NEW ENGLAND

By David Polston

For several years there has been a gnawing in that side of me that loves adventure I grew up in South Carolina with promises of unfulfilled rips out west and to New England by a father who dearly loved me. Still, I needed more means to carry out such adventures. So, as I settled for local mountain and beach trips, the years passed until I was alone Where I work, the demands for Christmas projects have inally freed up my fall schedule for travel last year. When I realized the first two weeks of October were possible for vacation, I immediately dusted off that latent dream of spectacular color in Vermont and New Hampshire The tricky part was deciding which week was the optimum peak for all those glorious golds of the sugar maples. Most research had revealed it could be anytime between the last week of September to the middle of October, but last year was complicated by drought factors in certain areas Finally, I launched the second week of October and arrived in Vermont.

My New England tour began in Bennington, Vermont, and from there through the Green Mountains north to Stowe, where I had heard it was a must-see. I was somewhat disappointed because of the bumper-to-bumper traffic, but the quaintness of this small town still draws the crowds every year. From there, I drove north on rural roads over a very hilly landscape awash with the golden color of maples

Vermont is a state that offers an escape from the mundane mix of commercialized chaos. Nature is front and center on interstates and the vast network connecting rural roads Here, one gets a sense of America in its beginning Over one hundred covered bridges throughout this state offer glimpses of a way of life most of us find appealing. In and around Woodstock, I found three still crossable by car and truck.

From Vermont, my journey continued into New Hampshire via the Kancamagus Scenic Highway, extending the state's width. The White Mountain National Forest has plenty of views as it meanders for 34 and a half miles. At one point, you rise to an altitude of almost 3000 feet above sea level with an incredible scenic overlook. The Kancamagus Highway ends in Conway, NH; from there, it's 65 miles to Portland, Maine.

It is almost unforgivable to leave Vermont without visiting a sugar maple farm. Near Woodstock, you can wind up a mountain road to the Sugarbush Farm, and encounter a rustic barn, affectionately called a sugar shack, where the process of making maple syrup is on full display. The original farmhouse next door houses the option of tasting several syrup varieties and purchasing them.

Arriving in Portland, you have a delightful mix of lighthouses and lobsters. I chose Luke's Lobster Portland Pier because of the spectacular dock view and high reviews. The lobster rolls are in a league of their own. But there are many such lobsteries to choose from in this section of waterside eateries. Old Orchard Beach has plenty of affordable hotels just south of Portland.

After a restful night at Old Orchard, I headed south to the fishing village of Kennebunkport, where I could see the summer home of the Bushes Of course, it was offlimits to the public, but quite a view from a nearby road. The surrounding cliffs are perches for some of Maine's wealthiest summer homes. Leaving Maine, my next destination was Cape Cod, where I stopped in Plymouth, Massachusetts, to see some must-see history. The harbor is incredible, with sailboats gleaming against the blue backdrop. Housed in a stately monument is the actual Plymouth Rock, or a section of it, to be exact. Also, an excellent replica of the Mayflower in the harbor with tours available

Leaving Plymouth, I journeyed to Falmouth, Massachusetts, for the night near the ferry at Woods Hole, where you leave for Martha's Vineyard. I boarded the ferry the following day without my vehicle because of the $200 charge to take it over. All of this certainly requires planning, for tour companies will take you around the island to see the sights. Well worth the visit, because there are five separate towns with different charms. I also saw from a distance where Teddy Kennedy drove his car off the Chappaquiddick Bridge that fateful night in 1969.

From the Vineyard, I drove to Provincetown, the toe of the boot that forms this state. There is lots of history here because the Pilgrims first arrived and camped out for six weeks before heading to Plymouth. It was also here that the Mayflower Compact was signed. The most notable sight in Provincetown is the Pilgrim Monument, the tallest all-granite structure in the United States at 252 feet. It was built to commemorate the Pilgrims' landing. A winding staircase inside takes you to the top for a remarkable view of Cape Cod.

My journey continued the next day, skirting the coast of Cape Cod with a stop in Hyannis Port to see the Kennedy Compound. It was off-limits to the public, but that didn't stop me from finding a nearby parking spot and walking on the beach to take pictures. I could see why the Kennedys chose this spot for its view

Leaving Cape Cod, the road led to Rhode Island and its most scenic Newport City. I arrived almost at sundown, so my view of the famous harbor with many sailboats was hindered However, I was able to drive on Bellevue Avenue and see the heralded Gilded Age Mansions, which were built as the summer homes of the ultra-rich, such as the Vanderbilts.

For a moment, I thought I was in Beverly Hills, for nothing I have seen on the East Coast lives up to the sight of such ornate architecture. The smallest state in the nation has plenty to see.

I did not have much time to stay in Rhode Island, so I traveled west into Connecticut to stay for the night. From there, the trip was a blur of striking color and occasional pitstops for fuel into New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland before descending the Eastern Shore of Virginia to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge towards home.

Would I do it again? Absolutely. We can live our entire lives and only see pictures of places we dream of. Proper planning transforms the right Fall vacation into a colorful and rewarding reality.