We love the fall season for many reasons. It’s a beautiful time of year when you wake up and the air is cooler and crisper. There is a sense of calmness as you sit drinking warm beverages, wearing a cozy sweater, wrapped in blanket by a toasty fire. But perhaps the most memorable moment of fall is the changing of the leaves as trees suddenly burst with hues of fiery red and orange and warm yellow and gold. Across the country, people marvel at the dazzling colors that seem to emerge overnight and fade just as quickly as the leaves fall and winter arrives.
“Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.” -Stanley Horowitz
Over the next few months, each state will experience its own, unique view of fall. While many people associate watching leaves change with weekend getaways to the Northeast, there are plenty of places to see the stunning seasonal views throughout the country. Classic leafy views in Maine, New Hampshire, and New York are always a great go-to, but you can also find amazing leaf changing action in states like Alaska, Georgia and New Mexico. So, here are some suggestions on where to explore the vibrant colors along with the fall foliage prediction map.
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
Back to my old stomping ground…Michigan is certainly beautiful in the fall! I have fond memories of our family raking piles and piles of colorful leaves and then jumping in them only to rebuild the mound so we could do it again!
Michigan is also known for beautiful coastal scenery and no place tops the Upper Peninsula for a spectacular fall adventure. Bordering three Great Lakes, a fall-foliage drive through these parts will take you across Mackinac Bridge and along the Keweenaw Peninsula. The best spot to catch great views is in the far north’s Copper Harbor with a quick detour along the kaleidoscopic Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Breathtaking!
As you continue to drive through the vast and uninterrupted wilderness you can’t help but notice the vibrancy of colors. When you’re done driving for a bit, pull over for a seasonal brew by the fireplace at Houghton’s Keweenaw Brewing Company. A perfect way to end your journey while savoring the surrounding beauty!
Great Smoky Mountains National Park… North Carolina/Tennessee
The best time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains is in the fall –especially mid-October through early November — when the park explodes into a sea of orange, yellow and red. The landscape here is populated with sugar maples, hickories, sweetgum, scarlet oaks, red maples and nearly 100 other species of native trees. This colorful show will last seven weeks or more, depending on temperatures, the length of the day and other factors.
One of the best ways to scope the splendor is to hike to Looking Glass Falls in Western North Carolina. Autumn foliage stands to impress even the most well-traveled seekers of beauty. The leafy drama, painted in living color on the Smoky Mountains, can’t help but leave an impression. Spectacular, right??!!
Gatlinburg is also sure to put on a show. You can have a choice of several tramways and chair lifts for taking in an aerial view of the landscape.
The glorious changing of colors, transitioning from green to gold to red to brown, are why visitors flock to this area year after year to find the most stunning overlooks in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Are your bags packed for this spectacular and colorful adventure?!
Upstate New York
Here’s another one of my stomping grounds…and a beautiful location to catch the magic behind the colorful fall foliage.
The Finger Lakes communities celebrate the fall arrival of color with seasonal festivals and events, including the Bristol Mountain Fall Festival and the Naples Grape Festival. The last two weeks of September may be the peak of leaf-peeping season in the Adirondacks. A few hours South lie the New York Catskills, where the famous “Five State Lookout” in East Windham will have you scoping leaves in New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut simultaneously. You can also summit the Catskills’ 3,214ft Mount Utsayantha for a 360-degree fall foliage experience. If you are not up for the hiking adventure, then you can catch the chairlift at Hunter Mountain and take in the beauty from above the tree line. Incredible, right?!!
Denali National Park – Alaska
Alaska may seem a bit far to trek for fall foliage if you are living in the continental US, but it will be worth the adventure. A drive through the park not only showcases the bright hues set against Denali — the highest point in North America — but also affords a chance to see moose, bears, and elks wandering around amid the turning leaves. Fall comes earlier in this part of the US, so aim to make your leaf pilgrimage no later than early October. And if you venture that way soon, I’d love to hear about your experience and see your pictures!
What fall colors are you seeing in your neck of the woods?
This year is already shaping up to be a better season than last for fall color. So hit your favorite trail, park or waterfall — or a new one — and take it all in. Enjoy this magical time of year…one filled with color and beauty!
If you want your 2020 “Vacation Do Over”, let’s start planning your next adventure now!
There will be limited availability in 2021 because many people “lifted and shifted” their vacation from this year.
So, don’t wait!
