Sounds as tho a little meandering is in order here!! What you need to do is once you get to Bangor take Rt 95 south to Newport and get off and pick up Rt 2 west. It wanders thru Maine and on into New Hampshire where you will be heading over to Mt. Washington and the road to the top! It's going to be a bit early for fall colors but it's still quite beautiful in the White Mtns.
I would then continue west on Rt. 2 into Vermont and finally over to Burlington and then south till you find a place to crossover to NY. From there wander thru the Adirondacks till you get to Syracuse.
Normally, I suggest people head down the coast of Maine but seeing as how you already live in an area as beautiful as our coast, sending you thru the inland area will be quite different for you.
Last year, I headed over to Cape Breton and upon getting there, realized that as beautiful as it is, I could have saved alot of time and gas by just driving around Acadia Nat Park which is 20 miles from me!!
Enjoy!!