Towards the end of October, we always try to squeeze in one more leaf peeping trip. So we head to the southeast corner of New Hampshire where we find brilliant scenic vistas of foliage punctuated by the scent of woodsmoke. There’s so much to explore on a perfect autumn afternoon.

We always begin our autumn explorations in Portsmouth off I-95, keeping the beacon of the North Church steeple in view as we head towards Market Square. This is a great walking city, so we park the car and stroll the brick sidewalks enjoying the crisp fall air as it blows off the water. The variety of historic sites, shopping and seasonal events are enough to fill a week. I just love browsing the boutiques and wandering through the gardens. When it comes time to eat, we always have a hard time deciding from amongst the dozens of fabulous restaurants. Most of them offer menus with ingredients grown on local farms so we can get the full harvest experience. After the sun goes down, there is always something to keep us busy at one of the local breweries, theaters or clubs.

On our way out of Portsmouth, we always enjoy stopping at several roadside farmstands, each offering up their freshest quality fruits, vegetables and flowers. From Portsmouth we drive along Route 16 toward Dover, situated on the Piscataqua River that separates New Hampshire and Maine. The Dover waterfront’s historic mill buildings and surrounding streets are filled with restaurants, artisan galleries, museums and shops. If we time it right, we get to celebrate the harvest in Dover’s historic downtown on Apple Harvest Day.

Leaving Dover, we take Route 4 west and stop at Emery Farm to stock up on good picnic supplies. After that we drive over to Wagon Hill farm to enjoy our picnic with a great hilltop view of the fall foliage. If there’s time, we like to stop in Durham, a classic New England college town with a nice blend of bookstores, restaurants and campus activities. We always make time for a stop at one of the region’s vineyards for a tour and tasting. Many people don’t know New Hampshire has a great climate for growing many varieties of grapes! Wine also makes a great souvenir and we always bring a few bottles back for our friends.

Our next destination is a drive farther west on Route 4, which most of the locals refer to as "Antique Alley". We love to visit the various antique shops in old barns and houses where we mine the dealers' summer treasure hunts. When we need a break, a cup of fresh-pressed apple cider usually does the trick. Pumpkins line the route as we travel through classic New Hampshire villages on our way to Concord, the capital of the state. Concord is a hub of the performing arts and a marketplace for artisans. History is celebrated here, and this year we can’t wait to visit the new State Archives center with a Smithsonian-like collection of New Hampshire artifacts. The city is always bustling with seasonal activities for every age and interest, including farmers markets and fall festivals.

With a variety of lodging options along the route in every price range and great package values, a fall getaway to New Hampshire is affordable. We prefer to stay in bed & breakfasts, where we can get to know our hosts and other travelers. It’s a great way to get the inside scoop on local highlights off the beaten path. Planning our trip each year is easy. We simply order a Visitors Guide online and sign up for email updates, so we don’t miss anything new. Our annual fall trips to New Hampshire are something to look forward to and never the same twice.