Fall in Maine and New Hampshire
Stick to Route 1, Maine
The outlet stores in Kittery can mean clogged roads, but be patient and head north for low-lying sea marshes and foliage-covered hills. Follow Route 1 from one historic town to the next, from York, Ogunquit, Wells and into Kennebunk. Want to wander from your route? Take a detour onto Route 52 to see Megunticook Lake -- and don't miss Maiden Cliff.
Find your way: This route will take you along the southern Maine seacoast. Start out on Route 1 in Bath and follow Route 1 or Route 1A to Kennebunk. This can take you to our next stop, Acadia National Park Loop Road, if you want to expand your trip.
 Photo courtesy bern161616, stock.xchng Sunrise on the woodline in Searsport, Maine |
Acadia National Park Loop Road, Maine
Acadia National Park Loop Road is about 27 miles long and offers something for everyone: mountains, forests and ocean. Begin at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and plan to stop at Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs to take in the views. In the heart of the park is the Sieur de Monts Spring, where you'll want to visit the Abbe Museum and the Wild Gardens of Acadia.
If you'd like magnificent views, including the Porcupine Islands and Frenchman Bay, take the 3.5 mile drive up Cadillac Mountain. Be careful, as the road up this granite mountain is narrow and winding with steep rises.
Find your way: Follow Route 3 around Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island.
Kancamagus Scenic Highway, New Hampshire
 Joe Raedle/Getty Images North Conway, New Hampshire |
Along the way, stop at the Rocky Gorge scenic area and walk over the footbridge to Falls Pond.
If you want to stretch your legs with a day hike, check out Greeley Ponds and Sawyer Ponds, or take an easy walk along the Sabbaday Brook Trail to see the Sabbaday Falls.
Find your way: Route 112 runs through the White Mountains. Begin in Conway and end in Lincoln, stretching from the Saco River to the Pemigewasset River.
Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee Region, New Hampshire
Route 12A meanders along the Connecticut River and is known for its old barns and covered bridges. The Cornish-Windsor covered bridge -- the longest two-span covered bridge in the United States -- is in this region (don't miss its sign: "Walk your horses or pay two dollars fine").
From Route 12A, pick up Route 11 and head east to scenic Sunapee Lake. Or, take a ride to the top of Mount Kearsarge at Rollins State Park in Warner. From the summit, you can see Boston, the Green Mountains of Vermont and east to the Atlantic Ocean.
Find your way: Plan your trip to begin on Route 12A in Claremont, but be open to exploring the region. This drive is better suited for those with wanderlust and time to explore.
