Autumn in New England

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Autumn In New England

By Lisa Bingham/Leslie Fox

I’ve been to New England twice during the fall and so thoroughly enjoyed it, I wanted to share highlights with you. It’s all part of my family’s mission to visit all 50 states. We flew from Atlanta to Boston and over a 10-day driving trip, were able to check off five states in a week! We absolutely loved the history and breathtaking beauty, and my three girls and I especially enjoyed collecting Junior Ranger badges at the parks.

We had the pleasure of seeing New England in person, but today, while we all wait for the okay to travel freely, we invite you to take this virtual tour of New England. Use it as a planning guide for your next trip to the east coast—it’s worth the trip.

Become A Junior Ranger. Explore. Learn. Protect.

Junior Rangers take an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family. Junior Rangers are typically between the ages of 5 to 13, although anyone can participate. The Junior Ranger program is conducted in almost all parks.

How does it work? Kids complete a series of activities during a park visit, share their answers with a park ranger, and receive an official Junior Ranger patch or Junior Ranger certificate and a Park Ranger will lead you through the Junior Ranger pledge. https://www.nps.gov/kids/become-a-junior-ranger.htm

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SALEM MASSACHUSETTS Best known for the witch trials that took place in 1692, Salem is sure to bewitch you with its seaside charm, its maritime history and spellbinding beauty. You can follow the Red Line along the sidewalks to navigate your journey through historic sites, including the Witch Trial Memorial, the Old Burying Point Cemetery and more.

Discover serenity by the sea on the beaches of Salem Willows. The Bewitched statue, the Witch Museum and the Witch Dungeon conjure up diverse takes on witchery through history.

Chills and Thrills at The Salem Witch Museum!

Inside an old church is the Salem Witch Museum, where you can take a 30-minute tour of the history of the Salem Witch Trials, and the evolving perception of witches since that time.

Be sure to visit The House of the Seven Gables. In 1668, merchant and shipowner John Turner built a house on Salem Harbor that was destined to become one of America’s most beloved historic homes.

Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 2007, The House of the Seven Gables is best known today as the setting of world-renowned American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel.

The Witch House is the last remaining structure from the time of the Salem Witch Trials. The home belonged to the judge who sentenced the accused witches, rather than to any “witch.” The trials themselves only lasted a short time. In the end, those who began the accusations came forward to admit they had made up their claims. The whole thing may have begun by some storytelling that got out of hand.

Hubie Halloween Coming To Netflix on October 7 Adam Sandler is a local Halloween enthusiast who finds himself wrapped up in a comedic Halloween mystery in Salem.

The House of Seven Gables & Haunted Happenings https://7gables.org/ https://www.hauntedhappenings.org/

Become A Junior Ranger Explore. Learn. Protect.

America’s First National Historic Site Salem Maritime National Historic Site was established on March 17, 1938 as the first National Historic Site in the U.S. It consists of nine acres of land and 12 historic structures along the Salem waterfront, as well as a downtown visitor center. Located in the urban setting of Salem, the park preserves and interprets over 600 years of New England’s maritime history and global connections.

Here’s how you can become a Junior Ranger at Salem Maritime and get your Virtual Visit Badge this year.

Download your Junior Ranger booklet.

Complete the Junior Ranger activities as you explore from home.

Or if you plan a trip to Salem, you can find a Park Ranger to lead you through the Junior Ranger pledge.

https://www.nps.gov/sama/learn/kidsyouth/ kids-youth.htm

Be sure to walk Essex Street! It’s filled with lots of people, some in costume if you visit in October. Even though it rained the last time we were there, it was still crowded.

There are always street performers and wonderful shops filled with Halloween and Autumn merchandise and lots of food vendors.

You can also sign up for all kinds of tours, including walking tours, haunted history tours, day or night, and you can sail the harbor.

2 Bar Harbor Maine

The Bar Harbor Inn is an iconic and historic New England vacation destination located harborside in the heart of Bar Harbor overlooking Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands. It welcomes guests worldwide with genuine Maine hospitality, superior service and timeless charm. Its beautifully landscaped eight acres offer a private retreat with easy walking access to unique shops, art galleries and waterfront activities in downtown Bar Harbor. The casual elegance of the Bar Harbor Inn provides a perfect backdrop to explore the rocky Maine coast and Acadia National Park. Catch glimpses of the area’s rich history as you relax and delight in refreshing ocean views, elegant dining and rejuvenating spa services.

Visitors from around the world come to Bar Harbor, the gateway to Acadia National Park for its breathtaking scenery.

From boutique hotels, personal and cozy B&Bs, to woodland camping with Acadia National Park right outside your tent flap, every lodging option is unique. Whatever your style, you’ll find it here in Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island.

Bar Harbor is proudly known for its fresh seafood–caught, delivered, cooked and served straight from the boat. From shrimp, scallops and crab, to haddock, flounder, clams and oysters, Mount Desert Island’s sea-to-table options are endless. After a day’s worth of activities in Acadia National Park, no matter where you eat and drink, Bar Harbor’s restaurants are sure to please.

Visit Bar Harbor - Scroll down for video https://www.visitbarharbor.com/ Live Camera from the Bar Harbor Inn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IL1--taNHe8

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Acadia National Park Acadia National Park falls in the top 10 list of most visited parks in the U.S., welcoming more than three million travelers every year.

Early risers can drive, bike or walk to watch the sunrise along Acadia’s beautiful rocky shoreline on Ocean Drive. They’ll be among the first in the country to see the dawning of a new day. Later, enjoy dinner or simply stop in for popovers and strawberry jam at the famous Jordan Pond House, a charming restaurant founded in the early 1870s.

Established by Woodrow Wilson in 1916 with 6,000 acres, Acadia now covers more than 49,000 acres, thanks to the remarkable dedication and philanthropy of wealthy private citizens such as Charles W. Eliot, George B. Dorr, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. The park encompasses nearly half of Mount Desert Island, a scattering of smaller islands and the Schoodic Peninsula.

Hike, bike, or walk to popular attractions in the early morning or late afternoons to avoid crowds or take the fare-free Island Explorer bus instead of driving. Motorists who drive the Park Loop Road enjoy a 27-mile ride along oceanside cliffs and through mountain forests, stopping at scenic turnouts and notable attractions along the way, such as the mighty Thunder Hole and Sand Beach. The trip is a must!

Acadia National Park Service https://www.youtube.com/user/AcadiaNPS/videos

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Rock Port Massachusetts Iconic Motif No. 1 draws artists and art lovers to this picturesque harbor. Rockport’s art colony, one of the oldest in America, is home to over 30 galleries and The Rockport Art Association and Museum. In an unmatched setting, the world-class performing arts center, The Shalin Liu, hosts shows year-round. Lively festivals fill the streets from May through December.

Gloucester Massachusetts Founded in 1623 by English fisherfolk, Gloucester is one of New England’s oldest towns. This port on Cape Ann has made its living from fishing for almost 400 years, and has inspired books and films such as Rudyard Kipling’s Captains Courageous and Sebastian Junger’s “The Perfect Storm.”

You can’t miss the fishing boats, festooned with nets, dredges and winches, tied to the wharves or motoring along into the harbor, with clouds of hungry seagulls hovering expectantly above. A vibrant artist community, Rocky Neck Art Colony, is across the harbor in East Gloucester.

The Beauty of Gloucester https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63n9crVxhn0

The first time we went to New England, the movie, “The Perfect Storm,” was being shot. The movie was known as the Halloween Storm. It was based on a true story and tells of the courageous men and women who risk their lives every working day, pitting their fishing boats and rescue vessels against the capricious forces of nature. Their worst fears are realized at sea on Halloween of 1991, when confronted by three raging weather fronts which unexpectedly collide to produce the greatest, fiercest storm in modern history.

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Mount Washington Cog Railway New Hampshire’s Premier Attraction Since 1869 Today, more than 150 years later, the Mount Washington Cog Railway continues to thrill passengers from all over the world with its dramatic ascent to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast.

The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world, and the only one currently operating in North America. With an average grade of 25% (some sections approach nearly 38%), it’s also the second steepest in the world! Motive power is primarily provided by a fleet of seven powerful biodiesel locomotives, each custom designed, built and maintained on site. And with a nod to its steam heritage, the railway also continues to operate a pair of centuryold, coal-fired steam engines.

Located in the heart of the majestic White Mountains region of northern New Hampshire, Marshfield Base Station is six miles east of Route 302 on the western face of Mount Washington. Even the drive along Base Station Road is beautiful—every twist and turn reveals new perspectives on the Presidential Range. Make sure to stop for some pictures at Upper Ammonoosuc Falls, an impressive rocky cascade and popular swimming hole just a few yards off the road. And keep your eyes open for wildlife—moose and bear sightings are not uncommon along the Base road.

Marshfield Base Station Train Trip,To The Summit and Back https://www.thecog.com/marshfield-base-station

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Mount Washington, New Hampshire The Most Extreme Weather Observatory on Earth Mt. Washington, New Hampshire, is home to the most extreme weather observatory on Earth.

Located in the White Mountains of northern New Hampshire at 6,288 feet, the observatory features some of the world’s most fascinating weather. The history of Mt. Washington Observatory began all the way back in 1870. In hopes of improving forecast knowledge, a group of determined scientists set out on an expedition to observe Mt. Washington’s winter weather. The team’s observations captured the attention of the United States Signal Service, a precursor to the National Weather Service, who decided to take up the cause and maintain a weather station at Mt. Washington’s summit until 1892. This was one of the first mountaintop weather stations in the world.

The Mount Washington Obsevatory https://www.mountwashington.org/#

8 Mount Washington Inn New Hampshire The Mt. Washington Inn was constructed by Joseph Stickney, a native of Concord, New Hampshire who had made a fortune before the age of 30 as a coal broker in Pennsylvania.

In 1881, Stickney and his partner, John N. Conyngham, purchased the nearby Mount Pleasant Hotel (a large early hotel that was later demolished) from lumberman John T.G. Leavitt. Stickney began work on his Mt. Washington Hotel and brought in 250 Italian artisans to build it, particularly the granite and stucco masonry. Construction started in 1900 on the Y-shaped hotel, which opened on July 28, 1902.

Stickney died a year after the hotel opened.

His wife, Carolyn Stickney, spent her summers

at the hotel for the next decade, adding the Sun Dining Room with guest rooms above, the fourth floor between the towers, and the chapel honoring her late husband. Under its capable first manager, John Anderson, the hotel was a success. But the advent of income tax, Prohibition, and the Great Depression curtailed the hospitality business. In 1936, Mrs. Stickney’s nephew, Foster Reynolds, inherited the hotel, but it closed in 1942 because of World War II. A Boston syndicate bought the extensive property for about $450,000 In 1944. The Bretton Woods monetary conference took place that year, establishing the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The owners were paid $300,000 for the loss of business and promised a daily room charge of $18 per person for the 19-day conference.

Today, the Mt. Washington Hotel and Resort is one of the last surviving grand hotels in the White Mountains. In 1986, it was declared a National Historic Landmark.

Since the late 1800s, reaching the summit of Mount Washington has been on the must-do list for most travelers to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. To this day, the combination of amazing scenery, world famous weather conditions, and adventures for all abilities and ages make it a highlight for visitors to the region, and locals alike.

The mountain is steeped in history, and central to that is the legendary Mt. Washington Auto Road.

The 7.6-mile Mt. Washington Auto Road is America’s oldest and continuously operating attraction. It was first opened to the public in 1861 as the Mt. Washington Carriage Road in a time when guests made the four-hour journey to the summit in specially built, horse-drawn Abbot Downing Mountain Wagons. As a family owned business, the company takes great pride in its progression through the years, preserving that history for all their current day guests to enjoy.

The Mount Washington Hotel and the Grand Hotels of the White Mountains https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSWEoFIYu48 Mount Washington Auto Road https://mt-washington.com/

9 Stowe Vermont

Vermont is internationally known for vibrant autumn colors. Stowe’s legendary foliage adds an extra dimension to every pursuit, from scenic drives and strolls on the Stowe Recreation Path to events and outdoor harvest festivals. Take a piece of your memorable Stowe vacation home with you, Stowe’s shops are filled with artisan and local goods perfect for fall.

Fall Into Stowe, Vermont.

A classic New England village at the base of Vermont’s highest peak, Stowe, Vermont is the perfect place for a fall getaway. From early September through late October, experience Stowe’s legendary foliage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM1_ uI0cgyo&feature=youtu.be&t=2s

Boston Massachusetts Perhaps no other city in America holds as much history of the colonial and Revolutionary War era as Boston. It’s not surprising then that its main sites have become a pilgrimage trail for Americans and for others who hope to get a sense of that history. But more than that, the Freedom Trail is a good introduction to today’s city, connecting or passing close to some of its best loved tourist attractions. Boston is easy to navigate on foot, as its major sights are relatively close, and America’s first subway system, the T, connects its important neighborhoods.

Across the Charles River, a watery summer recreation area whose Boston shore is reserved as the Esplanade park, is Cambridge. Although a separate and independent city, for tourist purposes, Cambridge is part of Boston and connected by the same transit system. Here, you’ll find two of America’s most prestigious and important universities, Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). These and the many other universities and colleges in the area help keep Boston a youthful and vibrant place to be, with a lively cultural scene. With all the music, theater, and entertainment options, plus its abundance of restaurants, you’ll never be at a loss for things to do in Boston at night.

Boston Harbor Now Video 50 Years of Transformation https://www.bostonharbornow.org/videos/50-years/

Since its discovery to Europeans by John Smith in 1614, Boston Harbor has been an important port in American history. It was the site of the Boston Tea Party, as well as almost continuous building of wharves, piers, and new filled land into the harbor until the 19th century. By 1660, almost all imports came to the greater Boston area and the New England coast through the waters of Boston Harbor. A rapid influx of people transformed Boston into a booming city.

Boston Tea Party Museum: Relive the most important event leading up to the American Revolution on this self-guided tour of the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. This is a great mix of fun and education. We enjoyed the tea master explaining the teas!

Swan boats in Boston Commons offer a nice, relaxing short trip around the pond. The boat is moved by a swan boat driver pedaling through the water in the back of a type of raft with benches for riders.