One of the best ways to celebrate the changing of seasons from summer to fall in the USA is to put on some warmer clothes and head outside to enjoy the colorful beauty of fiery autumn leaves. There are many American destinations you can visit to help enhance your autumn experience while immersing yourself in nature before the winter snow arrives.
When it comes to the fall, many travelers automatically think about heading to New England to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves. However, there are many other places to travel to that are just as pleasing on the eye. But it’s still hard to beat the New England area and one of the finest states to visit there in the falls is New Hampshire.
It’s one of the most spectacular spots on earth to see the leaves changing color as it’s filled with rolling hills that are covered in forests of birch, maple, ash, and oak trees. You can view the fantastic scenery by taking a chair lift or gondola ride up many of the mountains and you can also get a great view from comfortable surroundings of your own car. Another great way to soak it all in is by taking a train trip through the colorful hills.
If you’re driving, there are 14 official designated scenic drives in New Hampshire that cover close to 900 miles of wonderful countryside. The leaves change color the earliest in the northern area of the state and you can also take a break from driving to take a canoe or paddle boat around the numerous lakes.
In the White Mountain region you’ll be able to find quite a few mountain resorts that offer gondola rides. These include Wildcat Mountain, Cannon Mountain, and Loon Mountain. The Conway Scenic Railroad is located in this area and you can check out the mountain scenery while having supper on the train. Lincoln, Weirs Beach, and Meredith also offer train trips. If you’d rather get in some exercise and view the trees by foot, you can take a hike up Mount Major as the top of it offers a spectacular view.
There are many charming lodges and inns to stay in while on your trip and one of the most popular and historic is called the Wentworth. This is located on the Kancamagu Highway scenic drive.
There are also several fall festivals in New Hampshire during the fall and these are ideal for families. Many of them are related to pumpkins and Thanksgiving. One of the most popular is the Keene Pumpkin Fest, which is held in the city of Keene, and gives visitors the opportunity to visit the petting zoo and decorate pumpkins.
