Scenic Six

Plan your leaf peeping getaway with our fall foliage guide

Best fall foliage destinations, Salem's Haunted Happenings, and an apple-themed getaway.

Wildflowers, fall foliage, and Mt. Washington serve as a backdrop for a family at Crawford Notch State Park in New Hampshire. Robert F. Bukaty/AP

By Kristi Palma

October 2, 2024

4 minutes to read

You’re reading Scenic Six, Boston.com’s guide to New England travel. Sign up to get hidden gems, travel tips, and must-visit spots in your inbox every week.

Welcome back to Scenic Six! I’m Kristi Palma and as I mentioned last week, I’ll be sharing travel information you can use across our six gorgeous New England states. So let’s get to it.

Behold: the leaves

The leaves are changing, which means New England’s iconic fall foliage season is upon us once again. I was wandering around Salem last week (more on that later) and found a stunning tree turning the most vibrant shade of yellow. Wondering where you should travel this season for the best color? Look, you really can’t go wrong anywhere in New England, but USA Today readers just named the following three destinations among the best for viewing fall colors in 2024: the Berkshires, the White Mountains in N.H., and Stowe, Vermont.

Need more ideas? Discover more nationally ranked spots such as Bar Harbor, Maine, Mystic, Conn., and the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway and check out our fall foliage guide for maps and more.

Salem takes center stage

The historic seaside city of Salem is always worth a visit. But if you love Halloween and don’t mind crowds, buckle up. The city welcomes nearly 1 million tourists during October for its month-long Haunted Happenings. The festival, which began in 1982, is billed as the largest celebration of Halloween in the world. I was in Salem last week and saw early-bird visitors already lined up at the Salem Witch Museum. I also spied two witches dining outside at Rockafellas and some sort of costumed monster wandering the Haunted Happenings Marketplace. The crowds weren’t yet large but the Halloween spirit sure was. The city’s Haunted Happenings schedule is jam packed so it’s a good idea to download the Destination Salem app.

Craving a ‘weird’ experience?

Are you looking for a fall festival that doesn’t include apples and pumpkins? Maine has one of the “wackiest, weirdest” fall festivals in the U.S., according to Thrillist, and it’s taking place on Oct. 12 at Sunday River in Newry, Maine. Welcome to the North American Wife Carrying Championship, where men race through an obstacle course while carrying a lady. I interviewed the winning team back in 2018 and was told the women are the unsung heroes of the race because they basically have to turn themselves into a human backpack. Another fun fact: the teams don’t actually have to be married.

Tell us: Which state has the best fall foliage?

Travel tips

Attention, parents of little ones: Story Land in Glen, N.H. is celebrating 70 years with its first-ever Halloween event this season. The park’s Happy Hauntings celebration features 10 family-friendly ways to enjoy the spooky season, including shows, story times, a fairy tale trick or treat trail, rides, and more. Happy Hauntings kicked off this past weekend and runs through Oct. 27 (and also on Monday, Oct. 14). Costumes are encouraged.
I hate saving money — said no one ever. So here’s a list of 10 free things to do in Boston in October, from festivals to museum events to the Head of the Charles Regatta. Some activities even include your pooch.
In search of an epic date night? Head to Maine, says Tripadvisor. The travel website named the Reading Room Restaurant at the Bar Harbor Inn in Bar Harbor, Maine among the 10 best date night restaurants in the U.S. The restaurant even took pains to plan out a perfect date night itinerary so you don’t have to.

Apples at Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, which is offering an apple-themed getaway in October. Photo: Fairmont Copley Plaza

Deals and steals

Looking for a Boston stay that’s steeped in the season? Fairmont Copley Plaza is embracing apple season with the following special apple-themed getaway available through Oct. 31: An overnight stay, a flight of Massachusetts-grown apples from the Copley Square Farmers Market, a copy of “The Apple Lover’s Cookbook,” spiced apple cupcakes, and mulled apple cider for two. Rates start at $559, excluding taxes and fees.
Want to escape to Europe within the next six months? PLAY is currently running a sale, but travelers must act fast because the deal ends Thursday. The low-cost airline is offering $99 flights between Boston and Europe as part of round trip bookings for trips taken between October and March 2025. Travelers can choose between the following destinations: Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Iceland, Liverpool, London, and Paris. What’s more, those who sign up for the airline’s newsletter are entered to win two free round trip tickets to Iceland to see the Northern Lights.
Ski season is around the corner. Skiers and riders in need of season passes can scope out the Granite State deals in this handy guide from Ski New Hampshire. The list includes prices and deals at more than 30 New Hampshire ski areas such as Gunstock Mountain Resort, Loon Mountain Resort, and Waterville Valley Resort.

I’ll leave you with this photo of the Salem Witch Museum that I took in Salem last week, where folks were lined up beneath the tent waiting to enter. Where have you traveled lately? Please share your photos by sending them to [email protected] and they may be featured in an upcoming Scenic Six newsletter.

Whether you’re traveling this week or planning your next escape, enjoy the journey.

— Kristi Palma

Kristi Palma

Travel writer

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

Plan your leaf peeping getaway with our fall foliage guide