Destinations New England: an Insider's Travel Guide

Glad to have woken up to a bright Saturday in early October, I and my husband embarked on a road trip with no destination in mind. We just wanted to enjoy the colors of fall. After driving on Route 7 and then turning on to Route 2, we found ourselves in Williamstown, also known as "The Village Beautiful". Resting at the foot of Mount Greylock, which by the way, is the highest peak in Massachusetts, this little-known town is surrounded by the blazing colors of Vermont's Green Mountains and New York's Taconic Range. Neat rows of houses decorated for Halloween, beautiful cathedrals, an art institute and a prestigious college stood amidst the rich hues of autumn's colors. Yes, we had to ditch our car and explore.

If you are planning to catch the fall colors without getting stuck in traffic, you could do well to try the Mohawk Trail which runs through the blazing Berkshires for about 19 miles. If you are crunched for time like most of us, no need to do the entire trail. Just do the western terminus, in the city of North Adams and you won't be disappointed.

Autumn in New England is incomplete without a day of picking apples and lugging around pumpkins. As the air turned crisper and the leaves changed color, my husband and I set off for a day in the Lyman Orchards at Middlefield in Connecticut. Rolling meadows, miles of orchards, a corn maze and stretches of pumpkin patches greeted us the moment we stepped out of the car.

If you are planning a trip to Connecticut, chances are you won't think of visiting a town called Danbury, nestled in the western extreme of Fairfield County. But if you do, you may be in for a surprise. Close to Danbury's Main Street, is a 722-acre historic building and land preserve called the Tarrywile Park and Mansion. Unspoiled by tour buses and entry fees, it is a favorite with the locals. The only buses you may see are school buses packed with kids. Scavenger hunts and day hikes are the reason why it's so popular with local schools.

A cloudless sky in late summer calls for a day hike. But most of the popular hiking trails with great views need a lot of planning and packing. Since we didn't have time for either, my husband and I decided to drive down to a lesser known town in Connecticut to avail of the "shortest hike with the greatest view" - the hike up to Lion's Head in Salisbury.

One place near Boston that is a must see is the Salem Witch Museum. Visitors are fascinated by the spooky and creepy castle environment as well as all of the history that surrounds this destination. Sightseers are given a unique history lesson using life like figures, stage sets, narration and lighting that is so realistic it takes you right back to 1692 and the horrific witch trials. This presentation is also done in French, Japanese, German, Spanish, Italian and Chinese.

Boston, capital of Massachusetts, is of course, well-known for The Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere, and the Boston Massacre. Home to that irrepressible "red line" on the sidewalk, known as The Freedom Trail, that will lead one to many of the major historical sites in Boston. We all want to see and learn how our wonderful country began and of the people and places that have remained forever in seasoned years of our country.

When we think of New Haven, we think Yale. Not always. Close to the hallowed halls of Yale, tucked away in a corner of the city, we found the Lighthouse Point Park. It was an early fall afternoon when we drove through its entrance, and were told that after Labor Day, there was no parking charge for even out-of-towners like us and dogs were welcome anytime!

The call came all too soon, even though it was 2:00 am in the morning. Time sure can get away from you at Wally's. The call signals it's time to close but no one seemed to be ready to head home.

Not your ordinary, touristy attraction appeal, Wally's is about the best place for jazz one can find. A place the locals gather, Wally's really packs em in. Tiny and crowded, enthusiastic patrons ranged in age from the young crowd of mid-thirties to the older generation, who might remember years ago when Wally's was first opened. It was interesting to watch as they gathered round the bar and engaged in conversation while ordering another round.It was like a portrait painted long ago.

Sipping our morning coffee, we decided to set off down Route 7 in western Connecticut to see where the road leads us.

We cruised alongside sweeping meadows lined with rustic wooden fences, dotted with red barns when we saw a majestic stud farm. The horses were grazing contentedly, oblivious to the cars racing by on the highway. The outdoor cafes and the white churches lend a certain charm to the town of Kent. Historically, this town stands out as one of Connecticut's leading iron-producing towns for most of the 19th century.