Plan a Fall Foliage Vacation
In many parts of the United States, trees turn from summer green to shades of bright orange, yellow and red in autumn. Travel agents prepare combination vacation packages that include flying to your destination and then driving along scenic routes when the fall foliage color reaches its peak. However, you can plan your own fall vacation package by noting the dates when the leaves change in different areas and including some local attractions in your trip.
Instructions
1. Look toward the northeast for the most popular fall foliage destinations. Although autumn brings flashes of color to many areas, New England hosts some of the most spectacular foliage in the nation. Favorite states include Vermont, Pennsylvania and Maine. In addition, the Great Smoky Mountains offer stunning views in bright hues.
2. Include some back road sights in your fall foliage vacation package by checking your atlas for the "scenic byway" designation awarded to roads and trails that provide travelers with natural, cultural, or archaeological points of interest. The Federal Highway Administration designates the sites. (See Resources)
3. See the changing of the leaves from the seat of a bicycle. Instead of looking out your car window, plan to navigate the many roads and trails in New England with other cycle enthusiasts and include a cycling tour in your fall foliage vacation package. (See Resources)
4. Plan a weekend vacation locally if you can't make it to New England to see the leaves change. Many parts of the United States offer their own fall beauty. Mountains provide breathtaking views of aspen and poplar trees in bright colors, while the southwest becomes a painted desert after the first frost.
5. Time your vacation to coincide with the forecasted changing of the leaves. High summer temperatures or a change in rainfall can speed or slow the color change. Although not an exact science, meteorologists use weather patterns to predict the first frost of the fall.
6. Choose your destination then write the local Chamber of Commerce for information on lodging, harvest festivals, and fall heritage events that coincide with the changing of the leaves. In addition to advising sightseers on the best times to visit, local Chambers send interest packages, free of charge, to potential tourists. Often these packages will include discount coupons for food and lodging.
7. Take a day trip with small children to see the leaves change. Sometimes the best-kept secrets are close to home. Pack a picnic lunch, round up the kids and pile in the car. Observe the native beauty with your family and teach the children to appreciate the seasons.
8. Make reservations early if you plan on seeing the fall foliage in New England. Hotels fill up quickly from mid-September through the first half of October. Try a Bed and Breakfast registry or look for small communities off the beaten path.
Tags: changing leaves, fall foliage, leaves change, vacation package, your fall, coincide with