Fall Family Vacation Ideas

Where to Enjoy the Colors of Fall from Coast to Coast

By Donna Smith and Shelly Hemig

It's the time of year when the leaves turn, then literally fall to the ground, as the trees prepare themselves for the winter. We are reminded once again of a similar cycle in our own lives, as we shed our accoutrements and move unadorned into our winter years.

Our children need to learn to respect this. We should take our kids out and share the beauty of the season with them. If they fight it, we can tell them we're taking them out for ice cream, then make a detour through some local foliage.

New England has long been famous for its fall foliage. People plan trips to the region in late September through early November simply to marvel at the many different colors the leaves display. The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has a fall foliage report on their Web site. "The highest concentrations of color are found in the higher elevations and in wetlands throughout the Bay State," according to this report. The site has regular updates, so check it before heading out the door to make sure you visit the best area for that week.

"The fall in Chicago and the Midwest is beyond words can say," says Pamela Wanhala, a resident of Chicago, Ill. "Take your deepest colors, mingle them together and you still don't have it. I feel the best place to view all of this is the Morton Arboretum. It is renowned."

Chicago features trees including the sumac, dogwood, elms, hickories, sugar maples, green and white ashes and oaks. Visit the Illinois Tourism Web site to find out the peak times for fall colors.

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