While Covid may be limiting our travel options at the moment, there are some things we can still do that are fun, affordable and safe. Leaf peeping is great option now that fall is upon us. With leaf peeping trips, you can spend as much or as little money as you like. You can travel across the country for a week or just across your own county for an afternoon.
Some of the most popular areas for autumnal drives are Tennessee, North Carolina, Washington D.C., Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York and Maine. Other scenic places you might want to consider for your fall foliage viewing are Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.
You may already have your favorite scenic routes in mind, but the roads may be extra crowded this season with everyone else who wants to get out and about for a while. This is a great time to explore less travelled backroads and those roads might be closer to home than you’ve ever expected. I once found a stunningly beautiful route near my home when a local road was closed for construction and I was forced to take a detour that I never would have otherwise considered. I wound up on a charming country lane, lined with horse farms and thick forests. Likewise, on my last trip to Kentucky, I found wonderful, winding roads completely off the beaten path when I let my GPS lead me from a remote antique store in Horse Cave to a B&B in Glasgow.
While some people like just getting in the car and driving, I prefer to have a destination for the day, the weekend or the week. The destination need not be anything too remarkable. What you want is basically a turnaround point. If you plan on doing a weekend trip or longer, your turnaround point should obviously be wherever you plan on spending the night. If you’re doing a day trip, perhaps a restaurant, museum or park would be the best turnaround for you.
Short car trips are very affordable right now with gas prices still being so low. You can further cut costs by packing a cooler and a picnic basket to take along with you. I also recommend packing binoculars and a picnic blanket for sitting on the ground and enjoying some of the more spectacular roadside views.
Just remember, fall foliage only lasts a short time so get out there and do it soon!
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