Are these the best fall activities in New England? Share with us.

Tell Us

What did these publications get right – or wrong? Did they miss your favorite spot? Share with us.

When it comes to fall in New England, everyone has an opinion on the best places to partake in fall festivities.

From leaf peeping, to corn mazes and apple orchards, and even the most “underrated and picturesque” New England towns, there seems to be an ever evolving list of the best places to celebrate all things autumn.

But three renowned publications said there are some New England fall spots that are the best of the best. 

Travel + Leisure, USA Today, and Fodor’s Travel – all New York-based publications – recommended these fall spots as the best across the New England region.

We want to know: Do you agree with their picks?

Where to view fall foliage 🍁

Fall foliage in New England is legendary, but five leaf peeping destinations in particular rank among the best in the country, according to Travel + Leisure.

The publication released a list of the 21 best places to see fall foliage in the U.S. and included the town of Lenox in Berkshire County; Cape Cod; Bar Harbor, Maine; Stowe, Vermont; and North Conway, New Hampshire

Are these five towns the best places to view fall foliage? Are there any leaf-peeping spots they missed?

Where to go apple picking 🍎

Apple orchards abound in New England as a popular attraction for families and friends – for good reason. The picturesque farmlands and tree-studded fields are the perfect place to partake in the autumnal harvesting season. 

But there’s one apple orchard that USA Today said is the best in the country: Libby & Son U-Picks in Limerick, Maine.

Up from its No. 6 ranking in 2022, the publication said the orchard offers apple picking that “extends from mid-August through the end of October,” and offers a range of apple varieties like Paula Red, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, and Empire.

Where to find a corn maze 🌽

If getting delightfully lost in a corn maze is your favorite fall activity, three of the best corn mazes in the country are right here in New England, according to USA Today readers.

As part of its 2023 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards, the publication named Treworgy Family Orchards in Levant, Maine as the best corn maze in the country. The Treworgy Family Orchards corn maze ranked No. 1 the year before as well.

Two more New England corn mazes made 2023’s top 10 list: Great Vermont Corn Maze in Danville, Vermont came in second place, and Davis Mega Maze in Sterling, Mass., ranked No. 5.

Where to visit an ‘underrated and picturesque’ New England town 📸

If visiting New England’s picturesque towns is part of your fall itinerary, Fodor’s Travel said there are 12 underrated Northeastern towns that are perfect for a fall escape – and that are less crowded than their touristy counterparts.

In Massachusetts, explore Boston this fall rather than Salem, according to Fodor’s. “Boston makes for less crowded autumn escapes on weekends, when many depart the city seeking solitude in more rural regions,” the publication said

In New Hampshire, Fodor’s said to skip Hampton Beach for Portsmouth. Visit the Strawbery Banke Museum, hike the Harbour Trail, drink beer at Portsmouth Brewery and eat seafood at The Black Trumpet and Surf, the publication recommended.

Burlington, Vermont is less crowded than Stowe, according to Fodor’s, with many fall activities such as Church Street Marketplace, Shelburne Farm, and the scenic Bike & Brew Tour.

To avoid the Newport crowds, explore Westerly, R.I., according to Fodor’s.

Portland is a popular Maine destination in the fall, but the fall season in Camden is “nothing short of stunning,” Fodor’s wrote.

Finally, in Connecticut, head to New Haven instead of Greenwich, according to Fodor’s. Visitors can check out the Shoreline Trolley Museum, hike Sleeping Giant State Park, go apple picking at Bishop’s Orchards, tailgate at a Yale football game, or take a Ghosts of New Haven tour, the publication wrote.

We want to know what you think.

Did a favorite of yours show up? Did they miss anything? Tell us in the form below, or e-mail us at [email protected], and we’ll put together our readers’ version of the best places in New England for fall festivities.