A Road Trip through New England’s Autumnal Wonderland

It’s hard to believe we saw them all in a matter of three days.Just over a month ago when planning a road trip to get us out and into some fresh air, my good friend Jack and I thought a trip through New England would be the perfect opportunity to do that while also giving us some incredible sights to see.

Little did we know.

NEW YORK

We started off the trip driving eight hours from DC to the Adirondack Mountain range in upstate New York.  With its countless exposed rock faces, pristine lakes, single-lane winding roads through mountain peaks and relatively little tourists, this was easily my favorite stop of the trip.  With hundreds of miles of trails to hike and it’s too-many-to-count lakes to kayak, you could easily spend days losing yourself in what’re some of the most beautiful sights I’ve ever seen.  And while it’s not a mountain range many have heard of, it’s one I would put at the top of your list to consider traveling to.

VERMONT

I’ve always heard the state of Vermont described as a sleepy little state with a tiny population and a lack of any huge cities.  Spending the majority of our second day there, I couldn’t agree more with that description.

For one, the state’s highway system consists of a two-way road running through one long mountain range.  Coming from a place like DC where our highway system consists of four lanes of traffic in each direction, it was quite a change.

Yet the views the state provided were also a huge change.  Trees ablaze with color, cute farmhouses tucked into the mountains, roadside stands offering homemade maple syrup, pumpkin bread and homegrown fruits and veggies all made the day pass more quickly than it should’ve.

We spent the majority of the day driving up Mount Equinox, one of the tallest mountains in the northeast.  With frequent spots to pull over to take pictures, the views didn’t disappoint.  And with a summit that provided uninterrupted views for what felt like hundreds of miles, it’s a stop I wouldn’t pass up if you ever find yourself in the area.  Just be sure to give your car some breaks on the way down.  Our brakes may or may not have been smoking only halfway down the mountainside…

We stayed the night in a cabin in the town of Londonderry, eating dinner at a place called Mulligans in a small ski-town nearby.  And while I would say the food was delicious (which it was), my real recommendation would be to try the hot apple cider.  It was a pleasant little surprise to find it had alcohol in it…

As well, it you’re looking for some of the best breakfast food you’ve ever had, Up For Breakfast in Manchester, Vermont brought it’s A-game.  Serving up some amazing pumpkin-apple-walnut flapjacks (say that five times fast), I never wanted to leave for our next stop in Portland.If you ever find yourself in Vermont, take the time to stop and peek into the many mom-and-pop stores that line the streets.  But be sure to do it early, many of the shops close by 4PM.

MAINE

This year my family and I didn’t have the chance to take our annual vacation to a beach, meaning that seeing the beautiful coastline in Maine was never not an option.  And it sure didn’t disappoint.

We stayed in Portland on Wednesday night and unfortunately only had about five hours the next day to spend sight-seeing before having to hit the road home.

Yet even with such limited time, the breathtaking sights we saw packed into such a small area made it seem as though we spent multiple days there.  The rocky shorelines, numerous lighthouses, beautiful homes and neat little seafood restaurants were limitless.

If you ever visit, there are several lighthouses you should take the time to see, one of them being the Buglight, a tiny ten-foot-tall lighthouse situated right across the bay from Portland.  You could also make a brief fifteen-minute trip to see the Portland Head Lighthouse - one of the more iconic lighthouses to dot the coast, or even the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse.  And while all three were incredibly neat to see, the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse is one I wouldn’t pass up.  The coastline surrounding it - made up of huge rocks and petrified wood - juts out into the ocean, giving you views unlike any other.

And of course, if you’re looking for some world-famous New England food, Cape Pier Chowder House needs to top your list of restaurants to try.  Seafood has never been a favorite of mine, but the New England chowder they served was some of the best soup I’ve ever had.  And situated right on a fishing harbor with hundreds of boats coming and going, unloading their precious lobster cargo, the views were neat to soak in as we ate.  But be sure to catch them before they close for the winter.  Their last day is next week.

All in all, if ever given a few days chance to escape, the northeast should top your list of places to travel to, no matter the season.  While I would certainly recommend autumn as the best time to travel, the region’s quaint feeling, no-rush attitude, and stunning sights can be seen year-round.  And while we may have caught most of the businesses and restaurants just before they closed for the winter, I’d love to make it back during the summer to experience more of the coastline and mountains.  It was beginning to get a little chilly with many of the locals saying snow was expected in the next couple of weeks.

No thanks.

If anything this trip was a little reminder of how easy it is to plan trips like this.  All it takes is a little research and time if it’s something you’re serious about.Yet more than that, trips like these give you just a little reminder to make the most of what you’ve been given in this life and to see places that remind you of just how beautiful the world we live in is.

Life’s short.  Adventure’s out there.

What’re you waiting for?