Experience
a New England autumn on a fly drive holiday to Boston by Dipika
Patel
This region is ideal to
explore by car as the mercury begins to drop, as the autumn is when the
vibrant foliage is at its finest.
Autumn leaves blanket the
east coast landscape with colourful splashes of red and gold - and on a
fly drive holiday, you can take in as much scenery as you like at your
leisure.
Boston is the best place
to begin your New England fly drive holiday. While it is arguably best
known for its academic achievements - the city is home to Harvard University
and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both of which offer free
tours - Boston is also a hub of culture, a historic centre and a great
place to spend a few days exploring.
You might want to begin your
stay with a visit to the quirky Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall, taking
time to sample some of the delicious east coast seafood on offer. If you're
a runner, you may want to lace up your trainers and run a portion of the
world-famous 26-mile Boston Marathon route - although you will also have
plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs with a spot of retail therapy
at one of the city's fine shopping establishments.
From Boston, it is a short
drive to many other New England attractions. Whether you're keen to see
the culture of Rhode Island, New Hampshire's scenic mountains, Maine's
famous shorelines or the mansions of Cape Cod, you are only a 90-minute
car ride away. Best of all, in the autumn months, you are guaranteed to
pass through gorgeous patches of fall foliage, setting the ideal backdrop
for your holiday.
Known as the Bay State, Massachusetts
extends from the gently rolling Berkshire Hills throuth the Connecticut
River Valley and on to Cape Cod and the rocky North Shore. Along your drive,
you will pass through several pretty towns and villages, where you can
take time to stop off, go exploring and meet some of the friendly locals.
If you are a history buff,
you may want to visit the site of the start of the 1775 American Revolution.
One good place to stop is the North Bridge Visitor Center in Concord, from
which you can take the Liberty Ride hop-on, hop-off trolley service to
many historic Revolutionary War sites. The first shots of the revolution
were fired in Concord and Lexington and are chronicled at the Minuteman
Historical Park Visitor Center in Lincoln, which is also worth a stop as
you continue on your travels. If you're travelling through New England
with young children, you might want to stop off at a real-life pumpkin
patch. In addition to the fun your family can have choosing their own pumpkin
and seeing how they grow, you also may be lucky enough to sample a classic
all-American dessert - pumpkin pie!
Your young ones can also
take the opportunity to learn about life in rural New England nearly 200
years ago by visiting the harvest-themed attractions at Old Sturbridge
Village. The attraction depicts Massachusetts life in the 1830s, with a
total of 40 historic buildings on the site. At certain times of the year,
you will be able to take in demonstrations such as sheep-shearing, but
other attractions - such as an old school house and a shoemaker's workshop
- are open year-round.
Theatre lovers will also
find plenty to keep them entertained during a fly drive trip to New England.
Culture vultures may wish to schedule their visit around the Berkshire
Theater Festival in Stockbridge, which dates back more than 80 years and
is one of the oldest regional theatrical events in the United States. You
may also find it worthwhile to visit the Norman Rockwell museum, also located
in Stockbridge, for an additional theatre fix.
A fly drive holiday in the
US is the best way to explore at your own pace - no matter where you choose
to travel, you are sure to see some of the best sites New England has to
offer. No matter if you're after a taste of authentic American autumn or
are keen to get a closer look at the region's historic past, your road
trip could be the discovery of a lifetime.
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