The JQ List: Luxury Travel, Food & Style from Boston
October 2026
The Fall Edition
Travel · Taste · Style
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Cover Story
Cashmere, Properly: Buying, Washing and Storing
Read the cover story: Cashmere, Properly: Buying, Washing and StoringHow to judge cashmere quality, wash it at home, deal with pilling and store it so it lasts for years.
The Latest
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A Luxury Guide to Salem in October (Without the Crowds)
How to do Salem in October well: when to go, where to stay, where to eat and what to see…
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Dressing for the Symphony, Ballet and Opera Season
Most concert halls no longer have a dress code. Here is how to dress for a night at the symphony,…
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Castle Hotels in Europe: What Staying in One Is Really Like
The reality of castle hotels in Europe, from stairs and room differences to remote settings, plus the historic castles and…
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A Week in a Carry-On: The Packing Method That Works
How to fit a week of clothes into a carry-on without crushing everything: planning, folding, cubes and the rules that…
From the Editor
October is when travel gets interesting again. The summer crowds have gone home, New England turns, and the Riviera settles into its best season. This month’s issue follows that rhythm: my picks against the 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, a New England foliage route done properly, a walk through Boston inspired by my new book, Historic Maps of Boston, and the best fall weekends within easy reach of home.
JQ Louise
The Season
The Fall Edit
A guide to the season: foliage drives and cozy New England weekends, the Riviera after the crowds and the trips worth booking before the holidays.
At the Table
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Pain d’Épices: Dijon’s Honey Spice Bread for Autumn Afternoons
A dense, fragrant loaf of honey, rye and warm spices that only improves after a few days: the gingerbread of…
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Cassoulet: The Slow-Cooked Pride of Castelnaudary
White beans, duck confit, pork and garlic sausage baked slowly under a golden crust: the great Sunday dish of the…
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Apfelstrudel: The Viennese Coffeehouse Classic at Home
Paper-thin pastry wrapped around apples, rum-soaked raisins and buttered breadcrumbs: the Apfelstrudel of the Viennese coffeehouse.
Close to Home
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Nantucket After the Crowds: An Autumn Guide
A guide to Nantucket in the fall: cranberry season, the best year-round hotels, what stays open, fall events and why…
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The Off-Season Cape: Why October Is the Best Month on Cape Cod
Why Cape Cod in October is the best month of the year: quiet beaches, Wellfleet OysterFest, where to stay, what’s…
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The Best Fall Weekend Escapes from Boston for 2026
My ranked list of the best fall weekend escapes from Boston for 2026, all within three hours: the Berkshires, Newport,…
Editor’s Picks
- 6 Reasons Mayflower Inn & Spa, Auberge Collection Is New England’s Ultimate Summer Escape
- Dinner at Le Jardin at Hotel de Russie: Rome’s Most Beautiful Secret Garden
- Why Kateka Is the South African Safari Escape to Book Before the End of the Year
- Insider’s Key: Hôtel Belles Rives, Cap d’Antibes
- A Luxury River & Rooftop Journey Through Rome
The Library
Historic Maps of Boston
JQ Louise’s new book explores how Boston became the city it is, told through the art of cartography.
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