Autumn's Colors at Your Doorstep

Apple cider, football games, a tart crispness in the air – fall's harbingers are a varied bunch, but their promises of cooler weather and the impending holidays are welcomed by many folks. Nothing characterizes this transitional season more gorgeously than the brilliantly-colored fall foliage that slowly sweeps the continent from north to south during September and October. Summer's greens gradually give way to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows as trees ready themselves for winter, providing a spectacular show of natural beauty. If you want front row seats for fall's brilliant displays, check out these 10 suggestions for some of the best leaf-watching around. No matter what part of North America you're in, autumn's colors are never far away.

1. The Canadian Rockies, British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. The Rockies stretch across an immense portion of western Canada and encompass several national parks and forests. Jasper National Park and Banff National Park hold many of the Rockies' most famed peaks, and also afford some of the best leaf-watching. Much like the western United States, this area is dense with primarily coniferous trees; fall color comes mostly from the aspens, which light up the mountains with a bright golden glow. Clear days provide the stunning juxtaposition of blazing yellow aspens against a perfectly blue sky with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks. Whether you check out the color by car or foot, you're sure to be amazed by this pristine area.

2. Adirondack Mountains, New York. Upstate New York has long been renowned for its breathtaking scenery, a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of New York City, around 200 miles to the south. The Adirondack Mountains, the upstate's most famous range, offer in abundance the sweeping vistas, manageable hills, and serene lakes and ponds for which the region is known. In fall, Adirondack Park is especially picturesque as the hills come alive with color thanks to the many species of hardwoods that flourish there, including sycamore, oak, maple, and poplar.

3. Litchfield Hills, Connecticut. Western Connecticut is a great base for exploring western New England, but the area also yields rich rewards for those who stay put. Clear, crisp, sunlit days with temps hovering around 70°F characterize a typical autumn here. Scenic driving routes wind through the region, allowing for prime views of the blazing colors from a variety of hardwoods. Don't want to be trapped in the car? There are great hiking and biking opportunities as well. Quaint cafes, antique shops, and wineries round out the attractions to be found in the attractive colonial towns that dot the area.

4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee. The most-visited national park in the United States welcomes thousands of people in autumn. In late September and October, the fall colors slowly make their way from the highest elevations to the lowest, covering the mountains in swaths of red and yellow. Beech, birch, maple, oak, sweetgum, and hickory are some of the park's most colorful specimens, but over 100 native species grow here and contribute to fall's display. Popular sites for leaf-viewing include Clingmans Dome (the park's highest point) and Cades Cove (a valley that was once home to American Indians and European settlers). However, most of the park's scenic drives and hikes also allow great views of the leaves, so beat the crowds and choose a path less traveled.