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Massachusetts/Maine/New Hampshire/Vermont

On the Road: The Best of Fall in New England

Program No. 20031RJ
Discover classic New England as you photograph vibrant fall foliage, explore quaint villages, visit national parks and celebrate this region with a traditional Maine lobster feast.

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Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone? 800-454-5768
Select your type of room
Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Sep 16 - Sep 26, 2024
Starting at
4,399
Sep 23 - Oct 3, 2024
Starting at
4,399
Sep 30 - Oct 10, 2024
Starting at
4,399
Oct 7 - Oct 17, 2024
Starting at
4,399
Oct 14 - Oct 24, 2024
Starting at
4,399
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Sep 16 - Sep 26, 2024
Starting at
5,519
Filling Fast!
Sep 23 - Oct 3, 2024
Starting at
5,519
Sep 30 - Oct 10, 2024
Starting at
5,519
Oct 7 - Oct 17, 2024
Starting at
5,519
Oct 14 - Oct 24, 2024
Starting at
5,519

At a Glance

Journey the back roads and byways of New England to experience the best of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Vermont during a fall foliage adventure through the region’s most picturesque countryside and into the history and culture at the foundation of Colonial America.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Climbing a few flights of stairs, standing for up to one hour, walking over paved and unpaved surfaces up to two miles over the course of the day.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Take an in-depth look at the ecology of New Hampshire’s White Mountains.
  • Trace our nation's cultural history through the collections of American art at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and the Vermont History Museum.
  • Savor the tastes of New England with a culinary exploration of Portland, Maine and a lobster dinner.

General Notes

Please note the timing of the changing leaves varies annually and cannot be guaranteed. This program visits various northern and southern locations and the fall colors also vary geographically. Special note about the Grafton Inn: Rooms with two beds are reserved for our matched roommates with all other requests considered on a first come, first serve basis. Though all rooms are accessible by a flight of stairs, based on availability, a limited number of first floor or elevator-accessible rooms may be requested for those with mobility issues. All special requests must notify Road Scholar in advance.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Chris Lewey
Chris Lewey, executive director and founder of RAVEN Interpretive Programs, holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from Antioch University and attended Maharishi European Research University in France. He has taught ornithology for the National Audubon Society at their Hog Island ecology camp on the coast of Maine, where he was the director of their Joy of Birding and Breaking into Birding programs. A native New Englander and licensed Maine Guide, he has taught biology, ecology, and ornithology in both New Hampshire and Maine.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Chris Lewey
Chris Lewey View biography
Chris Lewey, executive director and founder of RAVEN Interpretive Programs, holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from Antioch University and attended Maharishi European Research University in France. He has taught ornithology for the National Audubon Society at their Hog Island ecology camp on the coast of Maine, where he was the director of their Joy of Birding and Breaking into Birding programs. A native New Englander and licensed Maine Guide, he has taught biology, ecology, and ornithology in both New Hampshire and Maine.
Profile Image of Jim McAllister
Jim McAllister View biography
Jim McAllister is a Salem historian, photographer, author and teacher, and serves as a historic consultant to the City of Salem and the Hawthorne Hotel. A graduate of Stonehill College, his photographs of Salem have appeared in numerous publications, and he is the author of “Salem: From Naumkeag to Witch City” and co-author of “Salem: Cornerstones of a Historic City.” Jim has appeared on both the “History Channel” and “Home and Garden TV.”
Profile Image of Mike Fowler
Mike Fowler View biography
Mike Fowler is a natural born teacher. He was a teacher of history and geography for more than 18 years. His love of travel and teaching led him to leave regular classroom teaching to escort and lead the young and young at heart on journeys throughout the world. Mike is excited to share in Road Scholar learning adventures in Florida and experience the dynamic culture, people, and history. He also leads Road Scholar groups in Cuba.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Winslow Homer, The Nature of Observation
by Elizabeth Johns
This biography of the preeminent 19th century New England painter considers the artist’s oeuvre in the context of his psychological development. More than 75 black-and-white illustrations and 40 color plates illuminate Johns’ analysis of the American master.
Inventing Acadia, Artists and Tourists at Mount Desert
by Pamela Belanger
The history of Acadia National Park and especially the artists Thomas Cole, Frederic Edwin Church and others who contributed to its creation. Published by the Farnsworth Library & Art Museum.
Coastal Maine, A Maritime History
by Roger Duncan
A four hundred year history of Maine, focusing on maritime traditions and seafaring, as well coastal settlement and development.
The Original Vermonters, Native Inhabitants, Past and Present
by William A. Haviland, Marjory W. Power
A highly readable, scholarly history of the native inhabitants and cultures of Vermont, covering the arrival of the Paleoindians, Abenakis and Iriquois.
Insight Guide New England
by Insight Guides
For a good overview of the region, you can't go wrong with this guide, noted for its wonderful photography, superb production and outstanding color maps.
The Lobster Coast: Rebels, Rusticators, and the Struggle for a Forgotten Frontier
by Colin Woodard
A fascinating cultural history of coastal Maine as seen through the lobstering industry.
New England Wildlife
by Raymond Leung (Illustrator), James Kavanaugh
This laminated, fold-out, pocket-size guide features illustrations of almost 150 species of fish, birds, reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
Founding Brothers, The Revolutionary Generation
by Joseph J. Ellis
A riveting tale of Washington, Madison, Hamilton and especially of Jefferson and Adams. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, it's a fascinating glimpse into the early days of our country.
Call of the Coast, Art Colonies of New England
by Thomas Denenberg
Denenberg focuses on the art colonies that sprung up in the early twentieth century in Old Lyme, Connecticut, and Ogunquit and Monhegan, Maine, and on the great artists (including Edward Hopper and George Bellows) whose work was inspired by them. The book contains around 80 reproductions as well as documentary photography and explainers on the artworks themselves.
New England Map
by Mad Maps
A road map of all of New England, at a scale of 1:600,000.
Colors of Fall, A Celebration of New England's Foliage Season
by Jerry Monkman
Capturing the spectacular fall display from the Berkshires of Massachusetts, the Green Mountains of Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and the wilds of northern Maine in 75 color photos.
One Man's Meat
by E.B. White
By the author of "Charlotte's Web," a collection of observant and often humorous essays about daily life on a Maine saltwater farm. A wonderful portrait of coastal small-town life, originally published in 1938.
Eyewitness Guide New England
by Eleanor Berman
This superb guide to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine features color photography, dozens of excellent local maps and a synopsis of the region's attractions. It also devotes a section to Boston. Handsome, convenient and up-to-date, this is the guide to carry.
Reading the Forested Landscape, A Natural History of New England
by Tom Wessels, Brian Cohen (Illustrator), Ann Zwinger (Introduction)
In this entertaining, informative book, the history of the New England forest unfolds like a mystery novel. Wessels examines the character of the central New England forest through the clues left behind by fires, logging, storms and economic fads.
New England Autumn
by Ferenc Mate (Photographer), Candace Mate (Photographer)
Magnificent photographs of farmsteads, pastures, forests, wharves and villages from Maine to Connecticut are paired with the poetry and literature of Dickinson, Thoreau and Waldo Emerson in this pictorial celebration of season. With a 14-page section of maps and practical travel information.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to New England
by Brian Cassie, Peter Alden
A compact, easy-to-use overview of 1,000 of New England's trees, wildflowers, mammals, insects and other flora and fauna. It also provides an extensive overview of the area's geology, weather patterns and natural sites.
The Cider House Rules
by John Irving
This is John Irving's story of a teenage orphan named Homer Wells who lives in rural Maine. Growing up under the tutelage of Dr. Wilbur Larch, an abortionist and administrator of the local orphanage, Homer must face the moral dilemmas that surround him.
The Nature of Vermont, Introduction and Guide to a New England Environment
by Charles W. Johnson
Opening with a discussion of the geologic history of Vermont, Johnson provides a lively introduction to major habitats, plants and animals of the state. An excellent survey of natural history.
The Most Beautiful Villages of New England
by Tom Shachtman
New England's most picturesque towns and villages are presented through 240 full color photographs. Accompanying descriptions fill in details about each town's history and architecture.





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