Some of the most stunning fall scenery can be found in Vermont. The fall foliage season extends from early September into late October. Visitors can admire the colorful canopy by touring the state on a bike or a car along winding forest roads or on foot along mountain trails. Amongst the lakes and mountains, travelers can visit fall festivals in classic New England villages. For example, new and vintage quilts are on display at the Bennington Quiltfest and approximately 80 artists are featured at the Newfane Heritage Festival.
Established in 1893, Algonquin Provincial Park is the oldest provincial park in Canada. Accessible via Highway 60 in eastern Ontario, the park features 14 hiking trails and eight campsites. According to Ontario Parks, the best way to explore Algonquin is on foot or by canoe. The park's interior features thousands of lakes and hills covered in sugar and red maple trees, and is home to black bears, moose, loons and other wildlife. The park's foliage becomes a colorful mosaic of reds, oranges and yellows from mid-September to mid-October.
According to Fodor's, one of California's most scenic drives is along the Big Sur region. Motorists meandering along more than 60 miles of Highway 1 are treated to spectacular views of rugged cliffs overlooking the Pacific. Visitors to the area during the fall can avoid the fog that hangs along the coast during summer months. Traffic along the route is also eased in comparison to summer months. Big Sur also offers remote beaches such as Pfeiffer Beach and hiking trails in the Los Padres National Forest.
Coinciding with the traditional harvest time for wineries and vineyards, October is Virginia Wine Month. Virginia is home to 16 wine trails and more than 160 wineries and during October wine enthusiasts can participate in approximately 100 festivals, events and tastings. October is also peak season for fall colors. Trails feature bed and breakfasts, restaurants and historic inns, and take visitors across the state's countryside, including the Blue Ridge Mountains and the waterways in the Northern Neck peninsula.
