One of my absolutely favorite things about living in New England is the Fall season. It also happens to be the season of my birthday, but that has nothing to do with it...at all...Anyway...driving down any New England road gives you a gorgeous view of the fall foliage, and I love the crisp, fresh air. And even though I'm not in school anymore (graduated from college in '03), I always enjoyed the beginning of the school year-- reuniting with old friends and getting back into a routine of learning.

But the point of this blog is to inform any tourists of the best places to see the beautiful colors of Fall throughout the mountains of New England. One of my favorite places is Burlington, Vermont. Last October we drove up there and it was just spectacular. Driving through the northern Vermont villages and the ski resort Sugarbush, we saw vibrant oranges and reds and yellows on all sides. Lake Champlain is also an incredible area, the setting sun glinting off of the sparkling water with a cool breeze flowing through the path.

Another gorgeous area, and I may be a tad biased because I went to high school there, is Maine. Pretty much anywhere in Maine during Fall is just breathtaking, but if you drive mostly northwest toward the Rangeley Lakes, you get a great scenic drive through the Appalachians which means excellent views of the fall foliage. And if any of you are campers out there, there are some wonderful spots to rest and re-coup, as well as to appreciate nature. Make sure you bring some warm clothing, though, because it can get chilly once the sun sets.

Something I love to see as Fall goes on is the pumpkin stands and apple orchards. Driving down the road, the signs that say "Pumpkins!" bring a smile to my face. And the apple orchards are teeming with people harvesting the delicious crisp fruit straight off the branch. Fall has always seemed to me to be a time of cherishing life and valuing the changes that the earth, and people, go through.

Anywhere in New England is absolutely beautiful between the first leaf that falls and the first snowflake that drops from the sky. I love winter, too, but that's a blog for another day. Whether you're in western Massachusetts or driving up the coast of Maine, you are going to enjoy the most amazing views, and you'll completely understand why I choose Fall as my favorite season.