No doubt about real maple syrup vs anything fake. I just can't do that crap anymore. After making my first batch 2 years ago, I went on a trip and the continental breakfast had waffles with maple flavored crap - couldn't even make it past a single taste, not worth it.
I will say this, the effort is more in the setup. After you have the fire going and the sap boiling it's a lot f sit around and watch a fire, and drink a lot. This year I mentioned we had friend up to "help" It was a blast. I think between 3+ of us (one of the group only lightly drank), we probably killed a six pack plus a 6 pack of wine too. Needless to say the hangovers we gnarly, but totally worth it.
Fall foliage trip - highly recommended, just find a place that has fewer people. The places that draw massive crowds:
Franconia Notch - primarily Artist's Bluff - the place has a great view, but damn if that place isn't overrun on the weekends (we literally drive past this on the way to our place in Vermont)
https://www.unionleader.com/nh/about_nh/artists-bluff-an-easy-hike-amazing-views-and-an-instagram-hit/article_b7a40628-28f2-11ef-94c7-bf96e8752590.html
Woodstock, VT - this is a beautiful area, but in the fall so many leaf seekers make it a nightmare, this barn is supposedly the most photographed fall foliage place ever
I was staying down the road from this place in April 2021 and we had a freak snow storm that gave us this picture, but with snow.
The Kank (aka the Kancamagus Highway) is a great way to see the foliage, but in season 34 miles might take 3 hours, so I would avoid it.
My advice - hit Littleton, NH or better, hop over to St. Johnsbury, VT and start there. They are very well mountainous and will let you see the leaves.