19 of New England’s Best Fall Activities

A little apple love from Narrow Lane Orchard in North Kingstown, RI

3.  Have a romantic sleep away among the leaves.

Long walks through the leaves, followed by cold nights by the fire is pretty romantic.

• Darby Field Inn is a rustic old inn in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
• Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, Massachusetts– escape to the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts.

4. Explore any of New England’s many harvest festivals.

5. Drink freshly pressed apple cider.

• BF Clyde’s Apple Cider Mill in Old Mystic, Connecticut, is the oldest steam-powered cider mill in the US. After your tour, you can munch homemade cider donuts while listening to live music on the lawn.

6. Hiking is the best way to get a close-up view of our beautiful leaves.

Bridge over the Harvard River

Nature never disappoints. Get out into it, and it will elevate your mood! Here are some of my favorite spots!

• Stepping Stone Falls, West Greenwich, RI has small, long falls with trails that follow the river.
• Heublein Tower Tower in Talcott  Mountain State Park, Simsbury, CT overlooks the whole state.
• Purgatory Chasm, Sutton, MA is great for bouldering and one of my kid’s favorite hikes.
• Tumbledown Mountain in Byron, ME has spectacular views and a pond for fishing at the top.
• Warren Falls, VT, has more massive falls and swimming holes.
• 5 Scenic, Family Hikes in Lincoln, New Hampshire

7. Go to a Pumpkin Festival

Just two of the over 5,000 intricately carved Jack-o-Lanterns you can see at Roger Williams Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island.

• Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular is a beautiful display of cut and lit pumpkins at Providence’s Roger William’s Zoo. Go on weeknights when it opens (at 6 p.m.) or expect long lines. At the zoo is also Spooky Zoo with trick-or-treating through the zoo for kids in costume on designated days.
• Vermont Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival– I  love the beauty of pumpkins, but there is something very satisfying in watching one flying through the air after being slung from a trebuchet. Apparently, enough people agree to hold a festival around this idea.

Look at the list of  New England’s Five Best Pumpkin Festivals.

Part of the Flames of Hope Waterfire is lighting up the Rhode Island Statehouse an uplifting pink.

10. Carve a jack-o-lantern from a pumpkin picked from the field.

Find a pumpkin patch near you!

11.  King Richard’s Faire

This massive renaissance celebration in Carver, MA is a recreation of England’s 16th century complete with jousts, market place, colossal turkey legs, and many shows. It is always a day that my children adore.

12.  The Big E

The Eastern States Exposition takes place in West Springfield, Massachusetts. A huge New England fair, with everything you could imagine to eat, ride, and see. My favorite part is the statehouses, which are replicas of the New England capital buildings full of vendors with state-specific foods and items.

13.  Visit some real-life colonial history.

Nothing says fall like Thanksgiving, native Americans, and pilgrims. Take this opportunity to learn about our country’s history first hand by visiting a few of these attractions located in New England:

• Plimoth  Plantations (yes, that’s the original spelling)- Visit this living history museum to see how the pilgrims and Native Americans lived and celebrated their first fall in the New World after fleeing England.
• The Mayflower Boat and Plimoth Rock– Here you can see a model of the Mayflower and the actual Plimoth Rock which looks much different than I expected.

14. Visit a vineyard.

Enjoying my day at Jonathan Edwards Vineyards, Connecticut.  Autumn is a perfect time to do some wine tasting while on a tour through the changing vines.

• We love to dine at Sharpe Hill Winery in Pomfret, CT, in the old farmhouse that has fantastic food in a  rustic fall setting.  You must have reservations well in advance.
• Jonathan Edward’s Winery- read about my fall wine tour there.
• The Newport Vineyards is a great place to have a relaxing lunch on the patio overlooking the vines. You can read more about it and the fun you can have in Newport, Rhode Island here.

The vines of Newport Vineyards.

15. Take a spooky ghost tour.

Be regaled by our area’s history, both real and lore. You may find yourself hearing things or looking over your shoulder more once you hear about the things that are said have gone on here. Find a ghost tour in any New England state.

• Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast– Not only can you tour 92 Second Street in Fall River, Massachusetts, the house where Lizzie Borden was said to butcher her parents with an ax, but you can also even stay the night.

16. Visit Salem, Massachusetts.

Ye Olde Burying Ground in Salem, Massachusetts which is believed to be haunted.

Salem, Massachusetts, is scary and commercial, full of tours, museums and real and imagined haunted houses. This town was the locale of the famous Salem Witch Hunt Trials. Be sure to read my post A Day with My Boy Looking for Ghosts.

17. Embrace the season with some pumpkin-flavored everything.

• New Englanders are crazy about fall and Dunkin’ Donuts, which makes a delicious pumpkin muffin and spiced coffee.
• After hiking Purgatory Chasm in Sutton, Massachusetts try some pumpkin ice cream at the West End Creamery.

 18. Take a hayride and get lost in a corn maze.

Working your way through a corn maze, such as this one at Connor Farms in Massachusetts, is a fun family activity and also a peaceful way to spend a fall day.

• Foster Family Farm–  This family-run farm in South Windsor, Connecticut, has an interactive corn maze, pumpkin patch, animals, and lots of fall activities.  You can even buy your mums here!
• Connors Farm-  Read all about our full day of family fall fun.

Find a complete list of corn mazes and hayrides in New England.

19. Have a Picnic Amongst the Leaves.

Read on for some ideas for the best spots.

20. Learn all about how cranberries are harvested by visiting a cranberry farm.

Read all about my time at Stone Bridge Farm in Massachusetts.

Have a great fall, Y’all!

What are your favorite fall activities? I would love to hear in the comments. If you are planning a trip, be sure to read my Local’s Guide to New England and subscribe to get all my new New England posts as they are published.

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