If you want to see the Fall properly and become a true ‘Leaf Peeper’, I suggest flying into Boston and either spend a couple of nights there (or tag it on the end) and then head up the coast to Acadia Nat Park in Maine, from there head inland through NH and into VT, before returning to Bos.
In short, Boston is a really cool city (I prefer it to NY) and you can easily spend time there looking at shops, seeing the sights and eating some great food.
Take your bike. Some of the best riding EVER exists in VT. If you like good food, micro brewed beer, friendly locals, mountains, lakes, rivers, forests, maple syrup and singletrack, then you will love the place.
If you want more specifics, try looking up VMBA, or on FBook: MTBVT. Failing that, I can recommend sights to see / places to eat / drink.
Enjoy!!