Family on the Go

When we were pregnant with our second son, we decided it was time to pack our bags and take our oldest on his first flight for one last big vacation as a family of three.

We bought him a Southwest plane toy and got him a special mask since it was still in the height of COVID, checked the pack’n’play and were on our way to Boston to pick up the rental car and enjoy fall in the Northeast.

1. Quechee Gorge

After landing in Boston, we drove to Vermont. Our first stop was at Quechee Gorge. It was a beautiful walk on a mostly gravel path. We made the mistake of taking the stroller, which didn’t always work well on the uneven path. If we were to do it all over again, we would take a hiking carrier or have an older toddler walk.

Once you get to the end of the trail, the views are amazing all around. There are some small waterfalls and great views looking up at the bridge. There is also a cute town just outside the park with great shops and restaurants.

2. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Farm and National Historical Park

We got another passport stamp with this stop. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller Farm was a great stop, especially for our little guy. They have a lot of animals and also host education sessions on taking care of the farm and working with animals.

3. Kent Pond

Kent Pond was a great stop between the farm and our first hotel in Burlington. There’s a small parking lot off the highway, and it’s just a short path to the pond. It makes for great photos and a nice little stop on the drive.

4. Ben & Jerry’s

How can you go to Vermont without stopping at Ben & Jerry’s? This stop has it all: ice cream, a playground for the kids AND fall colors.

There are so many things to do and see, and the grounds provide various views of fall foliage. Our favorite spot was the playground which overlooks the factory and rolling hills.

5. Montpelier

Montpelier was another quick stop on our road trip, but we are glad we made the detour. It’s a beautiful capitol city, with a lot of oranges and reds in the fall.

We also had to change a diaper on the capitol lawn which was a first for us. Luckily, it was an easy diaper change and there were plenty of trash cans around.

6. Mountain View Grand Resort

After our stop in Montpelier, we made our way to the Mountainview Grand Resort in New Hampshire.

We cannot say enough good things about this hotel. Not only was it an amazing place to stay, but it was surrounded by trees and mountains, so the views were all around us.

They have activities throughout each day, including a tour of their working farm, which was perfect for our animal-loving kiddo.

7. Kancamagus Highway

If you are in New Hampshire in the fall, you need to take a drive on the Kancamagus Highway. There are wonderful lookouts throughout the drive and plenty of great hikes.

The colorful leaves were endless, and there were a lot of rivers, streams and waterfalls along the way.

8. Rockport, Maine

We made our way to Maine after the Kancamagus and planned a stop in Rockport to break up the drive. We stayed at the Samoset resort for a night but could have spent the entire week there.

There was a break wall and lighthouse in the ocean that had the best views of the sunset. There were also amazing colors along the ocean and on the gorgeous golf course.

9. Owl’s Head Lighthouse

Owl’s Head Lighthouse was a short drive from the resort and a quick, uphill walk to the lighthouse from the parking lot. When we got to the lighthouse, there were great views of the ocean and colorful trees along the coast and inland.

10. Camden Hills State Park

Camden Hills State Park was a quick stop, but a great one. There is a big parking lot with bathrooms, and the views are not a far walk from the parking lot. On a clear day, you can get great views for miles.

11. Acadia National Park

Acadia National Park has a ton of great places to explore and see leaves. One of our favorites in the park was Jordan Pond. There is a nice trail that goes all the way around the pond, and there’s also a cafe known for its popovers.

You really can’t go to Acadia without driving – or hiking – up Cadilac Mountain. You get views of the entire park and can walk all around the top of the mountain. There’s also a cute shop at the end of the parking lot with great souvenirs.

Our favorite hike in Acadia was the Beach Path. Parking can get very busy and depending on the time of day, it may be hard to find a spot, but it is worth it to be patient and do the hike.

The path goes along the beach and is mostly easy to moderate with some overlooks along the way. You can make it as short or as long as you’d like and should plan to make a lot of stops for pictures.

12. Bar Harbor, Maine

We stayed just outside Bar Harbor, so after a day and a half in Acadia, we spent the morning in Bar Harbor and did a nature cruise. The town was beautiful and fun with adorable cafes and shops.

The dock has great stores and restaurants as well. We got a lobster crepe which was one of the best dishes we’ve ever tried. Peak leaf season is also the very end of tourist season in Maine, so there were great sales and minimal crowds.

You really can’t go wrong seeing leaves anywhere in New England, and it pays to plan stops, but also make time for impromptu detours along the way if you see a cute maple syrup store or an open field with amazing tree-covered mountains in the distance.

Fall is such an amazing time and is even better with warm apple cider, maple syrup and colorful leaves.