Best way to see Fall colors back east ?

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damraider

damraider

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My wife and I would like to go back east for the fall colors and were wondering what the best set-up is? Tours or on our own ? Looking for some feedback from locals .
Thanks !

Steve
 
As a New Yorker......not the city, just the state.......wife and I like to drive around aimlessly on back roads that take us up on top of hills that let us look down into the valleys below. We try to catch colors when they are "peak" as in sharpest, brightest, fullest, usually only about a week long window, sometime in the September/October time frame depending where you are in the state, north ( Adirondack mts ) or south ( Catskill mts ).

Be advised a wet fall will kill leaf peaking, knock the leaves right out of the trees.
 
On your own usually. Fall leaf colors vary in intensity from region to region and the timing is never certain. You want to be is a centralized place like Connecticut or central upstate New York so you can adapt and travel North or south in a few hours and find the best spots. Peak colors in Vermont and NH are about a month ahead of peak in Central PA. Upstate NY is in between.
 
There is a whole lot of "east". In the southeast you can't beat the blue ridge parkway. Sky lifts, zip lines, open trains, provide much better views that you'll get from a car window, or ground level. Organized and scheduled tour would be too restrictive/controlling for me, much like being on a cruise.
A bit of irony, I'm east and want to go west to see the redwood trees. I see plenty of fall colors but I don't see tree bases I could drive my car through.
Riding a bus through just wouldn't be the same.
 
I figured it is going to take some homework for sure.
Redfish, the redwoods are truly awesome! You just can’t imagine what a 30 foot diameter tree looks like unless you’re standing at the base of it.
 
I have always found the Kancamangus highway in the White Mountain national forest, to be the prettiest around, New Hampshire's Most Scenic Fall Drives with LOTS of pull offs and scenic vistas. Also the Mount Washington auto road is a wild drive up the mountain. But you must plan ahead, as the hotels fill up quickly. I would suggest air B&B.
 
70dustah said:
I have always found the Kancamangus highway in the White Mountain national forest, to be the prettiest around, New Hampshire's Most Scenic Fall Drives with LOTS of pull offs and scenic vistas. Also the Mount Washington auto road is a wild drive up the mountain. But you must plan ahead, as the hotels fill up quickly. I would suggest air B&B.
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more, this area of New Hampshire is incredible. I live in Western NY and we drove up there to spend time in the N. Conway area a few times over the years. Just great with the foliage and covered bridges, they are really beautiful. Stop in at Hooligan's for some good food. :)
 
We live at the foothills of the White Mountain National Forest and I can honestly say some of the most beautiful scenery and fall colors anywhere . the peak foliage is brief but it usually starts about the first week in October and is past peak (but still good) first week in November . The days are warm but as soon as the light declines the temperature drops fast . A must do is the cog railway up Mt. Washington , 6200 ft., on a clear day you can see 5 states . There are bus tours up the wazzoo , some stop in my town to a haunted hotel . Tourist traffic can get crazy on weekends but weekdays are tolerable . Wonderful "Yankee Fair " at restruants as well as the best seafood on earth . Need more info ? Let me know . Later, Tom
 
Chryslers at Carlisle in July.

You may have to plan ahead to 'leaf' home to attend.

Mopars of all hues. :)
 
Motorcycling through the Tunnel of Trees. Motorcycling the back roads. Basically, motorcycling!!
 
Anywhere from the mid Atlantic states to New England can be good for Fall tree colors...if you catch them right.

You need to be prepared to move north or south during any Fall season to catch the best views as every year is different. Some places will be better than others in any given year.

So much depends on temperatures and rainfall to make the colors vibrant in any particular area.

The best advice is to be mobile, flexible and adapt to the conditions.
 
I like riding through the Smokey mountains national park and foothills pky. I like riding the dragon over to deals gap NC.
 
Awesome guys !! Wife is getting excited. We are planning for 10 days ,so should have flexibility. I never thought about renting a motorcycle (been riding for years), but that is such a great way to see, smell, and feel the surroundings. Thanks again for all the comments and keep them coming.
 
Yep, I miss riding my bike that was the best way. Health issues I can't ride anymore so I have to drive.:BangHead:
 
Another vote for the Blue Ridge Parkway; very scenic all around and a lot of good long range views. But the SE leaf colors can vary depending on the prior growing season and how quickly it cools.

The NE tends to have more brilliant colors, particularly since they have a lot higher count of maple trees.
 
JBurch said:
As a New Yorker......not the city, just the state.......wife and I like to drive around aimlessly on back roads that take us up on top of hills that let us look down into the valleys below. We try to catch colors when they are "peak" as in sharpest, brightest, fullest, usually only about a week long window, sometime in the September/October time frame depending where you are in the state, north ( Adirondack mts ) or south ( Catskill mts ).

Be advised a wet fall will kill leaf peaking, knock the leaves right out of the trees.
Click to expand...
I have to agree with @JBurch that just shutting off google and wandering on the secondary roads in the mountains of NY, VT, NH you can stumble across amazing scenery. I also love the scenery of the blue ridge parkway and would go out of my way to drive it years ago when I used to visit my grandparents in NC. Although I've never been there in the fall, I can imagine the views would be amazing.
 
Since I'm from to deep south, in Fl. the only way we can tell the season change is when we see all the snowbirds driving South!
 
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