Travel

Mass. has one of the 15 best fall foliage trips in the U.S., according to Fodor’s Travel

You'll find it along the coast.

Fall foliage in Marblehead, one of the communities on the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway. David L Ryan/Globe Staff)

September 14, 2021

A 90-mile drive rich with scenic views and historic sites along the Massachusetts coast is one of the best places in America to view fall foliage, according to Fodor’s Travel.

A Mass. town is one of the 25 best places to spot fall foliage in America, according to Reader’s Digest

The publication recently released a list of the 15 best fall foliage trips in the U.S. and named the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, a 90-mile roadway connecting 14 coastal communities from Lynn to Salisbury, among its picks.

Here’s what Fodor’s Travel wrote about the byway:

“Stunning displays of fall color greet visitors driving along the Essex Coastal Scenic Byway, but it’s the journey through coastal communities and porches prettified with pumpkins that sets the backdrop for this memorable drive. This 90-mile route stretches between Salisbury and Lynn, passing through hemlock groves, magnolia swamps, and beech trees as it winds past Gilded-Age mansions and First Period houses. Unlike the dense forests of the Berkshires, this coastal byway fall foliage hangs on a bit longer, offering colorful scenery well through October.”
— Fodor’s Travel

A great time to hit the byway is when foliage peaks around the second and third weeks of October, according to the publication, and those seeking an overnight stay should check out The Daniels House in Salem, billed as the oldest bed and breakfast in the country.

Three other New England foliage trips made the list: Acadia National Park in Maine, Green Mountain Byway in Vermont, and The White Mountains Trail in N.H.

View the entire list 15 best fall foliage trips in the U.S.