New Hampshire, nestled in the heart of New England, is renowned for its picturesque autumn scenery. As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, the landscape transforms into a breathtaking kaleidoscope of reds, yellows, and oranges.

To truly savor the beauty of fall in New Hampshire, there are several must-visit destinations and activities that will allow you to immerse yourself in the autumn wonderland. Join us on a journey through the best ways to experience the vibrant foliage of the Granite State.

1. Scenic Drives: One of the quintessential ways to witness the autumn spectacle in New Hampshire is by embarking on a scenic drive. The state is adorned with a network of winding roads that traverse mountains, valleys, and forests, providing awe-inspiring views at every turn. The Kancamagus Highway, often called “The Kanc,” is a favorite among leaf-peepers. This 34.5-mile route takes you through the White Mountain National Forest, offering breathtaking vistas and plenty of pull-off spots for photos.

2. Hiking Adventures: For those who seek a more immersive experience, hiking in New Hampshire during the fall is a treat. Trails like the Franconia Ridge Loop and the Appalachian Trail boast stunning vistas that showcase the vibrant foliage, with the added bonus of crisp mountain air and the satisfying crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet. Be sure to check trail conditions and prepare accordingly.

3. Cruise on a Lake: To see the fiery foliage from a unique perspective, consider taking a cruise on one of New Hampshire’s pristine lakes. Lake Winnipesaukee, Squam Lake, and Lake Sunapee all offer boat tours in the fall. The reflection of the colorful leaves on the water’s surface creates a magical and serene atmosphere.

4. Visit State Parks: New Hampshire is home to numerous state parks that come alive with autumn colors. Franconia Notch State Park, with its iconic Flume Gorge, and Crawford Notch State Park are particularly popular destinations. These parks offer hiking trails, waterfalls, and interpretive centers to enhance your leaf-peeping adventure.

5. Rail and Aerial Adventures: Consider taking a scenic train ride or a gondola lift to capture sweeping views of the landscape blanketed in fall foliage. The Mount Washington Cog Railway and the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway provide excellent vantage points to appreciate the vibrant colors from above.

6. Apple Picking and Pumpkin Farms: Autumn in New Hampshire is also the season for apple picking and exploring pumpkin farms. Head to local orchards like Gould Hill Farm or Carter Hill Orchard to pick apples straight from the trees. These excursions offer a delightful blend of outdoor fun and the chance to bring home some delicious, fresh produce.

7. Fall Festivals: Throughout the autumn season, New Hampshire hosts a variety of fall festivals and events celebrating the harvest and foliage. From craft fairs to pumpkin festivals, these gatherings offer a taste of local culture and a chance to soak in the autumn atmosphere.

Conclusion: New Hampshire’s autumn foliage is a natural masterpiece that draws visitors from far and wide. To fully appreciate the vibrant tapestry of colors, you can choose from a range of activities, from leisurely drives and hikes to boat tours and festive gatherings. Whichever way you decide to explore the autumn colors of New Hampshire, you’re sure to create lasting memories and fall in love with the state’s enchanting beauty all over again. So, pack your camera and a warm sweater, and get ready to embrace the magic of autumn in the Granite State.

That said, over the years getting to Blackpool has become much easier thanks to the road networks, nearby airports and of course the rail services that can take you from a number of UK destinations right into this popular holiday destination.

So what is there to do in Blackpool? Whether you are a stag or hen do looking for some fun or perhaps a family wanting to create some happy memories the question should be instead, where to start?

Genting Club Blackpool

Even grown ups love to play from time to time and The Genting Club Blackpool gives you the chance to enjoy some of the most popular casino games in modern environment. Not only does this club offer Blackjack and other popular games but there is also an on site restaurant and bar to allow you to party long into the night.

Madame Tussauds Blackpool

The name Madame Tussauds is instantly recognised around the world; however you might not realise that there is one in Blackpool. Bringing together some of the biggest names in the celebrity world with favourites from Coronation Street, children’s television and even some big names a little closer to home; this is the ideal chance to get up close and personal with your favourite stars, even if it is just their waxworks.

Blackpool Tower

When it comes to Great British iconic landmarks the Blackpool Tower has to be up there with the very best. Popular with tourists since 1894 the tower is now more than just a feat of engineering; instead it boasts 5 attractions under one roof.

The Blackpool Tower Eye, The Blackpool Tower Circus, The Ballroom, The Blackpool Dungeon and Jungle Jim’s; with all these to choose from this really is the ideal family attraction.

Illuminasia

If you think of Blackpool then there is a chance that you will think of the illuminations that happen on an annual basis; this popular event has been attracting tourists for many years to drive the length of the beachfront and witness Blackpool lit up for all to see.

For those who want to see the beauty of illumination all year round then Illuminasia as the answer; the world’s largest indoor illumination exhibition this really is an awe inspiring chance to light up your trip to Blackpool.

Pleasure Beach and Sandcastle Water Park

Blackpool is a popular choice for people looking for thrills and spills thanks to the world famous Pleasure Beach. Featuring the Pepsi Max Big One amongst other rides; a day out here is sure to get your pulse racing.

For those who like their fun a little more wet and wild they can instead choose the Sandcastle Water Park which boasts over 18 slides and plenty of pools and water chutes for you to enjoy.

This is just a snippet of the things that you can do in Blackpool, so why not get yourself on the train and head up to Blackpool; we are sure you will see why it is so popular.

It’s famous, of course, for the water lilies, but if you go to Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny in Normandy, what you are likely to remember most is the Clos Normand. This is the part of the garden closest to the painter’s house, and beside its gravel paths, the beds are a riot of colour and texture. It’s like walking through a 3 dimensional painting made up of hundreds of colours. And this wonderful place is just a short journey outside Paris – and flights to Paris are fast and frequent.

Monet’s Garden

Nobody knows for sure if Monet intended the garden to look like this, but we know that  Monet loved gardening. “Apart from painting and gardening, I’m good for nothing!” he once exclaimed. Weeds and brambles took over when he was gone and, despite photographs and work from various family members, what you see now is a homage, not a faithful reproduction. It’s also the product of a mind-boggling amount of work. Nine hundred varieties of annuals are planted every year in an endless cycle of digging, trailing, pruning and mulching.

In May, the responsibility for all that work fell into the hands of James Priest, the new head gardener at Giverny, and he’s a Brit — or, rather, he was. Priest came to France in 1986 and has pretty much gone native: he speaks English with a French accent. He’s deeply respectful of the work of the previous incumbent, Gilbert Vahé, who held the post for 35 years, and says he’ll watch and learn for the first 12 months. Only then will he make his mark.

Whatever happens, Giverny is bound to remain a sumptuous visual experience — and the perfect start to a weekend in eastern Normandy.

Visiting Guidelines

Monet’s house and gardens (00 33-2 32 51 28 21, fondation-monet.fr; £7) are open daily, 9.30am-6pm, from April 1 to November 1. They get 500,000 visitors each year. Coach parties and school groups are the bane of weekdays — avoid them by going between noon and 2pm, or after 4pm. These are good times to aim for at the weekend, too, along with 9am-10am.

Every month is different –  September is for sunflowers, dahlias and asters; hold on till early May for deep beds of tulips. Whenever you go, it will be pulsating with colour. Ignore the house, by the way — it wasn’t built for the volumes of people trooping through it, and there are no Monet paintings inside.

Weekend Wandering

Plan to see the garden twice, once in the afternoon and once at 9am next day. This will allow you to enjoy it as Monet would have, appreciating the changes in light and atmosphere. When you’re done, check out the Musée des Impressionnismes next door, currently showing works by Monet, Manet and Degas (02 32 51 94 65, mdig.fr; £5.70).

A few miles north of Giverny lies Les Andelys. Home to a beautifully preserved medieval church and square, it’s overlooked by the Château Gaillard (open daily except Tuesday, April 2-November 6, 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm; £2.80). Built at vast expense by Richard the Lion­heart, it sits on the edge of a sweeping escarpment above the Seine.

Beyond the pretty village of Lyons-la-Forêt, you’ll find Le Jardin Plume (02 35 23 00 01, lejardinplume.com; open May 11-October 30, 2pm-6pm on Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10am-noon on Wednesday and Saturday; £6). Horticulturists have been drooling over its mix of modern planting and old-school layout for years. It’s Priest’s favourite garden in the area, so may offer clues as to how Giverny might evolve.

How To Get There

Paris is only about 50 miles from Giverny, so it’s really easy to get to – just scan through the web for cheap flights to Paris, then pick up a train or coach to Giverny and visual heaven follows!

If you’re visiting Scotland then there’s a good chance that Edinburgh is on your list of places to visit.  There’s plenty to do in Edinburgh and some of the best things to see are free! So whether you are staying in a hotel, Guest House or one of the grand old Edinburgh apartments you’re never going to be short of experiences.

Firstly, you can climb Arthur’s Seat.  At over 823ft high the large landscape of hills and rocky crags sits in Holyrood Park and is great for when you need a refreshing long walk. When you reach the top, you’ll  be rewarded with absolutely stunning views of  historic Edinburgh.  So if you want to see the city in one panoramic view – put your walking shoes on get to Arthur’s Seat.

Royal Botanic Gardens

If you enjoy plant life, consider a trip exploring the Royal Botanic Gardens.  It covers a mind-blowing 70 acres including a memorial garden to The Queen Mother, examples of Chinese rock gardens and fantastic victorian greenhouses, devised to display the latest horticultural finds.

There’s also the Writer’s Museum,  which sits just off the Royal Mile. The Mile is one of Edinburgh’s oldest streets and  worth visiting in its own right.  The Writer’s Museum details the live of famous writers such as Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson and Sir Walter Scott.  It’s free to get in (although donations are appreciated) and proves to be an interesting day out for the whole family.

Try and time a visit to Edinburgh that will coincide with one of their famous Art festivals.   The Edinburgh Peforming Arts Festival usually starts at the beginning of August and features hundreds of acts – running throughout the city, on a 24 hour basis. Many of the acts are completely free to see.  Edinburgh also has a thriving art scene, and many fine galleries and exhibition rooms, so check with the tourist board for the latest displays in the city. There’s the Vogrie Autumn Festival held in October, celebrating the seasonal changes, and the Linlithgow Festival, held over the whole month of October – this is an arts festival celebrating opera, theatre and good wine! There are over 400 seperate things to do, see and experience over the next 8 weeks in Edinburgh, so make sure you have a look at whats on in Scotland before you set off on your trip. If you can expand your trip,  city base apartments would be a perfect base for diving into life in Edinburgh and further afield.

Museum of Childhood

Finally, an attraction that is free to get in and ideal for adults and children alike is The Museum Of Childhood.  This museum is a wonderful blast-from-the-past for adults as it gives you a glimpse into the past where you’ll see classic games and plenty of toys that you might have used in your own childhood.  Children will love it too; they can see how much things have changed and what sort of toys their parents used to play with – just one generation before the Playstation!

Many people feel that decorating a Christmas Tree is an essential part of the Christmas festivities. If you have wondered where these magical trinkets were first made, they are attributed to skilled craftsmen in the little town of Lauscha, in central Germany. They are still made there today – a wonderful winter break would be to take a trip to Lauscha and watch how the glass blowers create these timeless decorations. There is an increasing interest in these fragile, beautiful objects and in order to bring them home safely, you’ll benefit from good travel insurance. You might even want to take an extra suitcase and  bring back a few boxes for heirloom gifts! Christmas decorations are often handed on to the younger members of the family and vintage glass baubles are increasingly sought after.

The Home of the Original Glass Bauble

The town of Lauscha, Thuringia Region, is in central Germany.  Lauscha became known for expert glass blowing in the 12th Century – producing fine goblets and bowls. Thuringia was able to supply the two key essential elements for glass – there was plenty of good timber and access to sand. Techniques and styles for tree decorations began to develop around the late 1840’s;  two craftsmen,  Christopher Muller and Hans Grierer began blowing glass decorations in apple, orange and walnut shapes. To make the inside of the bauble reflect  light, they were originally painted with a frightful mixture of lead and mercury! It was later discovered that sugar water and silver nitrate produced an equally effective reflective surface which was unlikely to poison anyone – not the case for it’s predecessor!

The Tradition Begins

Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, is believed to have initiated the traditions of Christmas that English people still follow today. Prince Albert brought a fir tree into the royal home and encouraged his family to decorate it with glass baubles, ribbons and candles.  This was reported in the London News, and the trend was set – everyone who could afford it, bought a tree, and decorated it too. Lauscha was put on the map, as being the best town to buy decorations; business links were developed and vast numbers of decorations were exported to America and Europe. FW Woolworth for instance, made a considerable part of his fortune on sales of Christmas decorations.

After World War II, many of the family owned operations in Lauscha were taken over by the State, but some companies reformed when the Berlin Wall was removed. There are approximately 20 glass companies back in business in Lauscha so there is plenty of choice. A gift set of hand made glass baubles will be long treasured, so pack them carefully and they’ll be enjoyed for many years to come.

“Through travel I first become aware of the outside world; it was through travel that I found my own introspective way into becoming a part of it”

–Eudora Welty

If you happen to be a Yogi and want to follow your wanderlust, you will be amazed to know that there are a lot of places in the world that store and value the ancient teachings of Yoga. These places have a strong influence on the way we see Yoga today. Several Yogis and Yoginis got enlightened on some of these places making them sacred and of utmost importance like Rishikesh, which happens to be the birthplace of Yoga too. Some places are a great escape from daily life proving a calm and serene environment for Yogic practices and meditation like Nepal and Costa Rica. Be it a soulful Yoga retreat in Thailand, Yoga teacher training in India, or Yoga fitness programs in California, the power of Yoga turns every place mystical and proves to be a catalyst for inward journey.

1. Rishikesh, India

Nestled in the foothills of the Majestic Himalayas and the sacred Ganges, Rishikesh is the perfect and usually the first choice for a soulful Yoga pilgrimage. Blessed by famous saints and the Hindu God Vishnu, this place is magical with mesmerizing beauty and soul-touching aura. Yoga teacher training in Rishikesh invites a lot of budding yogis from all around the world to learn the pure and ancient wisdom of Yoga in its birth city. The city is filled with ashrams and temples making this place an eminent destination for Yoga lovers

2. Mysore, India

“To travel to Mysore is a seeker’s journey that sets your practice on the firm ground of the tradition”

–Kino MacGregor

This birthplace of one of the most basic and ancient forms of Yoga; Ashtanga Yoga is rich in culture and ancient texts preserved at Mysore Palace Library. This place has been mentioned by a famous Yoga book writer, K. Pattabhi Jois and described Mysore as a pure location for Yoga practice with its stunning temples and Ayurvedic doctors all around the city.

3. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Surrounded by beautiful scenery and exotic views all around, Chiang Mai has become a prominent location with more than 10 Yoga Studios being run by expert Yogis and professionals. This laid-back city has become a hub for wandering yogis and people looking for a spiritual holiday. Yoga classes, wellness courses, Ayurvedic therapies, restorative practices are very popular in this tropical destination.

4. Pokhara, Nepal

Nepal being a popular country for it’s magical views of the Himalayas, trekking, recreational activities and Buddhist monasteries is also an exotic location for Yoga retreats and Yoga teacher training courses. The country has a vivid culture and offers an amazing experience of inner-transformation amidst astonishing sceneries and locations. Nepal is one of the lands where famous yogis, sages, and spiritualists have travelled to chant their powerful mantras in the lap of Himalayas. The place still carries the invisible energies making it an enchanted location.

5. Ubud, Bali

Ubud is also a premier location to indulge in the spiritual and rejuvenating art of Yoga. Being a hub of the holistic healers, Ubud has structured Yoga retreats and spots with famous in-house yogis that help the visitors dig deep into their selves through yog asanas, meditation, and pranayama. The Yoga retreat resorts also offer Ayurvedic purification meals, chakra massages, spa treatments, and full-moon fire ceremonies to feel regulate energy pathways. Bali is an oasis of tranquility with the best scenic views one can witness.

6. Hariharalaya, Cambodia

This Vedic capital of Cambodia has more than 40 retreats centers that focus on Integral Yoga, Meditation and Conscious living. This remote village is located far away from city life so that the travelers can experience a pure yogic lifestyle with contended living. This place also has the famous Bakong temple, which depicts mythical creatures from Buddhist mythology and makes everyone awe-struck.

7. Spain

This European country with endless beaches, magnificent landscapes, and nature reserves is the perfect destination to reconnect with your inner self. Revive your senses under the warmth of eternal sun and experience Yoga with International teachers. Barcelona also hosts numerous recreational activities, treatments, and therapies in modernized Yoga Retreats homes.

8. Carlsbad, California.

This modern enclave holds teachings of Vedic science of body, mind, and spirit and uses them in integrative medicines and personal growth. The famous Chopra Center amalgamates Classical Yoga with contemporary fitness regimes. They also offer introductory classes to Ayurvedic cooking using organic herbs.

9. Tulum, Mexico

Experience relaxing wellness centers and the exquisite Caribbean coastline in Mexico. Tulum has recently gained popularity and is called ‘the sizzling hot yoga town. ‘The eco-conscious retreats offered are heaven for body and mind healing. The 7-day Cleanse and Heal programs are very popular that follow Ayurveda therapies to get rid of the toxins from the body

10. Maresias and Imbassai, Brazil

The alluring crash of ocean waves and a mountainous backdrop at the beaches of Maresias make it an ideal location to practice Yoga and reap its spiritual benefits. Unplug and slow-down with retreat packages in Brazil that keeps yogis close to serene and secluded spots for a quiet and peaceful practice.

Conclusion:

Embark upon a unique expedition of Yoga and spirituality around the world

Author Bio :

Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveler in India. He organizes Ayurvedic courses in India. Manmohan Singh conducts Yoga Teacher Training in India in different cities. He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas and Trekking in India.