"Leaf peepers", they're called - tourists traveling to see the flashing array of reds and golds laid out on hillside after hillside. We ourselves hadn't thought of that when we headed north, but we couldn't have timed our travels in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Adirondack foothills of northeastern New York any better. We had selected the region based on our timing between seeing our daughter in Boston and spending a week in Northern Virginia (medical appointments, visiting friends, dropping items off at our storage unit); we selected our campgrounds based on specific sights that sounded interesting.
North Woodstock, New Hampshire
We stayed five nights at the lovely Maple Haven Campground, with a short e-bike ride to cute shops and restaurants, and a fairly easy e-bike ride to Franconia Notch State Park and its impressive Flume Gorge hike. The creeks throughout the wooded campground were almost dry; while the water level is naturally lower in the autumn than in the spring, when the snowmelt fills up rivers, the campground owner told me that the region has been suffering from a drought. We hope to get back some spring and see rushing waters! The Flume Gorge was likewise at low level, but the soaring stone walls of the gorge were still amazing. Also the story of how it was discovered in 1808 by a 93-year-old woman out fishing!
Shelburne, New Hampshire
We treated ourselves to twelve nights at the friendly, comfortable, and wonderfully situated White Birches Camping Park, and to a rental car to drive around a larger area. We spent one day just driving through beauty - every time we rounded a curve, we were looking at a new postcard view of autumn colors. Another day we drove to the base of Mount Washington. While you can climb the 6,288' mountain on foot (as the Appalachian Trail does) or by car (the reportedly white-knuckle Mount Washington Auto Road), we selected the world's first-built (1869) and second-steepest mountain-climbing cog railway. It's not a fast ride, but it's really interesting, from the engineering details (the rack rails allow snow and debris to fall through rather than build up, and provide purchase for the pinioned cog wheels) to the natural landscape (moving from a lively green temperate zone to an almost barren arctic zone) to the trains themselves (both original coal-fired steam engines and newer biodiesel locomotives). It was definitely cold and windy at the top (though only a fifth of the record-setting 231 mph non-cyclone wind speed of 1934!), and it was surreal looking down at clouds spilling over lower peaks of the Presidential Range.
On yet another day, we climbed Mt. Crag (less than 700' of climb to the 1,413' height, but quite steep in places) for a lovely lookout over the surrounding valleys and hills.
The turn of colors at the campground itself was stunning every day, and the on-site trailhead to the Shelburne Basin/Pea Brook Trail was delightful for Hershey and me. This is another area and campground we would happily return to.
Lake George, New York
Our three-night stay in a campground on the peaceful Schroon River was a bit of a disappointment. The campground was nice enough, and the river was lovely, but the portion of the Lake within easy e-biking was almost all private land and unreachable. If I were coming back to this area, I would look to stay near a different lake or a different part of this lake.
New Jersey
Our final night before re-entering Northern Virginia was at a funny little campground situated behind a trailer supplies store. I found it quirky and relaxing; Doug found it a bit creepy. There were several campsites with RVs that looked to have been abandoned 20 years ago...
We were originally supposed to stay at our first Harvest Hosts site, in New York; but when we arrived, a Class A motorcoach was stuck on the steep entrance drive, and we decided not to chance that. (Harvest Hosts is a collection of wineries, breweries, farms, and other attractions that allow RVs to stay overnight for free, with the expectation that you'll want to purchase their products or services while you're there. It's a wonderful organization, and we're looking forward to trying it another time.)
Heading South
From Virginia, we will head south to Texas, for the election, Thanksgiving, and Christmas; then west for the remainder of winter into spring; and hopefully Canada or the northern U.S. for next summer.
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