Forbes Travel Guide 7 Stunning Destinations For Leaf-Peeping Season
By Jadine Sayer
Fall is full of comforting pleasures like pumpkin spice lattes and cozy sweaters, but nothing beats the great outdoors this time of year. To fully experience the fleeting time when the trees turn vibrant colors and the weather is refreshingly brisk, head to one of these key destinations to take it all in.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Kick your leaf-peeping adventures up a notch with a wildlife safari in Wyoming. While staying at Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, venture through Yellowstone National Park with a naturalist guide who will explain the ecology of the region and point out native animals like elk, moose, bald eagles and river otters.
Even better, afterward you can retire to a sumptuous room with gorgeous mountain views and a warm, crackling fireplace.
Upstate New York
You won’t even have to leave the grounds of Four-Star The Lodge at Turning Stone Resort Casino to take in some prime leaf viewing. As a guest at this bucolic spot in Verona, New York, you can partake in a slew of outdoor activities (golf, fishing, tennis) or simply stroll the property’s sprawling 3,400 acres.
Upgrade to a VIP Suite to enjoy the killer vistas over your morning coffee from a wrap-around balcony.
Philadelphia
Sure, you can travel the countryside to see the colors of the season, but you can also take a decidedly urban route, too — especially in historic Philadelphia, which is dotted with parks, rivers and lots of trees.
Book a room at Four-Star The Rittenhouse for a central location (on foliage-filled Rittenhouse Square no less) that makes the city easy to explore by foot. Opt for the especially scenic walking trails alongside the river.
The Hamptons
Located on the North Fork about an hour and a half from New York City, Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Jedediah Hawkins Inn is nestled within Long Island’s booming wine country, surrounded by miles of scenic vineyards. In fact, sipping and swirling some local vino as you travel from winemaker to winemaker is the best way to see the gorgeous scenery here this fall.
For slightly more active pursuits, grab one of the six-room inn’s bicycles to cruise around the area.
Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto is a beguiling city that feels magical come fall, making this the season to check in to The Ritz-Carlton, Kyoto. The lovely hotel offers an assortment of autumn experiences for you to explore the city and its charming environs, from mountain hiking to tandem biking and even rickshaw touring.
The hotel itself is located along the Kamogawa River and overlooks the majestic Higashiyama mountains. Book the Tsukimi Suite for panoramas of the peaks and an alfresco deck made for moon gazing.
The Berkshires
A gilded Tudor-style mansion tucked away on expertly manicured grounds in The Berkshires, Five-Star Blantyre is a regal country house that oozes elegance. We imagine an autumn day here would involve hiking the property’s lawns and woodlands, having a gourmet meal and retiring to a cozy room for one of the inn’s board games in front of a roaring fireplace.
The Fall Romance Package includes an overnight stay, welcome champagne, breakfast and an elaborate picnic (think candlesticks and plenty of pillows) on the estate’s grounds — all within view of the striking red and gold foliage.
Virginia
The Blue Ridge Mountains are always a beautiful sight to behold, but come fall the picturesque peaks are simply breathtaking. Four-Star The Lodge and Cottages at Primland, located on 12,000 acres in southern Virginia, is an ideal place to take up temporary residence while exploring the property’s fly-fishing, horseback riding, golf and hiking.
For a unique experience, book one of the three private tree houses. These intimate cabins are built around soaring tree limbs with unbelievable vistas of the rolling hills, which will be blanketed in reds, oranges and golds.