Hey everyone!

After about twenty years, I finally made it back to New England—this time to chase those legendary fall colors. The weeklong plan was simple: fly in and out of Boston, loop north through the White Mountains, head east to Acadia National Park to check off my last state, and then cruise back down the coast to Boston.

We took the red-eye from Seattle to Boston on Saturday night and arrived Sunday morning. After picking up the rental car, we drove straight toward Bath, New Hampshire, to meet up with friends for the evening. Along the way, we stretched our legs at the Flume Gorge. It’s definitely on the touristy side compared to what we’re used to, but after a sleepless flight and hours in the car, in was nice to stretch our legs walking through those narrow granite walls.

That night in Bath, we stayed out at our friends’ riverside property, sipping mojitos by the Ammonoosuc River, exploring their trails, and enjoying a steady flow of food, wine, and laughter. Normally I’m in bed by 9:30, so making it to midnight after minimal sleep the night before felt like a small victory.

The next morning, we took a slow drive through the White Mountains, admiring the patchwork of fall colors, and eventually landed at the grand Mount Washington Hotel for afternoon drinks on the veranda, taking in the views of the Presidential Range.

From there, we wound east through Crawford Notch and the backroads of rural Maine, arriving at our motel near Acadia that evening. The next morning started early at Otter Cliffs and Boulder Beach for sunrise. The sky was mostly overcast, but a single shaft of light broke through the clouds and set the Cadillac Cliffs aglow.

Afterward, we grabbed our lobster-filled breakfast in Bar Harbor and picked up e-bikes for the day. We set off along the west shore of Eagle Lake, crossed over to Jordan Pond, and climbed up Day Mountain. Lunch was well-earned: popovers and beer on the lawn at Jordan Pond House while we waited for our table. 

We finished our 34-mile figure-eight ride through the carriage roads in the afternoon—over historic stone bridges and through patchy piles of fiery leaves. Even with the wind and clouds, it was an incredible ride. That evening, we met friends on the island’s west side for a home cooked meal: a feast of freshly caught lobster, mussels, and clams. Hard to imagine a better end to a full day.

The following morning brought the first real rain in months. Our friends said the drought had dulled the fall colors, but as first-timers, we had no complaints. After the rain passed, we spent the evening exploring the tide pools at Wonderland during low tide, chasing more clouds than crabs, but were rewarded with a glowing sunset and a rainbow for our efforts. Dinner was lobster rolls from Beal’s—simple, buttery perfection.

Our last morning in Acadia started at Sieur de Monts, where we hiked the locally loved Emery and Homans Paths. Climbing the east face of Dorr Mountain, these trails are living works of art—stone steps, old granite walls, and the quiet sense of history built into every turn. Constructed in the early 1900s as part of Acadia’s “memorial paths,” Emery Path was dedicated by Mrs. Alfred Anson to her late husband, John Emery, while Homans Path honors family friends of park founder George B. Dorr. Later refined by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, the trails still blend beautifully into the landscape. Fallen leaves carpeted the granite steps in gold and crimson—like hiking though a postcard.

From there, we drove south to Portland for an anniversary dinner at Fore Street Restaurant in the Old Port district—one of the best restaurants in the area. The next morning, we caught our first clear sunrise of the week at Fort Williams Park, home to the Portland Head Light. The cold front that followed the storm brought freezing temps, so we admired the view, took a few quick photos, and hustled back to the car before turning into popsicles.

We wrapped up the trip in Salem, exploring the harbor and Maritime Historical Park—even if the government shutdown kept the buildings closed. Still, the maritime history made it worth the stop. Back in Boston, we reconnected with our friends from Bath, did a walking tour downtown, learned about the Big Dig, and ended the trip over Thai food before packing up for our flight home.

As usual, we managed to check off a few things from our travel list—and added twice as many new ones. Guess we’ll just have to come back to New England for round two.

Until next time,
– Jake