10 Small Towns with Fantastic Fall Color

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

During autumn in Jim Thorpe, a trip down memory lane is framed by brightly colored leaves. The historic town, tucked into a steep valley in the Poconos, offers wonderfully preserved buildings that house tea rooms, art galleries, and an old opera house popular on the Vaudeville circuit. Fall foliage weekends complete with arts, crafts, music, and kids' activities run throughout October, and this time of year also brings guided ghost walks to town.

Fall Foliage: Hiking, biking, and kayaking are key ways to enjoy the best of fall near Jim Thorpe. A number of companies in town offer rentals, guided trips, and shuttle services to favorite spots, such as the Lehigh Gorge Rail Trail. Or, appreciate the fall colors aboard a 1920s-era passenger train on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.

Time it Right: October is prime time for both foliage and fall activities. This year, the projected peak of color is around October 12, but Alicia Quinn at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau notes, "if history repeats itself, this will get pushed back until mid-month, and usually lasts about two weeks."

Stay: The Inn at Jim Thorpe, located in the heart of Jim Thorpe's National Register Historic District, has October midweek rates from $103 and weekend rates from $149 per night. The historic inn comes with a rich history, and may even have its own ghost.

Sedona, Arizona

There's nothing understated about Sedona, about two hours north of Phoenix in the high desert of Central Arizona. Vibrant red mesas and blushing sandstone cliffs offer some of the country's most spectacular scenery, especially at sunrise and sunset. During fall, the color show takes it up a notch. In town you can browse art galleries—or get your energy balanced by one of the many healers and spiritual guides that call Sedona home—before heading out for some leaf peeping.

Fall Foliage: This time of year, the foliage takes a cue from the vivid rock colors, putting on a show of reds, golds, and oranges in nearby Oak Creek Canyon. Walk the self-guided Canyon Color tour at Slide Rock State Park for dazzling displays from bigtooth maple, Gambel oak, and Arizona walnut trees. From the car, spot more fall color in the deciduous trees that cluster next to the creek along Highway 89A heading north from Cottonwood through Sedona.

Time it Right: Ellen Bilbrey of Arizona State Parks says that fall foliage colors will likely start to appear in mid-October this year, but warns, "We never know the actual peak time until the weather starts to drop to temperatures of 45 degrees at night."

Stay: Immerse yourself in the foliage of Oak Creek Canyon at the Forest Houses Resort. Rates for two people start at $95. Rentals that sleep up to seven people are available, and many of the options are pet-friendly.

Stockholm, Wisconsin

The village of Stockholm, on the banks of the Mississippi River about 70 miles from Minneapolis, offers dozens of delightful ways to savor fall. Vast swaths of fall foliage adorn the landscape around the town, the local pie company bakes up fall in many flavors, and at the Maiden Rock Winery and Cidery, you can drink the season too, with wines made from apples and berries. And if that's not enough, you can tool around town on free blue bikes available for visitors or take advantage of some of the best boutique and antique shopping in the state.

Fall Foliage: Drive the Great River Road from Maiden Rock to Pepin, passing through Stockholm. Explore the limestone Maiden Rock Bluffs, with a view to not just great foliage but also Lake Pepin and the Mississippi River valley. Or catch the colors from the water: On Deck Charters offers fall cruises and sailing lessons on the lake.

Time it Right: This year, TravelWisconsin's fall color report predicts peak fall color in mid-October.

Stay: At the Great River Bed & Breakfast, you don't just get a room, you get an entire cottage for $175 per night.

Woodstock, Vermont

In Woodstock the most wonderful time of the year comes early. With fall foliage that's nothing short of spectacular, the town and surrounding countryside put on a color show that draws visitors from around the world. Weekend events include harvest suppers, the Woodstock Apples and Crafts Fair, and the nearby Antique Show. Before you head out of town in search of the brightest reds and oranges of autumn, spend some time roaming the quaint downtown or exploring Vermont's rural heritage at the nearby Billings Farm & Museum.

Fall Foliage: In Woodstock village the easy and gradual hike up Mt. Tom affords views of the village and of exceptional fall foliage. Due to the Hurricane Irene flood damage, some tertiary roads are still closed, but plenty of great options still exist, including Route 4 to Killington, or Route 12 to Silver Lake and Barnard, coming back on the Stage Road.

Time it Right: The leaves have already started to change in Woodstock. Rain and wind dependant, peak season should fall between October 1 and October 10 to 15.

Stay: Most rooms at the Shire Riverview Motel have river views. Peak foliage season rates start at $158 per night.

Jasper, Arkansas

Each fall, the tiny Ozark mountain town of Jasper beckons visitors with the promise of vivid fall colors and Southern hospitality. Start the warm fall days with a big breakfast at a local cafe or by people-watching in the downtown square before heading out for some serious leaf peeping, wildlife spotting, and scenic drives.

Fall Foliage: Popular foliage drives include the Scenic 7 Byway, thought to be one of the most scenic drives in the country, and the Heart of Newton County tour, a 60-mile loop through small towns, along the Buffalo National River, and past some of Arkansas' elk herds. Around this time, the weather is ideal for hiking—the Lost Valley Trail and Hawksbill Crag trails are both relatively short hikes that deliver fall color and lovely scenery.

Time it Right: The best time to see the fall colors near Jasper is usually between October 15 and November 15. You can stay up-to-date on fall foliage around the state by checking the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism website.

Stay: Downtown Jasper's The Arkansas House Inn serves handmade organic cinnamon rolls and blueberry scones to guests each morning. Rates start at $85 per night.

Hood River, Oregon

Colorful fall foliage and abundant harvests. That's what you'll get in and around Hood River, a town nestled in the Columbia River Gorge next to the Cascade Mountain Range. Plan your stay for the first weekend of any month and you'll get to enjoy First Friday, when art galleries, shops, and restaurants downtown put on an evening of new art exhibits, wine tastings, and free music between 6 and 9 p.m. October brings many fall festivities, including the Hood River Valley Harvest Fest and the Heirloom Apple Celebration.

Fall Foliage: If you're looking to get out into the fall foliage, consider hiking the Eagle Creek trail to Punch Bowl Falls. If you prefer a scenic drive, head west from Hood River to Highway 30, the Columbia River Historic Highway. You'll not only enjoy lovely fall colors but can visit some of the area's waterfalls, including the well-known Multnomah Falls. For a delicious drive, take the famed Fruit Loop trail to taste the best of the 14,000 acres of orchards at local farms, or sip your way through the region at local wineries.

Time it Right: Because summer has lingered this year, peak foliage likely won't arrive until early- to mid-October.

Stay: Nightly rates at the Sakura Ridge Farm and Lodge start at $150. Throughout summer and fall, guests can help herd sheep. Farm tours are also available for $25 per person.

Stockbridge, Massachusetts

The small town of Stockbridge in the Berkshires has some pretty high praise to its name. Norman Rockwell called it "the best of America, the best of New England." In fall, surrounded by some of the country's most dazzling displays of fall foliage, it truly earns its high marks. The town and its environs aren't just rich in fall color; area attractions include the MASS MoCA, the Norman Rockwell Museum, the Colonial-era Mission House, the frontier re-creation Bidwell House Museum, and The Mount, Edith Wharton's Estate and Gardens.

Fall Foliage: There's no shortage of scenic routes through the Berkshires. Near Stockbridge, routes 7 and 183 offer good leaf peeping. Check out the live foliage map for the latest.

Time it Right: Berkshire Leaf Chief Lauren Stevens says that while the leaves begin to turn before the official start of fall on September 23, they "typically reach their crescendo in October."

Stay: The historic Red Lion Inn has fall midweek specials from $125 per night on select dates.

Fayetteville, West Virginia

Small-town appeal comes in many packages, and Fayetteville prefers its charm funky and cool rather than just quaint. In town, little restaurants serve up local microbrews and local specialties (check out the grape pizza at Pies & Pints). Just outside town, the New River Gorge offers some of the best fall foliage in the state. It's also a focal point for adventure seekers: Whitewater rafting, hiking, mountain biking, and BASE jumping are popular activities. In fact, October 15 is New River Gorge Bridge Day, when thousands come together to celebrate fall and watch some serious BASE jumping (think tall bridge and parachutes).

Fall Foliage: For a bird's-eye view of the changing colors, consider a scenic flight over New River Gorge in a 1940 open-cockpit biplane. From Fayetteville, drive the Midland Trail, or combine leaf peeping with bird-watching. If you're looking for a longer scenic route, try this Southern Accents Tour.

Time it Right: Fayetteville usually sees peak color in late October. The West Virginia Division of Forestry publishes a weekly update on the latest fall foliage around the state.

Stay: Rates start at $85 at the Historic Morris Harvey House Bed & Breakfast, located in the New River Gorge recreation area.

Munising, Michigan

Gorgeous fall foliage has good company in the Upper Peninsula town of Munising. With dramatic sandstone cliffs rising above Lake Superior and 17 local waterfalls, the stage for beauty is already set by the time the dramatic reds, oranges, and yellows of autumn take hold of the forests. Take a stroll downtown, admire the work of local artists, and feast on fresh fish from the lake or sink your teeth into pasties, the local specialty.

Fall Foliage: One of the best ways to enjoy the foliage, and the beauty of the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, is aboard a boat. Hikers should check out the Superior Shoreline portion of the North Country Trail at Munising. There are also plenty of hiking options in Hiawatha National Forest.

Time it Right: Peak colors in the area occur from late September to mid-October. You can check out the latest fall colors on ExploreMunising.com.

Stay: We found October weekend rates at the Sunset Motel on the Bay from $72 per night.

Julian, California

Julian offers fall colors where you'd least expect them: in Southern California, about an hour from San Diego. This former gold-rush town in the Cuyamaca Mountains still shines bright each autumn. The town is also known for its apple season and draws leaf peepers looking for a side of apple pie and cider donuts. The Julian Apple Days Festival occurs the first weekend in October this year.

Fall Foliage: While hiking or driving in the mountains around the town, you'll find crimson pistache, gold-leafed oak, and poplar trees putting on a show among the evergreens.

Time it Right: September and October see the changing of the leaves, and promise plenty of apple treats.

Stay: The Julian Gold Rush Hotel Bed & Breakfast has rates from $135 per night and an apple pie package that includes accommodations, a full breakfast, afternoon tea, a seasonal guidebook, and an apple pie, with rates from $155.

What are your favorite small towns to visit during fall?

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