A love letter to the season we wait for all year — winding roads, warm donuts, and everything in between. There is a particular kind of anticipation that builds as the summer starts to wind down here at Shookhill Secret, and it’s for fall in New England. The moment that first crisp morning arrives, we start dreaming about winding mountain roads, orchards heavy with apples, and smell of something cinnamon-spiced coming out of the oven and our cooler weather wardrobe that has been packed away for months. Over the years we’ve shared so many of our fall favorites here on the blog, and we thought it was high time we gathered them all into one cozy, can’t-miss guide. The foliage road trip. If there is one thing New England does better than anywhere else, it’s autumn color (and lobster rolls). The best way to see Fall foliage is behind the wheel. Our favorite route starts in Boston, then winds up through the storybook town of Woodstock, Vermont, where we love checking into the Woodstock Inn and stocking up on picnic provisions at the Woodstock Farmers Market. From there, it’s on to Hanover, New Hampshire, home to Dartmouth College, with a quick detour across the river to the King Arthur Baking Company Store in Norwich for fresh bread, kitchen accessories and baking treats. The real showstopper, though, is the drive from Lincoln, New Hampshire, along the legendary Kancamagus Highway — sixty miles of fiery red, orange, and gold that practically demand you pull over every few miles. Don’t miss Sabbaday Falls, Lower Falls, the 1858 Albany Covered Bridge, and Fadden’s General Store & Sugarhouse for award-winning maple syrup. We always finish the loop with a night at the Omni Mt. Washington Hotel, where sunset drinks on the porch have become something of a tradition. New England fills up fast in October, so book your hotels early — the first two weeks of the month are typically peak color. Apple season and cider. No New England fall is complete without a trip to the orchard. We keep a running list of favorite varieties: Fuji for snacking, Honeycrisp when we want that perfect sweet-tart balance eaten fresh out of hand, Granny Smith for baking since they hold their shape beautifully in a pie, and Winesap for their rich, almost spiced flavor that’s wonderful cooked down into applesauce. And then, of course, there’s the cider — fresh-pressed, sipped cold on a warm afternoon or warmed gently with cinnamon sticks and cloves once the evenings turn cool. We’ve even dabbled in making our own hard cider for sipping fireside with friends. Donuts, naturally. You cannot talk about New England fall without talking about apple cider donuts. We make ours from scratch, rolled in a cinnamon-sugar coating while still warm, and they never last long. If you’re near an orchard this season, seek out a fresh batch, still warm from the fryer — it’s one of the great simple pleasures of the season. Great hikes. Fall is the very best time to get out on the trails, when the air turns crisp and the views turn spectacular. We love the easy, family-friendly walk to Diana’s Baths Waterfall in North Conway, New Hampshire, and for something a bit more ambitious, the trails up Mt. Washington reward you with sweeping views in every direction. Further north in Maine, hiking Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park for sunrise is an experience we recommend to everyone at least once (reservations recommended). Cozy at home. Fall isn’t only about the road trips. It’s also about the first fire of the season, mugs of coffee on cool mornings, cider based cocktails by the fire in the evening, and the simple joy of decorating the house with warm green and rich brown tones along with pumpkins, and mums to welcome in the season. Put it all together, and you have everything we love most about autumn: the drives, the orchards, the hikes, the sweaters and the quiet cozy moments at home in between. We hope this inspires your own perfect fall. What’s your must-do fall tradition? We’d love to hear about it.
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The Perfect Long Weekend in the Hamptons
Our Complete Getaway Guide A last, lingering toast to summer — bakery pastries, golden hour picnics, and a lighthouse at the end of the road. There is something wonderful about planning one final, proper getaway for the last official weekend of summer, and we can’t think of a better place to do it than the Hamptons. This year, we’re sharing every detail of our own long weekend itinerary, from what we packed to where to sleep to where to watch the sun go down, so you can put together a getaway of your own without any of the guesswork. Where to stay. For lodging, we have two favorites depending on the mood you’re after. If you want something polished and easy, we recommend the Hilton in Sag Harbor, right in the heart of a village that still feels like the classic East Coast. If you’re leaning toward something a little more tucked away and cottage-like, book one of the cottages at The Roundtree in Amagansett — they’re charming, private, and exactly the kind of place that makes a weekend feel like a proper escape. Mornings. Start every morning at Carissa’s the Bakery. It is, quite simply, a wonderful spot to grab a pastry and coffee, or if the day calls for something cooler, a cold drink and a full brunch. If the weather cooperates, sit outside — there is nothing better than a warm morning, a good pastry, and nowhere in particular to be. Beach days. Naturally, a Hamptons weekend calls for time at the beach, and we spend plenty of it simply relaxing in the sun. But our favorite tradition is packing provisions for a golden hour picnic once the beach begins to clear out. There’s a particular quality to the light and the pace of that hour — the day seems to slow down just a little, as though it wants to hold onto the last moments of summer sun a bit longer. For provisions, we always stop at Round Swamp, Loaves & Fishes, or Citarella Gourmet Market — any one of the three will set you up with everything you need for a beautiful spread on the sand. A drive to the lighthouse. No Hamptons weekend feels complete without a drive out to Montauk Point Lighthouse. The views out over Block Island Sound and the Atlantic Ocean are the kind that make you stop scrolling and just look for a while. It’s a lovely afternoon detour, and well worth the drive to the very tip of the island. Dinner on the way back. On your way back into the Hamptons, stop for a casual dinner at LUNCH, or if you’re after something even more relaxed — think flip-flops and a picnic table — pull over at Clam Bar in Amagansett. Both are exactly the kind of easy, unfussy dinner a beach day deserves. Window shopping. The Hamptons offer no shortage of wonderful shopping, but for a slightly less crowded, classic East Coast feel, we recommend strolling the streets of Sag Harbor. It has all the charm without quite as much of the crowd, and it makes for a lovely, slow afternoon. A special dinner. For the one truly special dinner of the weekend, make a reservation at Vine Street Cafe. Yes, it requires taking the ferry across to Shelter Island, but this wonderful little spot — highly regarded by longtime patron Ina Garten herself — is absolutely worth the trip. Consider it the perfect way to close out the weekend. Put it all together and you have a long weekend that honors summer properly: good food, good light, a little sand between your toes, and a lovely lingering beach day sunset before the season turns. We can’t think of a better way to send summer off.