A road through peak fall foliage in New England
THE McDANIELS GO EAST

New England Fall Break

Six of us, one minivan, and peak foliage · October 17 to 24, 2026
8days on the road
4states: MA, NH, ME, VT
1national park (Acadia)
~1,100miles of leaves

Boston → Salem → Kennebunkport → Acadia → the White Mountains → Woodstock, VT → home

The plan, day by day

One big loop out of Boston, timed so the coast of Maine is on fire when we get there.

OCT 17-18

Boston

Land late Saturday, then a full city Sunday: the Freedom Trail end to end, a North End cannoli showdown (Mike's vs. Modern, family vote), and a Duck Boat into the Charles.

OCT 19

Salem + Kennebunkport

Witch City one week before Halloween, all of it outdoors: the Witch Trials Memorial, the old Burying Point, costume-watching on Essex Street. Then north into Maine for Dock Square, the Ocean Avenue drive, and golden hour at Cape Porpoise harbor.

OCT 20

The coast road to Acadia

Portland Head Light in its best morning light, a three-floor antique barn in Ellsworth, and into Bar Harbor by dinner.

OCT 21

Acadia National Park

Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliff on the Park Loop, popovers on the lawn at Jordan Pond House, then golden hour on top of Cadillac Mountain: 100 miles of coastline in the best light of the day.

OCT 22

Bar Harbor

Low tide opens a land bridge you can walk to Bar Island. Shops, the Shore Path, wild-blueberry everything, and one more lobster.

OCT 23

The Kancamagus + Flume Gorge

34 miles of New Hampshire's most famous foliage road, waterfall stops the whole way, then a boardwalk through a 90-foot granite gorge. Evening in Woodstock, Vermont, maybe the prettiest village in New England.

OCT 24

Crullers, a gorge, and home

Maple crullers from a Woodstock bakery, a look into Quechee Gorge, and the flight home with 2,000 photos.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse on the Acadia coast

The eating itinerary

Every trip needs official food rules.

  • The cannoli voteMike's vs. Modern Pastry, settled on a bench in Boston Common.
  • Lobster roll field guideOne Maine style (cold, mayo), one Connecticut style (warm, butter). Family referendum.
  • Popovers at Jordan PondA national park tradition since 1893.
  • The general store ruleIf a Maine store sells whoopie pies or anything wild blueberry, it gets bought.
  • Maple everythingCreemees, crullers, and Gillingham's 1886 candy aisle in Vermont.
The Old State House in downtown Boston

Eight days, four states, one very full minivan. Full report when we're back.