While post-Halloween often signals a shift to holiday season, the Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE) continue to celebrate pumpkins, ghosts and fall fun throughout November. Hayrides, pumpkin patches and Witches Balls give rise to fall food tours, farm stands and fabulous fall foods on menus throughout November at DINE’s 10 member inns. Follow along for some of the Halloween hilarity and late fall highlights available during your romantic getaways to DINE country.
At Massachusetts Inns
Travel & Leisure Magazine listed Chatham in the#4 position for America’s Best Towns for Halloween, citing the Chatham Merchants’ Association’s Oktoberfest & Pumpkin People in the Park for great reasons to visit. Late fall here still features brisk beach walks, late fall foliage still in high gear and plenty of pumpkin-spiced options for dining.
Hayrides will be featured at The Deerfield Inn on Halloween from noon to 3:00pm on Oct 30th and 31st. Private 30-minute wagon rides by Muddy Brook Farm on Old Main Street in Historic Deerfield are $50 up to 4 people and $5 for each additional person up to 8. Pair your hayride with Champney’s Witches’ Ball complete with live kid’s music by Tom Carroll on Sunday, October 31, 2021 from 11:30 AM 1:00 PM. Come dressed in your Halloween Best for a Halloween buffet of Lumberjack Fingers, Eyeball Pasta, Ghost Pizza, Toxic Waste Mac & Cheese, Vampire Blood Tomato Soup, Mummy Meatballs, Worms in Dirt, and a variety of the Witches’ Favorite Cupcakes. Reservations are suggested 413-774-5587 and the cost is $15 for children $20 for adults.
Salem is close enough to hear all the Halloween hilarity from the next town over. This year, skip the Halloween crowds and come to see Salem’s year round witchy attractions any time during the late fall. The Salem Witch Museum attracts visitors year-round, offering plenty of insight into the trials along with insight into modern day witchcraft, and it’s so close to the Harbor Light Inn.
At New Hampshire inns
Located in the heart of the Lakes Region of New Hampshire, and close to the Manor on the North End of Lake Winnipesaukee, Moulton Farm practices sustainable agriculture and is dedicated to providing the highest quality fruits and vegetables. Come here for everything from fresh turkeys at Thanksgiving to baked goods, but you can’t go home without tasting their signature “Cider Bellies.” People travel across New England just for these Cider Bellies delectable cider doughnuts, so make the trip from the Manor, and while you’re there pick up a pie for the Thanksgiving table too.
No need to go to the pumpkin patch to see a wide variety of ourpumpkins, gourds and squash. At Chesterfield Inn, pumpkins of all sizes and shapes adorn the inn. Yoda poses with them and they’re throughout the property adorning walkways and steps for your own selfies too.
At Maine inns
Halloween in Kennebunkport and Kennebunk is freakishly fun, not only for kids but also for kids-that-never-grew-up too. Take drive around town to check out the crazy, scary, silly scarecrows and pumpkins for a hint of how spirited the Kennebunks can be. A highlight is spotting the local “Sand Witches of The Kennebunks” – wicked fun women dressed in witchy attire pub crawling about The Kennebunks. Fear not however, these are Good Witches, who do good deeds locally all year round. During Halloween they kick up their brooms and heels to celebrate! Plus, Kennebunk’s Summer Street is decorated in the dark on old Hallow Eve, then you’re in for a treat … and a trick or two. It’s all easily accessible from the Inn at English Meadows – don’t forget your costume! Click here for a full rundown of events for 2021 Halloween in Kennebunk & Kennebunkport.
When staying at the Camden Maine Stay Inn, a trip to nearby Cellardoor Winery, open Friday through Sunday by reservation, is on everyone’s list. In the fall, this beautiful vineyard is particularly enticing and tastings take on a “boo”tiful bouquet. This five-and-a-half-acre vineyard offers estate vintages including Bulles Rosé and Blanc de Blancs; both produced using traditional méthod bottle fermentation; and dessert wines, Vin Doux Naturel Marquette and Late Harvest Frontenac Gris. In 2018 the vineyard produced Maine’s first-ever Ice Wine. Enjoy a curated wine tasting then browse their fabulous gift store offering a unique collection of gifts for the holidays for the wine lover on your list.
At Vermont Inns
While the inn closes for fall cleaning the first few weeks of November, return later in the month and enjoy one of the carefully created culinary tours throughout Vermont compliments of innkeeper, Leslie. Directions to farms and factories offering everything from cheese to ice cream are included on these tours. You’ll find a plethora of options to take home for your Thanksgiving or holiday tables not to mention unique gifts for those hard to shop for people on your list.
Fall is featured throughout October and November on the menu at Phelps Barn Pub. From Pumpkin seeds to their famous cider margarita and the 14th Star Maple Breakfast Stout on tap, you find a fortress of fall flavors on the menu here. Who says that fall flavors have to end when the leaves turn? Not here in one of Vermont’s best culinary inns!
At Connecticut Inns
This Halloween, bring the family along or become a kid yourself while visiting the nearby Mystic Aquarium. Even without the Halloween fun, this is a must-do trip while staying at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina. A traveling exhibit at Mystic Aquarium features Halloween decorations covering the campus throughout October, but only on October 30th and 31st are the sweet treats included. Snack on candy while looking for the spookiest animals, including eels, newts, and most of all, the Halloween crab! Remember to dress up in a costume and pack your reusable, eco-friendly, trick-or-treat bag. This event is free with admission into the Aquarium.
Don’t forget to book directly with your favorite DINE inn when you come for your late fall getaway.
In Massachusetts: Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod
In Vermont: Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton
In New Hampshire: Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield
In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic
In Maine: Camden Maine Stay Inn in Camden and Inn at English Meadows in Kennebunkport.
Top photo: Fall meadow view at Chesterfield Inn.