Autumn leaves are in my future

Anyone who has known me for very long knows that one of my dream vacations has always been to visit New England in the fall to see the autumn leaves. For the 32 years that I worked for our local United Way, we were generally discouraged from taking time off during the fall. It was our fund-raising season and, as the special events director, it was pretty much impossible for me to be gone for more than a day or two that time of year. 

While winters here are lovely and mild. One of the downsides of living in South Texas is the lack of seasonal changes. We don't really have fall or winter. In really cold years, we might have a few nights where the temperature drops below freezing. But it's never cold for very long. The other factor is that we don't really have trees with leaves that turn colors. Most of our native vegetation is mesquite and huisache. They are more shrubs than trees and have lovely blooms in the spring which make me sniffle and sneeze. But the leaves don't turn colors. 

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I always hate it when we're still having 90 degree temperatures and I start hearing that the leaves are turning and temperatures have dropped. When autumn rolls around each year, I change my screensaver to a beautiful shot of colorful autumn leaves. And for many years I told my friends that the first year I was retired we would finally take our fall New England trip. Since I left that job unexpectedly three years short of retirement, we were not in a financial position to take such a trip. But now, six years later, I'm finally going to get my fall leaf trip.

Grandad told me yesterday that he has to go to the home office, which is located near Boston, for three days in mid-October. Then he asked if I would like to join him and stay a few days in that area. I got so excited it made me giggle like a schoolgirl.

I immediately got online and started looking for information about where to go and what to do. We spent a week in the Boston area two summers ago. So we've done the Boston and the Freedom Trail, Salem, and Plymouth. We're looking for something different this time. Our trip will start from Boston on October 18 and we'll be there about a week. There are just so many options. I know that leaf peeping is very popular and that popular places are likely to be crowded.

So I'm looking for your advice. Have you been to New England to see the autumn leaves? Do you have any advice for us? Should we head north or south from Boston? Should we rent a car? Should we take the train? Should we join a tour?  New Hampshire? Maine? Vermont? Connecticut? Pennsylvania? So many options. Please share your experience and your expertise and opinions. I'll keep you updated as our plans develop.