New England Getaways

Summer may be just behind us, but East Coast resort towns continue to flourish into late autumn with sailing and swimming turning to leaf-peeping and harvest fairs. For visitors from the rest of the world, here's a visual guide to a few favorite East Coast gems.

Newport, Rhode Island

A leading Colonial port city by the mid-1700s, Newport began to take historic preservation seriously before the western half of the nation even came to exist. Its greatest era was the Gilded Age, so called

Reasons to go: Tour the historic mansions, formerly owned by industrial giants and coal magnates, many now preserved under historic trusts or donated as museums. Three not to miss: Marble House (pictured), the Vanderbilts' Breakers, and Rosecliff, built by a silver heiress the townspeople called simply "Tessie."

Fall brings fairs like the Newport Harvest Fair in September, and Harborfest Waterfront Block Party in early October.

Nantucket Island, Massachusetts

A former whaling port now turned historic summer colony, this little gem 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts has become a haven of the quietly wealthy and of celebrities wanting a break from the spotlight. All of Nantucket Island is on the National Register of Historic Places, so while you'll never be short of creature comforts and wonderful food, you'll be much happier staying in a charming inn and exploring on a bicycle than trying to find a W Hotel and a driver. Nantucket is just over two hours from Hyannisport by car ferry and one hour by high-speed ferry. Driving on-island is discouraged.

Reasons to go: The seasons are so dramatic on this island that three of them (spring, summer, fall) are considered events on their own. Fall on Nantucket is characterized by its gloriously colorful leaf-change and pleasant "Indian summer" temperatures. Spring season really kicks off with the annual Daffodil Festival Weekend in April, when three million daffodils come into bloom.

North Fork Long Island, New York

This is Long Island's wine region, located on the East End of Long Island, not so far from the Hamptons

Reasons to go: At harvest season, wine buffs can sign up for Harvest Wine Salons — short intro-to-viticulture classes which take place Saturdays in September at different wineries. September and December bring Vine University, a two-part intensive course in at-home winemaking. See liwines.com for information on these and other events.

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Lake Placid / Adirondacks, New York

People who haven't spent much time in New York are often heard to inquire, "What are the Adirondacks?" thinking that perhaps the name refers to a collection of villages like the Hamptons. In fact, the Adirondack Region covers six million acres of upstate New York. It's a wilderness area and

Reasons to go: History is made exciting in Lake Placid township through a variety of experiences including Garrison Ghost Tours at Fort Ticonderoga and French & Indian War reenactments at Crown Point. Charter a small craft and fish, sunbathe, or explore the lakeshore.

There are multiple marinas, and many vacation rentals and hotels have boat-up docks.

Litchfield, Connecticut

Located right where the tri-state suburbs overlap with New England, Litchfield County meets many people's happy medium between a "scene" and a retreat. There are a lot of people out here who commute to New York for work, and even picturesque scenes like the one here are more ritzy than

Reasons to go: Harvest season brings a series of old-fashioned country fairs and farm festivities to this admittedly gentrified region. A dozen or so are scattered throughout Litchfield County. Bring the kids or your friends for a day of tasting, handicraft shopping and mingling with the real farmers who grow all that great local/regional/sustainable produce you normally only see in Whole Foods.

Stowe, Vermont

Along with most of the other beauties in this gallery, Stowe comes into full-color glory in fall, with the turning of the autumn leaves. But then, right when the beach resorts shutter up in preparation for off season, this town prepares for the winter ski season. Between the snow at Stowe Mountain Resort, the "Von Trapp of the New World" aesthetics of the village and the location that's so convenient to East Coast city folk, Stowe is probably more popular in the winter than in the summer — which is why it's styled the "winter sports capital of the East."

Reasons to go: Get out in the wilderness for fishing, hiking, and in fall, a swirl through the autumn leaves. The Toll Road is a great scenic drive.