[title subtitle=”WORDS Catherine Frederick and Mindy Bianca Public Relations
IMAGES Wilmington Western Railroad, Winchester Frederick County CVB, Allegany County Tourism, Ian Curcio, The Otesaga Resort Hotel, Branson CVB, Ed Crawford”][/title]
The most beautiful fall foliage is found in Arkansas, and as such, we’ve covered it extensively over the years. A quick search on our website will lead you to many destinations across our state that are must-see when it comes to the brilliant hues of fall in Arkansas. This September, we’re excited to share with you how other parts of the US showcase their fall foliage and autumnal festivities. So, whether you are already traveling or planning to hit the road soon, we hope you’ll enjoy these leaf-peeping destinations!
Cooperstown, New York
Offering one of the earliest and most spectacular seasonal displays in the country, the village of Cooperstown in upstate New York is a perfect destination for leaf-peeping. Affectionally nicknamed “America’s Most Perfect Village,” Cooperstown gives visitors the opportunity to take in the gorgeous views of the changing seasons while enjoying a round of golf at Leatherstocking Golf Course. Situated on the southern shore of Otsego Lake on the grounds of the historic and elegant Otesaga Resort Hotel, the par-72 course is open to resort and day guests alike. Considered one of the most scenic and challenging courses on the East Coast, Leatherstocking features a natural contour terrain that sweeps along the lake’s western shoreline. The most popular holes are #17, which plays up to 195 yards over water, and #18, which features an island tee and the fairway along the lake. The resort’s Hawkeye Bar & Grill features a diverse menu of seasonal favorite dishes and overlooks the tranquil lake. Cooperstown is also home to craft breweries, a renowned art museum and the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.
Seasonal Event: The Farmers’ Museum is hosting its 42nd Annual Harvest Festival on September 18-19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This family-friendly event celebrates the bounty of the fall season and brings together performers, artisans, and vendors at the museum, which is a cultural treasure featuring a 19th-century country village and farmstead.
Where to Stay: Situated on the southern shore of Lake Otsego, the historic and elegant Otesaga Resort Hotel provides breathtaking views of the vibrant fall season.
Spartanburg, South Carolina
Autumn in the South means cooler temperatures that are perfect for outdoor exploration, which makes Spartanburg an ideal destination to experience the season. Home to more than 20 miles of walking, cycling and horseback trails, Croft State Park allows guests to get up-close-and-personal when it comes to leaf peeping. Arguably the best way to see the season’s changing colors at the park is by renting a kayak and paddling around Lake Craig. With so much to see, another way to experience the fall foliage in this Upstate destination is by taking the roads less traveled… specifically the scenic back roads in such charming small towns as Landrum, which is located in the shadows of the Blue Ridge Mountains off Interstate 26.
Seasonal Event: Strawberry Hill USA in Chesnee offers a variety of nostalgic experiences this fall, including a corn maze, a pumpkin patch hayride and a U-Pick Sunflower Event. The corn maze and pumpkin patch hayrides will operate September 18 – October 31 (the U-Pick Sunflower Event dates are TBA). The corn maze incorporates three separate mazes in a single giant one, making it the region’s largest corn maze.
Where to Stay: Clevedale Inn and Historic Gardens offers a touch of history with top-notch accommodations. Overnight guests can opt to stay in one of the rooms at the historic inn or hop aboard a vintage 1947 Southern Rail X654 Caboose, which has been transformed into a queen-bedroom suite. The four-acre property features a relaxing garden with a variety of plants, native and adapted trees, wildflowers, perennials, and colorful annuals.
Allegany County, Maryland
The mountains are calling! This year, among the many ways to experience Allegany County, Maryland’s spectacular fall season is a brand-new offering: Tracks and Yaks takes riders through the scenic Western Maryland Railway and Great Allegheny Passage corridor on the state’s first and only rail biking excursion. Other ways to “ride” through the leaves include driving tours, a train excursion, or a bike ride. The Green Ridge State Forest Scenic Overlook Driving Tour is a 44-mile driving route through Maryland’s largest contiguous piece of public land. This excursion includes five stunning overlooks to take in the majesty of the fall season and takes about three hours, so packing a picnic lunch to enjoy along the way is encouraged. Western Maryland Scenic Railroad takes passengers through the colorful mountains of changing leaves on a 3½-hour round trip. Starting and ending at the historic depot in downtown Cumberland, passengers will enjoy a 90-minute layover to explore the neighboring mountain town of Frostburg. Finally, the 150-mile-long Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) features spectacular views of this part of the country for much of the year but bicycling through the brightest bursts of color in mid-October is arguably the best time to ride.
Seasonal Event: Just as peak leaf-peeping kicks off in mid-September, the beloved DelFest Bluegrass Music Festival returns. Taking place this year on the weekend of September 23-26, the family-friendly, four-day bluegrass festival celebrates the rich legacy of Del McCoury’s music set against the scenic backdrop of Knobley Mountain and the Potomac River.
Where to Stay: Town Hill Bed & Breakfast in Little Orleans features its own scenic overlook, appropriately named the Town Hill Overlook. At an elevation of 1,680 feet, the incredible view encompasses three states and seven counties.
Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley, Delaware
Located in the heart of the Mid-Atlantic region, Greater Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley is conveniently located minutes from the Interstate 95 corridor but prides itself on the countless beautiful and authentic experiences visitors can enjoy here. Filled with historic charm, a vibrant riverfront and beauty hidden in plain sight, visitors can “make hay” of the fall season with a variety of festive activities. Wilmington & Western Railroad offers a Hayride Express evening experience each Friday in October. The one-hour roundtrip on a historic first-generation diesel locomotive takes riders through the Red Clay Valley on an original railroad flatcar converted especially for hayrides. Families can also take a ride along the Brandywine with Hayrides at Hagley. Located on 235 acres, Hagley is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E.I. du Pont in 1802. During seasonal event weekends (October 9-10, 16-17, 23-24), visitors can enjoy hayrides, create fall-themed crafts, see a gunpowder explosion, witness a roll mill in action and check out working 19th-century machines.
Seasonal Events: Mt. Cuba Center in Hockessin is a botanical garden unlike any other. An inspiring place for gardeners to learn about what will work best in their own garden, Mt. Cuba is home to living collections of plants native to the eastern temperate forests of the United States. On September 18 and 25 and October 2 and 9, Mt. Cuba Center offers two events: a Sunset and S’mores scenic hayride geared toward families and a Hay Bales and Brews event for those ages 21 and older.
Where to Stay: Listed on the National Historic Register and a member of Historic Hotels of America, The Inn at Montchanin Village & Spa was named for Alexandria de Montchanin, the grandmother of the founder of the Dupont Company. Once part of the Winterthur Estate, the inn offers 28 guest rooms and suites appointed with period and reproduction furniture. The Inn is centrally located to Winterthur Museum, Hagley, Nemours Mansion and Gardens and more.
Winchester, Virginia
Situated at the top of Virginia in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, Winchester is conveniently located where seven major roadways converge (Routes 11, 522, 50, 340, and 7, along with Interstates 66 and 81), making it within a day’s drive of 70% of the U.S. population. It also happens to be a pretty spectacular place to experience fall foliage. The Tuscarora Trail – part of the Appalachian Trail system – is a hidden gem that offers magnificent views of the Shenandoah Valley, including those from the Eagle Rock and Pinnacle Rock overlooks. There are also plenty of mountain biking trails in the George Washington National Forest, which the Tuscarora Trail runs through. After hitting the trails, be sure to experience the legendary apple harvest season by visiting a pick-your-own orchard or stopping by one of the region’s many harvest events.
Seasonal Events: The folks behind the annual Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival are cohosting a brand-new event this fall: The Core of the Community Festival, which includes a BBQ and Brews Festival that takes place September 2-4 at the Frederick County Fairgrounds. The Shenandoah Valley Apple Harvest Festival takes place at the same fairgrounds on September 18-19 and includes such activities as an apple pie eating contest, apple pie baking contest, hard apple cider tastings and more. Finally, visitors can experience an authentic farm experience at the Marker-Miller Orchards Apple Harvest Festival, taking place October 9-10.
Where to Stay: The newly renovated Hampton Inn Winchester North hotel is offering a 10% discount on room rates to all attendees of the Core of the Community Festival. Located directly off Interstate 81 at Exit 315, the hotel is a short 15-minute drive to the fairgrounds and a 5-minute drive to downtown Winchester.
Branson, Missouri
Nestled in the lakeside beauty of the Ozark Mountains, Branson’s bold colors of fall are in full view from mid-September through November. For those who want to elevate their leaf-peeping experience, Branson offers a variety of ways to enjoy fall foliage from a bird’s-eye view. With a view that stretches for miles, the Branson Ferris Wheeloffers incredible vistas – especially at sunset – of Branson’s Entertainment District from 150 feet in the air! Runaway Mountain Coaster is Branson’s first and largest mountain coaster. This family-friendly thrill ride is located at Branson Mountain Adventure Park and features more than 5,000 feet of track with speeds of up to 30 mph. From fast-paced thrills on the Vigilante Extreme ZipRider to scenic mountain views on the Branson Zipline at Wolfe Mountain, ziplining among the treetops in the Ozark Mountains is a bold and unforgettable way to experience the changing seasons.
Seasonal Event: The Harvest Festival at Silver Dollar City is set to shine even brighter this year with more pumpkins than ever before, new larger-than-life pumpkin sculptures and glowing carved masterpieces. “Pumpkins in the City” is a glowing event featuring thousands of illuminated pumpkins in the evenings at Silver Dollar City. This celebration of fall in the Ozark Mountains at Silver Dollar City runs September 24 through October 30.
Where to Stay: Silver Dollar City invites visitors to “Stay Where You Play” by overnighting at the Silver Dollar City Campground. Offering hand-crafted rustic log cabins, tent camping and RV sites, the campground is located just minutes away from the celebrated family-owned theme park.
