, walkable and a short drive from Salem.

-Where to stay: We spent the night here for our second night and loved the Airbnb we rented on the nearby island, New Castle: Great Island Inn. Our room’s interior was to die for and the hospitality of our host was over the moon.

-Grab brunch at The Friendly Toast. This eclectic spot ended up being one of our favorite breakfasts. We enjoyed a hearty breakfast before starting the trek to Maine.

-Explore downtown and Congress Street: We wandered downtown stopping into various shops and walking along the waterfront. A few shops that I loved: Sea Bags, Bobbles & Lace, Gus & Ruby.

-Grab lunch at Row 34: delicious seafood, wonderful lunch / dinner spot right downtown!

-Go beachcombing: We walked to the beach before sunset and collected seashells, took photos of the lighthouse and cute homes we passed by on New Castle..

-Grab drinks at The Wilder: we ventured here for drinks when it started raining and we loved the vibe: dark and moody which made for a cozy spot to hangout and wait out the rain.

-Order a Pumpkin Ale from Portsmouth Brewing: we ended our night at the brewery sipping on Pumpkin Ales, let me tell you, this is way better than any PSL I’ve ever tried.

Portland, Maine -

-Where to stay: We opted for an Airbnb and found one that was close to downtown but a little off the beaten path which made parking easy and traffic not a nightmare.

-Breakfast at Forage Market: delicious bagels, a fun local hangout spot and coffeehouse.

-The Shop for Oysters: a must for me in Maine was trying all the seafood! First stop on the list was The Shop for oysters and this little restaurant did not disappoint. We loved the location and the fact it wasn’t too cold to sit outside to sip on beer, wine and enjoy oysters.

-Wander Old Port: it’s easily walkable and doesn’t take long to meander in and out of the various shops that Old Port has to offer. You can walk along the waterfront to watch fishing boats coming in and out of the port.

-Eat a lobstah roll at Portland Lobster Company: this was a must on my list! You truly have not experienced lobster rolls until you have one in Maine. PLC makes them large, buttery and full of lobster meat. And you can’t beat the price! The vibe in the restaurant isn’t anything fancy, you’re there for the seafood.

-Portland Head Light: we ventured out to this lighthouse and the views were incredible. Crashing waves on the rocks scattered below the lighthouse on the cliffside, it is absolutely picturesque.

-Grab drinks at Blyth & Burrows: this multi-level bar comes with plenty of surprises, like a bookcase that leads you into the underground speakeasy.

Bar Harbor, Maine -

-Where to stay in Bar Harbor: We opted for Acadia Hotel Downtown in Bar Harbor that is situated on the main street, walkable to all the shops and restaurants.

*Pro-tip: In the fall, most of Bar Harbor’s shops and restaurants are on “fall hours” which means they are closed at an earlier time than in the summer. We ventured out later in the evening for dinner only to be turned away by restaurants that were closing which was quite the disappointment. Definitely plan your meals ahead of time and check fall hours when visiting during the ‘off season’

-Café This Way: this restaurant is located right next door to the inn we stayed at and is open early which was a relief since we had an early commute to Stowe.

-Acadia National Park Highlights: Before making our way to Bar Harbor, we stopped off to do the Park Loop of the Acadia National Park first. And wow, was this place stunning! Aspects of this park (being by the water, the trees and other foliage) are quite reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest.

We didn’t venture through the entire park, we stuck to the Park Loop Road and highly recommend this route’s pitstops if you are limited on time but still want to see the sights:

-Sand Beach: we ended up hiking up the ‘moderate’ trail to more viewpoints and it’s well worth it! Ensure you wear tennis shoes and have proper layers weather depending.

-Thunder Hole

-Otter Point

-Cadillac Mountain: we drove up to the top for sunset views that overlooked the park and water. It was stunning and a bit breezy, so again, layers are your friend!

-Jordan Pond House for lunch: we stopped by for a late lunch at the Pond House which is inside the park. We tried popovers (we kept hearing about these during our time in Maine and decided it was time to try them) and food/drinks. The setting is stunning – situated in the middle of the forest with all of the changing leaves.

-Wander downtown: When we checked into our hotel we ventured out to the main street to wander and shop. We ended up finding some of our favorite souvenirs in Bar Harbor!

Kancamagus drive -

We made our way to Stowe by way of the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountains. It’s a bit of a trek especially with lots of stop-offs but it was well worth getting into Stowe later in the evening! And this was by far the most beautiful drive in New England to date! The colors of the fall foliage hit their peak when we made the drive so every twist and turn on this highway got better than the last. As I mentioned above, service can be spotty, so save out maps in advance and plug in your destination before you hit the road.

The Kancamagus has many scenic stop-offs, but this is the route we recommend taking for optimal leaf peeping and views galore: Bar Harbor > Gorham > Mt. Washington > Lincoln > Stowe

-Mt. Washington Summit: Let’s just say, if you’re not a heights fan, this may not be for you. The drive up to the summit nearly brought me to tears – it’s well, steep, and…guardrails? Puh-lease. Tristan naturally navigated us up to the top and the views (from what I could manage to peer out and see despite uncontrollable fear setting in) were beautiful. But layer up! The mountain’s summit is no joke and it can get extremely windy!

Stowe, Vermont -

-Where to stay in Stowe: We stayed at the Field Guide Lodge and this place was so cute! I loved the décor of our room and the overall vibe and location of the lodge. A comfortable stay after a long drive.

-The Bench: We got to Stowe pretty late after spending our day driving through the Kancamagus. This was a highly recommended dinner spot and it happened to be right across the street from our lodge! We chowed down on BBQ ribs and beverages and it hit the spot!

-Trapp Family Lodge: I grew up watching Sound of Music and there was something bittersweet about seeing the place this family created after moving to America, in person! The lodge is still run by the son. They also have a brewery near the lodge that the family owns/runs as well.

-Ben & Jerry’s Factory: Did you know that Ben & Jerry’s was founded in Vermont? It was so fun to take an ice cream factory tour (samples included), visit the flavor graveyard and stock up on souvenirs in the gift shop. A must-visit when in Stowe! Try to get there earlier in the day to secure your ticket in line and keep tabs on seasonal hours (they close earlier in the fall/winter months and limit tour times).

Providence and Newport, Rhode Island -

We chose to take the scenic route from Stowe to Rhode Island through the Green Mountains. It’s a little out of the way, but the backroads and farm towns you pass through in Vermont are stunning and make the extra time on the road worth it.

-Where to stay in Rhode Island: this is where I’m going to tell you, Airbnb isn’t always what it seems! Upon arrival at our Airbnb in the Federal Hill neighborhood in which the house was located felt very off the beaten path and unsafe. Not to mention, the apartment we were staying in was inside a home that was in the middle of a renovation (we found this out 24 hours before we arrived) – seeing tools scattered about, a creepy, unsettling flight of stairs and half-eaten food on the steps was far from what we expected. Needless to say, we came to the conclusion to leave our Airbnb and opt for a different form of lodging for the night. Introducing, Hotel Tonight. I had heard great things about this app and was excited to put it into use after our Airbnb was a major letdown. We managed to find a 4-star hotel for a fraction of the normal rate that was a 10-minute drive from our original location. Major score! And here’s where I leave you with this pro-tip: When you get the address of your Airbnb, look up the area on Google Maps and do some research on the specific neighborhood. Even if it has outstanding reviews, you need to do the research yourself. If it appears unsafe, request a refund, escalate to Airbnb and write a negative review. And lastly, go with your gut! If upon arrival you feel uneasy staying somewhere in a location you are not familiar with, don’t! As one of my favorite podcasts so frequently reminds me: Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered. With that being said, our time spent in Providence, Rhode Island was cut short besides our Airbnb fiasco and indulging in Italian food for dinner (which is a must when visiting Federal Hill!) but ended up spending time at dinner trying to find a new place to stay. One day, I’d love to return to Providence to visit the Rhode Island School of Design. We ventured to Newport the next morning and I loved this part of the state! Right on the water, cute shops, extremely walkable and the Newport mansions…wow! Are they a sight all on their own.

-Diego’s at Newport: Delicious brunch right on the wharf. We loved their breakfast burritos!

-Walk around the wharf: There are so many cute shops at Bowen’s Wharf, grab a coffee and wander!

-International Tennis Hall of Fame: We were shocked to find out the International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport. Tristan’s dad loves to play tennis and follows various players so we wanted to stop by and take photos and ended up touring the museum. It was super interesting and beautiful grounds to walk through (the perfect rainy day activity!)

-Cliff Walk: It was a bit rainy and we needed to venture back to Boston, but in warmer weather, I’ve heard the cliff walk is incredible. As you meander along the pathway you pass by booming mansions with water views. When we return, we’ll definitely be prioritizing this walk.

-Ocean Avenue: We did the Ocean Avenue drive to see the other mansions along the water and it was such a fun way to sight-see!

-Tour the Newport Mansions: We decided to tour the Newport Mansions, we purchased the two-home pass and chose to visit The Breakers and the Rosecliff Mansion (the mansion featured in the first Great Gatsby!) Both were breathtaking. It’s hard to believe that families lived in these homes for only a few months out of the year and they were this extravagant!

And just like that, all good things must come to an end. In a week we road tripped through five beautiful states while soaking up more views and fall foliage than I ever thought was possible. There were so many times Tristan and I said how thankful we were to have planned this trip to see places we maybe would not have prioritized otherwise. We now have a laundry list of places we want to revisit and spend more time in. We hope our New England fall road trip inspires others to explore this part of the country! In the fall, it is truly unmatched. Do you have any questions about our trip and itinerary? Leave a comment below!