DEEP in the heart of the New England region of the United States, I stood on a small wooden footbridge across a gently meandering stream strewn with water washed rocks, and marvelled at the masterful artistry of Mother Nature.

Nature's art gallery She had delicately mixed the paints of her palette into a hundred hues and coloured the trees and leaves in the valley in front of me, turning it into a canvas of beauty, which even Monet would admire.

Ash, birch, beech and giant poplar trees were painted washing glove yellow.

Oaks, maples and tupelos brightened the landscape with their shades of browns, russets and telephone-box reds.

Hickories were an Aussie-tan bronze, dogwoods a deep purple and sour woods a moody blue.

Mother Nature had also splashed millions of leaves with tints of orange, green and fiery crimson.

This jewel is in the state of Maine's Carrabassett Valley, in the shadow of the Bigelow Range, close to Flagstaff Lake and the Sugarloaf Mountain ski resort.

As I gazed at the rainbow coloured forest, my guide said:

"I cannot imagine there is scenery anywhere in the world more beautiful than this."

But picture-postcard scenes like this can be viewed in all the six states of New England - Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts - during autumn, or what many Americans call 'fall'.

Less sunlight and the cooler temperatures of autumn cause the green chlorophyll in leaves to move and mix with yellow and orange pigments in branches, trunks and roots to produce a myriad of brilliant colours.

Traces of iron, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and sugar found naturally in trees and other plant life merge with the pigments to produce the countless hues.

The best time to see the brilliant foliage depends on the weather leading up to the season, but normally it starts in late September and lasts until the end of October, often later.

Then, as the weeks pass, the autumn leaves fall and Old Man Winter inexorably marches in, his icy fingers laying an overcoat of frozen white over the mountain ranges, coastal landscapes, national parklands, valley woodlands and rivers and streams.

Charming villages and spouting whales I found the crisp, exhilarating not-too-hot, not-too-cold autumn weather in New England perfect for exploring and sightseeing along the rugged 2,400km coastline, dotted with scores of charming, quaint villages with clapboard houses and tall church spires.

As well as the web of scenic roads and rail links, there are bicycle paths and hiking routes, and signposts to guide visitors to the most outstanding tourist attractions.

Children will be thrilled with a whale-watching cruise from Boothbay Harbour. "Thar she blows" people will shout, when they see the water spout from their first whale. Dolphins, porpoises, sharks, sunfish and humpback whales are usually seen during the cruises.

Back on shore, families should experience a typical New England meal of fish chowder, lobster and pumpkin pie, with chilled local cider to drink.

There are many farms and orchards, which offer hay rides, corn-field mazes, apple-picking excursions and moose-tracking expeditions.

Ice creams, fairy tales and Freedom Trail All the states in New England, which is located in the north-eastern corner of the US, offer memorable sights.

Rhode Island is the smallest of the states, but its rocky coastline makes it one of the most picturesque.

In Providence, its capital, the best sights are the Capitol Building, with the second-largest self-supported dome in the world, and the perfectly maintained millionaire colonial mansions.

Connecticut is home to the Ivy League Yale University, and guided tours can be arranged. A replica American Indian village is an easy drive away.

Vermont is where junior high school friends Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield first made their ice cream. Kids will enjoy touring the giant Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory. When I went there, I was treated to their new flavour, Ver Monty Python.

New Hampshire - with over 80 per cent of its land forested - is ideal for autumn foliage viewing. Families can also go to Pickity Place and see the 200-year-old cottage, where they say Little Red Riding Hood used to live.

Do not miss New England's gateway city, Boston, in Massachusetts. It is one of the most welcoming tourist cities in the US: clean, friendly, bustling with museums, fine restaurants, bargain-price department stores, and above all, packed with history.

First-timers should follow the Freedom Trail, a 4km blood red line that traces the early history of the city, linking 16 sites that played a major part in the start of the American Revolution.

The Old North Church was used as a signalling point for the approach of British troops. Nearby is a statue of a horse and American patriot Paul Revere, who made a daring cross country horseback ride to warn citizens of impending British military action in 1775.

Since then, Boston has become home to Harvard University and the Boston Red Sox baseball team, and its inventors have given the world the telephone, anaesthetics, microwave ovens and seafood sticks.