Living in Maine, we’re fortunate to always be just steps away from natural beauty. But there’s something extra special about our state in autumn. When we think about fall, our minds go to the mountains — to quiet country roads and trees ablaze in their most brilliant colors; to silver peaks in seas of gold and red and amber; to quaint towns that are as inviting as a hot mug of cider. Our minds go to Bethel and neighboring Newry, two Western Maine towns at the foot of the White Mountains. Our pick for the perfect way to spend a fall day.

Downtown Bethel is everything a quaint village should be.
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
Lined with locally owned restaurants, inns, galleries and shops.
Take in the early 19th-century architecture of the Broad Street Historic District.
Doug Kerr / Flickr
AlexiusHoratius / Wikimedia Commons
Doug Kerr / Flickr
These homes and churches are all beautifully preserved and were listed to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.
Go treasure hunting in one of Bethel's many antique shops.
David Wilson / Flickr
Rafael Medina / Flickr
Digging through these shops is like taking a step back in time. You never know what you'll find!
Answer the call of the countryside.
Pankaj Kaushal / Flickr
Ernest McGray, Jr. / Flickr
If you go now, you can enjoy the sprawling surround of the distant White Mountains in colors that are almost unreal.

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Get some local flavor.
Russell Sprague / Flickr
Russell Sprague / Flickr
DiCocoa's Cafe and Bakery, set in an 1800s Victorian farmhouse, is the place to stop for fresh-made everything: bagels, eclairs, donuts and other delectable munchies. By the way, have you SEEN those donuts? 119 Main Street.
And then get some more local flavor.
Funky Red Barn / Facebook
Funky Red Barn / Facebook
The Funky Red Barn is funky and red and, yes, a barn. It also serves as a hotspot for the apres-ski crowd in the winter (Sunday River is close by), and for the carnivore crowd all the time with their famous slabs of prime rib (the best in Western Maine). 19 Summer Street.
While you can easily spend a whole day enjoying Bethel, you'd be missing out if you didn't head just north to Newry for some time in the incredible wild of Grafton Notch State Park.
The B’s / Flickr
ChrisDag / Flickr
The B’s / Flickr
Bob Travis / Flickr
Because outdoors is where fall is truly at its best.

We know that everybody has a different definition of “day trip” depending on where they live. So let us know where you love to spend your beautiful fall afternoons!

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