My ultimate fall foliage travel adventure involves me, a hot air balloon and miles of pristine forests ablaze in orange and red hues.
Someday.
My dream of witnessing Mother Nature’s autumnal transformation from the sky is one way to spice up an ordinary leaf peeping trip. However, it is not the only adventure that puts a new spin on traditional fall foliage viewing.
Cruise: Seasonal sailings to New England and Canada when the fall foliage is at its peak make for ideal family getaways during September and October. In addition to getting a rare view of the changing landscape from the water, you can also look forward to visiting fun ports of call in Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. The most popular shore excursions on fall foliage cruises include: New London, CT; Gloucester, MA; Bar Harbor, ME; Martha’s Vineyard, MA; New York, NY; Newport, RI and Portsmouth, NH. If you are taking a fall voyage to Canada during the height of leaf peeping season, expect to tour family-friendly ports, such as Halifax, Nova Scotia; Saint John, New Brunswick; or Quebec City, Quebec.
Zip line: Another fall foliage adventure that puts a traditional Sunday drive in the country to shame is a high-flying zip line tour. Cypress Valley Canopy Tours in Texas Hill Country offers zip line expeditions into the heart of the season’s color show. Located 30 miles outside of Austin, you can sail through the picturesque burnt-orange leaves of the local Cypress trees on a zip line.
Horseback Tours: If catapulting your body above the tree tops isn’t your cup of tea, then consider a more stable choice– horseback riding in Grand Teton National Park. Wyoming’s wilderness bursts into color this time of year and you can soak it all in at a slow pace from the back of a guided horse. Dry Ridge Outfitters offers a variety of guided tours that last anywhere from an hour to several days. The best time to hit the trails is mid-October when the Aspens and Cottonwoods are ablaze with orange and red hues.
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Weekend Travel: Leaf Peeping Adventures
Leaf Peeping and Other Fun Fall Family Weekend Activities