New England in the fall has no shortage of destinations and activities vying for attention, whether it’s fall foliage viewing, festivals, scenic drives, or historic homes.

Wait a minute did you say historic homes? Yes, I did. People who visit New England – even in autumn – enjoy hearing about the history and stories of New England’s people, and it seems as if at least one organization – Historic New England has taken this passion and put together tours in the region.

Their 36 historic homes, working farms, beautiful gardens, unparalleled collections, and range of public programs tell the stories of New England’s people, and offer something for everyone interested in exploring the history of the region from the 17^th century to today. All of their programs and homes are just a car ride away and many can be visited all together in the same day, or over the weekend. All of the admission to the historic homes is $10 or less making it a budget-conscious option for family travelers this season.

Two tours currently offered for the fall season are the Massachusetts North Shore and Lincoln driving tours. Here’s some more information about both.

Massachusetts North Shore:

Start the tour at Salem where there’s more than witches and witchcraft. Stay at The Salem Inn with visits to the Phillips House and possibly the Gedney House (if it’s a Saturday), along with a trip to Gordon College for a performance of Cry Innocent.

After the show head back to your room with a bottle of wine from Salem Wine Imports and put your feet up.

A trip to Gloucester can start with a visit to the Beauport Sleeper-McCann House, a fantasy house built on the rocks overlooking Gloucester Harbor, accompanied by tea and chocolate fondue at Pleasant Street Tea Co.

Follow that up with a Seven Seas Whale Watch and a show at the Gloucester Stage Company.

All of this is bound to exhaust you, so head to the Bass Rocks Ocean Inn for a relaxing night’s sleep.

Essex is next on the tour, and begins the day with a visit to Cogswell’s Grant, an eighteenth-century farmhouse overlooking the Essex River with one of the best collections of American folk art for you to view.

Afterwards, do some shopping at the White Elephant and Andrew Spindler Antiques followed by a seafood lunch at Woodman’s of Essex and then finally a river cruise with Essex River Cruises and Charters. After a long day, fall into bed at The George Fuller House.

The final stop in the North Shore tour is Newbury and Newburyport where there is a lot to see – consider a two-night stay at the Clark Currier Inn so you can take it all in.  Start off with a visit to the Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, featuring a seventeenth century manor house, and a foster farm in partnership with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA).

Take a minute to enjoy the extensive nature trails on the property as well, after that, head to 10 Center Street for lunch and then Plum Island Kayak for a sunset tour of the Merrimack River. The next day take a trip to the Coffin House, home to six generations of the Coffin family, then head on over to A Loom with a View for knitting or weaving class before heading out of town.

Lincoln, Massachusetts:

Explore 200 years of New England history (and design) through two beautiful and historically rich properties: the Codman Estate and the Gropius House.

The Codman Estate:

Built in 1740 overlooking a prospect of farm and pleasure grounds, this gentleman’s country seat was a powerful force in the lives of five generations of the Codman family. In the 1790s, John Codman carried out extensive improvements to the original Georgian house and surrounding grounds. Each generation of Codman’s to live here left their mark, and the estate that was originally a country retreat gradually came to symbolize the family’s distinguished past.

The interiors, richly furnished with portraits, memorabilia, and art works collected in Europe, preserve the decorative schemes of every era, including those of noted interior designer Ogden Codman, Jr. The grounds also feature a hidden Italianate garden, c. 1900, with perennial beds, statuary, and a reflecting pool filled with water lilies, as well as an English cottage garden, c. 1930.

The Gropius House:

On the opposite end of the spectrum just two miles away is a model of modern design that is still influential today.

This National Historic Landmark was built in 1938 by Walter Gropius, one of the most influential architects of the twentieth century and founder of the German design school known as the Bauhaus.

He designed the house as his family home when he came to teach at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Modest in scale, the house was revolutionary in impact.

It combined the traditional elements of New England architecture – wood, brick, and fieldstone – with innovative materials rarely used in domestic settings at that time – glass block, acoustical plaster, and chrome banisters, along with the latest technology in fixtures. In keeping with Bauhaus philosophy, every aspect of the house and its surrounding landscape was planned for maximum efficiency and simplicity of design. You never know, you may pick up some ideas for your own home!

More information on each of these sites and tours can be found on the Historic New England website here, so take a drive for the rich tale of New England’s hi-stories.

For suggestions on more things to see and do in the fall check out our  New England fall foliage section here for festivals, scenic drives, walks, and great leaf-peeping locations.

Another New England post by one of our writers is being prepared right now so be sure to visit again or just subscribe to our RSS Feed here and get notified automatically of events and news.

Cliff Calderwood
Publisher
New England Online Magazine

If you enjoyed this article please share with others at your favorite sites below:

Related posts:

1. Celebrate these Things During the Holiday Season in Litchfield Hills
2. Fall Festival Events from Around New England…
3. A New England Holiday and Christmas Season
4. Boston Bike Tours with Urban Adventours
5. A New England Tour to Suit Your Fall Foliage Tastes…