7 things to do in Massachusetts over a foliage weekend

Salem is one of Massachusetts' most popular destinations during the month of October. (Kate Fox)

Fall brings splendorous color and a myriad of activities to all of New England. In Massachusetts you’ll find trips and outings that everyone can enjoy. 

 Follow the Mohawk Trail — The Mohawk Trail (Route 2), located in the northern Berkshire Mountains, travels 37 miles from Greenfield in the east to North Adams at the western end. There are many points of interest as motorists pass through charming New England towns and countryside,. Stopping points include Rocky Mountain Park for hiking, biking, and birdwatching, the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls with its 500 varieties of flowers and shrubs, a zip line tour at Berkshire East in Charlemont, or a drive to the summit of Mount Greylock with its stunning views. www.mohawktrail.com

Pick an apple, a pumpkin, or two — North of Boston, in Ipswich, you’ll find Russell Orchards. Visit the 120-acre family-owned and operated farm for apple picking in September and October. While there, check out the winery with specialty fruit wines and hard ciders made right there with their own fruit. Sample a glass or a flight in their tasting room or take home a bottle to enjoy later. The traditional barnyard animals are friendly and happy to welcome visitors. www.russellorchards.com

Ride the rail on Cape Cod — The fall is a wonderful time for biking – clear, crisp weather with lots of color. The Cape Cod Rail Trail runs 25 miles through six charming towns on the Cape. Being a former railroad bed, it is relatively flat and takes you along beaches and marshes as well as through the Cape Cod National Seashore. Enter and exit the trail at many different points along the way to stop, rest, or sightsee at various points of interest. www.capecodbikeguide.com/railtrail.asp

Head into the big city for a day  — The city of Boston offers many opportunities for all ages and interests. The many museums —  including the Arnold Arboretum, Museum of Science, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Museum of Fine Arts, and New England Aquarium — are all in or near the downtown area. For more active or outdoor activities there’s the Freedom Trail and USS Constitution, both giving a close-up look at colonial history. The Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord and Lexington is the site of the opening battles of the American Revolution. The amphibious Boston Duck Boats send you on a land and water tour of the city visiting many famous landmarks. www.boston.gov/visiting-boston

Return to the days of the Renaissance — King Richard’s Faire is billed as THE New England Renaissance Festival, and rightfully so. Located in Carver and taking place on weekends in September and October, the fair brings entertainers of all sorts — from minstrels, acrobats and fire-eaters to knights in jousting tournaments and beggars competing in the mud. Medieval food and cocktails, wine and brews keep you fed and your thirst quenched. Artisans display and sell period pieces of leather products, footwear, swords, and ceramics. www.kingrichardsfaire.net

Become part of the tradition at the Topsfield Fair — The Topsfield Fair runs Sept. 29 – Oct. 9. It’s a traditional agricultural fair with highlights that include a giant pumpkin weigh-off, parades, a rabbit show, horse and oxen pulling, farm day, the Budweiser Clydesdales, a tractor pull, a demolition derby, and the Flying Wallendas high-wire act…just to name a few. There’s also food, a midway, and farm animals. www.topsfieldfair.org

Spook yourself out in Salem — October brings Salem Haunted Happenings to this town on the North Shore where the Witch Trials took place in the late-1600s. The month-long Halloween celebration includes ghost tours, haunted harbor cruises, psychic readings, a costume ball, parade, haunted houses, a jack-o-lantern festival, magic shows and mind reading, and street festivals. www.hauntedhappenings.org