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Want to see fall foliage? Go to Door County
Best Destination for Fall Foliage (2019)
The kids are back in school, temperatures are starting to drop and Mother Nature's gearing up for her annual spectacle of fall color. 'Tis the season for leaf-peeping.
The top 10 winners in the category Best Destination for Fall Foliage are as follows:
Photo courtesy of iStock / Ryan Herron
No. 10: Jackson County - North Carolina
The mountains of Western North Carolina offer some of the state’s most spectacular fall scenery, particularly along the 40-mile stretch of the Blue Ridge Parkway that passes through Jackson County.
No. 9: Green Mountains - Vermont
Vermont is well known for its fall foliage, particularly in the Green Mountains. For the best leaf peeping, make the drive along the Green Mountain Byway between the towns of Waterbury and Stowe. Mount Mansfield, the state’s highest peak, sits along the way.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Ron and Patty Thomas
No. 8: Hocking Hills - Ohio
In the fall, the Hocking Hills region is speckled with a rainbow of bright autumn colors. Visitors can explore the area and see the trees from a different viewpoint on horseback, in a canoe or from above on a zip line or in a hot air balloon.
Photo courtesy of iStock / lightphoto
No. 7: Catskills - New York
Autumn is one of the most popular seasons in the Catskills, thanks to the spectacular display of color painted across the region’s hilly terrain. Visitors can soak up the views while zip lining at Hunter Mountain, sipping cider at a local orchard or attending one of many fall festivals.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Schleppitis
No. 6: Okanagan Valley - British Columbia
While British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley is best known for its wine, it’s also known for its spectacular golden fall foliage. Drive between Merritt and Ashcroft for some of the best views, or combine your leaf peeping with some wine tastings.
Photo courtesy of iStock / Snehitdesign
No. 5: Upper Peninsula - Michigan
Just about the entire Upper Peninsula puts on a display of fall color that peaks during the last two weeks of September and the first week of October. A favorite fall experience for leaf peepers is the drive along M-26 along the shores of Lake Roland and past the trees of Copper Country State Forest.
Photo courtesy of Joyce Bambach / Pocono Mountains
No. 4: Pocono Mountains - Pennsylvania
The Pocono Mountains are ablaze with hues of red, orange and yellow come autumn, thanks to the area’s 127 species of indigenous trees, plants and shrubs. Leaf peepers can hop in the car for a scenic cruise along Route 507 near Lake Wallenpaupack or climb aboard a fall foliage train.
Photo courtesy of iStock / JimVallee
No. 3: Finger Lakes - New York
Many Finger Lakes communities celebrate the fall riot of color with seasonal festivals and events, including the Bristol Mountain Fall Festival and the Naples Grape Festival.
Photo courtesy of White Mountains Attractions Association
No. 2: White Mountains - New Hampshire
The annual display of fall color in the White Mountains of New Hampshire typically takes place each September and October, attracting millions of visitors from around the globe. One of the best places to take it all in is along the 34-mile Kancamagus Highway as it cuts through White Mountain National Forest.
Photo courtesy of Door County Visitor Bureau/Jon Jarosh
No. 1: Door County - Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s best fall foliage can often be found in Door County. Leaves reach their peak of color between late September and mid-October, when visitors from around the country come to drive its tree-lined roads or hike its trails.
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning fall foliage destinations!
About 10Best Readers' Choice Awards
Nominees are submitted by a panel of experts. 10Best editors narrow the field to select the final set of nominees for the Readers’ Choice Awards. Readers can vote once per category, per day. For any questions or comments, please read the FAQ or email USA TODAY 10Best.
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10Best Local Experts provide users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. No business pays to be listed. Our Local Experts are well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields - and their cities - but discriminating in their tastes. These local experts live in the city they write about, with constantly updated content.
10Best Local Experts
10Best Local Experts provide users with original, unbiased, and experiential travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world. No business pays to be listed. Our Local Experts are well-traveled and well-educated group who are not only experts in their fields - and their cities - but discriminating in their tastes. These local experts live in the city they write about, with constantly updated content.