| You've seen those books and lists of "21 things to | | | | a mountain cloaked in clouds more than 50% of |
| do while you're alive", well here's my New England | | | | the year and where snow can fall in any month. A |
| twist on that whole theme - enjoy! | | | | sunny day at base when starting out can become |
| WALK THE GREAT BEACH ON CAPE COD: | | | | a raging blizzard towards the summit 4-hours |
| A famous stretch of the Cape Cod National | | | | later. Popular trails run from Pinkham Notch with |
| Seashore is Coastguard Beach - the start of the | | | | an average of a 10-hour round trip. You'll need to |
| so-called Great Beach named by Henry David | | | | get fit and be well prepared for this strenuous but |
| Thoreau. The area also includes the Outer Beach | | | | rewarding hike. |
| made famous by Henry Beston in his book | | | | SEE THE NEW ENGLAND FALL FOLIAGE IN |
| "Outermost House" - a real cottage but | | | | OCTOBER: |
| destroyed in the storm of 1978. The connecting | | | | There are many places in the world that |
| beaches and the natural give-and-take process of | | | | experience a magnificent and colorful fall. But |
| erosion on this geological wonder provides not | | | | nature saves the most dazzling display for the |
| only one of the greatest beach walks in the world | | | | New England fall foliage event. The climate of New |
| but also a step through history - and off-season | | | | England and the variety of trees makes for a |
| you'll probably have it all to yourself. | | | | unique combination that ensures a magnificent |
| RIDE IN A HOT-AIR BALLOON OVER THE | | | | display of fiery reds, glowing oranges, golden |
| GREEN MOUNTAINS: | | | | yellows and rich browns that blanket the trees for |
| While hot-air balloons can take off from most | | | | weeks as fall sweeps through the region. Parts of |
| open spaces there are locations that provide | | | | Maine can reach peak late September, Vermont |
| better atmospheric conditions than others. In New | | | | and New Hampshire early to mid-October, with |
| England one of those ideal spots is the Stowe and | | | | best viewing for the southern New England states |
| Lake Champlain area of Vermont. Hot-air balloon | | | | averaging mid-late October. |
| rides over this region provide scenic vistas of | | | | RIDE A WHALE WATCH CRUISE TO |
| Mount Mansfield, the Green Mountains, and | | | | STELLWAGEN BANK: |
| Adirondacks in New York. But it's the unique | | | | Stellwagen Bank is an underwater plateau at the |
| sensation of floating peacefully, and drifting with | | | | mouth of Massachusetts Bay, and was designated |
| the winds over the trees, farms and fields of | | | | as a National Marine Sanctuary in 1992. Popular |
| Vermont that create the memories. At times you | | | | among the mammals that visit the bank are |
| feel part of the wind and don't even realize you're | | | | whales. Whale watch cruises leave from ports and |
| moving. | | | | harbors along the Massachusetts coast... and they |
| CLIMB MT. WASHINGTON IN THE WHITE | | | | all head for Stellwagen Bank. The whale-watching |
| MOUNTAINS OF NEW HAMPSHIRE: | | | | season lasts from April to October. I don't think |
| At 6,288-feet this is the loftiest peak in the | | | | I've ever felt so humbled as watching a 40-ton |
| northeast and holder of the highest recorded wind | | | | majestic Humpback dance and play on sparkling |
| speed anywhere in the world at 231 mph. This is | | | | water, and wondering... who's having the most fun. |