Fall

Travel

2023 New England Fall Foliage Road Trip Preliminary Itinerary

And just like that it’s already time for our 3rd annual mother daughter Fall foliage trip to New England. There truly is nothing like it especially being a Texas girl at heart who has never had true seasons. The changing leaves at their peak colors take my breath away every year.

This year instead of trying several new towns like last year we decided we wanted to do a quick trip and go back to our all time favorite spots from the past two years.

The best form of transportation for the trip once you are up there is to rent a car. Thankfully everything is fairly close to each other so you can pack a lot in in a short amount of time. It’s typically more cost effective to pick up the car and drop it off at the same location so we fly in and out of Boston Logan International Airport. My only piece of advise for driving is to do it while it’s light out

Day 1- Stowe, VT
Day 2- Woodstock, VT
Day 3- Woodstock, NH
Day 4- Kennebunkport, ME
Day 5- Boston, MA

ITINERARY

Day 1: Stowe, VT– Stowe, VT is the furthest drive that we will do so that’s why we are flying in early and heading straight there. Out of all of the places I’ve been in New England, there’s just something about Stowe (even as touristy as it is) that I just love. Mama didn’t get to do this one two years ago so I insisted we go back! It’s pretty expensive to stay right in town but if you’re only there for one night, WORTH IT.

  • Stay- Airbnb right in town (The Lodge at Spruce Peak is another fantastic option)
  • Must do: Drive through Smuggler’s Notch, take a gondola ride up Spruce Peak and hike the trails (beginner level), walk around town and grab coffee at Black Cap, grab apple cider and donuts at Cold Hollow Cider Mill on way out of town

Day 2: Woodstock, VT– Not to be confused with Woodstock, NH (although we head there next), Woodstock, VT is another more popular destination that is 100% worth the hype. The town looks like it’s out of a hallmark movie! Woodstock, VT is about an hour and a half away from both from Stowe, VT and Woodstock, NH.

  • Stay- The Shire Hotel (Woodstock Inn is another fantastic option)
  • Must do: walk around town and grab a picture in front of Middle Covered Bridge, drinks at Au Comptior, dinner at Prince and the Pauper or The Red Rooster, visit Sugarbush Farms for cheese and maple syrup

Day 3: Woodstock, NH– This is our only new destination this year and it is purely because I wanted to stay at Lumen and also do the train dinner. We’ve tried for two years to do this but it books up SO far in advance. We somehow grabbed an early dinner reservation this year so I’m super excited. We plan on using Woodstock really just as a place to stay and then head onto the pretty leaves further north.

  • Stay- Lumen Nature Retreat
  • Must do: grab a reservation for The Cafe Lafayette Dinner Train (books months in advance)
  • Near by: Artist Bluff hiking trail (most stunning view on top), Flume Gorge, Kancamagus Highway (56 mile stretch of THE most beautiful foliage you will see), Bear Notch Rd., Rocky Gorge Scenic Area

Day 4: Kennebunkport, ME– While Stowe and Woodstock are places that I’m sure are beautiful year round, they are special to me for their Fall charm. On the other hand, Kennebunkport is a place I’d love to go year round for a different kind of charm. It’s less about the Fall foliage and more about a cute town on the coast of Maine. I joke that it’s the 30A/Rosemary Beach of the north 🙂

  • Stay- Airbnb (we typically stay in Kennebunk or a surrounding town since it’s cheaper and close by)
  • Must do: walk around town, grab a drink at Batson River Brewing & Distilling (always decorated so cute for fall), get a lobster roll and clam chowder at The Clam Shack
  • Near by: Nubble Lighthouse, Stonewall Kitchen York Company Store (they serve breakfast)

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Outfits

Quiet Luxury Fall Haul

Walmart just released some new Fall arrivals and they are so on trend wether you are trying to nail the quiet luxury trend or want to wear them into the office, I am thoroughly impressed with everything and definitely recommend taking a look! You can’t beat these prices and the quality is some of the best I’ve ever purchased from Walmart.

If you don’t know where to start looking, I recommend checking out the Free Assembly, Scoop and Time and Tru lines. All three offer very on trend items at an affordable price. I’ve gone ahead and rounded up some of my favorite finds at the moment below. Simply click on any of the images that you wish to shop!

*Thank you Walmart for sponsoring this post. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Outfits

Sweater Season with Walmart

Walmart Fall Fashion

Walmart Fall Fashion

Walmart Fall Fashion

Walmart Fall Fashion

With the cooler temps rolling in, we are officially in “sweater season”. That being said, not every sweater is created equal. I only want the coziest sweaters. Any sort of itchy sweaters simply won’t do! Walmart has been absolutely killing it lately on the affordable sweaters so I’m rounding up a bunch of their new arrivals under $25! For sizing reference, their sizing typically runs very true to size. I am usually an XS in other retailers and do a size small in Walmart tops. This works perfectly for sweaters since I typically like them a little oversized. If you also like your sweaters a little oversized, I suggest sizing up!

*Thank you Walmart for sponsoring this post. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.*

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Outfits

Abercrombie 25% Off Sale Picks

Abercrombie Dresses

Abercrombie Fall Dresses

Abercrombie Fall Dresses

I’ve been waiting to share more new arrivals from Abercrombie until they went on sale and today is that day! Everything is 25% off (use code 14989) and some items are even double marked down so if you have anything in your cart, now is the time to check out! The above dress is the perfect dress for football games (comes in several colors) or any Fall photo opportunities. The below sweater dress is one of my favorites that I’ve found lately. It’s not too thick, is super stretchy and flattering on plus it can be worn as a midi skirt with a sweater over it. Sharing a few more of my favorite items right now at the end of this post.

Abercrombie Fall Dresses

Abercrombie Fall Dresses

Abercrombie Fall Dresses

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Outfits

Autumn and Winter Capsule Wardrobe

Autumn and Winter Capsule Wardrobe

I’ve had several requests over the years to do a seasonal capsule wardrobe and I’m so excited to be sharing my very first one. After years of buying pieces that just laid around in my closet all season long, I’ve narrowed down what I consider to be my most worn wardrobe staples. If you haven’t heard of the term capsule wardrobe, it is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that never go out of style augmented with a few seasonal or trendy pieces. So if you are trying to purge the excess in your closet and invest in pieces that you know you will get their money’s worth, look no further!

TOPS & COATS

The key to having a killer wardrobe starts here and it’s all about layers and mixing prints. Sweaters come a dime a dozen, so find a couple that you love. My two most worn in my closet are this v neck sweater that I can layer a striped tee or plaid button down under. It instantly takes your outfit to the next level without having to wear a coat. The second is this cowl neck sweater that is long enough to wear with leggings or can be front tucked into a pair of jeans.

When it comes to coats, moto jackets are my personal favorite. I own both the BlankNYC suede and leather moto jackets. I like that they are a more fitted coat, not too bulky and have a slight edgy look. If you are wanting to layer anything more than a long sleeve tee underneath, I suggest sizing up in these. If you are needing a jacket with more warmth, this is the best parka out there and comes in so many pretty colors.

BOTTOMS & DRESSES

This might be the easiest part of your wardrobe simply because there’s not a ton of options out there and you just need a few good basics that will go with everything. Invest in two great pairs of denim- a basic denim pair and a black denim. My two favorite denim brands that have lasted me years are Levi and Madewell. You’ll definitely want a pair of faux leather leggings in your wardrobe. They can be dressed up or down and be worn with everything from sneakers to over the knee boots.

When it comes to skirts, I suggest investing in dresses that can double as skirts to get maximum use out of your pieces. This sweater dress can be worn as is or paired with a sweater over top of it to make it look like a skirt. In addition to a good midi dress/skirt option, I always like having a suede mini skirt in my closet for date night or girl’s night out options. My favorite way to pair them is with a sweater and over the knee boots.

ACCESSORIES & SHOES

I’m not a big accessory gal myself so I don’t go overboard here. A wide brim hat and a couple of scarves should do the trick and go with every outfit. My favorite way to pair a plaid blanket scarf is with a striped tee. It’s always a fun way to mix patterns. As for a bag, I usually switch to a tote for the cooler months. I love the quality of this Madewell leather tote.

Now when it comes to Fall/Winter shoes and accessories there are really not many that you need. If you invest in one pair of shoes, it should most definitely be a pair of neutral booties that can go with everything- denim, leggings, skirts and dresses. My favorite pair this season are the Gigietta booties. I own them in two colors! Make sure to size up a half size. After booties, the other two pairs of shoes I would say are must haves is a pair of knee high boots and a statement pair of flats. I’m loving this snakeskin pair and love wearing them with solids and stripes for a little pattern play.

And if you are looking for style inspiration or a few different ways to wear these pieces, see below! I’d love to hear your feedback on my first capsule wardrobe! Can you see yourself wearing these pieces? Which were your favorites? Least favorites? Let me know if you’d want to see one for the Spring/Summer!

Autumn and Winter Capsule Wardrobe

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