Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year! The hot and humid days of summer turn cool and crisp in the autumn months, and I am here for it. If you're like me and already planning your fall adventures even during the summer, check out the 14 best things to do in Massachusetts in the fall.
Massachusetts Fall Foliage: Where To Go In Massachusetts For Fall Foliage
Massachusetts in the fall comes alive with colorful leaves. It's one of those states people visit from all over the country to go leaf-peeping. Those of us who live here can see stunning foliage just about anywhere we go. Typically, fall colors hit their peak between mid-September and early October. Just check for the 2024 fall foliage predictions before making your plans. However, here are the best places to view fall foliage:
1. Lenox
Location: Lenox, MA
Wow factor: This is one of the best places in the state to see fall foliage. 10/10 recommend!
Need To Know: This small mountain town is located in the Berkshires of Western Mass. Head to Lenox Mountain for a hike and to view the pretty fall colors.
There's so much to love about the town of Lenox, especially in the fall. Not only is the town absolutely charming with historic mansions from the Gilded Age like The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home as well as shopping and dining establishments but the natural beauty around town makes it picture-perfect this time of the year.
2. Mount Greylock State Reservation
Location: 30 Rockwell Rd, Lanesborough, MA 01237
Wow factor: For some of the most vibrant fall foliage in the state, you must come here!
Need To Know: This is the highest point in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet. The park is open from dawn until dusk.
Mount Greylock State Reservation is one of the best places to visit in the Bay State in the fall. In fact, it's considered the best state park in Massachusetts! You can either hike or drive to the summit. When you get to the summit, prepare for your jaw to drop at the spectacular views of the treetops all dressed in their fall glory.
3. Cape Cod
Location: Cape Cod, MA
Wow factor: Cape Cod is beautiful any time of the year and takes on a completely different look and feel come fall.
Need To Know: Whether you take a hike in the Cape Cod National Seashore or find a cranberry bog during harvest season in the fall, the photo ops are endless.
Cape Cod may not be the first place you think about when thinking about fall foliage but maybe it should be. While many people think of the Cape as a summer-only tourist destination, that couldn't be further from the truth. The Cape Cod peninsula also comes alive with vibrant warm fall colors, and it should not be missed! And with its peak between mid-September to late October, you may be able to go leaf-peeping a little later in the season than anywhere else in the state.
(Pictured here is Good Will Park in Falmouth.)
4. Blue Hills Reservation
Location: R695 Hillside St, Milton, MA 02186
Wow factor: With colorful treetops and Boston as a backdrop, this may be your favorite place to view fall foliage near the city.
Need To Know: This state park covers an area of 7,000 acres between the towns of Dedham and Quincy. Hiking is the most popular activity here.
For "fall activities near me" in the Boston area, how about a hike at Blue Hills Reservation this fall? Just imagine the red, orange, and yellow treetops with the city of Boston in the background. Beautiful, right? One of the best places to go to see the fall foliage is from the top of the 35-foot Great Blue Hill Observation Tower, also known as the Eliot Tower.
Best Pumpkin Patches In Massachusetts
Taking the whole family to a pumpkin patch is a favorite pastime in the fall. Just being outdoors searching for the perfect gourd for pie, decoration, or a jack o'lantern is almost like the best scavenger hunt to partake in this time of year. For one of the best fall activities, here are some of the best pumpkin patches in Massachusetts:
5. Parlee Farms, Tyngsborough
Location: 95 Farwell Rd, Tyngsborough, MA 01879
Wow factor: You'll be wowed at this pumpkin patch which is the largest in the state!
Need To Know: This farm grows 40,000 pumpkins across 13 acres annually.
If you only go to one pumpkin patch this year, make it the one at Parlee Farms in Tyngsborough. With pumpkins in a variety of shapes and sizes and even colors, you'll have a blast finding the perfect one for your home decor. This farm also grows more than 40,000 pumpkins each fall so you can just imagine how amazing the pumpkin patch is. In addition to choosing pumpkins, visitors can grab an apple cider donut and feed the barn animals. What a perfect place to be in the fall!
6. Ioka Valley Farm
Location: 3475 Hancock Rd, Hancock, MA 01237
Wow factor: This is such a charming farm to visit in the fall!
Need To Know: This farm's pumpkin patch is only open on weekends between mid-September and late October.
Ioka Valley Farm has a quaint pumpkin patch where you can choose a gourd for your home. Not only that but you can visit the farm store for a variety of farm products like maple syrup, maple products, cider, cider donuts, apples, and even pumpkin whoopie pies. For more fun, how about making your way through the miniature corn maze, petting farm animals, and trying your hand to win a pumpkin with the Pumpkin Slingshot? There's so much fun to be had at Ioka Farms this fall!
7. Hanson's Farm
Location: 20 Nixon Rd, Framingham, MA 01701
Wow factor: The farm is both beautiful and fun to visit in the fall.
Need To Know: This family-owned farm has been around since 1913. Over 180 varieties of fruit and vegetables are grown here.
Located in Framingham, Hanson's Farm is where you can pick your own pumpkins in the fall. But that's not all! There are haunted hay rides, a corn maze, and a farm stand as well. Bring your family and friends for a day at the farm this fall.
Best Fall Festivals In Massachusetts
Fall is a festive time of the year in the Bay State. From the jousting and merriment at King Richard's Faire to an oyster festival and an Oktoberfest at one of our best breweries, here are the best fall festivals in Massachusetts:
8. Wellfleet Oysterfest
Location: Main Street, Main St, Wellfleet, MA 02667
Wow factor: This is a deliciously fun fall community event!
Need To Know: Tickets go on sale in late August. Get yours on the Wellfleet Oyster Alliance before they sell out.
The mere mention of the words "fall festival" may evoke a visual of pumpkins, apples, and corn mazes, but it's certainly not the case in the town of Wellfleet! Located on the Outer Cape, Wellfleet is known for its oysters, and what better way to celebrate than the Wellfleet Oysterfest this fall? This fun-filled event is held over the course of two days in October and nearly 20,000 people attend. Try some local oysters, peruse the offerings of local vendors, listen to live music, and watch culinary demonstrations. This is one event you can't miss!
9. Harpoon Oktoberfest
Location: Harpoon Brewery & Beer Hall, 306 Northern Ave, Boston, MA 02210
Wow factor: If you love beer and fun, this fall festival is for you!
Need To Know: This event is held rain or shine and is cashless. Make sure you have a credit card on hand.
Held in early October, Harpoon Oktoberfest is something to experience. There will be live music, a stein-hoisting competition, a pretzel-eating contest, and, of course, plenty of beer and food to be had! Held at Harpoon's very own brewery and beer hall, this is one festive event.
10. King Richard's Faire
Location: 235 Main St, Carver, MA 02330
Wow factor: This is a wonderful family-friendly event with entertainment, activities, costumes, and so much more.
Take a step back, way back, to the 16th century at the lively King Richard's Faire filled with costumed characters that will make you believe you're visiting an Olde English market. Located on 80 acres surrounded by trees, the Faire is filled with all sorts of merriment from minstrels to aerialists, fire eaters, and puppets. But that's not all! There will be jousting, there will be turkey legs, and there will be treasures made by the hands of talented artisans. Come one, come all to King Richard's Faire!
Free & Cheap Massachusetts Fall Activities
While leaf-peeping is among the top free fall activities in Massachusetts, there's certainly no shortage of other inexpensive things to do this time of year. Here are a few free and cheap activities the whole family can enjoy:
11. Take a scenic drive at Quabbin Reservoir Park
Location: Quabbin Reservoir, MA
Wow factor: This is a jaw-dropping drive that will have your job drop at every turn.
Need To Know: The drive around the Quabbin Reservoir is known as the Central Hills Loop. It is 57 miles long.
At 57 miles, the Central Hills Loop around Quabbin Reservoir will give you stunning fall foliage views at every twist and turn. It's also quite an underrated drive so you may have the road all to yourself, at least for a little while. Make stops along the way, especially at the scenic overlooks you'll encounter. In a word, it's spectacular!
12. Spend the afternoon at the Boston Public Garden
Location: Public Garden, Boston, MA 02116
Wow factor: Fall at the Public Garden in Boston is the best time of the year!
Need To Know: Visiting the Public Garden is always free, always beautiful, and always a great escape from the city.
It's no secret that the Boston Public Garden is a beautiful spot in the city. Established in 1837, it's the very first public botanical garden in the country and one of the most scenic spots for an afternoon. Visit in the fall, and your eyes will be treated to a kaleidoscope of fall colors.
13. Visit Minute Man National Historical Park
Location: Lincoln, MA 01773
Wow factor: This park is gorgeous any time of the year, but it truly shines bright in the fall.
Need To Know: There is no fee to visit this national monument site. It is open from dawn until dusk daily.
Minute Man National Historical Park is where the first battle of the Revolutionary War took place on April 19, 1775. Take a walk through history as you explore the trails, take a stroll across the famous North Bridge, and take a look at the fall colors. For both a history lesson and the scenery, a visit to Minute Man National Historic Park is hard to beat this time of year.
14. Go for a hike at Mass Audubon's Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary
Location: 108 North St, Norfolk, MA 02056
Wow factor: This is one spectacularly scenic place to visit come fall!
Need To Know: There is an admission fee of $4/adult and $3 for seniors (65+) and children (2-12).
Mass Audubon's Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary is adjacent to the Bristol Blake State Reservation. Known best for its boardwalk trails, this sanctuary is good for everyone to visit, including those who use mobility equipment. And with 107 acres to explore, you'll spend plenty of time ogling over the autumnal colors.
What are your plans this fall? Is there anything you would add to this list of the best things to do in Massachusetts in the fall? Let us know! And, if you're planning a road trip to any of the above destinations, be sure to take a look at our road trip essentials packing list.
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