Sept. 11, 2024

133. Top 7 Fall Foliage Road Trips: Best Leaf-Peeping Destinations for October 2024

Show Notes
Transcript

Embark on a colorful journey through America's most stunning autumn landscapes with Journey Joe Mitchell. Discover the best leaf-peeping destinations for October 2024, from the iconic Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire to the unexpected beauty of the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. This episode guides you through seven breathtaking road trips, offering tips on when to go, what to see, and how to capture the perfect fall foliage photos. Whether you're a seasoned leaf-peeper or planning your first autumn adventure, this guide is your ticket to experiencing nature's most spectacular show.

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WEBVTT

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Calorogus Shark Media.

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Hey there, autumn enthusiasts and road trip officionados, it's Journey

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Joe Mitchell and you're tuned into a special falltastic episode

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of Traveler is Back. Can you smell that crisp autumn air?

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Can you hear the crunch of leaves under your feet?

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That's right, folks, it's time to hit the road for

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some spectacular leaf peeping adventures. So grab your pumpkin spice latte,

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queue up your favorite fall playlist, and let's explore the

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best places to watch nature's most colorful show in October

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twenty twenty four. First up on our autumnal tour is

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the quintessential fall destination, New England. Now, I know what

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you're thinking, Joe. Isn't that a bit obvious? But trust me,

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there's a reason why this region tops every leaf peeper's list.

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Let's focus on the Cancamaugas Highway in New Hampshire. Affection

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known as the Canks by locals, this thirty four mile

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scenic byway cuts through the White Mountain National Forest, offering

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some of the most spectacular fall foliage views you'll ever see.

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Start your journey in Conway and head west towards Lincoln.

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As you wind your way through the mountains, you'll be

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treated to a kaleidoscope of reds, oranges, and gold set

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against the backdrop of the rugged white mountains. Here's a

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pro tip. Plan to spend a full day on this drive. Yes,

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it's only thirty four miles, but trust me, you'll want

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to stop at every overlook, each one more breathtaking than

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the last. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy it at

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one of the many scenic spots along the way. The

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cl Gram Overlook offers particularly stunning views of the Swift

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River and the surrounding mountains. For the best photo ops,

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try to time your drive for early morning or late afternoon.

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The low angle of the sun at these times makes

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the fall colors really pop. And if you're feeling adventurous,

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there are plenty of hiking trails along the route. The

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Sabbaday Falls Trail is an easy zero point three mile

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walk that leads to a beautiful three tiered waterfall surrounded

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by colorful foliage. Next on our leaf peeping road trip,

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let's head south to the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

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and North Carolina. This four hundred and sixty nine mile

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road connects Shenandoah National Park in Virginia to Great Smoky

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Mountains National Park in North Carolina, and it's often called

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America's favorite drive. Now, you don't need to drive the

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entire length to experience the parkway's autumn glory. Let's focus

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on a particularly scenic stretch, the one hundred miles from Roanoke,

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Virginia to Fancy Gap, Virginia. This section offers a perfect

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mix of mountain vistas, pastoral valleys, and hardwood forests that

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burst into color come October. One of the highlights along

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this route is Maybury Mill at mile post one hundred

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and seventy six. This old water powered mill is one

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of the most photographed spots on the entire parkway, and

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it's especially picturesque in the fall. Stop here for a

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short walk around the mill pond and grab some buckwheat

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pancakes at the restaurant. They're a local specialty. As you

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continue south, make sure to stop at the Blue Ridge

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Music Center at mile post two hundred and thirteen. Here

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you can learn about the region's rich musical heritage and

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maybe even catch a live performance. There's something special about

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listening to traditional Appalachian music surrounded by the colors of fall. Remember,

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the Blue Ridge Parkway has a speed limit of forty

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five miles per hour, and in some areas it's even lower.

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But that's okay. This is a drive to be savored,

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not rushed. Take your time, enjoy the views, and don't

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forget to watch for wildlife. It's not uncommon to spot deer,

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wild turkeys, and even black bears along the parkway. Now

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let's head west to the Midwest for our next leaf

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peeping destination, Michigan's Upper Peninsula. This often overlooked region offers

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some of the most spectacular fall colors you'll find anywhere

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in the country. Start your up adventure in Marquette, a

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charming town on the shores of Lake Superior. From here,

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take M twenty eight west towards Munising. This route takes

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you along the Lake Superior shoreline, offering stunning views of

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the lake on one side and colorful forests on the other.

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One must see stop on this route is pictured Rocks

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National Lake Shore. The colorful sandstone cliffs here are impressive

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at any time of year, but when framed by the

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reds and golds of autumn, they're truly spectacular. Take a

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detour onto age fifty eight for the best views of

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the cliffs in Lake Superior. Continue west to the Porcupine

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Mountains Wilderness State Park, affectionately known as the Porkies by locals.

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The Lake of the Clouds overlook here offers a panoramic

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view of the forest covered mountains reflected in the calm

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waters of the lake below. It's a view that'll take

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your breath away, especially when the trees are ablaze with

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fall colors. Here's a tip. The weather in the up

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can be unpredictable in October, so pack layers can be

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prepared for possible rain or even early snow, but don't

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let that deter you. A misty morning or a light

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dusting of snow can make the fall colors even more magical.

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For our next autumn adventure, let's head to the Rocky Mountains. Specifically,

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let's explore the San Juan Skyway in southwestern Colorado. This

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two hundred and thirty three mile loop takes you through

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some of the most stunning mountain scenery in the country,

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and in fall, it's simply spectacular. Start your journey in

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the old mining town of Durango and head north on

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Highway five hundred and fifty, also known as the Million

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Dollar Highway. The origin of this name is debated, but

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once you drive it, you'll agree that the views are

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worth a million bucks. As you climb into the San

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Juan Mountains, you'll be treated to vista after vista of

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snow capped peaks, deep valleys, and hillsides covered in golden aspens.

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The contrast between the white mountain tops, the blue sky,

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and the golden trees is something you have to see

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to believe. Make sure to stop in the historic mining

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town of Silverton. It's a perfect place to grab lunch

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and do some souvenir shopping. From Silverton, continue on to Oray,

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known as the Switzerland of America for its stunning alpine setting.

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One word of caution, the Million Dollar Highway has some

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steep drop offs and tight turns. If you're not comfortable

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with mountain driving, consider taking one of the jeep tours

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offered in Array. These tours will take you up into

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the high country on old mining roads, offering views you

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can't get from the main highway. Now, let's head back

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east to the Catskill Mountains in New York. This region

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just a couple of hours north of New York City

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offer some of the best fall foliage in the Northeast,

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without the crowds you might find in more famous leaf

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peeping destinations. Start your Catskills adventure in the town of Woodstock. Yes,

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that Woodstock, although the famous festival actually took place about

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sixty miles away from here. Take Route twenty eight west

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into the heart of the Catskills. This road winds along

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the Esipus Creek, offering beautiful views of the water and

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the surrounding forested hills. Make a stop at the Catskill

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and Interpretive Center to pick up maps and get advice

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on the best current leaf peeping spots. Then continue on

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to the Ashokan Reservoir. The path around the reservoir offers

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easy walking with stunning views of the water reflecting the

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colorful hillsides. For a real treat, take a detour onto

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Route twenty three A and head up to Caterskill Falls.

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This two tiered waterfall is the highest cascading waterfall in

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New York State, and when framed by fall foliage, it's

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absolutely breath taking. The hike to the falls is short

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but steep, so wear good shoes and take your time.

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Let's switch gears a bit and head to a place

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you might not immediately think of for fall colors. Shenandoah

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National Park in Virginia. While it might not have the

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name recognition of New England when it comes to autumn foliage,

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trust me it can hold its own. The star of

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the show here is Skyline Drive, a one hundred five

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mile road that runs the entire length of the park

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along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains. With seventy

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five scenic overlooks, you'll have plenty of opportunities to stop

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and soak in the views. Start your journey at the

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northern entrance of the park, near Front Royal. As you

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drive south, you'll climb to over three thousand, five hundred

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feet with panoramic views of the Shenandoah Valley to the

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west and the Rolling Piedmont to the east. The play

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of light and shadow over the hills, especially in the

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early morning or late afternoon, is simply magical. Don't miss

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the chance to stop at Skyland, the highest point on

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Skyline Drive. The restaurant here offers good food with an

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unbeatable view. If you're up for a hike, The Stony

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Man Trail near Skyland offers a relatively easy walk to

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one of the best viewpoints in the park. Keep an

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eye out for wildlife as you drive. Shenandoah is home

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to a large population of black bears, and fall is

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when they're most active as they prepare for winter. Just

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remember to keep your distance and never feed the wildlife.

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For our final leaf peeping destination, let's head to the

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Pacific Northwest and the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon. While

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the northeast might get all the fall foliage glory, the

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northwest offers its own unique autumn beauty. Start your gorge

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adventure in the town of Hood River, about an hour

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east of Portland. From here, take the historic Columbia River

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Highway East. This scenic road, built in the early twentieth century,

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was designed to showcase the natural beauty of the gorge,

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and it does so spectacularly. One of the highlights of

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this drive is Moltnomah Falls, a six hundred eleven foot

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tall waterfall that's stunning at any time of year, but

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especially so when framed by fall colors. The short walk

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to the Benson Bridge will give you an up close

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view of the falls and a great photo op continue

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east to the town of the DALs, where the lush

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forests of the Western Gorge give way to the drier

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landscapes of eastern Oregon. The contrast between the Golden Hills

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and the blue waters of the Columbia River is stunning.

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For a different perspective, consider taking a fall foliage cruise

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on the Columbia River. These boat trips offer a unique

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view of the gorge and often include commentary on the

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area's history and geology. As we wrap up our autumn

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road trip across America, remember that the magic of leaf

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peeping isn't just about the destination. It's about the journey.

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The joy of driving down a tree lined road, the

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windows down and the crisp fall air filling the car,

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The excitement of rounding a bend to discover a vista

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ablaze with color. These are the moments that make a

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fall foliage trip special. Whether you're marveling at the Golden

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Aspens in Colorado, hiking to a waterfall in the Catskills,

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or cruising along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah, remember to take

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your time and soak it all in. Fall colors are

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fleeting a reminder of the changing seasons and the passing

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of time. And hey, speaking of time, here's a way

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to save some You can enjoy all these episodes add free.

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to Calaroga dot com slash plus no plugins needed. So,

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fellow leaf peepers, where will your autumn adventures take you?

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Whether you're heading to the mountains of New England, the

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shores of Lake Superior, or the Columbia River Gorge. Remember

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the real magic of fall is in the crisp air,

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the changing colors, and the simple joy of a drive

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through nature's most spectacular show. This is journey. Joe Mitchell

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signing off until next time, Keep exploring, stay curious, and

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may your autumn be filled with colorful adventures.

133. Top 7 Fall Foliage Road Trips: Best Leaf-Peeping Destinations for October 2024

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