Wait, What? New England Didn’t Make the Top 5 Vacation Spots for Fall

Is it egotistical that those of us living in New England assume that the most popular vacation spots for autumn are here in our own backyard?   Isn’t fall all about the beauty of the leaves changing colors to those vibrant reds, yellows, and oranges, where you feel like you stepped into a Hallmark movie?

Even though most states in the Midwest, Rockies, and here in the Northeast have stunning falls, New England has always been the epitome of leaf-peeping vacations (at least that's what we like to think).

While so many of us connect fall vacation getaways with leaf peeping, pumpkin picking, apple orchards, sipping hot cider, visiting the mountains, and going on cozy drives, is that just us New Englanders getting excited?

The website LawnStarter analyzed the lower 48 states based on projected fall foliage, scenic drives, fall festivals, outdoor recreation, entertainment, and safety.  Okay, so even with that criteria, you’d think one of our states in New England would have landed that #1.  Nope.

Is This Really the #1 Fall Vacation State?

According to LawnStarter, California is the #1 state for fall vacations.  I mean, I know there are some leaf-changing moments in the northern part of the state, but it’s not like the majority of the country, which does have fabulously beautiful falls.  Okay, so did one of our New England states at least make the #2 spot?  Well, you already know the answer to that question, simply from the headline of this article.

Where is New England?

New York is #2, followed by Washington State, Michigan, and Pennsylvania rounding out the top five.  What is happening?  At least we know that New York has fall, as do the rest of those top five, much more so than California.  New England finally makes it with Vermont at #6, and Maine rounding out the top 10 after Oregon, Colorado, and Minnesota.  Connecticut landed at #13, New Hampshire at #17, Massachusetts took the #24 spot, and Rhode Island was last for New England at #30.