Each year as summer drifts into autumn the northeastern region of New England comes alive. The leaves start to change colour and nature once again puts on a spectacular display.
The October spectacle makes the region, made up of six states – Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and little Rhode Island – a magnet for ‘leaf-peepers’ on scenic flydrive breaks.
But it’s not all about foliage; New England also has the vibrant, historic city of Boston and the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, not to mention Acadia National Park, Atlantic beaches, heritage sites, wineries, and dozens of hospitable inns.
Roger Thompson, a director and co-founder of Completenorthamerica.com, says that typical travellers to New England tend to be second or third-time visitors looking for a more cultural/educational experience.
“There is so much variation across the six states that the area has wide appeal,” he says. “The autumn colours will always be a major factor in attracting visitors, but clients should be aware that this is also when the region is at its busiest, and most expensive. If clients are determined to visit in September/October, they will need to book many months in advance.”
What’s new?
The last year has seen Boston, the gateway to New England, emerging as a viable city break alternative to New York.
In particular, the city has experienced strong growth in the volume and quality of accommodation it has to offer. Another option is for clients to stay out of town and take advantage of the light-rail system.
Wherever they stay, encourage them to add an extra night or two to take in the sights: the venerable Harvard University, the Freedom Trail (a walking tour that links the city’s historic highlights), shopping for bargains and exploring distinctive districts like Beacon Hill, the South End with its gourmet eateries, and Back Bay.
And of course, nobody should leave Boston without checking out the bar from long-running TV show Cheers – in fact, there are actually two to choose from, as well as hundreds of other local hostelries. Boston likes to party!
Further afield, Completenorthamerica.com plans to include more soft adventure in its New England offering, the sorts of land and water-based activities people tend to associate with the west rather than the northeast. Many operators also package New England with New York city and/or state, or Eastern Canada – Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City, as well as Atlantic Canada.
Better known for its escorted tours, Jetsave has introduced a self-drive tour of New England for visitors in search of fall foliage this autumn. “Our escorted Colours of the Fall tour has always been one of our best-sellers and, when we decided to offer self-drive tours for holidaymakers wanting a more independent experience, it made sense to offer a New England option,” says Andrea Noble, Jetsave journeys product and contracts manager.
Don’t miss
The New England coastline can get neglected in favour of the inland attractions. So make sure clients are aware of the wild, rocky shores (including Acadia National Park) and fishing ports of Maine.
Massachusetts has superb beaches, especially along Cape Cod, which stretches from Martha’s Vineyard out to Province-town, a sort of American-style mini-Brighton. The Cape gets a lot of celebrities but it’s not as exclusive (or expensive) as clients may think. Connecticut also has beaches on Long Island Sound while Rhode Island, America’s smallest state, is also among its most charming.
Away from the coast, New Hampshire and Vermont have some of the finest scenery, foliage, and outdoor activities, although only Vermont can lay claim to ice cream royalty Ben & Jerry’s.
Wedged between New York and Massachusetts, Connecticut has Yale, with its fine buildings, art galleries, museums, shopping and food, as well as the gentle Litchfield Hills that are dotted with welcoming wineries. Connecticut also earns rave reviews for its outlet malls – warn clients to take an empty suitcase.
Each of the six states has its own tasty twist on the region’s signature dish: New England clam chowder. Clients can also expect excellent seafood, maple syrup, microbrews and seasonal fruit pies.
Clients visiting either side of autumn’s peak season will find better value and availability of accommodation, as well as quieter roads, while snow-lovers can pretty much fill their boots any time after Thanksgiving. New England also does a traditional Christmas exceedingly well.
Where to stay
Cities such as Boston and New Haven have the usual downtown hotels as well as cheaper options on their outskirts. Further afield, however, the real charm of New England lies in its quaint and historic inns.
For clients familiar with other regions of America, these inns are a great alternative to the typical hotel/motel selection. They may cost a little more, but to roll up at a historic inn at the end of a day’s touring is one of the great pleasures of visiting New England.
Each inn is different – there may be a gourmet restaurant attached, or spa facilities – but they’re all small (some have fewer than 10 rooms), which makes for a more intimate, perhaps romantic ambiance. A client who gets to stay in one of the unique inns of New England is a client more likely than most to want to repeat the experience.
Getting there and around
Boston is the port of entry for flights from the UK, unless clients are twinning New England with New York or Canada. The city is also central to the region – a 90-minute drive will have your clients hiking by the Atlantic in Maine, mansion-touring on Cape Cod or in Newport, Rhode Island, or climbing one of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
Tauck and Collette are the main escorted coach tour operators. Otherwise, the only way to get the most out of the six states is to hire a car. The region has dozens of well-marked scenic byways that make for wonderfully relaxed driving, as well as historic routes that take in sites from the War of Independence.
Typical two-week flydrive itineraries follow a circular route to sample each of the six states. From Boston, clients head north to Kennebunkport, Maine, where the Bush family has a summer home, before turning inland to drive through the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Turning south, the route then cuts through western Massachusetts and Connecticut before taking in Newport, Rhode Island and Cape Cod.
The exception to the car rule is for travel between larger cities. Amtrak’s network links Boston and Maine via Connecticut to New York. Another Amtrak route heads up from New York through Vermont into Canada.
Sample product
Complete North America has a 14-night New England and Canada flydrive from £2,299 per person this autumn. The price, based on two sharing, includes return flights (into Boston, out of Toronto), 14 nights’ room-only accommodation, and car hire. Highlights of the itinerary are the White and Green Mountains, Niagara Falls, and the chance to explore Boston, Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. completenorthamerica.com, 0845 2637100
Jetsave offers Classic New England, a 16-day self-drive itinerary, this autumn from £1,175 per person. The price includes return flights to Boston, 14 nights’ room-only accommodation and car hire. In addition to fall foliage, the itinerary takes in Boston, Acadia National Park and the White Mountains of New Hampshire, ending up at celebrity-studded Martha’s Vineyard on Cape Cod. jetsave.com, 0871 664 0293
