12 Amazing Fall Getaways To See Fall Foliage
That time of year has come once again. The fall season is creeping up, and many people are deciding on vacations to see some beautiful fall foliage. But some people may not know where to go. Here are 12 fall getaways to see some fall foliage, both in the states and abroad.
1. KYOTO BOTANICAL GARDEN – KYOTO, JAPAN
Japan is well known for its honoring and appreciation of nature, as well as its beautiful gardens. What makes the Kyoto Botanical Garden so special among the fall getaways on this list is that by just using sand a few well placed rocks, the gardens can emphasize the beauty of their cherry and maple trees, as well as their hydrangeas. The best time to visit this place? Early November.
2. HAMILTON COUNTY, INDIANA
Imagine it: floating high above the Conner Prairie, the city skyline of Indianapolis off in the distance, a beautiful sea of orange and brown sprawled out before you. The first of many northeastern locales to be on this list, Hamilton County is a great, rustic location to visit during late October, especially the hot air balloon rides that go as high as 350 ft. Hope you aren’t afraid of heights.
3. AMSTERDAM FOREST – AMSTERDAM
More than a fifth of this Netherlands capitol is shaded by trees, and the best place to see them would be the man made forest of…well, Amsterdam Forest. You could walk, bike, canoe, or horseback ride through the park all the way to the Grote Vijver lake. Add all the squirrels, birds and grass snakes you can look for, it’s sure to be a great fall getaway.
4. GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK, WYOMING
I speak from personal experience when I say every American should visit this place at least once before they kick the bucket. No, every person, period. While not as popular as the more famous Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Teton has mountains, lakes and trees straight out of postcards. From early September to the middle of October, the aspen, cottonwood, and willow trees turn to beautiful shades for a fall getaway. If you’re lucky, you may even see an elk or two.
5. ARROWTOWN – NEW ZEALAND
Known for its fall foliage, Arrowtown has its yellowing cottonwood trees attract visitors between the months of March and May, which is the autumn season for New Zealand. Visitors can also see a couple shades of red from the surrounding hillsides. There’s even a Akarua Arrowtown Autumn Festival you can attend the last week of April, which has been going on for more than three decades.
6. SKYLINE DRIVE – SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, VIRGINIA
A perfect place for a drive, the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia are a great fall getaway. Skyline Drive in particular, sandwiched between Shenandoah Park and Virginia Piedmont, offers several outlooks so people can get some great views of golden hickory, red maple, sumac and oak trees, offering great shades of red, yellow and orange throughout late September to early November. It does get crowded though, so don’t be surprised to find others on the road with you.
7. KASHMIR VALLEY – INDIA
Mountain vistas, apple orchards, houseboats; Northern India, especially the Kashmir region, is well known for these things. The Shalimar Bagh Mughal garden in the city of Srinagar, in particular, offers visitors a view a the rare chinar tree, an indigenous cousin to the maple tree. In this part of the world, from the middle of September to the middle of November, you can expect beautiful golden colors everywhere. And I do mean everywhere.
8. KAWUNEECHE VALLEY – ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, COLORADO
9. MOUNT ROYAL PARK – MONTREAL
It’s said that a quarter of Montreal has natural coverage . The best place to view it? Mount Royal Park. There, you’ll fin oak, pine, and maple tress hued in gorgeous fall colors. The only problem is, the time frame to view the fall colors varies a little bit each year.
10. EMERALD NECKLACE TRAIL – BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Boston in the fall season. Need I say more? This place is quintessential for those looking for fall getaways. Whether by walking or biking, you can see plenty of fall trees around the city. But from the middle of October to the first week of November, I highly recommend the Emerald Necklace Trail, a famous grouping of parks within the city, which take you by some of the city’s best nature spots.
11. VOGEL STATE PARK – BLAIRSVILLE, GEORGIA
During the month of October, the Vogel State Park is one of the best places to have a fall getaway in Georgia. Hiking trails, waterfalls, a drive through the Chattahoochee National Forest; there’s plenty for individuals and families to do here. And the Blue Ridge Mountains pop up once again, as a perfect view of them can be seen from the park.
12. NIAGARA FALLS – NEW YORK/ONTARIO
I’m cheating on this one a tiny bit, as you see parts of Niagara falls in both New York and Ontario, with the American and Bridal Veil falls in the Niagara Falls State Park in New York, and the Horseshoe Falls, the biggest of the three, being in Canada’s Niagara Falls State Park. Whichever of the falls you decide to visit, you’re sure to be surrounded by dense forests and parks. The perfect time to be here? The second half of October.
