Franconia Notch, north of Lincoln, tends to peak around October 1st so don't get there too late. If you like the fading grand resort idea, stay at the Mt. Washington Hotel in Bretton Woods, which gave its name to the system of exchange rates that prevailed into the 1970s. It is a long 6-hour drive from Boston to Acadia National Park in Maine. Allow a week for the Maine Coast and Acadia or give up on the idea and come back another year. Wide angle lens for all-around work.
Telephoto lens to isolate and compress elements.
If you were a real stud like I used to be, you'd take a medium or large format camera. A woman sued because she wanted her car registered in New Hampshire but wanted a plate without the bellicose motto. The courts told her that she was out of luck. Anyway, you don't need PhotoShop to create this absurd image. Just pull over at the first stop off I-93N from Boston.