5 Fun Escapes Around New England to Make this Fall

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The Berkshires, MA | Chatham, MA | Portsmouth, NH | Southern Vermont | Sunapee, NH

Sunapee, New Hampshire

Adventure can be found in every crevice around Lake Sunapee. By Kerri Tallman

The lodge overlooks the lake below. Courtesy of Lodge Boutique Hotel by Sunapee Stays.

While Lake Winnipesaukee is for the summer, Lake Sunapee is all about the fall and winter seasons. Months before we’ll pack the cars with skis and snowboards, we strap on our waterproof boots for a weekend trip full of outdoor adventure, small-town vibes and breathtaking vistas.

FRIDAY AFTERNOON: After a smooth ride skirting the busy Boston city traffic, we check into the Lodge Boutique Hotel by Sunapee Stays (sunapeestays.com/the-lodge). This eleven-suite hotel is the perfect combination of an Airbnb and a laid-back hotel in the mountains. Each room is decorated to complement the stunning views. Simple wood tones and vaulted ceilings warm up the space with modern appliances (including a full kitchen if you plan on extending your stay or cooking in). Suites are available in studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom formats depending on the size of your party and preference. Regardless, enjoy lounging in the rocking chairs on the semi-private front porches or balconies with dividers between each suite, which make it feel like your own little cabin in the woods. While we’re reminded by our surroundings to connect with nature and disconnect from the luxuries of the world, we aren’t fooled: Each suite comes with a heated toilet and built-in bidet with more features than you can comprehend.

A suite at the Lodge Boutique Hotel by Sunapee Stays. Courtesy of Lodge Boutique Hotel by Sunapee Stays.

We lodge in the Blodgetts suite, which can sleep up to four people with the help of the pull-out couch. Because of its open floor plan, it feels more like a studio apartment than a hotel. For those traveling with little ones or others who are up for the challenge, the game room and movie room are located in the building next door. For rainy fall days when hiking plans are canceled, this is a go-to spot to stay entertained without going too far. In the early fall days, the heated pool is still open to all with stunning views of the mountains and access to fire pits for s’mores.

The Blodgetts suite. Courtesy of Lodge Boutique Hotel by Sunapee Stays.

FRIDAY EVENING: After settling in and a quick change into nicer clothes, we head down to Sunapee Harbor where dinner plans await. All aboard the MV Sunapee Lake Queen, a two-level boat with interior seating and access to the upstairs deck to capture a sunset photo (sunapeecruises.com). After boarding, guests can order a drink of choice while the captain begins to embark. A storm happens to roll in, which delays our start, but gives us plenty of time to settle in. Over the two-hour cruise, the captain occasionally points out scenic views, three functioning lighthouses, thirteen islands and even loons along the way. (Fun fact: Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler owns a lake house here, which is visible from the boat. It’s just as bright and bold as you’d expect.) The salad and bread buffet comes before the main buffet, which includes classic mac and cheese, grilled veggies, scalloped potatoes and a prime rib cut of your choice. Save room for dessert, as you choose from strawberry, lemon or chocolate cake. As we cruise back into the harbor, the sun makes its way through the clouds, offering a scarlet sunset and two rainbows for its troubles. Now full, we head back to the lodge to wind down with some Netflix and an extremely comfortable bed.

Lake Sunapee in the fall. Via Getty Images/Dennis Tangney Jr.

SATURDAY MORNING: We have a bit of a slow start to the morning but make our way over to Grounds (facebook.com/374mainst) in nearby New London for iced coffee (no matter what time of year), muffins and banana bread. As we wait for our order, I peruse the take-one, leave-one bookshelf and other trinkets above the fireplace mantle. Then, we head to Mount Sunapee for the most adventurous day (mountsunapee.com).

Kayakers on Lake Sunapee. Courtesy of New Hampshire Tourism.

Over the last decade or so, mountain resorts have made the best of their off-seasons, converting slopes into hiking trails and offering outdoor exploration activities. After securing our Play All Day passes from the Adventure Center, we hit the aerial challenge course, which is only a short uphill stretch away. The last time I’d been on a ropes course was 2018, so when I tell you it’s harder than it looks when you’re five years older, trust me. Many of the obstacles are not for the faint of heart due to the difficulty and elevation, even though you see kids scooting through just fine. After touching back down to the ground, we decide we need more air time and head up the hill on the aerial sky ride to the summit. (Pack a jacket as it gets chilly at the top.) As you exit the lift, grab a drink at the Summit Lodge or trek over to the overlook for stunning views of the treetops and lakes. For the more romantic types, consider the location for a wedding ceremony with the views as a breathtaking backdrop. Heading back down, we stop by the Adventure Center once more for mining materials. They give you a big ol’ bag of sand filled with mystery minerals as you head to the sifting station to uncover gemstones, fossils and shells. For those seeking more adventure, try your hand at mountain biking, hiking the peak or rock climbing.

The view from the aerial sky ride on Mount Sunapee. Courtesy of Mt. Sunapee.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING: We head back to the harbor area for smoothies and snacks from Stacy’s Smoothies & Coffee Bar (stacyssmoothies.com) and check out the nearby restaurants, ice cream parlor and old country store. We decide that we’ve had enough adventure for the day and settle on a leisurely game of chess while enjoying live music echoing around the lake.

Later, we head over to Bubba’s Bar & Grille in Newbury for a lakeside dinner (bubbasbarandgrille.com). The restaurant has a large selection of freshly caught seafood from down the road and a variety of pizza and pasta dishes. We order the Prince Edward Island mussels to start, served in a delicious garlic tomato white wine sauce; no crostini necessary to sop up the remaining sauce. Out come the mains: balsamic chicken risotto and the chef’s fish of the day, which happens to be swordfish with a pineapple salsa, green beans and mixed rice. Make sure to order the specialty seasonal cocktails, too. 

SUNDAY MORNING: We decide to begin our day a bit earlier than the previous at Blue Loon Bakery in New London (blueloonbakery.com). It operates out of an older house, with multiple rooms for sipping and chatting with old friends. 

Baked goods from Blue Loon Bakery in New London. Courtesy of Blue Moon Bakery.

We order the blueberry lemon scone and two egg-and-cheese presses. While we nurse  on our iced beverages (my iced mocha is one of the best I’ve ever had), we watch employees through the glass window as they prepare homemade bread and other baked goods. It’s busy on weekend mornings, filled with family, friends, tourists and nearby Colby-Sawyer College students, so get there early if you can.

After breakfast, we head across the street to Morgan Hill Bookstore (morganhillbookstore.com) for unusual puzzles, artisans’ wares and a small — but very current — book selection. Because the weather has been on-and-off rainy, the cashier says, “It’s another puzzle day” as I pay for my purchase.

We manage to escape the weather, however, as we head to Pumpkin Blossom Farm in Warner (pumpkinblossomfarm.com). The back roads are my favorite part of northern New England, with winding hilly routes leading to the most unexpected places, including this lavender farm. For a few short weeks in July, the farm serves as a pick-your-own lavender farm, but at the end of the season, you can still find a wide array of lavender products inside a spacious barn. Soaps, sprays and even simple syrups can be purchased. We enjoy lavender-infused mocktails with zero-proof alcohol as we mosey through the rest of the barn.

SUNDAY AFTERNOON: We head into town, and by town, we mean just one main street filled with restaurants and shops. Parking is limited, so we decide to kill time by heading up to Rollins State Park and driving the auto road to the summit of Mount Kearsarge (nhstateparks.org). 

Unfortunately, due to the misty weather, there isn’t much to see once we park, but the experience of driving through the literal clouds is one to remember. On a clear day, you can see the Monadnock, Crotched and Uncanoonuc mountains and even the Boston skyline.

Panoramic views of the lake from every angle. Courtesy of New Hampshire Tourism.

NUTS & BOLTS 

Courtesy of Contoocook Cider Company.

Travel Time: Two-and-a-half hours from Providence.

Miles: 159 miles.

How to Get There: I-95 North to I-93 North to I-89 North.

Best Season to Go: Year-round, but especially fall for the seasonal festivities.

Bucket List for Next Time: Hiking up the many mountains and stopping by the Salt Hill Pub – The Shanty for
a pint (or two) to be transported to Galway, Ireland.

Worth a Detour: Explore the historic homestead of Muster Field Farm Museum in North Sutton or stop by Contoocook Cider Company for a flight of locally crafted hard cider.

A blacksmith at Muster Field Farm Museum in Sutton. Courtesy of Muster Field Farm Museum.