I spent a day driving around upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire. This year was not an award winning year for autumn colors -- rather than a "snap" the brought all of the trees to color at the same time, the change was more gradual. Some areas had beautiful, bright trees while others would have winter ready bare trees. I, of course, took pictures .

Vermont seemed to have more farms and less small businesses. It could have been the route I took, but things changed as I drove from New York into Vermont. The NY side had stores and shops while in Vermont, there were farmer's markets. The towns in Vermont seemed more upscale, less rundown and more relating to the colonial past. NY seemed to be more aligned with the industrial growth of the early 1900s. I have no clue what was different in the two states -- taxes? land use planning? It would be an interesting study.

Driving through the little towns of New England is a very quaint experience for this west coast guy. Peterstown, Hoosick Falls, Bremmington, Hollinsburg -- all towns laid out before the car had taken over the land. On the west coast, we were mostly laid out after the automobile and that has changed the scale and number of towns.

Driving through the little towns of New England is a very quaint experience for this west coast guy. Peterstown, Hoosick Falls, Bremmington, Hollinsburg -- all towns laid out before the car had taken over the land. On the west coast, we were mostly laid out after the automobile and that has changed the scale and number of towns.

State route number change as you drive across state lines. Route 7 in NY turns into 9 in Vermont and then you take a different 7 south into New Hampshire. All a local naming scheme.

Vermont has a lot of stone fences.

The old houses are either immaculately kept up or they are falling apart with paint peeling off and overgrown plants around.