🚗🍂 Get in loser, we're going leaf peeping

We’re back again, Boston.

🍁 In just a few weeks, colorful backroads, country fairs, and pumpkin spice-flavored everything will be waiting up north. And you’re going to be ready.

👀 What’s on tap today:

• A town that’s basically Stars Hollow IRL

• Leaf peeping that’s worth the roadtrip

• Cider donuts, cider donuts, cider donuts!

Up first…

THE ITINERARY

Your perfect fall weekend, mapped

🌳 Fall in New England is basically a sport — and New Hampshire plays it better than anyone else. Between the postcard towns, the jaw-dropping mountain views, and the snacks that all involve cinnamon sugar, you could honestly throw a dart at the map and land somewhere magical. But if you’d like a little structure to your leaf-peeping pilgrimage, here’s our playbook to planning the ultimate autumn getaway.

FRIDAY EVENING

Settle in at Littleton

⛰️ By the time you arrive, you’ll see why Littleton is a go-to starting point for a fall weekend. It’s the right mix of small-town charm and White Mountain access, with plenty of ways to ease into the season. Take a walk down Main Street, browse the local boutique shops, and grab dinner somewhere hearty before settling into an inn for the night. Tomorrow’s a big day.

Things to try:

• Dinner at Schilling Beer Co. (ask for a table with riverside views — you’ll thank us later)

• Browsing Little Village Toy & Book Shop for your next road trip read

• A cozy stay Stay at Thayers Inn or Adair Country Inn & Restaurant

SATURDAY

Maximum foliage

🚞 This is the day you block out for the outdoors — and trust us, it’s worth it. Start with a ride on a scenic vintage train or a drive along the Currier & Ives Scenic Byway, a route dotted with rolling farmland, historic villages, and foliage that gives the much-buzzed-about ( much more crowded) Kancamagus Highway a run for its money. Break up the drive with stops at covered bridges, country stores, or roadside stands. Then, spend the afternoon at a local fall festival, where pumpkin contests, hayrides, and live music might have you thinking “Should I move here?” by the end.

Things to try:

• Take a foliage zipline or chairlift ride for a unique bird’s-eye view of the fall colors

• Check out the Warner Fall Foliage Festival or Berlin RiverFire Festival (pumpkins, crafts, and good vibes guaranteed)

• Explore charming artisan shops or roadside craft stands for quirky local treasures

SUNDAY

Lean into the fall clichés (they’re clichés for a reason)

🍎 You didn’t come all this way to not eat a cider donut, so today is about the greatest hits: orchards, corn mazes, hayrides, pumpkins, and apples you swear you’ll bake into a pie (but probably won’t). It’s classic, it’s fun, and it’s the perfect way to wrap up a weekend of peak fall energy. 

Things to try:

• Getting lost in the corn maze at Collins Farm (bonus points if you don’t cheat)

• Fresh cider donuts (best eaten warm, sugar on your fingers)

• Apple picking at Windy Ridge Orchard (and yes, hard cider counts as “supporting local agriculture”) 

🌟 Feel like swapping apples for pumpkins, or scenic drives for hiking trails? Find more ways to plan your perfect New Hampshire fall trip here. 

QUICK QUESTION

ONE LAST THING

🍁 Did you know peak foliage in New Hampshire doesn’t hit all at once? Up north, the leaves start turning in late September, while the southern parts usually wait until mid-October.

That means if you chase the color from top to bottom, you can ride the peak-foliage wave for weeks. 

— Written by Tori Waltz, Studio/B, Boston Globe Media’s branded content studio (The editorial team was not involved in the creation of this B-Side Extra Edition)

🍂 Thanks for reading! We’re on our way to see how many cider donuts is too many (for research).

💜 Special shoutout to today’s sponsor, Visit NH, for sponsoring this extra B-Side send and reminding us why fall is New England’s best season.