See the Fall Colors by Train.

Amtrak has just announced another Autumn Express excursion train, a scenic foray into New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Here’s a quote from their promotional blurb:
 
After passing underneath the Hudson River we stop at Newark, NJ, for a transition from electric to diesel power. We then head west along the former Lehigh Valley Railroad including a trip thru the famous Musconetcong Tunnel opened in 1875. After crossing the Delaware River into Pennsylvania, we’ll follow the Lehigh River to Allentown before we take you through the scenic farm country of Pennsylvania. We’ll travel the former route of the Queen of the Valley passenger train as far as Harrisburg that hasn’t seen regularly scheduled passenger service since 1963.
 
From Harrisburg, the train will go to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, then back to Philadelphia and on up to New York City. The train will operate on October 29 and 30. The tab is $149 per adult.
 
amtrak_fall
 But, hey! We’re also coming to the time of year for the amazing Fall colors in New England and Upper New York State, and four Amtrak trains take you right through the most spectacular areas:

  • The Adirondack, runs up the Hudson River from New York City to Albany, then turns almost due north to Montreal, passing through Saratoga Springs and Ticonderoga. This train is my personal favorite.
  • The Ethan Allen is a great second choice. It follows much of the Adirondack’s route, but stays to the east after Saratoga Springs and takes you up to Rutland, Vermont.
  • The Downeaster is another great choice, running north from Boston through parts of New Hampshire all the way up to Brunswick, Maine. This is a great day trip because it’s a comfortable round trip with still some time for lunch and some shopping in Brunswick.
  • The Maple Leaf, also originating in New York, swings west after Albany passing through western New York State and terminating in Toronto.

 I do not miss the miserable New England winters or the baking hot summers, but even after more than 50 years of living in Hawaii, there is nothing like the autumn season in New England. It’s absolutely incomparable . . . and what could possible be better than seeing it by train?