Fall Foliage
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Fall is the time when the world is in transition, moving from the green of summer to the vivid colors of the fall. The sun is bright and warm. The shadows are dark and deep. The earth smells old, moist and mossy. It’s that cider and donuts time of the year when pumpkins, gourds and dried cornstalks decorate porches. Fall is a romantic time of the year. It is a good time to take a long weekend in the country and maybe a night at an old inn. Get outdoors and enjoy the crisp cool air before winter takes over! Here is a listing of some of the best places to view the fall foliage and some of these places may be very near to you, making this an economical as well as enjoyable getaway. USA Arkansas – Seward Highway Arizona – Coconino National Forest California – Inyo National Forest California 1 Colorado – Gunnison National Forest Aspen Take a ride on the ski lift or ride a horse out into the mountains. No matter how you travel you’ll find Aspen to be amazing in the fall! Connecticut – Litchfield Hills Get in your car and drive Rt #7 to see the best colors in Connecticut, but seriously folks, the whole state is a wonderland! Old Mystic Georgia – Sea Islands Louisiana – Old Spanish Trail Maine - Camden The White Mountains National Forest Washington County Massachusetts – Cape Cod The Berkshires Mohawk Trail Travel the Mohawk Trail to see the fall colors and don’t miss The Natural Bridge! Walden Park State Reservation Bash – Bish Falls State Park Salem Shelburne Falls
Michigan – Brockway Mountain Drive Tahquamenon Falls Sleeping Bear Dunes Holland State Park Minnesota – North Shore Drive Missouri – The Mark Twain National Forest Lake of the Ozarks Montana – Beartooth Highway
New Hampshire – The Appalachian Trail Crawford Notch Rt #302 out of Crawford Notch is a great road to take to view the fall foliage. The White Mountains National Forest New York – Naples If you are driving through Naples be sure to stop for some Grape Pie! Hudson River Valley Catskill Mountains Finger Lakes Letchworth State Park Adirondack High Mountains
North Carolina – Pisgah National Forest
Oregon – Williamette National Forest Pennsylvania – More covered bridges then any other place on earth! Need I say more? Allegheny National Forest South Dakota – Custer Scenic Byway Texas – Lost Maples State Natural Area Utah – Zion National Park Scenic Byway Vermont – Green Mountains National Forest Plymouth Shelbourne Underhill Essex Time your drive through Essex so that you can stop at the Vermont Sheep and Wool Festival. It’s a real treat! Brattleboro to Newport Take I -91. Just because it’s an interstate it doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful. Readsboro to Newport Rt #100 has great foliage and great shops! Bennington Wisconsin – Kettle Moraine State Forest Great River Road Door County Cedarburg Appleton Plan your trip so that you arrive in Appleton for the Oktoberfest! Bayfield The Apple Fest is a must. Prairie du Chien Lake Geneva Wisconsin Dells The Dells are beautiful and you can relax and enjoy the Autumn Harvest Festival too! Chequamegon – Nicolet National Forest Wyoming – Beartooth Highway
Skyline Drive / Blue Ridge Parkway Starting at Front Royal, Virginia and running 105 miles south to Rockfish Gap, Virginia, Skyline Drive boasts 75 overlooks that will take your breath away. Don’t miss Big Meadows! The speed limit is 35 miles an hour, but you’ll not be going that fast in peak season. The drive will be crowded, but it is well worth your time. For those with campers, Mary’s Rock Tunnel has a height of 12’8”. The Appalachian Trail The Appalachian Trail stretches 2175 from the mountains of Maine to Georgia and it is the most hiked trail in the world. It takes 5,000,000 adult footsteps to hike the entire trail so take an extra pair of shoes! The trail starts at Mt. Katahdin in Baxter State Park, Maine. It travels along the Appalachian ridge line and ends at Springer Mountain in the Chattahoochee National Forest of north Georgia. In the fall it is a good idea to start at the northern end and work your way south. The colors of fall will follow right along with you and you’ll see some of the most amazing scenery in North America. CANADA Alberta – Johnston’s Canyon New Brunswick – Fundy Coastal Drive This coastal drive will give you a beautiful view of the fall foliage and the sea too! Leave early and find a little out of the way inn for lunch. Nova Scotia – Cape Breton Island Take the Cabot Trail from Camp Breton along the northern shore for some of grandest foliage in Canada. Kejimkujik National Park Ontario – Algonquin Park Located near Toronto, this 7,725 sq. kilometer park is a wonder to behold. Whether you travel by hiking or canoe you’ll have a great time and see some beautiful scenery too. Agawa Canyon Trip Ride the Algona Central Railroad from Sault Ste Marie into northern Ontario for a spectacular show of fall foliage. Niagara Parkway Follow the Niagara River from Queenston to Niagara on the Lake. This was one of Winston Churchill’s favorite places to visit. Have a glass of Niagara wine while you are there. The Bruce Peninsula This portion of the 500 mile long Bruce Trail is a splendor during the fall foliage season. The fall colors are enhanced by the water views. Some of these trees are over 1,000 years old. Prince Edward Island (PEI) – The warm waters of the Gulf of the St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Straight give PEI a surprisingly moderate climate. The foliage period is longer here and you can enjoy the fall colors into a later date then in other parts of Northeastern North America. Camping here is a pleasure as the forests are bear-free. Quebec - Laurentian Mountains Sugar Maples prevail here and so does real maple syrup. Mont – Tremblant See the Symphony of Colours Festival and enjoy the food, drink and fun!
Rail Tour – Toronto – Montreal – Quebec City - Halifax Via Rail has a special 6 night rail trip that will take you across eastern Canada and through some of the finest fall color you will see anywhere. Europe
Germany – The Romantic Road is a wonderful place for leaf peeping and a romantic drive. Romania – Bucharest The parks in Bucharest offer beautiful foliage while the city is alive with art and culture. Peles castle The spender of the country side and one of the most beautiful castles in Europe! Dracula’s Castle The history is not so glamorous but the views are superb. Sweden – Skane Skane in the south of Sweden has beautiful color for leaf peeping. Switzerland – Vogellisi path to Sillerenbuhl is a mountain path that runs by mountain springs, alpine meadows and sculptures that line the path. It is a wonderful blend of Alpine beauty and art. The ridge path from Gotthard Pass to the Bedrettotal valley is a beautiful walk with wonderful views of the Tessin mountains. The Chestnut path is a circular path that runs from Arosio and through chestnut groves back to Arosio.
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