With one last burst of brilliant color, autumn softens the descent into winter. While many of the most dazzling foliage displays are right here in the U.S., travelers around the world can find forests illuminated gold, red, orange, and even purple. Spectacular backdrops such as the Great Wall of China, vast alpine meadows, and gingerbread-scented villages offer reasons as unique as the foliage to travel the globe in search of fleeting beauty this fall.
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Vermont
For many, Vermont is the quintessential fall foliage destination. It's easy to see why: Vibrant red maple, pin cherry, mountain ash, and largetooth aspen blanket hillsides in scarlet, orange, and yellow, usually from mid-September through October. In Vermont, a fall foliage escape is a leisurely one, full of scenic drives between towns, warming meals, hot cider, covered bridges, fall festivals, and walks where the only soundtrack is the crunch of leaves underfoot and the wind in the trees. Route 100 is among the best drives in the state for that idyllic blend of stunning foliage, small towns, farms, and, of course, award-winning cider donuts. Stowe's gondola offers a bird's eye view of fall color, and Manchester and Middlebury just scored top spots in Yankee Magazine's best fall foliage towns in New England. Leaf peepers flock to Vermont this time of year, though going midweek should yield slightly better prices and smaller crowds.
Been on a foliage excursion in Vermont? Is there a particular town or scenic drive you'd recommend? What are your other New England favorites?
Vermont
For many, Vermont is the quintessential fall foliage destination. It's easy to see why: Vibrant red maple, pin cherry, mountain ash, and largetooth aspen blanket hillsides in scarlet, orange, and yellow, usually from mid-September through October. In Vermont, a fall foliage escape is a leisurely one, full of scenic drives between towns, warming meals, hot cider, covered bridges, fall festivals, and walks where the only soundtrack is the crunch of leaves underfoot and the wind in the trees. Route 100 is among the best drives in the state for that idyllic blend of stunning foliage, small towns, farms, and, of course, award-winning cider donuts. Stowe's gondola offers a bird's eye view of fall color, and Manchester and Middlebury just scored top spots in Yankee Magazine's best fall foliage towns in New England. Leaf peepers flock to Vermont this time of year, though going midweek should yield slightly better prices and smaller crowds.
Been on a foliage excursion in Vermont? Is there a particular town or scenic drive you'd recommend? What are your other New England favorites?
Kyoto, Japan
Spring's cherry blossom season may be the best known of Japan's arboreal offerings, but it's not the only one. In cities with high concentrations of deciduous trees, cooler days usher in brilliant colors. There's even an equivalentâalbeit slightly more athleticâterm for leaf peeping: momijigari, or "red leaf hunting." In cities like Kyoto, the hunt ends in a visual feast during November and early December. You'll be treated to the sight of thousands of fiery red Japanese maples at temples and parks. In some spots, you can even indulge in night viewing, when the trees are lit up for visitors to enjoy. Though you'll find crowds in Japan's best fall foliage destinations, airfare from the U.S. tends to be less expensive around this time.
Been to Kyoto or another famous foliage destination in Japan? Where was your favorite spot to hunt the red leaves?
Lake District, England
In England's Lake District, fall foliage isn't restricted to the trees. Famous for its lakes, mountains, charming villages, and rich literary history (after all, how many places boast a guidebook by Wordsworth?), the region triples the pleasures of fall color in a surprising way. The gold and ruby leaves of oak, larch, and beech trees are beautiful, sure. But the real punch comes in the low heather, bracken, and bilberry brush that create a velvety red blanket over the district's famed fells (hills and mountains). On still days, you'll get twice the impact as the dramatic colors are reflected in the lakes below. An autumn hotline helps visitors locate the best color, and hiking offers excellent, free views of the foliage, lakes, and ubiquitous grazing sheep. And after an inspiring walk, follow the scent of freshly baked gingerbread to the Grasmere Gingerbread shop for a true fall indulgence.
Do you have other favorite foliage destinations in the U.K.? Share them with other readers.
North Carolina
What do you get when you pair America's most visited national park and America's favorite drive? North Carolina. From mid-October through early November, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway deliver amazing concentrations of fall color, with dogwoods, sweetgums, and maples emblazoned red, orange, and even purple; and poplars, birches, and ash glowing yellow. Popular ways to enjoy fall color include scenic drives, hiking, and biking, but there are also river rafting trips and zipline canopy tours for the adventure-inclined. Cities and towns boast their share of foliage splendor as well. Asheville, for instance, is already updating its fall color report. The city also has tips for fall travel on a budget.
Know of a particularly good hike or drive for spectacular fall color?
Beijing, China
Looking to make a once-in-a-lifetime trip even more special? In autumn, natural finery adorns Beijing and the forests surrounding nearby sections of the Great Wall of China. Smoke trees, maple, persimmon, and dozens of other species turn vibrant shades of red, yellow, and orange, usually between mid-October and mid-November. Places to catch bright foliage near Beijing include Hongluo Temple and Fragrant Hills, while the forest surrounding the less-traveled Mutianya part of the Great Wall is famous for its red leaves. And, Badaling National Park, with its designated Red Leaves Scenic Area, offers views of the leaves against the backdrop of the Great Wall. Fall foliage vacation packages or day tours from dozens of China specialists offer guided options.
Walked the Great Wall in fall? Explored China in autumn? Where did you see the most impressive color displays?
Alberta, Canada
Alberta's Rocky Mountains deliver a striking combination of red and gold during its short fall in September and October. Home to aspen, birch, and willow, the truly special reason to go is to see the larch trees, as the needles of the deciduous conifer turn golden against the dramatic mountain backdrop. Destinations from which to launch foliage excursions include Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore. Prefer the manicured to the backwoods? The Canadian Rockies Golf Courses have just announced the best holes for fall foliage viewing. With autumn's drop-off in tourism, accommodations and activity deals are as plentiful as falling leaves.
Have another favorite spot to catch the larch trees changing?
Loire Valley, France
In France's Loire Valley, vineyards gilded in gold, red, and orange signal more than the arrival of shorter days and colder nights. The region's famous white (and red) wines get their start in the harvest and crush days of autumn, and offer a way to enjoy fall with the palate, not just the eyes. With 185,000 acres of grapevines stretching across valleys and over hillsides, the color spectacle that peaks in late October is a sight to behold. The kiss of fall also illuminates the forests surrounding the valley's many fairytale chateaux. And you can enjoy it all without the crowds and inflated prices of summer.
Have another favorite wine region to visit in fall? Suggest it to other readers below.
Colorado
Each September, Colorado heralds a gold rush, one that blankets mountainsides and meadows in bright yellow foliage. The quaking aspensâso named because the leaves' long stalks render them sensitive to the slightest breezeâhave a short peak color window, but since the white-barked trees come into full golden radiance at different times around the state, mobility is rewarded. Driving trips are one good option; train journeys another. For instance, Pikes Peak Cog Railway takes passengers through aspen forests on its way to 14,110 feet above sea level. Among deciduous trees, aspens are superlative: What looks like a forest is usually a single tree with hundreds or thousands of runners sent out to create sprouts of itself, making aspens among the largest life forms on the planet. Colorado is easy on the wallet this time of year, too: It was recently named one of SmarterTravel's top five bargain destinations for fall.
Where is your favorite place to admire the changing of the aspen in fall?
Laurentians, Canada
Come fall, the mountains and valleys of the Laurentians, just north of Montreal, burst into color. From late September through October, red, orange, and gold crown the region's maples, beeches, and birches. The Tremblant Symphony of Colours celebrates the season with free concerts, organized hikes, and other affordable festivities. Cyclists of all levels enjoy fall foliage along the famed P'tit Train du Nord linear Park, 230 kilometers of trails through the region's most beautiful landscapes. Autumn visitors can fill their cornucopias and their cups: From fruit harvests at regional farms to the crush at local wineries, around here, eating and drinking well is an integral part of leaf peeping. Airfare prices to the region drop at the end of September, and the variety of lodgings, from hostels to resorts, means options for every budget.
Have you experienced a Laurentian autumn firsthand? Share your best tips for making the most of it!
Ahornboden, Austria
Ahornboden, near Innsbruck in Austria's Silver Region (Silberregion), is a true surprise. After all, who'd have guessed that 4,000 feet up in the Alps, among towering snow-capped peaks, you'd find an alpine meadow studded with thousands of mountain maple trees, which turn vibrant yellow every September? The trees, some of them 600 years old, are a sure sign of the region's "fifth season," or Indian summer. This time of year provides one last chance to hike, mountain bike, and feast upon dumpling soup or sugar-coated pancakes at remote Alpine inns before the long winter sets in. Drops in tourism make early autumn the ideal time for budget travelers.
Do you have photos from your own foliage excursions? Share them in our fall foliage reader gallery and contest!
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