10 Breathtaking Locations That Will Make You Fall In Love With Fall

Is there anything more stunning than walking through nature in the fall? Temperatures have cooled down, the foliage is lovely, and the summer crowds have usually dwindled.

Whether you’re on the East Coast and have New England or upstate New York, or you’re on the West Coast by the Pacific Northwest, or even if you’re in the Southern part of the country, you’ll find spectacular displays of color and natural beauty.

That’s precisely why the autumn months are perfect for doing a little bit of traveling to a place that allows you to take full advantage of natural beauty.

It’s easy to spend a day or weekend snapping shots of fall in its glory, jumping in leaves, picking apples, and drinking hot apple cider. Read on for 10 places across the US that are perfect for your next fall getaway.

Lake Forest, IL

Why?

1. Market Square: Roam around the first planned shopping center in the United States, designed by architect Howard Van Doren Shaw.
2. Mellody Farm Nature Preserve: Walk through the Native Prairie Garden and relax at the picnic tables on the lawn at the trailhead. As a bonus, visit the historical complex, designed by Arthur Heun. At the time, the ornate gates opened onto a two-mile driveway to the Italian Renaissance Villa and the Jens Jensen-landscaped gardens.
3. Deer Path Inn: You can check-in for a few days or go for lunch at this 15th-century English-style manor house. Take high tea in the Garden Room amid many strategically placed plants, and enjoy the fall view out into the courtyard garden.

   You can’t stow away your love for this next destination…..

Stowe, Vermont

Why?

1. Great strolling village for shopping, galleries, theaters, and restaurants.
2. Visit the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, Percy Farm Corn Maze, and the Depot Street Malt Shoppe, a 1950’s style soda fountain great for families.
3. Rent bikes and take the 5-mile recreation path, winding through meadows, crossing the West Branch River on 11 arched bridges.
4. Rent a boat and paddle downriver to the Maple Outlet in Jeffersonville, where you will see firsthand how maple syrup is made.
5. Take in the local farms and orchards where you can celebrate fall, and fields and trails come alive with dazzling colorful foliage.

   You’ll certainly get tarried away with this next place…..

Tarrytown, New York

Why?

1. An hour away from New York City, Tarrytown is an excellent getaway for the weekend.
2. When the leaves start to change in the Autumn, besides many events, you’ll enjoy beautiful views of the Hudson Valley and peaceful hikes through the foliage.
3. Lyndhurst Mansion is a must while you’re here! Overlooking the Hudson River, it’s one of America’s finest Gothic Revival mansions, designed in 1838 by Alexander Jackson Davis.
4. Tarrytown is also near Sleepy Hollow, as in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” making it the perfect small town to visit around Halloween. There are graveyard tours, haunted houses, and a famous Great Jack-o-lantern Blaze event with hundreds of carved pumpkins.

   You’ll not be a square if you visit our next location…..

The Kentucky Triangle!

Why?

1. You may not be thinking of heading south in the fall, but the Kentucky Triangle is made up of three popular cities with various events in the autumntime.
2. Bowling Green: You can take advantage of the weather to enjoy fall festivals, and don’t forget to explore Mammoth Cave National Park.
3. Owensboro: You’ll find lots of bourbon and barbecue, as well as a great farmers’ market.
4. Paducah: A UNESCO Creative City, full of history and art, and there’s also a fun pumpkin patch you can visit as well.

   Next, we lift the veil on somewhere awesome…..

Vail, Colorado

Why?

1. Imagine looking down at the Autumn foliage from a hot air balloon and seeing the majestic Rocky Mountains, rivers, colorful leaves, lakes, and waterfalls.
2. Adventures include horseback riding, fly-fishing, bike riding, and walking around the Vail Farmer’s Market.
3. Vail is full of farm-to-table dining options.
4. Scenic drives to fully capture the area’s essence include driving through the Battle Mountain Pass, Brush Creek Road, Red Sandstone Park, and Independence Pass.
5. Check out The Arrabelle at Vail Square. It’s perfect for a family stay. Rooms are spacious and intimate, and the hotel offers unique touches like a balcony with a view of Vail, pumice stones in the shower, and an electric fireplace.
6. Another great option is The Lodge at Vail, where there are wood-burning fireplaces and marble bathrooms, plus balconies and mountain views.

   Next, we hope you like pumpkins…..

Columbia, Tennesse

Why?

1. The historic town square in the fall, when local businesses are decked out with festive decorations and everyone’s sipping Muletown Coffee, is when to take in this picturesque place.
2. It’s also the perfect area to take in all the gorgeous fall colors along Tennessee’s portion of the Natchez Trace Parkway.
3. Maury County Park Nature Trail is a half-mile loop, 10 minutes outside of downtown Columbia, and it’s a lazy stroll if you’re more interested in sipping a latte and chatting than working out.
4. Soup season has arrived, and Square Market and Cafe has the best in Maury County. Their crab bisque and tomato artichoke soup earn them constant praise.
5. Check out Muletown for your coffee needs and The Windmill Bakery for some sweet treats. Their menu includes cinnamon rolls, pecan pie, and pumpkin cheesecake. They also have tons of gluten-free options.
6. In October, Satterwhite Farm turns into Pumpkin Paradise with pumpkin picking and tractor rides. The fun doesn’t end there, though. The weekend after Halloween, they host the Pumpkin Paradise Catapult, where you can bring your old jack-o-lanterns and launch them through the air into the nearby pumpkin field.

   The next destination is pretty sweet, not salty…..

Salt Lake City, Utah

Why?

1. Autumn here means two things. Gorgeous foliage and smaller crowds.
2. The Farmers Market in Pioneer Park is filled with farmer’s markets across the city come fall, filled with seasonal delights like pumpkins, apples, cider, and the like.
3. Since fall isn’t the most popular time of year for Salt Lake City tourism, that means lower prices, and hot spots will probably be less crowded, but everything is still impressive.
4. The Utah State Fair comes around in September, complete with a Rodeo!
5. Since we’re on the topic of Utah, skiing becomes available as soon as October.

   Out with the old and in with the new next…..

Laconia, New Hampshire

Why?

1. Thousands of fall fanatics descend upon Laconia every autumn for the New Hampshire Pumpkin Festival. Its main event is the lighting of the pumpkin tower, a 54ft tall display of hundreds of jack-o-lanterns carved by festival-goers.
2. Visit the White Mountain National Forest to take a train ride on the Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, which boards nearby in Meredith, NH. Don’t miss the seasonal foliage tours throughout the region.
3. Afterward, warm up at Wayfarer Coffee Roasters with a pumpkin caramel latte and a plate of apple pie waffles. You can also check out New Hampshire’s oldest ice cream and candy shop, Kellerhaus, and build your own ice cream sundae.

   You’ll be saying ‘muy bueno’ to this next location…..

Taos, New Mexico

Why?

1. Head on a driving tour and get into nature along the Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway to explore forests and mountains.
2. Climb aboard the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad. This National Historic Landmark takes you on a 64-mile trip you won’t forget. The coal-fired steam engine leads you through steep high desert, mountain canyons, and lush meadows as you zig-zag between the Colorado and New Mexico border.
3. Along the way, stop in Red River for some fall festivals, like the annual Oktoberfest, where you can get authentic German food and beers along with New Mexican wines in a beautiful outdoor setting.

   Knock knock, who’s there? Somewhere amazing, next…..

Door County, Wisconsin

Why?

1. Door County has one of the best fall foliage spots in the Midwest.
   You can drive down Highway 57 or 42 to see all of it, with Lighthouses and European-styled buildings along the way.
2. You should visit the Apple Orchards when you go to this County. Beide picking your own apples, you also get to choose from many apple-flavored food items, such as apple cider, homemade applesauce, apple jam, and apple cider donuts.
3. Door County has many town shops where you can buy these delicacies immediately at “the door” as you’ll find many farmer’s markets, roadside stands, and even festivals dedicated to their local delights! There are also charming towns to visit throughout the area, where you can stop in for events, local art, and great food.
4. Speaking of events, go to Sister Bay’s Fall Fest from October 16-18. You can visit their end-of-season outdoor party, where you can enjoy street foods, live music, local artist displays, a fall parade, and SO much more. Seriously, the best way to go into fall and get an authentic taste of midwestern fall culture, which this part of the U.S is known for!

Our point is that oak, ash, maple, and hickory trees are transforming before your eyes all over the US. And no matter where you choose to go, every landscape looks like a perfect postcard. While some people are not ready for summer to end, it’s not all bad news.

It’s time for hot apple cider, sweater weather, and seeing the leaves change from the vibrant greens of summer to the golds, oranges, and reds of fall. You may associate watching the leaves change with weekend getaways to the Northeast, but there are plenty of places to see the striking seasonal changes everywhere in the country.

Classic leafy scenes 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 New Mexico and Tennesse.