If you are looking for some fun New England fall date ideas (or activities with friends), you’ve come to the right place. The fall activities below are perfect whether you are looking for a quick outing or planning a full New England fall getaway. This guide includes all the autumn classics from apple picking orchards to where to stock up on apple cider donuts (plus a whole lot more). Take advantage of New England’s bright foliage by planning a date day with your sweetheart or friends with some of the activities below.
BEST THINGS TO DO IN NEW ENGLAND THIS FALL
NEW ENGLAND FALL FOLIAGE PEAK PREDICTIONS 2023
Peak fall foliage dates fluctuate each year so the dates below are predictions from various websites.
STOWE, VERMONT: SEPT. 29-OCT.6
WHITE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL FOREST, NEW HAMPSHIRE: OCT. 2-15TH
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS: OCT. 12TH-NOV. 8TH
TAKE A WALK & ENJOY THE FOLIAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS
Grab some steamed apple cider or a seasonal fall drink to go from your local coffee shop (if you’re in Boston Pavement Coffeehouse has both) and go for a walk amongst the brightly colored leaves. Here are just a few recommendations if you are close to Boston: Public Garden, Comm Ave, the Esplanade, Back Bay Fens/Emerald Necklace, Arnold Arboretum (Jamaica Plain), Borderland State Park (North Easton), Houghton’s Pond (Milton), Middlesex Fells Reservation (Medford).
GO APPLE PICKING AT YOUR LOCAL ORCHARD
Get outside and enjoy this staple fall activity at an orchard near you. Then once you go picking and bring home your bags cook a recipe together such as making caramel apples, apple crisp, or apple pie.
PICK YOUR OWN APPLES IN MASSACHUSETTS
HONEYPOT HILL ORCHARDS (STOW)
CARLSON ORCHARDS (HARVARD) THEY MAKE THEIR OWN APPLE CIDER WHICH YOU’VE PROBABLY SEEN IN GROCERY STORES
CN SMITH FARM (EAST BRIDGEWATER)
TOUGAS FAMILY FARM (NORTHBOROUGH)
PICK YOUR OWN APPLES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
CARTER HILL APPLE ORCHARD (CONCORD)
https://www.carterhillapples.com
APPLE HILL FARM (CONCORD)
http://www.applehillfarmnh.com
APPLECREST FARM (HAMPTON FALLS)
MACK’S APPLES (LONDONDERRY)
PICK YOUR OWN APPLES IN VERMONT
SHELBURNE ORCHARDS
https://www.shelburneorchards.com
WHERE TO GO PUMPKIN PICKING IN MASSACHUSETTS
PAKEEN FARM (CANTON)
https://www.pakeenfarm.com/home
WARDS BERRY FARM (SHARON)
HONEY POT HILL (STOW)
CN SMITH FARM (EAST BRIDGEWATER)
GET LOST IN A CORN MAZE
MASSACHUSETTS CORN MAZES
MARINI FARM (IPSWICH)
https://www.marinifarm.com/doggymaze
DAVIS MEGA MAZE (STERLING)
HONEYPOT HILL (STOW)
https://www.honeypothill.com/mazes
CONNORS FARM (DANVERS)
MIKE’S MAZE (SUNDERLAND)
VERMONT CORN MAZES
GREAT VERMONT CORN MAZE (DANVILLE)
https://www.vermontcornmaze.com
WHERE TO BUY APPLE CIDER DONUTS
MASSACHUSETTS: HONEYPOT HILL (STOW), CN SMITH FARM (EAST BRIDGEWATER), PAKEEN FARM (CANTON), TOUGAS FAMILY FARM
NEW HAMPSHIRE: CARTER HILL (CONCORD), APPLECREST (HAMPTON FALLS), MACK’S APPLES
VERMONT: CIDER MILL (WATERBURY)
CONNECTICUT: CLYDE’S CIDER MILL (MYSTIC) THEY HAVE SWEET CIDER, HARD CIDER, AND WINE. IT’S THE OLDEST STEAM POWERED CIDER MILL IN THE UNITED STATES.
IF YOU ARE GLUTEN FREE, DAIRY FREE, OR NUT FREE: YOU CAN BUY PUMPKIN SPICE OR APPLE CIDER DONUTS AT KANE’S DONUTS https://www.kanesdonuts.com/our-donuts/gf-apple-cider
FAIRS & FESTIVALS
TOPSFIELD FAIR SEPT. 29THTH -OCT. 9TH 2023 (TOPSFIELD, MA)
THE BIG E FAIR SEPT. 15TH-OCT. 1ST 2023 (WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA)
FREYBURG FAIR OCT. 1ST-OCT. 8TH 2023 (FREYBURG, MAINE)
CHAMPLAIN VALLEY FAIR AUG. 23RD- SEPT. 1ST 2023 (ESSEX, VERMONT)
https://champlainvalleyfair.org
HARWICH CRANBERRY HARVEST FEST (CAPE COD, MA)
https://www.harwichcranberryartsandmusicfestival.org
WELLFLEET OYSTERFEST OCT. 14TH & 15TH 2023 (CAPE COD, MA)
APPLEFEST WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS OCT. 14TH-OCT. 22ND 2023 (PRINCETON, MA)
https://www.wachusett.com/applefest-i/
SALEM FOOD TRUCK & CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL SEPT. 23RD & SEPT. 24TH (SALEM, MA)
https://www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/salem
FAVORITE FALL AND HALLOWEEN MOVIES
Grab a blanket and watch one of these classic Halloween movies whether snuggled up inside or with an outdoor projector in your backyard. Some all time favorites include the following: Hocus Pocus, The Night Before Christmas, Casper Meets Wendy, and Halloweentown.
JACK-O-LANTERN SPECTACULAR
I’ve done this event twice and it’s so fun! Located at the Roger William’s Park Zoo, their Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular runs Sept. 28th- Oct. 31st, 2023 (this does not include animal exhibits). This year’s theme is Pumpkins Around the World so you & can enjoy a run night walking around seeing thousands of lit pumpkins by talented artists. Trail open nightly from 6:00 – 10:30 pm, last entry at 10:00 pm. https://www.rwpzoo.org/jols/
BEST LOCATIONS FOR A NEW ENGLAND WEEKEND GETAWAY IN THE MOUNTAINS
STOWE MOUNTAIN RESORT (STOWE, VERMONT)
TOP NOTCH RESORT (STOWE, VERMONT)
https://www.topnotchresort.com
MOUNTAIN TOP INN (CHITTENDEN, VERMONT)
TWIN FARMS (STOW, VERMONT)
THE LODGE AT SPRUCE PEAK
OMNI MOUNT WASHINGTON RESORT (BRETTON WOODS, NH)
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington
I HOPE YOU HAVE AN INCREDIBLE TIME CHECKING OFF THESE NEW ENGLAND FALL DATE IDEAS. LET ME KNOW YOUR FAVORITES IN THE COMMENTS BELOW! IF YOU’D LIKE TO BOOK ME FOR A COUPLES OR ENGAGEMENT SESSION HIGHLIGHTING THE BRIGHT FOLIAGE YOU CAN CHECK MY AVAILABILITY BY FILLING OUT MY CONTACT FORM HERE.
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