Leaf-Peeping Beyond Vermont: Surprising Places for Fall
Autumn has a way of slowing the world down. The light turns softer; the air is sharper; and the trees unfurl their brilliance in the final curtain call before winter.
While Vermont may hold the crown in leaf-peeping daydreams, fiery canopies stretch far beyond New England. From the hills of the Ozarks to Japanese temples, this season paints across borders with the same dextrous hand.
Come wander with us through fanciful corners of the world where autumn is just as bright, and where a welcoming inn or château is happy to gather you in after the day’s golden light fades.
The Ozarks, Arkansas and Missouri
The Ozarks are a quilt of rolling hills stitched with oak, hickory, and maple. In the fall, the forests blaze with shades of scarlet and amber, mirrored in the stillness of hidden lakes.
Drive the Pig Trail Scenic Byway as it winds through Ozark National Forest, or linger in Eureka Springs, where Victorian houses peek through the fiery treetops.
A nice place to stay is the 1886 Crescent Hotel & Spa, a hilltop retreat whose wide balconies overlook the patchwork valley below. Known as the “Grand Old Lady of the Ozarks,” this historic hotel has both charm and panoramic views. It’s the perfect perch to watch the season unfold.
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is a land where waterfalls tumble through forests and the vastness of Lake Superior mirrors the sky. In the fall, the birch and aspen trees line the shorelines in gold, while sugar maples set the hills ablaze.
The Porcupine Mountains have trails that trace through the wilderness and glow with color. And small towns like Marquette and Copper Harbor shine particularly bright under the canopy of fall.
For a stay with a touch of storybook magic, you’ll love the Big Bay Point Lighthouse B&B, a working lighthouse turned inn, perched above Lake Superior. The beam still sweeps across the water at night and, inside, the fires crackle while the windows frame the ever-changing forest.
Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington
The Columbia River Gorge is a spectacle in every season, but autumn is particularly spicy. Maples turn yellow against the dark rock while vineyard slopes turn to copper.
When you’re here, be sure to drive the Historic Columbia River Highway, meditate at Multnomah Falls, and sip wine in Hood River while the leaves swirl around you.
The Columbia Gorge Hotel, a 1920s landmark, is wrapped in the glow of the season. Its gardens tumble down toward the river, where cascades splash and trees shimmer in gold. Inside, the echoes of old-world romance make it a beautiful retreat after a long day on the road.
Kyoto, Japan
In Kyoto, red maples frame the wooden bridges of Arashiyama; temples rise above gardens awash in amber light; and stone paths crunch with fallen leaves. It’s peace in a bottle.
At Kiyomizu-dera, the city spreads out beneath a forest brightly lit in shades of crimson, while Philosopher’s Path becomes a corridor of color reflected in the canal. For the Japanese, autumn is a season of reflection, and Kyoto holds that stillness in every turn of its lantern-lit lanes.
For a beautiful stay, you can drift by boat along the Oi River to Hoshinoya Kyoto, a ryokan hidden in the hills. Its sliding doors open to views of maples bending over the water, and each meal is shaped by the season’s harvest, making your stay feel like an extension of autumn itself.