Northeast Region in May

September through October owns the Northeast. Leaf-peeping season brings crowds, but those Instagram photos are real. Book accommodations months ahead for peak foliage weekends. Vermont's Green Mountains peak mid-October, while coastal Maine stretches the season into early November. Summer (June-August) means festival season — Boston's outdoor concerts on the Esplanade, Vermont's farmers markets overflowing with fresh produce, Maine's lobster festivals every weekend. But summer also means crowds and higher prices. Spring arrives late here — May still feels chilly, but fewer tourists and hotel deals make it worthwhile. Winter? Only if you ski. Vermont's powder is legendary, New Hampshire's Mount Washington tests serious hikers, but coastal cities turn gray and windy.