You want to go to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. North Conway is one town (has outlet shopping - TONS of great stores and restaurants, plus there is a quilt store somewhere nearby).
Trees start changing colors from North to the South, so I'm thinking end of Sept to the middle of October (but I wouldn't go later then that) should be a good time.
You can hike mountains (or drive up them) - oh you can have so much fun just enjoying the outdoors there!
http://www.visitwhitemountains.com/
http://www.newhampshire.com/foliage/foliage-change.aspx
http://www.nhtourguide.com/fall_foli...son_report.htm
Let me know if you want me to recommend some places to stay. We try to make a yearly trip to North Conway every summer.
Will you talk to Ginger about giving me a week off this summer? lol