Top 10 Places to view Fall Foliage

Posted on Oct 17, 2011 in Top-10's | 1 comment

When the days begin to grow shorter and the breeze blows cooler against your cheeks, you can be sure that fall is on its way. The arrival of autumn conjures up a variety of memories and visions — back-to-school activities, bonfires, football games and pumpkins. Although you might pine for the longer days of summer, the fall season offers different treasures.

As trees approach their winter-long slumber, they unleash a beautiful array of colors in a final farewell. Leaves the color of crimson, pumpkin-orange, goldenrod and russet brown burst forth in unison to claim their stake as one of fall’s greatest pleasures. Children and adults alike enjoy discovering the magnificence of a tree bursting with color, whether you enjoy hearing the leaves crunch beneath your feet, photographing leaves while ablaze on the tree or like to preserve them. These top ten places are known for their magnificent fall foliage.

1. Acadia National Park- Bar Harbor, Maine. Leaf peepers and casual enthusiasts alike will enjoy viewing fall foliage along the rocky coast of Maine’s Acadia National Park. Choose to drive through Cadillac Mountain, hike the trails to see the leaves up-close and personal or enjoy the view from the air. The peak fall foliage season begins late in the month of September and continues through October. Those who enjoy being active can view the breathtaking colors on horseback or while hiking or biking through Acadia’s Mount Desert Island.

2. Route 100 Vermont.  As you drive through the Green Mountains from Southern Vermont to the northern portion of the state, you’ll be greeted by foliage in canary yellow, brick red, burnt orange and more. Route 100s scenic drive takes you through 200 miles of autumn glory. While heading north toward the Canadian border, you can stop to enjoy fresh apple cider or wine, hayrides, pumpkin patches and Farmer’s Markets. If you don’t have time for the entire drive, Route 100 is easily accessed by exits from several other roads and highways.

3. Asheville, North Carolina. Take in the view from a variety of vantage points when you visit Asheville, North Carolina. The fallfoliage offerings are so vast that you might want to narrow your choices down to a few before embarking on your trip to this part of the state. From mid-September until the end of October, fall colors burst forth in a display akin to Nature’s own fireworks show. Enjoy a scenic drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway in mid-season as the color of the changing leaves ascends up the mountains. Hike the trail at Looking Glass Rock where you’ll be left in awe of the show of color along the 3.1-mile walk with the sound of waterfalls providing the soundtrack for the show.

4. Daniel Boone National Forest, Kentucky. Beginning in mid-September, a progression of deep gold, bright yellow and crimson red moves slowly across the state of Kentucky, beginning in the East and ending in the West. The six-week journey of fall foliage causes Daniel Boone National Forest to explode into a celebration of color. The 1600-acre forest boasts waterfalls, outdoor activities such as fishing, camping, boating and hiking, and is home to one of Kentucky’s top fall foliage viewing locations — Cumberland State Park. Spend the day enjoying the colors while walking across a blanket of golden leaves or stay for the week at one of the campsites, cottages or lodges.

5. Gatlinburg, Tennessee.Home to the Great Smoky Mountains, if you’ve never been to Gatlinburg, Tennessee and love fall foliage, the time to go is in October. Shades of autumn create a natural archway as you drive the scenic roads that wind up into the mountains. On foot, you can walk amongst trees flush with the colors of the season. Autumn is a popular time for music festivals in Tennessee so in-between viewing the leaves you can take in a bluegrass concert while sipping cider fresh from the presses.

6. Door County, Wisconsin. Those already acquainted with the charm of Door County love it for its beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline, quaint towns and lighthouses, and biking and hiking trails. The arrival of fall foliage in Door County serves as icing on the cake. September and October is harvest time in Door County, Wisconsin and the changing colors of the leaves seem to welcome the season, reaching peak color intensity during the first two weeks of October. Leaves of scarlet, golden-tinged russet and pumpkin-orange paint the shorelines and welcome you into towns such as Egg Harbor and Ellison Bay. A fall visit to Door County wouldn’t be complete without partaking in one of the many fish boils taking place across the county.

7. Galena, Illinois. Historical Galena, Illinois taps into the beauty of the gold and red fall leaves as a natural backdrop for the many autumn festivals taking place. Wine and harvest festivals welcome autumn in the city that was home to Ulysses S. Grant. You can stroll through the historic district or drive through the rural countryside and enjoy the fall foliage from the hills and bluffs overlooking the town. If you time your excursion just right, you can take in the beautiful colors while enjoying Galena’s world-famous version of Oktoberfest.

8. Lake Michigan Coastline, Michigan. A September or October drive from South Haven north toward Grand Haven takes you through the spectacular fall foliage that decorates this rural area. The Lake Michigan Coastline is dotted with several state parks ablaze with autumn colors against a backdrop of blue, Lake Michigan waters and sandy beaches. Camping, hiking and small town festivals make it easy for you to turn a day trip into a weekend or week long vacation.

9. Maroon Bells, Colorado. The aspen tree is so synonymous with Colorado it’s been used as the namesake for streets, a well-known town and beer. Southwest of Aspen, Colorado sit the Maroon Bells — some of the most frequently photographed mounts in all of North America. Cottonwood trees dot the Colorado River in a splendor of yellow, while the aspens begin a slow progression from green to gold to russet. Weekend shuttle buses bring you from Aspen to the Maroon Bells. Or you can take the scenic drive to Maroon Lake where the purple and white peaks of the Maroon Bells stand in contrast to the golden yellow leaves of the aspen trees.

10. Sonoma County, California. If the busyness of life prevents you from viewing gorgeous fall foliage everywhere else, don’t fret – you haven’t missed it altogether. Situated along the northern coastal area of California, the fall foliage in Sonoma County begins in the middle of October and continues through the month of November. As you drive along Highway 101, you’ll take in golden colors and shades of red and orange with the Pacific Ocean to the west and the California countryside to the east. At the end of the day, stop at one of many local vineyards. Fall is grape harvest season and there’s plenty of wine to taste.