By Kristy Alpert & Jayme Moye for Fodor's Travel
Leaf viewing is one of the easiest (and least expensive) ways to experience America’s awe-inspiring natural beauty.
Whether you call it leaf-peeping season or simply fall, the changing colors around the nation are enough to inspire a fall foliage getaway. From the mountain maples in New England to the stunning sassafras trees that shade the Blue Ridge Parkway, check out our picks for the ten best fall foliage trips in the U.S.
Laurel Highlands, Pennsylvania
The covered bridges, rolling hills, and picturesque small towns were enough to inspire artists and architects like Frank Lloyd Wright over the years. The region is home to four Frank Llyod Wright houses and countless other stunning structures like the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, but the architecture of the highlands is only part of the draw as the area once the fall season sets in. Pennsylvania boasts a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in America, and it’s here that harvest festivals and autumn wine tastings are set among a backdrop of bright reds, oranges, and yellows from the changing dogwoods, black gums, and scarlet oaks.
When to Go: The leaves begin their changes in mid-September, but will hit their peak colors around mid-October.
Where to Stay: Whether you arrive by car or by air (the resort has its own airstrip on the property), the first glimpses you get of the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort will take your breath away. During fall, this 323-room resort becomes a haven for luxuriating among the autumn leaves, whether with a rejuvenating treatment at the Woodlands Spa and Holistic Healing Center or with a glass of wine from Pennsylvania’s largest private wine cellar.