Enjoy autumnal leaves, hikes and mountain bike rides, public campgrounds, a dramatic waterfall cascading into a narrow flume, and Loon Mountain.
The best and worst time to drive the Kancamagus Highway is in the autumn, when you’ll more than expected to be caught in a convoy of tour buses loaded with “leaf peepers,” all appreciating the fury of color along this mountainous road. The west-to-east route winds through New Hampshire’s White Mountains, climbing to almost 3,000 feet up Mount Kancamagus. Be ready to stop as the road has plenty of opportunities for hikes and mountain bike rides. The tour will take you from the Pemigewasset River in Lincoln to the Saco River in Conway. Begin at Lincoln’s Visitor Information Center, and drive the Kancamagus Highway (designated NH 112) east. You’ll see the Loon Mountain Recreation Area, one of the country’s top ski areas and, off-season, a great spot for a picnic. There are also lots of public campgrounds. Read more . . .
The Mohawk Trail, from central Massachusetts to the Berkshires on the western part of the state, was at one time a simple footpath used by Native Americans for socializing, trading, and hunting. Over the years, the route was gradually paved and widened. What is now designated Massachusetts Route Two will take you through forested wilderness and historic towns, and along the way introduce you to the region’s wealthy arts scene. The trip begins in the town of Greenfield, originally part of nearby Deerfield. Deerfield lies just to the south on U.S. Route five. Historic Deerfield is a community of fourteen beautifully preserved and restored homes from the 18th and 19th Centuries and is well worth a visit. 
On the western side of Massachusetts, bordering New York, is a region known as the Berkshires. It’s actually a county comprising some of the prettiest lakes, forests, mountains and towns in New England. This trip will take you through the central Berkshires, an area filled with lush forests on top of quaint New England towns.
Many people imagine Maine as a rugged coastline peppered with quaint seaside communities, but the state of Maine also has some of the most remote wilderness in the country. The mountainous Rangeley Lakes region on the western edge of the state is composed of six beautiful lakes offering such outdoor activities as fishing, swimming, camping and boating. This drive exposes some of Maine’s most beautiful scenery. Start in the town of Byron and take Rte. Seventeen north. Watch for the Appalachian Trail symbols on your left, and park on the side of the road if you’re fascinated in taking a hike. The well-marked path leads to some amazing mountain views. If you want to see the views without the walk, stop at the Height of Land Overlook for westerly views of hundreds of miles of mountains, lakes, and forests. 
Maine’s Acadia National Park may be very familiar to you from the countless postcards that record its rugged, rocky coastline. This dramatic feature, along with the lush forests and quiet sheltered ponds, make it one of the most popular parks in the country. This tour will give you an idea on some of the best Maine has to offer. The national park on Mount Desert Island is a combination of private and public land. The byway starts in Trenton at the Thompson Island Bridge on Route Three.