Maine Fall Foliage

It’s August 31, and that means that in the very Northeastern part of our country, including in Maine, temperatures are already starting to drop and leaves will start to change in just a couple of weeks. The first foliage reports for Maine begin around September 15, so you’d better get moving!

Check out these Maine-area hotels and bed & breakfasts for cozy, warm places to stay during your leaf peeping jaunts. I tried to pick ones that have some character.

Northwest and Northeast Maine Hotels (Hurry! Peak foliage is as early as September 30)

Old Iron Inn – adorable B&B, looks like  big red barn!

Northeastland Hotel – great location, friendly staff

Central Maine Hotels (Peak foliage is around second week in October)

Second Street Bed & Breakfast - class Colonial home, about 30 minutes from Augusta

Ware Street Inn – classic bed & breakfast

Mountain Village Inn – more of an estate feel, gorgeous surroundings

Southern/Coastal Maine Hotels (Peak foliage is second half of October)

Greystone Bed & Breakfast – close to the water, 1840 Greek Revival home with large rocking chair porch

Brunswick Inn on Park Row – routinely rated one of Maine’s best

Hopefully, these Maine hotels and Bed & Breakfasts will get you started. Book soon though, the season is changing quickly! Can’t stop thinking about having some clam chowder on a big rocking chair front porch at one of these hotels…

Photo Credits: Flickr (Arindam)

Vermont Fall Foliage

Attention, leaf-peepers! The season is almost upon us. In just a few short weeks, the upper Northeast’s trees should begin to bloom with fiery reds, yellows and oranges. If you’re an autumn-lover and leaf color chaser, you know that Vermont has some of the best color in the country. Your best bed to budget-friendly lodging in Vermont is to avoid the peak leaf changing season, and visit in either earlier September or very late October, depending on the area. And, avoid hotels and bed and breakfasts in Vermont’s “major” cities such as Burlington.

Here are a couple of suggestions where you should be able to get a good deal:

Old Red Mill – Wilmington, Vermont

This hotel is in South-Central Vermont, in an area called Mt. Snow, and you’ll be close to the major highways so that you can visit the state parks and all the beautiful foliage you can handle. It’s a cozy, comfy lodge that’s great to visit in winter, too.

Latchis Hotel – Brattleboro, Vermont

This is more of a conventional looking hotel, but it offers good rates even at the height of leaf-peeping season. It’s actually a very cool Art-Deco structure that was completely renovated and has a movie theater attached – guests get a discount!

Remember, trying to hit the exact peak of the colors is nice, but it can be very frustrating. Just go out and enjoy these hotels and the beautiful surroundings – amazing color, if you hit it right, is an awesome bonus.

Photo Credits: PD Breen