White Mountains, New Hampshire
It's been almost 15 years since I've lived in New England and experienced true autumn. One of the many things I loved about living in Los Angeles was the endless warm weather. However, after moving back here in September, I realized that there was a lot I missed about experiencing real seasons. That's why I wanted to make sure to take a road trip (or 5) to get a glimpse of some of the most quintessential New England fall views.
Franconia Notch and the Kancamagus Highway landed high on our must-see list and they definitely did not disappoint. We drove from Newburyport, MA, and on a normal day it should take about 2 hours, but with Saturday traffic, it ended up taking almost 4. So if you can, avoid driving up on the weekend! There seemed to be an endless amount of turn-offs all along the scenic Kancamagus route and at each, you can find pretty hikes and walking paths to explore. The highway winds through the mountains beneath a massive covering of foliage and the drive is just as pretty as you could imagine.
A few fun spots we enjoyed:
Flume Gorge in Franconia Notch (make reservations) which has great hikes/walking trails and waterfalls
One Love Brewery is a fun spot to grab a festive local beer and some snacks
Lincoln Woods Trailhead is a great place to stop and walk/hike along the Kancamagus Highway