#fall-foliage

#fall-foliage

Few experiences compare to riding a vintage steam train that winds through the heart of the Rockies in the fall. The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, North America's longest and highest steam railroad, takes passengers deep into landscapes that few people ever get the chance to see. Designated a National Historic Landmark, this remarkable route spans more than 64 miles of unspoiled wilderness, traversing the majestic scenery of Colorado and New Mexico.

Take full advantage of autumn's cooler temperatures and beautiful foliage by planning a fall road trip through the most scenic regions of the United States. Naturally, the prettiest state to visit depends on your road trip goals-cruise the Northeast to see the colorful changing leaves on a journey through mountain landscapes, or head south to the Gulf Coast, where you'll find foliage with a side of warmer weather and ocean views.

And as it does, the leaves begin their own slow evolution-putting on one final display of color before winter arrives. This unhurried transformation is well suited to Michigan's Mackinac Island, where life always moves a bit slower. Instead of cars, there are horse-drawn carriages, and the debate on who makes the best homemade fudge is ongoing. The island moves to its own beat-one that is noticeably slower than life on the mainland.

Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park is always gorgeous - but in my opinion, it's especially beautiful in the fall. By mid-September, the tall aspen trees in the park turn a brilliant gold, standing out against the high mountain peaks. Walking around Bear Lake is one of my favorite ways to take in the fall foliage. Just keep in mind that if you're visiting the park through mid-October, timed-entry reservations are required for certain parts of the day.

Departing from its 1905 depot like a moving postcard, the train follows the Toccoa River, passing sycamores and sourwoods, rolling hills, and farms along the way. It's leaf-peeping without the hairpin turns or crowded parking lots, just windows down and the car doors open wide, a thermos of cider, and the steady click of the rails. The classic trip is a 26-mile, four-hour round-trip from downtown Blue Ridge, Georgia, to the twin border towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee.

There will be drastic differences in fall foliage across this country this year,

The first report lands September 10 and will drop every Wednesday through November, courtesy of more than 90 volunteer "leaf peepers" stationed across New York's 11 vacation regions. Their job is to obsessively monitor tree lines and send in dispatches on everything from the percentage of color change to the best viewing spots for the upcoming weekend. In other words, you'll know exactly when it's worth leaving your couch for a road trip.

Two excellent interactive map tools can help reveal when the leaves are likely to change in your area. However, it should be noted that no tool is entirely accurate when predicting fall colors, and several factors, including local temperatures and rainfall, can affect when the leaves will change. Still, as September progresses into October and October into November, the leaves will continue to change through their cascade of seasonal colors, progressing from north to south.

Garner State Park, located in Concan, Texas, about three hours southwest of the Live Music Capital of the World. It's a popular destination for tubers who like to float the Frio River, but come fall, the park dazzles as trees turn from green to golden, orange, and red. Founded in 1941, Garner State Park is one of many parks built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a program created by President Franklin Roosevelt to combat the unemployment crisis of the Great Depression.

there should still be plenty of time to enjoy outdoor activities without the need to bundle up. That's because meteorologists are now predicting that the Boston area will see an autumn that is warmer than average. Forecasters with the National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center recently released a temperature outlook for September, October, and November. It shows that most of New England has a high chance of experiencing temperatures that are warmer than what is normally seen during the fall months.