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Explore these top 5 scenic drives in New England for fall foliage
Gas up and get ready for some fall color.
Travelers seeking a memorable scenic drive this season marked by spectacular fall foliage have plenty of options in New England.
Ahead, check out five of the top scenic drives in the region.
In Massachusetts, the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, a 90-mile roadway connecting 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury, is a beautiful drive in the fall. “Stunning displays of fall color greet visitors driving along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, but it’s the journey through coastal communities and porches prettified with pumpkins that sets the backdrop for this memorable drive,” wrote Fodor’s Travel, which named it one of the best fall foliage trips in the U.S.
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In Vermont, Scenic Route 100 Byway through the Green Mountains is “the most scenic road in the state,” wrote Vermont Explored. Along the 146-mile route travelers experience “gorgeous mountain scenery, funky shops, local beers, a touch of history, and a whole lotta nature,” wrote the site. Architectural Digest named the route among the 21 best places in North America to see autumn leaves.
The White Mountains Trail, a National Scenic Byway, is a 100-mile drive through New Hampshire’s White Mountains. “It’s an eye-popping loop that’ll take you past cascading waterfalls, covered bridges, dozens of mountain and valley outlooks—all alight with a rainbow of colorful leaves,” wrote the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development. The White Mountains was recently named among the 10 best places in America to see fall foliage by USA Today readers.
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The Acadia All-American Road is a 40-mile coastal drive that’s “so special that it’s been designated an All-American Road, considered the gold standard of byways,” according to the Maine Office of Tourism. It stretches from Route 3 on the mainland to Mount Desert Island and through the town of Bar Harbor and into Acadia National Park, past “craggy shorelines and granite-capped mountains to crystal lakes and spruce–fir forests, wrote the National Scenic Byway Foundation.
Connecticut’s Merritt Parkway (Route 15), a National Scenic Byway, runs for 37 miles through nine towns and is “a masterpiece of both engineering and aesthetics” according to the National Scenic Byway Foundation. The drive, which encompasses state parks and historical landmarks, stretches from Greenwich to Stratford, “offering a glimpse into a bygone era with its art deco bridges, lush tree canopy, and serene parkway design,” wrote the NSBF.
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