Rake It All In: Best Leaf-Peeping Vacations

Crisp, cool weather. Brilliant foliage. Fewer crowds. And lively harvest festivals. Autumn is the ideal time to get away from it all. From New England’s majestic leaf pageantry to a fall cruise along the Canadian coast to a train trip to the Grand Canyon, here are five vacations just perfect for enjoying autumn leaves.

Hiking or Biking Vermont

Enjoy New England’s grandest of spectacles — the autumn leaf-turning pageantry — on a six-day walking tour with Country Walkers, “Vermont: Fall Foliage” or a six-day biking tour with VBT Bicycling Vacations, “Vermont: Lake Champlain Islands, Burlington & Stowe.” There’s no better way to experience the essence of Vermont’s rural charm than by hiking or biking its gentle hills, scenic lakes, and picturesque towns with names like Norwich, Woodstock, and Stowe. Slow down and enjoy the quiet splendor of the state’s famous maple trees (syrup on everything, please!) and learn about the art of maple sugaring on its working family farms. Exult in the artist’s palette of flaming reds, buttery yellows, and blazing oranges as the maples shed their leaves. With the highest percentage of maple trees in the country — one of every four trees is a maple — Vermont has declared itself home of the World’s Best Foliage.

Cruising the Canadian Coast

Witness the vibrant beauty of fall along the East Coast of the United States and Canada on a 11-day itinerary with Windstar Cruises, “Southeast Canadian Explorations.” On a small-ship Windstar vessel, with no more than 312 passengers, you’ll enjoy highlights of New England and the eastern Canadian coast. Cruise along the gorgeous Maine shoreline, past scenic Portland and Acadia National Park, with more than 50 square miles of mountains, lakes, forests, soaring granite cliffs, and lovely leafy views. Take in Montreal’s architectural landmarks, Quebec City’s French heritage, and Nova Scotia’s bucolic scenery. Step ashore at one beautiful Canadian town after another — Gaspé, Louisbourg, and Halifax— and marvel at the lakes, rivers, valleys, and hills that burst with fall color.

Touring New England by Coach

Visit New England in comfort on a 13-day coach tour with Holiday Vacations, “Autumn in New England.” Watch the leaves put on their annual show in this scenic part of the country. After seeing the major sites in New York City and Boston, discover colonial towns such as Salem, Mass., and Canterbury Shaker Village, N.H., and natural attractions set amid Insta-worthy lakes and mountains. In Vermont, visit maple farms, cider mills, and state parks and take a ferry ride on Lake Champlain. After a leisurely cruise on the St. Lawrence River, head to iconic Niagara Falls, wrapped in fabulous fall foliage. End by touring through Ontario’s family region.

Riding the Rails to the Grand Canyon

If you are lucky enough to visit Grand Canyon National Park between September and November, you’ll see this natural wonder in what may be its best season — with fewer visitors and in crisp fall light. But arriving via the Grand Canyon Railway makes it extra special.

The train sets off each morning from the historic town of Williams, Ariz., on a 65-mile journey north to Grand Canyon National Park. On a trip lasting more than two hours, you’ll travel up and over Arizona’s 5,000-foot-high Colorado Plateau, passing the high desert along the way, before arriving at the canyon’s South Rim. Fall’s bright blue skies help set off the grand landscapes, where bright yellow, orange, and red aspens take center stage, supported by cottonwoods, canyon maple, and ash.

Award-winning travel editor and writer Veronica Stoddart is the former editor in chief of the Travel Media Group at USA TODAY. She has written for dozens of publications and websites.

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