What’s up for fall in New England?
Yankee mag ideas
FBy Beth J. Harpaz
estivals, train rides and rambles around New England all offer opportunities for enjoying the region’s autumn color, and the September-October issue of Yankee Magazine lists many suggestions for activities and destinations.
Yankee’s recommendations for fall foliage trains include the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad in Maine; Hoosac Valley train rides operated by the Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum out of North Adams, Massachusetts; the Conway Scenic Railroad based in North Conway, New Hampshire; the Mount Washington Cog Railway out of Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, and the Essex Steam Train in Essex, Connecticut, with a riverboat ride option on the Connecticut River.
Events showcased in the fall issue of Yankee range from country fairs to food festivals to the Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular, Oct 5-Nov 5 at the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island, a display of 5,000 carved and illuminated pumpkins. Other events include Westport, Connecticut’s Oct 1 Chowdafest; the Pawtucket Arts Festival, with a month’s worth of events in Rhode Island; the Mount Snow Oktoberfest, Oct 7-8, in West Dover, Vermont; Maine’s Fryeburg Fair, Oct 1-8, plus Harvest on the Harbor in Portland, Oct 17-22; the Big E expo in Springfield, Massachusetts, Sept 15-Oct 1, and the Topsfield Fair, north of Boston, Sept 29-Oct 9.
Yankee also takes a look at some off-the-beaten path spots to enjoy classic Vermont autumn scenery, from the Falls of Lana and Mount Ascutney to a cruise on Lake Memphremagog and a forest drive on the unpaved BayleyHazen Military Road between Lowell and Montgomery. Other Vermont recommendations include enjoying the rocking chairs on the sidewalks of Brandon and paying tribute to beloved departed canines at the Dog Chapel and Dog Mountain in St Johnsbury.
Also: DRESDEN, Maine:
A Maine company is partnering with television host Andrew Zimmern for a special line of spice blends.
The Portland Press Herald reports Gryffon Ridge Spice Merchants has already developed and released five of the seven new blends for Zimmern’s website. Gryffon Ridge owner Christine Pistole drew inspiration for the blends from Zimmern’s worldly travels. (AP)