It's never too early to start planning your New England vacation. In any season, the New England scenery -- mountains and streams, forests and lakes -- provides a beautiful setting for a romantic vacation. Yet nothing compares to the region's glorious fall foliage.
With lodging that ranges from classic inns to grand hotels to B&Bs, you're certain to find a spot perfect in New England for the two of you. A word of advice: Book your New England vacation early if you plan to visit in autumn; that's prime time in this part of the country.
Leaf Home for New England
The USDA's Fall Foliage Hotline tracks the colors of the changing season. For a comprehensive guide to autumn activities in New Enland, visit Yankee Foliage, which covers everything from scenic hikes and day trips to how to preserve leaves (hint: use an iron and wax paper). Find more fall frolics on About New England's "Foliage Central" pages.
Elegant New England Country Inns
While there are wonderful places to stay throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island, I consider Massachusetts the quintessential New England vacation getaway. In her Berkshire hills, where there are gourmet restaurants, stimulating cultural events, and extraordinary antiques to be found, I recommend these special places:
A restored palazzo, Wheatleigh delights sophisticates with its dining and guest-room décor. While in the area, tour The Mount, Edith Wharton's spectacular house and gardens celebrating their centennial. In North Adams, near the expansive MASS MoCa arts center, the 50-room Porches Inn (with its own swimming pool) beckons you to sit a spell on its veranda.
