Northeast (Boston, Maine, NH)

October in the Northeast? It doesn’t get much more fall than that. Changing leaves, crisp air, and the spookiness of old gravestones, witch trials, and Boston traffic.

All jokes aside, I flew into Boston on Sunday, fought my way through traffic, and made it downtown to kick off the afternoon. I started by walking the Freedom Trail, where the spooky vibes began at Granary Burial Ground. I got to see the gravestones of Paul Revere, John Hancock, and Samuel Adams. Couldn’t pour one out for him unfortunately.

From there, I wandered through Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market to browse the shops and grab a bite to eat. Afterward, I made my way through the North End, where the smell of pasta wafted through the streets. Honestly, it’s hard to beat walking through a neighborhood with the smell of fresh Italian food in the air.

I wrapped up my Boston walking tour with a stop at Acorn Street. It’s one of those picture-perfect spots you’ve probably seen on a postcard or an Instagram post. I’ll be honest, through: I used AI to remove all the Instagram models from my picture. It’s a great spot for a photo, wouldn’t you say?

My next stop was even spookier than Insta-models: Salem, Massachusetts.

I walked past the Witch House, visited the Salem Witch Trials Memorial, and learned a little about the unfortunate souls accused of witchcraft. Being pressed to death sounds terrible. I guess that guy must have been really bad at witchcraft. (I’ll see myself out.)

Later, I stopped by the Salem Witch Museum, only to discover it was closed. So much for learning anything! I did, however, pop into a couple of shops, passing by spells and potions before eventually purchasing a One Wish Willow and a crystal ball. Ahem, a snow globe.

The next morning, I got up super early and made my way up to Maine and New Hampshire before catching my 6 p.m. flight out of Boston. Ambitious? Maybe. Worth it? Absolutely.

My first stop was Cape Neddick Nubble Lighthouse in Maine. I don’t know what it is about lighthouses, but I’ve always been fascinated by them. I’m honestly surprised I don’t have a lighthouse tattoo yet. Maybe that’s a future problem for my wallet.

After the lighthouse, I headed over to New Hampshire to drive the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. Covered bridges, colorful leaves, and loads of tourists taking pictures just like me. What can I say? I love fall.

With the clock ticking, I made my way back towards Boston and squeezed in one last stop: a tour of Fenway Park. Even if you’re not a baseball fan, it’s hard not to appreciate how much history this place holds. With its quirky layout, old-school charm, and wooden bleaches dating back decades, Fenway feels like a little piece of Boston’s past that ‘s still very much alive. And of course, I got to sit on top of the Green Monster. Or as the locals call it the Green Monsta.

My final stop before heading to Logan was Lulu Green, where I grabbed one of the best vegan chicken sandwiches I’ve ever had. Yes, I meant to spell it like that.

Then it was off to the airport, where I got to enjoy the grand finale of my trip: waiting over an hour at TSA. Because apparently, Boston traffic wasn’t enough.

Boston, I may not love your traffic, but you made for a pretty good fall getaway. Between the history, the spookiness of Salem, the lighthouses, the colorful foliage, and the access to Maine and New Hampshire, it’s hard to complain.

Well, except about the traffic.

Northeast (Boston, Maine, NH)

Hawaii

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