Dive into Fall Color in Massachusetts

Focus on All Things New England! Having trouble viewing this email? [View this email on the web](. SEPTEMBER 12, 2022 Dive into Fall Color in Massachusetts Drives and hikes across the Bay State offer a leaf peeper’s delight. Sponsored by: [Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism]( While Massachusetts is home to more New England residents than any other state in the region, rooted in and around its bustling cities and towns is another diverse, thriving population that takes center stage every autumn: trees. More than half of the state is forested — nearly 3 million acres — mainly by the kinds of northern hardwoods that paint the fall landscape in crimson, orange, and gold. Even better, they cascade down from mountainsides to coastal lands, each area peaking at different times and spreading the opportunities for leaf peeping across the season. As the largest body of water in the Bay State, the Quabbin Reservoir provides endless water-and-foliage vistas when the autumn colors come to Central Massachusetts. Denis Tangney Jr./iStock Want to get a front-row seat to the Bay State color show this year? These classic drives and favorite foliage spots will get you started. Hit the Road (or Rails) More than a dozen official scenic byways and countless beautiful rural routes make fall day-tripping an essential Massachusetts experience. Among the standouts: WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS Explore the Berkshire foothills on the [Jacob’s Ladder Trail]( a 35-mile drive that winds around from the rocky heights of Mount Tekoa in Russell to the Lee/Lenox town line, providing views of the Wild and Scenic Westfield River along the way. Experience rolling farmland and historic villages settled in Colonial times on the 40-mile [Connecticut River Byway]( or plan a longer jaunt on the nation’s first scenic automobile route, the [Mohawk Trail]( which runs nearly 70 miles from Orange to Williamstown. Considered one of the best foliage drives in New England, the 69-mile Mohawk Trail criss-crosses five major rivers as it meanders through Western Massachusetts forests and towns. Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism NORTH OF BOSTON Maritime heritage meets foliage color along the 90-mile Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, linking 14 communities from Lynn to Salisbury as it traverses forests, farmlands, and coast, as well as extensive salt marshes lined with oaks that display brilliant golden color in late October. You’ll find plenty of compelling reasons to stop along the way, such as the storied fishing town of Gloucester and charming, walkable Newburyport. At the northern end of the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, leaf peepers can take a break for a bit of shopping and dining in downtown Newburyport, a coastal town founded in 1764. Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism Visit Massachusetts Memories are made and what better place to make great memories but in Massachusetts. Indoors–outdoors; scenic views or city vibe, solo or with family –whatever moves you, discover it in MA. [PLAN NOW]( SPONSORED CENTRAL MASSACHUSETTS The 40-mile [Lost Villages Scenic Byway (Route 122)]( offers a quiet ride past working farms, forests, and historic landmarks. Its name is an homage to the four towns that were displaced when their land disappeared under water during the Quabbin Reservoir construction in 1930. GREATER BOSTON Hear the echoes of Revolutionary history on the Battle Road Scenic Byway, which follows the approximate path of the British regulars during the battles that marked the start of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775. It runs along approximately 15 miles of roads in Arlington, Lexington, Lincoln, and Concord, including part of [Minute Man National Historical Park](. Among the highlights of the Battle Road Scenic Byway is the beautiful 967-acre Minute Man National Historical Park, which preserves the scene of the Revolutionary War’s first battle. James Higgins/Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism SOUTH OF BOSTON See another kind of fiery fall color on the 62-mile Cranberry Course through Plymouth County. From Milton, you head south on Route 24 before hopscotching on secondary roads from Bridgewater to North Carver to Wareham and Mattapoisett. Along the way, views of autumn leaves are complemented by the sight of cranberry bogs flooded with pools of bright crimson berries at harvest time. Ripe cranberries blanket the surface of a flooded bog at a Wareham farm, carrying on a Massachusetts agricultural tradition that goes back to 1816. Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism THE CAPE & ISLANDS For seaside autumn splendor, try a different set of wheels: the [Cape Cod Central Railroad]( offering scenic rides through October. This heritage passenger railroad operates mainly on 27 miles of former New Haven Railroad tracks on Cape Cod, and its excursions take guests past marshes, cranberry bogs, dunes, and other places only accessible by rail. Operating a number of vintage locomotives and cars, the Cape Cod Central Railroad lets passengers travel back in time while discovering coastal autumn scenery. John Kittredge/Cape Cod Central Railroad Take a Hike (or Your Bike) With 150 state parks, 100 Trustees of Reservations properties, 15 national park areas, five national heritage areas, and three national trails, Massachusetts’s treasure trove of natural assets means that no matter where you go, you’re not far from a foliage spot perfect for exploring at your own pace. Prime foliage-viewing spots are plentiful among The Trustees of Reservations’ 100-plus properties across Massachusetts, including Bartholomew’s Cobble in Sheffield. R. Cheeks/The Trustees of Reservations For a bird’s-eye view of the autumn canopy, try one of the state’s many stunning summit hikes, which are especially abundant in Western Massachusetts. [Mount Greylock State Reservation]( offers the chance to tackle the state’s tallest mountain (3,491 feet), but less-ambitious peaks offer equally eye-popping views, including [Monument Mountain]( (1,642 feet), [Mount Sugarloaf]( (935 feet), and [Mount Holyoke]( (652 feet). Waterfalls, lakes, and rivers add a certain magical sparkle to foliage excursions. For proof, head to the sprawling [Quabbin Reservoir]( in Central Massachusetts, a magnet for autumn hikers and bikers, or the Taconic Mountains’ [Bish Bash Falls State Park]( home to the state’s highest waterfall. And of course there’s the timeless appeal of Concord’s [Walden Pond]( made famous by Massachusetts native son Henry David Thoreau. Hiking to the main attraction in Bish Bash Falls State Park shows how waterfalls can be particularly magical in autumn, with foliage hues framing the white cascades. BackyardProduction/iStock Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts can take their pick of 60-plus [Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries]( whose autumn beauty is as diverse as their locations: from the mountainside setting of [Pleasant Valley]( in Lenox, to the former farmlands of Wachusett Meadow in Princeton, to the salt marsh of [Wellfleet Bay]( on Cape Cod. A mix of woodlands, wetlands, and meadows create a haven for autumn hiking at Mass Audubon’s 1,200-acre Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton. Julie Mankowsky/Mass Audubon Another collection of pristine properties not to be missed is managed by [The Trustees of Reservations]( the nation’s first and Massachusetts’s largest preservation and conservation nonprofit. At the [Fruitlands Museum]( in Harvard, for instance, discover glorious views of the Nashua River Valley amid a former 19th-century Transcendentalist colony. In addition to hosting a fascinating collection of art and culture exhibits, the Fruitlands Museum boasts grand views and miles of walking trails on its 210-acre campus. Courtesy of The Trustees of Reservations Also among The Trustees’ properties: [Bartholomew’s Cobble]( a National Natural Landmark in Sheffield, which offers five miles of trails through fields, forest, and marshes and superb foliage vistas from atop 1,000-foot Hurlburt’s Hill. Finally, for a uniquely coastal spin on fall color, head to Martha’s Vineyard, where [Menemsha Hills]( blends awe-inspiring seaside panoramas with flashes of red from blueberry bushes and ripening holly berries. For more ideas on exploring autumn in Massachusetts, go to [visitma.com/blog/season/fall](. SPONSORED [Unsubscribe]( [Forward to a Friend]( [Send Feedback]( [Facebook](   [Instagram](    [Pinterest](    [Twitter](   Help us be sure that this email newsletter gets to your inbox. Adding our return address [Today@NewEngland.com]( to your address book may "whitelist" us with your filter, helping future email newsletters get to your inbox. Did a friend send this to you? [Sign up to receive your own copy and a free guide](. At anytime you may [update your email preferences or change your email address](. Copyright © 2022 All Rights Reserved Yankee Publishing, Inc. - PO Box 520 Dublin, NH 03444 [Our Privacy Policy](