Top U.S. Places to See Autumn Foliage

Every autumn, America's trees show off their brilliant colors. Those in higher elevations and mountains begin their leafy transformations in late August, ending in early November. In flatlands and at sea level, the changes are usually from mid-September to early December. Raising a family in Philadelphia, we were fortunate to witness the event first-hand. There are many destinations across the U.S. where travelers can experience the wonder of fall foliage in person. Here are some of my favorites:

Aspen, Colorado
This winter ski destination puts on a colorful fall performance. Named for the forests of quaking aspen trees that surround it, the popular Rocky Mountain town is a great place to visit when the surrounding aspen leaves turn to brilliant red, orange and gold.

Be sure you get there at the exact right time. When winter arrives early, the autumn colors may only show for an October week or two. We went to Aspen to celebrate Thanksgiving several years ago, and all we saw were evergreens, bare aspens, snow and some happy early skiers.

The Catskills, New York
Just a two-hour drive from New York City, the Catskills are famous for the Rip Van Winkle tale and where stand-up comedy originated at the summer resorts. The journey is spectacular, as the mountainside trees glow with autumn colors from mid-September through mid-November.

Along with traditional hotels and bed and breakfasts, the area welcomes visitors with autumn festivals, roadside farmers' markets, antique shops and much more. It's a special pleasure for our family to make the annual Catskills autumn trek, and come home with the car full of pumpkins, apples, corn and a vintage lamp or two.

Stowe, Vermont
Also a great winter ski resort, the forests of sugar maple, beech, and yellow birch make Stowe one of the most beautiful autumn destinations in New England. The orange, gold and crimson leaves are even more spectacular when they stand out against the backgrounds of evergreen pine, spruce, fir and cedar trees. Stowe's best autumn colors are from mid-September through mid-October.

Central Park, New York
New York City's Manhattan isn't all Broadway, The Village and Fifth Avenue. In the middle of it all, there's the green refuge of Central Park that turns gold, orange and red every year. As Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald sang, "It's autumn in New York; it's good to live it again."

That's when our family packs lunch and trek together to the park to enjoy the colors of beautiful maples and elms against the background of tall buildings and autumn sky.

Ted Sherman is a world traveler and editor of travel4people.com. You can follow him on Twitter: @travel4seniors.

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