New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

Press release source: VisitMaine.com Photo of foliage at Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, Maine by Dana Moos, an Associate Broker with The Swan Agency Sotheby’s International Realty in Bar Harbor, Maine Pardon the pun, but Maine now features oceans of Maine foliage. With the natural progression of the fall season and some mighty cold nights, the time for peak foliage has arrived at the Downeast coast and central interior of the state -- now catching up with the recent peak foliage of the rest of the state. We are personally excited about viewing the bright fall colors, juxtaposed with the famously scenic rocky Maine coast areas! Our New England friends at the Maine Office of Tourism just sent us the latest Maine fall foliage report press release - enjoy! AUGUSTA, Maine - Peak foliage color has arrived along Maine's Downeast coast and the central interior of the state, according to the fifth fall foliage report from the state Department of Conservation. Forest ran...

Content by Eric H. Photo of Moosehead Lake by Dana Moos Dana Moos, an Associate Broker with The Swan Agency Sotheby’s International Realty in Bar Harbor, Maine, recently submitted some absolutely superb fall photos of Maine. Focusing on the Moosehead Lake and Acadia National Park Regions, Dana has really captured the pristine essence of these two areas. The photo in this posting was taken above Moosehead Lake on a float plane. Amazing! In addition, here are the links to Dana's photographs, featured on VisitingNewEngland.com: Moosehead Lake aerial photo Sawyer Pond photo, Greenville, area Cadillac Mountain photo, Acadia National Park Keep up the great work, Dana, and thanks again for your generosity in sharing these photos at VisitingNewEngland.com. Editor's note: For more information on Dana's business, log onto the Maine Inns and Bed and Breakfasts for Sale blog. Dana can also be found on Twitter at http://twitter.com/danamoos

Article by Eric H. Our flagship site, VisitingNewEngland.com , recently launched a "Questions and Answers" New England travel forum to encourage dialogue between us and our readers. Over the next several months, we will be asking questions on New England destinations, dining, lodging and attractions. We look forward to your responses. Here are the introductory questions -- please feel free to participate!: Dining: What is your favorite pizza place in New England? You can post a reply here What restaurant makes the best clam chowder in New England? You can post a reply here Lodging: What is your favorite Vermont inn or bed and breakfast getaway? You can post a reply here Destinations What is your favorite scenic New England fall foliage drive? You can post a reply here Attractions and Events What is your favorite annual Halloween attraction or event in New England? You can post a reply here More questions are on the way! If you would like us to post a...

New Hampshire foliage press release source: VisitNH.com . Photo at Silver Lake State Park, Hollis, N.H., by Eric H. We're into the New Hampshire fall foliage season home stretch here, with brilliant colors abundant in many areas of the state, according to the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development. Although most of the Great North Woods Region is past peak, strong color remains there while the White Mountains, Lakes, Dartmouth, Monadnock and Merrimack Regions at near or full peak. The Seacoast Region (Portsmouth-Dover area) is not quite yet at full peak, but shows advanced colors in many parts of this coastal area. Without further delay, here is the latest detailed New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development press release report on foliage updates, from Oct. 12, 2009, throughout New Hampshire: Great North Woods Region: There’s still a good amount of color in the Great North Woods region despite being just past peak. The wind and frost has taken...

Article by Eric H. Video Source: eardogproductions from YouTube A nice, scenic Sunday drive and visiting a country store always seems to be a popular combination during the New England fall time. With fall foliage at or near peak in the Weston, Vt., area and its Vermont Country Store representing one of the best of its kind in New England, what better place to be today in the six-state region? From the north in Stowe to the quaint southern Vermont town of Wilmington, this three-and-one-half hour drive through the fall foliage-rich Green Mountains takes you through charming small Vermont country towns and villages (Stowe and Wilmington included!) and truly spectacular mountain and river scenery. You really can't get any more Vermont than this. The current impressive foliage is many areas of Route 100 only helps the scenic scenario! A little more than two-and-one half hours from Stowe and an hour-and-20 minutes from Wilmington is the landmark Vermont Country Store (established in ...

Photo Credit: Kindra Clineff, through MassVacation.com We've received reports that Mt. Sugarloaf State Reservation in South Deerfield, Mass., is near peak foliage, making for a great hike (photo in this posting does not reflect the current foliage). About a 9/10 of a mile hike to the top, you also have the option to drive (for a $2.00 fee), but there could be a wait given the limited parking space and the anticipated crowds this Columbus Day Weekend. Either way, you''ll witness some commanding view of the Connecticut River, the Pioneer Valley, and the Pelham and Berkshire Hills! Restrooms and drinking water are available at the top, as well as a picnic area. Enjoy this very scenic, tailor-made for fall destination. Mount Sugarloaf State Reservation Rte. 116, S. Deerfield Tel. 413-665-2928

Article and photo (Diamond Hill Reservoir, Cumberland, R.I.) by Eric H. As others spend their fall travel at popular New England destinations alongside a cast of thousands they were trying to escape from, you can take the road (relatively) less taken and enjoy a peaceful day in Wrentham, Mass., northern Rhode Island, and the northeast Connecticut area. Start at downtown Wrentham on Route 1A with its charming village green and have a nice breakfast or lunch at the Looking Glass Cafe. It's a friendly, bright diner-like dining spot with locals joining in in the art of conversation over cups of coffee. Downtown Wrentham also features a nice mix of locally-owned shops, including Tootsie's ice cream parlor and Marcia's Sweet Pantry with its delicious homemade treats. It's especially pleasing to get out and walk the town common to enjoy small town New England life. Follow Route 1A south to Route 121 south (West St.) a few miles past the rolling countryside and farms into the ...

Maine foliage conditions for Oct. 7. Credit: Maine Department of Conservation, Press Release source: VisitMaine.com. Just got word from the Maine Office of Tourism that fall foliage will be best this Columbus Day Weekend at the lakes and mountains of western Maine and the Mt. Katahdin Region. For those unfamiliar with Maine fall foliage, you're in for a treat. Known to many for its coastal splendor, Maine is also a terrific autumn leaf peeping destination inland, especially around the majestic beauty of Mt. Katahdin (a challenging hike but worth it, as long as the weather is cooperative) and beautiful lake towns like Rangeley. Although Bethel is a famous ski town (Sunday River), the fall can be marvelous here, too, in this quaint, quintessential New England small town. Currently, rangers are reporting high color in the Bethel area with about 50 to 70 percent peak color and moderate leaf drop, according to the Maine Office of Tourism. Without further delay, here is the Maine Offic...

Photo of Walpole Town Forest, Walpole, Mass., by Eric H. If you know of a New England destination that is near or at peak for fall foliage, we would love to hear from you. With the 2009 Columbus Day Weekend fast approaching, we're looking to inform our Weekly New England Travel and Vacation Gazette readers on the best leaf peeping in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and upon review, might appear in an upcoming post. Thanks, in advance, for your future post and for helping us bring the best of New England fall foliage reporting to our online publication! Best regards, Eric Weekly New England Travel and Vacation Gazette

Article and photo by Eric H. If you live in the southwest Massachusetts suburbs or Northern Rhode Island and need a great pumpkin, we recommend trying Adams Farm in Cumberland, R.I. This friendly farm features many pumpkins under its seasonal canopy, as well as in the scenic fields. We've never found a shortage of pumpkins here, with the batting average of healthy-looking pumpkins high! If, however, you need to go beyond pumpkins, Adams Farm sells apples, cornstalks, mums, hay, Indian corn, candy apples, cider and gourds. Adams Farm also features hay rides, a corn maze and animals (cows, horses, goats)! The best time to visit Adams Farm is on the weekend where this delightful farm seems to be more in full operation. It's a beautiful place, one to kick back and relax in the pastoral New England fall countryside. Adams Farm, corner of Burnt Swamp Rd. and Sumnerbrown Rd., Cumberland, R.I.

Article and photos by Eric H. Our latest VisitingNewEngland.com restaurant review focuses on the Red Arrow Diner in Milford, N.H . A franchise of the famed Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, N.H., the Milford Red Arrow Diner, like the original location, specializes in extremely well-prepared and plentiful breakfast, lunch and dinner selections (we recommend the freshly carved roast turkey), as well as some amazing homemade desserts (especially the blueberry pie). Open 24 hours a day, the Red Arrow in Milford would be a great choice for those leaf peeping during the fall foliage season in New Hampshire's Merrimack and Monadnock regions. For a complete review of the Red Arrow Diner in Milford, click on the link above. Red Arrow Diner homemade potato chips

Photo, courtesy of The Grog Restaurant, Newburyport, Mass. Just got word from Laura at The Grog Restaurant at 13 Middle St., in Newburyport, Mass., that the second annual Chili Con-Carnival Cook-off will take place Saturday, October 17th, 2009, 12 noon to 3 p.m., under the tent of the Grog's parking lot. Live music, raffles and, of course, great chili will benefit Our Neighbor's Table in Amesbury, The Pettengill House in Salisbury and Community Services of Newburyport. Participating restaurants include Amesbury Sports Park, Carry Out Cafe, David's Tavern, Giuseppe's Fresh Pasta & Fine Food. Chef Howie's Hobo Cafe, The Korner Kitchen, Michael's Harborside,The Port Tavern, The Purple Onion, The Rockfish, Stella's of Middle Street, Ten Center Street, The Thirsty Whale ...and more to come! In addition to the official judging, those attending the cook-off will have a chance to vote for their favorite chili. Admission is $10 for adults, children under 12 free...

Article and photo by Eric H. It's always an added bonus that when embarking on a scenic fall New England drive, you find a restaurant with surrounding scenery that ends up as the most visually pleasing part of the trip. That's the case with the 1761 Old Mill restaurant in Westminster, Mass. It's hard to find a nicer restaurant scene than the Old Mill's beautiful waterfall, a covered bridge, duck pond and surrounding forest. Inside the former saw mill's several well-maintained dining rooms, you'll be comforted by trip-back-in-time accents like old wooden floors, a roaring fireplace (welcoming you at the lobby), and post and beam ceilings. The menu selections at lunch and dinner are as appealing as the scenery with some fabulous New England staples like chicken vegetable pie, Atlantic sea scallops, prime rib, roast country duck, and for dessert, apple crisp. Here's a restaurant that's beautiful to look at -- and with excellent food -- to create an overall...

Article and photos by Eric H. The Walpole Town Forest is really the Rodney Dangerfield, of Walpole, Mass.: it gets no respect. Unknown even to many Walpole residents, the Walpole Town Forest is most impressive between South St. and Walpole High School on Common St., with its truly scenic walk alongside the Neponset River. Current foliage is impressive (as evidenced by the photos on this posting), but in a few weeks the mirror-like quality of the river should be brilliantly reflecting the colorful array of leaves. Along this sector of the 365-acre Town Forest, you'll find scenic views from the “White Bridge” and an old dam and waterfall that dates back to 1650. With many more miles of hiking trails, you're sure to enjoy the rest of the mixed forest, ledge outcroppings, and wetland areas, whether it be hiking, horseback riding. mountain biking or cross country skiing (yes, it's not too far away). Hard to believe the Walpole Town Forest resides in the highly developed suburba...

New Hampshire foliage press release source: VisitNH.com. Photo at Silver Lake State Park, Hollis, N.H., by Eric H. The New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development foliage update press release update for Oct. 5, 2009, reports great progress in fall foliage colors over the past week, including "beautiful foliage" overtaking the Great North Woods Region and the White Mountains Regions on "the brink of reaching peak fall foliage color." The rest of the state shines in splendid colors, too, with some of the best in New England! The Sunapee-Dartmouth Region is also near peak with "flashy reds, burnt oranges and fine yellows showing up everywhere." Leaf peepers report the Lakes Region displaying "a mix of colors here and there," while the "contrast of reds, oranges, pinks and yellows among the green is stunning" in the Monadnock Region. The Merrimack Valley Region "hillsides are ablaze with autumn color," while the Seac...

Article and photo by Eric H. After all that rain yesterday, we highly recommend getting outside today and enjoying better weather in the New England fall time! If you're in the suburban Boston area and in a walking mood, we recommend strolling through Bird Park , an 89-acre gem in East Walpole, Mass., where stone walkways lead you past open, grassy fields, small walking bridges overlooking the water, mature shade trees, tree groves, and ponds. The leaves on some trees are beginning to turn color, making the experience that much better. Owned by the the Trustees of Reservations, overseeing 53,000 acres on 94 reservations in Massachusetts, scenic Bird Park is absolutely perfect for walking! For more information on Bird Park, click on the link above.

Article and photos by Eric H. If you're looking for an out-of-the-way but worthy fall weekend farm stand destination, we're confident that you'll enjoy Jane and Paul's Farm on Fruit St. in Norfolk, Mass. Tucked away in a peaceful, rural Norfolk neighborhood, Jane and Paul's features apple picking (MacIntosh, Daybreaks and Empires, at this writing), a pumpkin patch, a farm stand with excellent produce (nice tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers a few days ago!), a good variety of plants for sale, a highly-developed corn maze (could take up to a 1/2 hour to figure out), and a small animal area with goats, rabbits and chickens. Jane and Paul's also sells delicious Ever So Humble Pie Company ready-to-bake, all-natural pies. We highly recommend visiting this friendly family-owned and operated farm that offers what you'd expect at a farm stand -- apple picking and pumpkin picking (with wagon rides out to the fields), great produce, plants, etc.) -- but without the hu...

Press Release source: Vermont Vacation.com VermontVacation.com just created a press release, tailor-made for Vermont travelers and natives interested in events going on in October. With fall foliage, arts and crafts festivals, town common events, parades and Halloween-related events, to name a few, we think you're sure to find an event of interest. If you have any Vermont events you'd like to have covered at The Weekly New England Travel and Vacation gazette, drop us a line , and we'll consider your idea for publication. Here is the VermontVacation.com press release for Vermont October events: MONTPELIER, Vt. -- October is a busy time for fall festivals, and every weekend offers a variety of fun activities ranging from pumpkin carving contests to craft fairs. For a comprehensive, searchable listing of events, visit our Vermont Travel Planner. Here’s a closer look at what’s happening in October. Fall Foliage Festival Northeast Kingdom– October 1-3, 2009 Vermont villages inv...

New Hampshire foliage press release source: VisitNH.com With the New England fall weekend just around the corner, New Hampshire foliage should prove to be spectacular in many areas. The Great North Woods area "is on the brink of peak foliage," and the White Mountains Region is "getting closer to reaching the height of fall foliage," according to a New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development foliage update press release for Oct. 1 ,2009. The rest of New Hampshire isn't too shabby, either, with many reports of vibrant colors in the Lakes, Dartmouth-Sunapee, Monadnock, and Merrimack Regions. The Seacoast Region, typically the last part of New Hampshire to display great foliage, has shown promise with "lots of color throughout the region and most of it is along back roads that are very quiet," according to the New Hampshire Division of Travel and Tourism Development. Have a safe weekend, and listen frequently to the weather reports for any p...

Article and photo by Eric H. With all the recent press coverage about fall foliage, let's not forget that New England offers many other delightful travel opportunities during the autumn season. Some destinations are truly colorful without having much fall foliage! Take The Marginal Way in Ogunquit, Maine, for example. This wildly-popular, famous coastal summertime travel destination is equally appealing in the fall with fewer crowds walking the 1 ¼ miles mile paved pathway alongside the rocky cliffs and spectacular Atlantic Ocean views. Starting at picturesque Perkins Cove (with lots of neat, little shops and some great seafood restaurants like Barnacle Billy's), this winding hiking trail leads to the fantastic expanse of sand and water at Ogunquit Beach. With benches and plenty of scenic coastal nooks and crannies along the way, The Marginal Way is the perfect spot to enjoy the Maine coast in the fall. While there's little foliage -- and summer's vibrantly-colored flow...