Get Ready to Go Leaf Peeping

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

09 Sep 2009 09:56 AM

During hour two of our uneventful drive home from our family's Labor Day weekend getaway my young daughter suddenly exclaimed: "Mommy! Look! There's Cheetos crumbs on that tree."

I ducked my head down to see what she was talking about and sure enough there was a gigantic oak tree sporting patches of crimson leaves. It looked as though someone dusted the tree with fluorescent orange Cheetos cheese particles.

As pretty as the neon orange looked against the cobalt blue sky and next to the hunter green pines, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness knowing that fall was well on its way.

If you are an avid leaf peeper, then autumn is your time to shine. Fall foliage is on display from coast-to-coast, including these popular spots:

CONNECTICUT: Route 169 explodes with color each fall. The pretty country roads run through 32 miles of Connecticut farms and fields from Woodstock to Lisbon, all featuring a backdrop of brilliant reds, oranges, gold and yellows.

MASSACHUSETTS: The Mohawk Trail allows leaf peepers to soak up the fall foliage without having to get out of the car. The trail passes by a number of state forests and is part of Route 2, which runs through the Berkshire Mountains.

NEW HAMPSHIRE: With no houses, no restaurants, and no gas stations, the Kancamagus Highway (which runs between Lincoln and Conway, New Hampshire, on State Route 112), provides unadulterated panoramic views of the White Mountain National Forest. The 34-mile stretch of highway was named the first National Scenic Byway in the entire Northeast, and features waterfalls, hiking trails, numerous scenic overlooks.

COLORADO: Aspen and Vail sport a golden glow in the fall. Autumn's amazing colors are spectacular in the Rockies and can be viewed best from scenic stretches of road near the Maroon Bells wilderness.

CALIFORNIA: Sunset magazine recommends leaf peepers drive inland from Eureka to Redding to take in the gorgeous autumn colors. Other Sunset magazine recommendations for seeing fall foliage in California include June Lake Loop in the Eastern Sierra; Carson Pass and Hope Valley along state Route 88 south of Tahoe; big leaf and vine maple trees along the Avenue of the Giants and Redwood National Park; sycamores in the Southern California coastal canyons; and black oaks in Yosemite Valley.

Related Articles:

Leaf Peeping and Other Fun Fall Family Weekend Activities

Ways to go Wild with Your Family in Nature this Fall

A Week's Worth of Fun Family-Friendly Fall Activities

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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