Rhode Island: Little state, big-leaf impact
Iconic: There is no more iconic foliage drive than that which ends in Newport. So how to get there? Start in Woonsocket on Route 146, taking time to grab a candy apple at Jaswell’s Farm, and continue through Providence for a double-dose of autumnal vistas and classic New England architecture. Then turn onto Route 114 and meander into Portsmouth for a leafy pedal aboard the Rail Explorers. Eventually you’ll end up in “America’s First Resort” for two archetypal leaf-peeps: a slow car crawl down Ocean Drive and a stroll along the Cliff Walk (which is actually maneuverable this time of year).
Overnight splurge: This is why you end in Newport. Book a room at Gurney’s for the party scene or Hotel Viking for a more adult evening (though the activity atop the rooftop deck is hardly a snoozefest). By MEAGHAN AGNEW