While many of the reports from various national sources list past peak conditions in Southern New England and along the coast don't worry as this week peak conditions can be viewed from the New York border at Greenwich / Old Greenwich along the entire Connecticut coast into Rhode Island and at Cape Cod and the Islands. With warmer temperatures the leaves are in full color much later than in more "inland" regions however the rain and wind has taken somewhat of a toll on the leaves. Northeast Maine along the coast also has some great color from about Portland to points north to the Canadian maritimes.

 (weather.com)

Suggested routes:

Route 1 from Old Greenwich through downtown / Main Street Greenwich follow to Stamford City line.  (Westport along the river- great sites)

New Haven Green: Check out Claire's Cornucopia (local organic / vegetarean off the Green)

Route 1 from Guilford to Old Saybrook. (town Greens of Clinton (Liberty Green), Westbrook and Saybrook Pointe area offer great viewing.

Route 159 from Old Saybrook to Essex then onward to Deep River. (After here the colors are past peak). Check out Turtle Creek in Old Saybrook. A great hiking area!

Route 156 from Old Lyme to Hadlyme and Hamburg Cove

Route 1 from Old Lyme to East Lyme (check out Sill Lane off Rte 1 in Old Lyme)

Downtown Mystic & Noank (follow Route 1 through Groton or 95 to Mystic) (New park and landing in Noank on the water. Follow to Noank and head to the water)

Mystic/Stonington: Denison Pequotsepos area of Mystic. Pequot Trail & Al Harvey Road in Stonington and Stonington Borough.

Westerly, Rhode Island from Connecticut border at Pawcatuck to about Narragansett (although colors are limited here and viewing is less spectacular compared to the more foliated Connecticut shore).

Newport and Middletown, Rhode Island (take the loop around Bellaire, Cliff Walk and then to Fort Adams)

Nantucket downtown & Harbor Area (call ahead to ensure best quality of foliage)

Maine: 

Downtown Portland area (near the Exchange are more urban foliages available for viewing)

Freeport (LL Bean anyone?)

Route 1 from Freeport northward to Stonington



NB! Check out many local restaurants of the more "bistro" variety as they offer local produce that is in abundance such as pumpkin, squash, corn and other. Pumpkin Soup, Butternut Squash are at their best at this point so check it out. If the restaurant does list "grown local" or these varieties why not try something else?

Cheers for now and enjoy the foliage and get out of that car once in a while and walk around enjoying the finest in New England Foliage.

Check out www.thericharddouglashouse.com for a look at one of New London's great patriots Richard Douglas and his newly restored 1801 Gambrel.