Fall Foliage Tour...Suggestions? Advice?

[Shock13]

After seeing some beautiful pictures online, my mom and I are discussing taking a fall foliage drive in New England in 2011. I want to be able to kind of get an idea of cost and a possible itinerary as I hear lots of places book up early.
Anyone familiar on a possible itinerary over 7 days? When is a good time to go?
Hotels? Inns? Bed and Breakfasts? Which one would be better?
I think we want to start in Vermont and work our way south.
Thanks for any tips!

 

[dodukes]

Wow I didnt know this was actually an "itinerary" and less that hotels sell out. This sounds really kool! Im looking forward to what others have to say. Sorry I really don't have much to offer..LOL

 

[happily single]

I can't offer a ton of help, but can vouch for hotels selling out at least during the weekends. We go to the White Mountains of NH every Columbus Day Weekend (well almost). I tend to wait until the very last minute and usually have luck finding a decent hotel. Be warned, you will pay at least $125 or more a night for a basic no frills motel/hotel.

Since you will be in NE you should look into Boston for the historic stuff, Plymouth Rock, Cranberry Festivals in the area as well as Salem, MA.

I just picked up a copy of a free kids guide called "What's up Event Guide". It doesn't list hotels but does give a daily account of what is going on in October/November and December in the area.

In the White Mountains for hotels I highly recomend Indian Head Resort which is in Linocln, NH. Kind of out of the way meaning that there isn't anything else but hotels on that road, but a short drive away is the "main road" which has a Dunkin Donuts, etc. On taht "main road" is also a hotel called Inn Season. My aunt stayed there and enjoyed it. I've also heard of people getting summer rates of about $80 or so on Priceline.

I prefer to stay in the North Conway/Barlett area of NH. There is soo much to do, but since there is basically one main road it gets very congested.

Either way New England is beautiful in the fall.

 

[Shock13]

Thanks for the info. I've never been to the New England area so I have NO idea what to expect or what to see. I'm definitely more interested in seeing the historic aspects of the area as well as small towns and fall festivals.

 

[TaraPA]

We did this one year, it was so much fun! I'm planning to do this with a bunch of girlfriends one of these years.

We started in South Deerfield, MA at the Yankee Candle Factory. We drove there from PA & stayed overnight at a Marriott about 15 min. away. There is a Red Roof Inn right by Yankee, but it was sold out (we went the last week of September). There is a store just up the road from Yankee, can't remember the name, but like a quaint Big Lots - lots of odds & ends at discount prices.

We drove north on I91 to I89 & did the Ben & Jerry's factory tour, a winery & a cider mill. We stopped at a roadside stand for pumpkins. We spent the night in Stowe, VT at a quaint little swiss chalet-looking inn. All of the larger resorts were sold out. I can't remember the name, and it wasn't modern, but had a great covered bridge & walking path onsite. We toured around Stowe the next day & then made the LONG trek back to PA.

 

[Shock13]

I think you got me at Ben & Jerry's!!! To see a cider mill would be really neat too.
What is Salem, MA like? We are really into Halloween.

 

[PatriciaH]

I think you got me at Ben & Jerry's!!! To see a cider mill would be really neat too.
What is Salem, MA like? We are really into Halloween.

http://www.hauntedhappeningssalem.com/2010_Event_Calendar.html

http://www.salem.org/index.shtml

We are going next week.

 

[vicb]

Not sure about putting an itinerary together but I lived in NH 15 years ago and I can say the White Mts. are beautiful in the fall. We always drove the Kangamangus Pass and did quite a bit of hiking up there. Do a search on that!