Fall Memories of New England

Christmas Shoppe Magic (Juliette Hill’s Christmas Shorts) by Juliette Hill

Also available in NOOK! and available in the UK!

Late September always brings to mind fond memories of exciting Fall trips that my parents and I took when I was a child.

When I was about 8 or 9 years old, the family Fall trip was centered around a visit to historical sites like Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s home or James Madison’s home, both not too far away from the Washington, D.C. suburbs, in the mountains of Virginia, around Charlottesville.  Even those “educational” trips were fun and exciting.

A year or so later, our Fall trip destination was Hershey, Pennsylvania where we toured the chocolate factory.  I just loved the streetlights with tops shaped like giant Hershey’s Kisses!  Of course, the tour ended in the gift shop with all the varieties of delicious candy awaiting each excited and hungry visitor.  I was so jealous that my best friend who joined us on the trip was allowed to bring home the huge variety box to her family while my sister and I were only allowed to select one treat.  Oh well, I survived…quite well, indeed.

When I started high school and my sister started college, my parents and I took advantage of a school holiday in mid-October by making our Fall trip a four-day weekend, venturing farther north and west to capture the full glory of the fall foliage.

The three of us carefully planned out our route to take full advantage of peak foliage and enjoy all that nature had to offer for the season.  Usually we headed north through New Jersey and New York, travelling up the Palisades Parkway along the Hudson, and crossed the river at Tappan Zee Bridge.

Gradually, we made our way to Poughkeepsie and Hyde Park, New York to visit the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Roosevelt Estate high above the Hudson.  The views from the grounds of the estates were breathtaking.  The autumn colors blanketed the river banks framing them with magnificent beauty as far as the eye could see.

Our next stop was usually Danbury, Connecticut where we would settle in for the night and have a nice respite.  Starting bright and early the following morning, we explored quaint villages and towns in the area as we meandered our way forward towards western Massachusetts.

I was always amazed how warm and cozy each New England house looked, many with an inviting front porch and decorations for the season.  Yards full of colored leaves (golds, flaming reds, and oranges) lined each side of the road.  Raked, they would have made great piles to jump in and play!  Pumpkins sat on each step, as the smell of apples, cinnamon and cider filled the fresh air that permeated the car.

Travelling along the back country roads, the hills and valleys stretched into the distance. Piles of hay lined the fields, red barns dotted the landscape, and I imagined a life of simple pleasures.

I gazed out the windows from the back seat and daydreamed for hours as my mother and I searched our surroundings to identify the perfect tree.  The one autumn tree that was beautifully shaped, had all its leaves intact, and that would form the essence of our precious Fall memory, warming our hearts until we made the annual trek again.

Happy Autumn!

Juliette

 

 

 

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