We travelled to east coast at different seasons, to see the fall foliage of north east and to escape winter to south east. Each with wonderful experience. The north east is well known for its fall colors during autumn. This is probably the best region with well defined four seasons. However, my favorite season is fall. The fall color is at its best along Kancamagus highway through the white mountains of New Hampshire. Kancamagus drive is a designated All American road between Conway in New Hampshire and Lincoln in Vermont. The best fall foliage occurs during the window of one week before and one week after the Columbus day weekend. Except blue color, every color can be seen on the leaves. Acadia National Park in Maine, Kancamagus highway, Lake Winnipesaukee and Merrimack river provides the best of New England fall foliage. Avoid interstate to travel between these locations. Instead, take small roads through small towns with white steepled churches and village barns provide the best of New England charm.
The Swift river along Kancamagus highway in white mountains of New Hampshire.
Boston - Acadia N.P - Kancamagus Highway- Lake Winnipesaukee - Merrimack River- Boston loop
As a norm, we always travel in a loop so that we do not have to visit the place we already visited. We always visit Wayside inn which is located in the Boston suburb of Marlborough. This is a grist mill surrounded by spectacular fall foliage. The peak fall colors here observed around Columbus day weekend. For going to Acadia NP, we take interstate 95 north to Augusta (Capital of Maine) and exit to route 3 east to Belfast and route 1 and then route 3 south to all the way to Acadia National Park. We found the national park little rockier than forested. However, the ever present fog, the foliage and rough Atlantic coast with couple of blow holes provide an unusual combination. Acadia is the northern end of Appalachian trail. The park is extremely crowded during fall season. The best of the trip is the trekking to Jordan pond, thunder hole and wonderland.
Connecticut river
From Acadia, take route 95 south and exit to state routes passing through towns like Poland and Denmark to reach Conway. From Conway, the route 112 - Kancamagus highway begins. There is a beautiful covered bridge in Conway. This is a 34 mile highway which is considered the most beautiful during fall in all of USA. The peak fall foliage is around the Columbus day weekend. This may shift one week before of after the Columbus day weekend depending on the weather conditions. The other end of the Kancamagus highway is the town of Lincoln in Vermont.
Niagara in Summer
From Lincoln, interstate 93 winds along Merrimack river with plenty of view points state parks on the way. Take exit to lake Winnipesaukee. We took a round trip cruise in the lake with dinner and music. In the evening, we returned to Boston via Concord and Manchester on 95 south.
Niagara in Fall
New York city and Niagara,
There are lot of places to see in New York city, from Broadway musicals to Wall street to empire state building. We visit these places just for the sake of visiting. We enjoy seeing New York city from a distance - from the Liberty State park or Ellis Island. Visiting New York is not complete without visiting Statue of liberty. Those who are interested in genealogy, visiting Ellis Island is also a necessity.
NewYork skyline, once upon a time.
Visit to east coast is not complete without visiting Niagara falls. You can access Niagara from both from US and Canadian sides. Canadian side provides a frontal view of the Falls. However, the falling water creates enough mist to obstruct the view. Unfortunately, all through my visits each spending couple of days, I never got a clear view from the Canadian side. Always carry a jacket even in peak summer while visiting falls, especially during the evenings. The evaporating mist makes the entire area very cold. My favorite time to visit Niagara is on a warm day during Fall season. The visit to Niagara is not complete with out the Maid of the mist boat ride to the bottom of the Falls. The best time to see the awesome power of water is during Spring time when the volume of water falls is maximum due to snow melt.
Tidal Basin during cherry blossom, Jefferson Memorial, Washington DC,
The Swift river along Kancamagus highway in white mountains of New Hampshire.
Boston - Acadia N.P - Kancamagus Highway- Lake Winnipesaukee - Merrimack River- Boston loop
As a norm, we always travel in a loop so that we do not have to visit the place we already visited. We always visit Wayside inn which is located in the Boston suburb of Marlborough. This is a grist mill surrounded by spectacular fall foliage. The peak fall colors here observed around Columbus day weekend. For going to Acadia NP, we take interstate 95 north to Augusta (Capital of Maine) and exit to route 3 east to Belfast and route 1 and then route 3 south to all the way to Acadia National Park. We found the national park little rockier than forested. However, the ever present fog, the foliage and rough Atlantic coast with couple of blow holes provide an unusual combination. Acadia is the northern end of Appalachian trail. The park is extremely crowded during fall season. The best of the trip is the trekking to Jordan pond, thunder hole and wonderland.
Connecticut river
From Acadia, take route 95 south and exit to state routes passing through towns like Poland and Denmark to reach Conway. From Conway, the route 112 - Kancamagus highway begins. There is a beautiful covered bridge in Conway. This is a 34 mile highway which is considered the most beautiful during fall in all of USA. The peak fall foliage is around the Columbus day weekend. This may shift one week before of after the Columbus day weekend depending on the weather conditions. The other end of the Kancamagus highway is the town of Lincoln in Vermont.
Niagara in Summer
From Lincoln, interstate 93 winds along Merrimack river with plenty of view points state parks on the way. Take exit to lake Winnipesaukee. We took a round trip cruise in the lake with dinner and music. In the evening, we returned to Boston via Concord and Manchester on 95 south.
Niagara in Fall
New York city and Niagara,
There are lot of places to see in New York city, from Broadway musicals to Wall street to empire state building. We visit these places just for the sake of visiting. We enjoy seeing New York city from a distance - from the Liberty State park or Ellis Island. Visiting New York is not complete without visiting Statue of liberty. Those who are interested in genealogy, visiting Ellis Island is also a necessity.
NewYork skyline, once upon a time.
Visit to east coast is not complete without visiting Niagara falls. You can access Niagara from both from US and Canadian sides. Canadian side provides a frontal view of the Falls. However, the falling water creates enough mist to obstruct the view. Unfortunately, all through my visits each spending couple of days, I never got a clear view from the Canadian side. Always carry a jacket even in peak summer while visiting falls, especially during the evenings. The evaporating mist makes the entire area very cold. My favorite time to visit Niagara is on a warm day during Fall season. The visit to Niagara is not complete with out the Maid of the mist boat ride to the bottom of the Falls. The best time to see the awesome power of water is during Spring time when the volume of water falls is maximum due to snow melt.
Tidal Basin during cherry blossom, Jefferson Memorial, Washington DC,
Apart from the Political landmarks (White house, capitol) and memorials (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, Vietnam, etc.) and museums (American Indian, Natural history, Modern art, air and space etc.) my favorite is tidal basin during Cherry blossom. Usually the peak bloom time is last week of March and first week of April. However, depending on weather conditions, it may arrive one week early or one week late. The tidal basin area will be extremely crowded during these time. Parking is no longer allowed near the tidal basin area. So visitors need to take shuttle buses.
Tidal Basin during cherry blossom, Washington Memorial, Washington DC,
Shenandoah National Park and Laurey Caverns
Compared to other national parks, there is nothing special about Shenandoah national park except its trekking trails. Southern side of Shenandoah (close to Blue ridge parkway), there are a number of trails winding through waterfalls and meadows. My favorite time to visit Shenandoah (apart from summer trekking ) are third week of May and third week of October. Rhododendron and wild flowers bloom during the last week of May. Last week of October is peak time for fall foliage. Shenandoah is closed during winter. Approximately, in the middle of the Shenandoah and just out side of it is Laurey Caverns. It is the most beautiful and visited cave in the eastern USA. Unlike other cave systems, the stalagmites and stalactites are extremely beautiful here.
Blue ridge Parkway, Smokey Mountain National Park,
Blue ridge parkway is situated between Shenandoah and Smokey Mountain National Parks along the Appalachian mountains. This parkway is considered one of the ten most scenic drives in USA. My favorite landmarks along blue ridge are Mabry grist mill, Linville water falls and Linn cove viaduct. Trekking to lower and higher Linville water falls during fall is extremely beautiful. Like Shenandoah, Blue Ridge parkway is open through except during winter. However, the best time during 3rd week of May when wild flowers bloom and 3rd week of October when fall foliage is at its peak. The best part of Blue Ridge Parkway is between Asheville, NC and Gatlinburg, TN because of numerous tunnels along the way. Tunnels take you to other side of the ridge with different fall foliage. Blue ridge parkway runs parallel to Interstate -80.
South of Blue Ridge parkway is the Smokey Mountain National Park. This is the most visited national park in USA due to its proximity to big cities around it. This means, lot of crowd and bumper to bumper traffic especially during fall and summer holidays. We always avoid eastern entrance (Gatlinburg, TN) and enter the park from the western entrance (Cherokee, Asheville or Maggie Valley of NC).
State Parks of West Virginia.
There are a number of beautiful state parks in the wild and wonderful state of West Virginia. We like Blackwater river falls, Babcock and Hawks Nest the most. The latter two are in the New river Gorge area. The best time to visit these places is the fall season.
The grist mill in Babcock is one of the most beautiful grist mill in all of USA. This grist mill is one of the most photographed landmark in USA. Babcock state park is very close to New River gorge recreational area.
Western hemisphere's largest single span bridge is located here. During Fall, on Bridge day, many people jump from the bridge (umm.. with parachute). New river is well known for white water rafting.
Blackwater river fall in Autumn
Falling Water
The Falling Water is the most famous masterpiece of renowned architect Frank Lloyd right. This is located in a small town called Mill Run in Pennsylvania. This is about 3 and half hours drive from Washington DC. The best time to visit Falling Water is either late Spring when Rhododendron blooms or during fall around third week of October. We went on the third weekend of October,2012 and the fall colors were at its peak. We followed interstate 270 west, 70 west, 68 West and took state routes 40 and 381 north. We stayed in a small town called Chalk hill. Nearby, there is state park called Ohio Pyle state park which is well known for whitewater rafting, bike trails and trekking. Frank Lloyd Wright's another masterpiece, Kentuck Knob is also located very close by.
No comments:
Post a Comment