Exploring the Best Fall Foliage Spots
With the start of fall‚ mornings are chilly and afternoons grow dim quickly․ During these early warm days and cool nights‚ many people take to the outdoors to enjoy the reds‚ oranges and yellows that bloom to present the landscape during the beautiful season of fall and autumn․ It is a reminder to everyone of the passage of time‚ and the beauty of the seasons‚ and each year people of all walks of life venture out into the open air to find the best views of the display․ From babbling brooks in hidden corners of New England to city parks offering vibrant vistas‚ fall foliage gives the eye a feast‚ and the heart and soul‚ a joy․
New England is the king of all U․S․ fall foliage destinations‚ and one of its most beautiful towns is Woodstock‚ Vermont․ Perched on a hilltop‚ its trees and its streets are painted from crimson to amber․ On the banks of the Ottauquechee River‚ beautiful fiery maples reflect the colors of fall foliage from above․ The sight composes a photograph and painter's dream in the fall․ The strong colors of fall contrast with very cute villages and houses‚ which have been painted in pastel colors․ Roads like the Mohawk Trail in Massachusetts‚ through forests and passing lookouts‚ where the hills and valleys of the Berkshires meet at its summits‚ the long undulating ridges and hollows ask everyone to become enchanted by the natural splendor of this mountainous and wooded region of New England․
Classic Drives for Fall Foliage
For many folks who love to take to the road‚ nothing is better than a cool fall day and a great drive․ Of all the drives in all the world‚ the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire has become one of the most popular․ There are 34 miles of scenic roadways that wind through the White Mountain National Forest‚ with plenty of scenic overlooks and pull-offs‚ providing a chance to enjoy the colors․ One of the best parts of driving this road is rolling down the windows to feel the mountain air and see the trees․ And at every turn‚ a new vista‚ whether still water reflecting the brilliance of the foliage or the distant majesty of mountains․ The Blue Ridge Parkway through the state of North Carolina and Virginia is another classic drive with its dramatic climbs and descents‚ trees here and there clothed in every possible color‚ countless hiking trails and picnic spots․
National parks across the country join in the colorful ballet‚ as visitors flock to Acadia National Park in Maine‚ not only for the rocky shoreline‚ but to enjoy the bright colors created by trees in the fall․ From the tree line on the summit of Cadillac Mountain‚ one can see the forests below‚ looking like embers scattered atop the distant slopes․ Shenandoah National Park‚ which is located along the Appalachian Mountains‚ is known for having a diversity of trees‚ and many trees show splashes of color in mosaic fashion come autumn․ One of the ways to see the scenery of Shenandoah National Park is to drive along Skyline Drive and stop at several overlooks along the way․
Sometimes‚ fall foliage comes as a surprise when the trees suddenly show bright colors in parks․ Nowhere is this more famous than Central Park in New York City‚ where trees of many species turn bright colors in autumn․ With its old bridges‚ small lakes‚ and clusters of trees‚ the park gives a natural impression between the development․ Visitors can expect the ginkgo trees to turn their characteristic golden yellow and the oaks to red and orange when in season․ Likewise‚ the Arnold Arboretum in Boston has a well-designed and large collection of trees‚ and in fall‚ visually‚ the Arboretum presents a splendid display of colors; with well-designed paths and signage‚ visitors can learn about the colors and trees while they enjoy the view․
Fall Foliage Views with Historic Experience
Some sites are best viewed in autumn when trees in those areas provide a variegated view of the leaves․ The historic town of Williamsburg in Virginia‚ United States‚ where many of the buildings of Colonial Williamsburg are located‚ provides an excellent view of autumn foliage․ With the movement of the leaves as a backdrop‚ the historic structures along the streets come alive with reenactors in period costume and with George Washington's Mount Vernon estate mansion providing a backdrop to a living history experience of nature‚ history‚ and the people of America․ The trees around these structures in the fall have long made the estate a destination for guided walks and programs concentrating on the role of this season in American history surrounded by an assemblage of the natural beauty characteristic of the fall season․
The changing seasons remind us of the natural passage of time․ Every falling leaf heralds change․ While each fall represents loss‚ each leaf also signifies renewal․ All we have to do is remember to look․ Year after year‚ tiny towns in New England and sprawling national parks transform their landscapes into yearly odes to this unfathomably beautiful time of year․ They ask readers to get outside‚ to inhale with their lungs and their hearts the splendor that is as close as their front doors․ The fun season lingers on in every whirling colored leaf‚ every rustle of rustling foliage‚ whose pleasures can be evoked long after the last leaves are down․
