Leaving Summer Behind
I want to check out the colors changing in the fall leaves. When/Where should I go?The Autumn Equinox, marking the beginning of Autumn, is on September 23rd. What better time to check out the changing foliage throughout the state? I Love NY Autumn tells you when and what region you should visit for best foliage color. Depending on where you are in the state, the leaves will change anywhere from the last half of September to the first week of November. There are 23 types of leaves that you can find throughout NY State including Bitternut Hickory, Sassafras and Quaking Aspen. While you are checking out the leaves, you can also explore farms and wineries throughout the state. The site lets you browse for farms by region and product, as well as provides driving itinieraries.
For those of you looking to plan a getaway in New Jersey or around the Northeast, you can check out The Foliage Network which gives reports on foliage color and leaf drop in various areas. As of September 23rd, New Jersey showed low color in the NW regions (Little/No Change in the rest of New Jersey), but areas farther North had moderate color. Northern Western Maine is for the most part, the only region reporting leaf drop. You can also explore the site for things to see and do. In Aroostook County (Northern Maine), you can take a scenic drive along Route 11 between Fork Kent and Portage Lake. This route offers views of grasslands, meadows, lakes, rivers, and brilliant fall foliage colors.
In New Jersey, explore the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, part of the 70,000 acre park in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. You can wander through 25-miles of the Appalachian Trail along the Kittatiny Ridge, although you may be better rewarded if you wait until a little later in the season.
The Berkshires, in Massachusetts, has some great scenic drives. Drive up to the summit of Mt. Greylock in Adams, and you'll be at the top of Massachusetts. This will offer you an incredible view of the changing leaves. If you feel like getting some history in with your getaway, The Mohawk Trail, in northern Berkshire County, began originally as a Native Indian trail, and was later developed into America's first scenic automobile route. (State Rt. 2)
