My first post had to be about Boston! For anyone travelling from outside the US, Boston is typically not on the list and is often traded for its big brother, New York City. I don’t blame you – Boston is not as big are NYC or Chicago, but it is such a charming city (I know, I am and will forever be biased) that you MUST put it on your list!
Boston is one of the oldest cities in USA and is a very small, compact city. Boston is mainly a walking city. If you are not up for a walk, then the MBTA (i.e. the main public transport in Boston) will take you anywhere you want to go; thereby making Boston easily navigable for tourists. Boston and its surrounding neighborhoods are a hub for colleges and hence, Boston essentially has a very young crowd. There is plenty to do and see but if you are planning to visit Boston anytime, autumn is the best time to go. With bright colored trees, a slight nip in the air, and the scent of pumpkins everywhere, fall is undoubtedly the best time to visit Beantown.
As the leaves turn different colors, Boston puts on a stunning show. If you have not been to New England and the Boston area in autumn, then you truly haven’t experienced this amazing season! Visitors travel from the world over to experience this time of year when the leaves change from green to brilliant shades of red, yellow, gold and orange. This annual phenomenon is also known as “leaf peeping” or the “foliage season”.
When asked why we choose to live in New England, many Bostonians will tell you that you get to experience the four seasons, and one of the most enjoyable is fall.
When to go
In September and October, days are warm and sunny, but nights turn chilly. This drop in temperature triggers the change in leaves. Chlorophyll production grinds to a halt, allowing the natural colors – the reds, purples, oranges and yellows to show through the leaves.
While one cannot really predict with certainty, the peak viewing season is typically mid-end October, with colour often lasting up to November.
Places to Visit
There are several towns from driving distance of Boston (e.g. Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire) that you can visit. But you don’t need to leave Boston to see some of the best fall foliage in the world ! Places like Boston Common, the local parks (Arnold Arboretum, Larz Anderson), the Esplanade and any of the suburbs are easily accessible by the MBTA. Here you will find the trees changing into the same beautiful colors seen elsewhere in New England.
Once Halloween fever takes hold, one of the best places to take a stroll is through the narrow streets of Beacon Hill, past tall red-brick townhouses adorned with displays of pumpkin paraphenalia.
Even after staying in Boston for over 5 years, I cannot get enough of how pretty this town looks in fall. So after we were back in India, when we decided to go back to Boston for a few weeks, I knew I had to visit in fall.
Here are a few pictures to make you fall in love with Boston, just like I did over 8 years ago 🙂
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