The Best Places in the World to See Fall Colours

Jenn: [00:00:00] Hey everyone, and welcome back to The Travel Mug Podcast. We are well into fall here in Nova Scotia, which is my second favorite season, after summer, of course. Meggan, how about you?

Meggan: I'm the exact same. I hate that fall leads to winter, but I guess it has to happen. I also have fall down as my second favorite season

Jenn: Yes. Yeah, so after spending a bit of time driving around Nova Scotia recently, we want to share some of the best places in the world to see the leaves change. Now, we haven't necessarily seen all of these places for ourselves, so we have consulted the internet, of course, and we're combining that with our own, uh, personal experiences, and I think this will give you a really great jumping off point if you want to plan a trip to see the fall colors.

So fun fact I discovered while I was researching for this episode, there's actually a name for traveling to see and photograph the [00:01:00] changing leaves in the autumn, and it's called leaf peeping. Have you ever heard that?

Meggan: I haven't. It's adorable sounding. Um, yeah, no, I like it. I, I'm a, a be- it's, it's one of the better kind of peepers, I think, to be.

Jenn: Fair enough. Fair enough. So let's first talk about how to plan a fall color leaf peeping trip. So the first thing I wanna talk about is how to pick a date, because picking a date is probably the hardest part of planning this leaf peeping trip. So because, like for instance, if you're traveling like out of the country, you usually plan those trips like pretty far in advance, and there's no way to really know when the leaves will turn colors.

So it, it varies year to year and of course, location to location. So the first thing to know is that you should not obsess over finding the perfect time to hit peak color, quote, unquote. So plus, you know, if, if you're [00:02:00] coming to Nova Scotia, for example, the leaves can be perfect in one part of the province and be past the peak in other parts, or not turned yet in other parts, sim- similar to other countries.

It all depends, of course, on the temperature and other weather factors, and like a s- a warm September can delay and dull the colors. So a good rule

Meggan: hurricane we should mention, something to keep in mind too,

Jenn: Yes

Meggan: there was like a hurricane and then all the leaves were just ugly, like yellow-brown. We never saw any color, so that's the w- the weather is definitely like a big

Jenn: Yeah.

Meggan: storms

Jenn: Yeah, like you, there's so many factors. You know, last year we had a lot of droughts, and the leaves changed early, but they were still pretty, but it was earlier. So yeah, it's, it's hard to, it's hard to predict. So a good rule of thumb is like higher elevations and more northern parts of a country will change first, and then the kind of descend.

If you're [00:03:00] flexible with your dates, you can follow foliage reports. There are lots of websites reporting on the leaf changing progress depending on your destination. But you, you do just have to let go of that like, I must hit the perfect time, because it's basically impossible to predict, especially far in advance

Meggan: Yeah, like if, especially far in advance, make sure you have other things to do on this trip just in case

Jenn: Well, that, Meggan, that was my next piece of advice, so real- I know, you're so good. So, you know, even if you do want to see leaves, and that is the primary purpose of your trip, you do need to plan some activities. You know, get out in nature and enjoy, so that even if the leaves aren't perfect or the weather's less than ideal, you still have a great trip.

So some ideas that I thought of include hiking, photography, uh, going to viewpoints, going on scenic drives, apple picking, pumpki- pumpkin patches, farmers markets, [00:04:00] gondola rides at ski hills that might be offering, like, chairlifts for views, bird watching, star gazing, and of course, ghost tours, 'cause we are in spooky season

Meggan: Naturally Ghost Tours.

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Meggan: Excellent. I think those are great tips in terms of what else you could do. So to go along with that, like, it's important, I think, to talk about, like, what to pack, and somehow I always am talking about packing, so here here we are again, friends, my least favorite activity. I think this is one of those categories that really some internet research will go a long way in helping you, depending on your destination. But if it is for fall colors, you need to keep a few things in mind, and that is the likelihood that it will be chilly. I mean, we do love sweater weather, but it also could potentially be raining. Fall is pretty notorious for rain as well. So this means layers, uh, a rain jacket, and good shoes for sure.

I think those are your good starter pack. And you'll also likely be [00:05:00] taking lots of pictures, so a good power bank could come in handy as a packing staple for chasing those fall colors as well. also, if you choose to chase fall colors on a hike, packing some water in your day pack is a good packing staple as well as a good snack.

So that's really just, like, a little starter amount of things, but I think some really good base things to make sure you include.

Jenn: Hmm.

Meggan: And another thing I'd like to talk about too is logistics. So it will be busy. I hate to tell you, if you wanna chase the leaves, so does everyone else. And of course there are some really popular areas, so planning to go early in the day will be important, as honestly, we've talked about this so many times in the podcast.

With any trip or popular activity or sightseeing, going early is important. If you are visiting national parks or spots well known for the fall colors, you aren't the only one, and therefore going early and planning ahead, such as having maybe your park passes in place already, [00:06:00] those things can go a long way to help you set expectations for yourself but also get some great views with maybe a few less people. Um, but also it's gonna be key to have a good mindset, understanding you likely won't be alone to enjoy nature's beauty, so being okay with that will be key too. The world is sadly full of other people. Okay, so without further ado- . Let's talk, uh, about some of the best places in the world to see fall colors.

Jenn, what do you got for us first? I think you might be starting close to home.

Jenn: I, I have to start close to home. You know, you just knew we were gonna talk about our beloved home, Nova Scotia. Like, we just have to. But it just so happens that we do have stunning fall colors all over Atlantic Canada, which of course includes New Brunswick, uh, Nova Scotia, PEI, and Newfoundland.

So why is it so beautiful here in the fall? Thanks to our maple, birch, and oak trees. They turn fiery reds, oranges, and [00:07:00] yellows, and the variety of colors is really, really stunning. And even though I live here and I see it every year, I am truly amazed every time. Like, I just recently drove across the province with my mom, and I swear, every five minutes on that drive, we are like, "Look at that tree. Look over there. It's so beautiful." So, you know, even though you see it all the time, uh, it, it does really, um, yeah, take your breath away. So, uh, obviously, you can see beautiful leaves all over the region. I am going to share a few spots that are particularly amazing. And of course, first we have to mention the world-famous Cabot Trail.

You can't not mention it. So it is a stunning drive any time of year really, but it does really come alive in the fall. We did this in October a few years ago, and it was really, really beautiful. Definitely do the Skyline Trail, uh, for s- like an easy, [00:08:00] easy-ish hike. Um, but it has some really great views. I have seen that you do need a parking reservation now for the Skyline Trail, so do keep that in mind. Yeah, that is new, I think for this year or maybe last year. So

Meggan: See, the people are everywhere

Jenn: The people are everywhere, right? Yeah, the, the secret is out, and, um, there is obviously so much to do that it could be a whole episode, which we have already done, so I will link that in the show notes, uh, if you want to deep dive onto the Cabot Trail.

But for an extra special visit to Cape Breton, you should visit during the Celtic Colours Festival, which begins on the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend each year, Canadian Thanksgiving for our American listeners, which is in October. Uh, the festival's nine days long, and it features over 50 concerts in over 35 communities all over the island.

They also have guided walks and hikes, like craft events, [00:09:00] workshops, and demonstrations, and so, so much more. It's definitely a fun and busy time to visit the island, so, uh, book your accommodations ahead of time.

So another am- amazing part of our province here in Nova Scotia in the fall is the Annapolis Valley, but you'll just hear the locals call it The Valley.

So this area is home to, uh, most or a lot of our farms and apple orchards and vineyards, and of course, harvest time is a really great time to visit. Just driving around, you will get some really great views, but we also like the Cape Split hike, and then there's a lookout point that you can drive to that's on the way to Cape Split.

Um, we always pick apples at Elderkins every year, and I love going to the Wolfville Farmers Market. And we also, of course, have an episode all about The Valley, so I will share that in the show notes as well so you can deep dive on that. But [00:10:00] Meggan, are there any spots in Atlantic Canada that you love to visit in the fall for the colors?

Meggan: Yeah, I mean, there's a ton of spots. Like you mentioned, it's literally every province in Atlantic Canada. But I would have to say a big highlight for me was Sussex, New Brunswick. It's not a huge spot, but in Sussex there's really great hikes with really great views of the valley, because this is actually where they have the hot air balloon festival as well.

So there's really lots of valleys with open spaces. So in the fall, as you can imagine, the colors are just incredible. So yeah, Sussex, New Brunswick, um, you may not put it on your list otherwise, but it's great for a stop. Really small town, but it's cute. , And the other thing I wanted to mention, not necessarily about the leaves, but you mentioned spooky season earlier, and recently I learned that right here in Windsor, Nova Scotia at the Dill Farms in Windsor, every giant pumpkin in the world is from seeds from that farm. So... I know. It was a CBC, um, exclusive a few weeks ago, I saw it, and I'm [00:11:00] like, "That is really interesting." So it is the time of year for, like, giant pumpkins and weigh-offs and pumpkin, um, boating, like, down waterways and stuff. And a- every giant, uh, pumpkin in the world is, uh, originally, uh, right, from right here in Nova Scotia

Jenn: Well, that is a very fun fact. I love that.

Meggan: I know. I had to share it here in spooky season.

Jenn: Yeah.

Meggan: alright, where are we headed next? I

Jenn: Okay.

Meggan: overseas

Jenn: yes, let's go across the pond, and we'll talk about, uh, the UK. So I have been to the UK, but not in the fall, but I can imagine how beautiful it would be with, uh, the colors out. So, uh, Lonely Planet suggests heading to the Cairngorms National Park in Scotland, where you can see beautiful copper, amber, and gold leaves.

They suggest hiking or biking the famous Speyside Way, and enjoying the leaves and quaint villages and whiskey distilleries along the 41-mile [00:12:00] route. And then families may be interested in the Cairngorms Mountain Resort, which has mountain carts, tubing slides, and an adventure play park. I'm interested, and I don't have children. That sounds very fun. I also feel like Edinburgh would be a perfect city to visit in the fall. The, like, Gothic buildings are perfect for spooky seasons. I feel like it would be extra fun, and you can see some great colors by hiking Arthur's Seat or by wandering through the Royal Botanic Garden as well

Meggan: I actually will mention I saw an article recently and Edinburgh, I believe, was voted the spookiest city in Europe

Jenn: There you go. There you have it. It is perfect for spooky season

Meggan: It is, it is. A lot of ghost tours and I'm like, "That's why Jenn went."

Jenn: I didn't do a single ghost tour in Edinburgh.

Meggan: Look, you

Jenn: I gotta go back. I gotta go back. I gotta go i- in spooky season. Another spot is Castle [00:13:00] Combe in the Cotswolds in England. They're one of the most beautiful villages in the world, and also a great place to see some fall colors. And some other great places are also the Lake District, and Sheffield Park, and East Sussex.

Meggan: A different Sussex

Jenn: Sussex, yes.

Meggan: You

Jenn: Mm.

Meggan: similar names, but definitely a different

Jenn: Yes, yeah. All right, next up, let's go even further from where we are and head to Japan. So in Japan, Koyo is the seasonal tradition of viewing the autumn foliage, uh, which has been a popular activity in Japan for centuries. So s- almost 70% of Japan is covered by forest, which I found super interesting, and the Japanese maple trees turn scarlet, and the ginkgo trees turn a beautiful golden color, and that obviously makes for some fantastic viewing.

I personally always wanted to visit Japan during cherry blossom season, [00:14:00] but after doing this research, mm, I might wanna go in the fall.

Meggan: I know, I know.

Jenn: Yeah

Meggan: to visit that sound beautiful

Jenn: Yeah, so, uh, the koyo front, as it is called, means that the fall colors start in the north and gradually move south. So the, uh, northern island of Hokkaido starts around mid-September, while in southern Japan, uh, the, the colors start changing around late November, and trees in Tokyo and Kyoto can remain colorful until December.

I know, uh, November is considered the best time, uh, the best month to visit throughout, to see the colors throughout most of Japan. So where are the best viewing spots? There are obviously lots of options throughout the country, but the Japan National Tourism Organization website recommends, Rikugien Garden in Tokyo, uh, taking an overnight trip to Lake Kawaguchiko, [00:15:00] uh, at the base of Mount Fuji, and numerous gardens and temples throughout Kyoto. And plus there are multiple festivals throughout the autumn season, including Nagasaki Kunchi Festival, which celebrates the autumn harvest. Uh, just Google fall colors in Japan if you've never seen them, and I swear you'll be booking a trip like me, making a plan.

All right, so the next spot I want to mention is the Canadian Rockies, bringing it back to Canada here. So I spent, uh, a week in September in the Canadian Rockies. I have to say, it is one of the most beautiful places that I have ever been. And we were there sort of mid-September, and the larch trees were just starting to change, so we were a little bit early for peak colors, but that is okay.

So the larch and aspen trees are the star of the show here. They turn a beautiful golden yellow color. As far as timing, mid to late September is probably [00:16:00] your best bet. By mid-October, the snow may start, and already did start this year. Uh, and I will say it can be quite chilly in September and October, so make sure to pack lots of layers.

Hiking is obviously a great way to see the colors and the mountains, and there are many, many to choose from. There are super easy walks, and there are super difficult hikes. Um, we did lots of shorter, easy/medium difficulty ones when we were in Banff, Canmore, and Jasper, uh, which you can learn about in my Trip Report podcast, uh, which was r- we released re- recently, so I'll link that in the show notes.

Uh, w- we saw some really nice colors at Lake Minnewanka. It was our last day, so maybe we were just getting the s- the turning there but that worked out really

Meggan: at that time.

Jenn: Yes.

Meggan: hung around long enough

Jenn: Yeah, so for hikes specifically to see the fall colors, The Banff Blog [00:17:00] recommends, uh, Larch Valley and the Sentinel Pass, and the Paradise Valley Trail, Saddle Mountain, and many more.

I'll link their blog post in the show notes as well. Uh, we also say that, uh, going up any gondolas might be a great way to see colors if you're not terrified of heights like I am. I'm not gonna do that. Um, and fall is also a great time to spot some wildlife. So bears are preparing for winter, so we, we missed Fat Bear Week by one week, so I know.

Get to see all the bears that are eating as much as they can. It's also elk rutting season, where the male elk are competing to breed with the females, so they are around, but it is, you know, slightly dangerous, so don't get in their way. And really, I can't think of a better way to spend a fall day than, like hiking to see some colors and then coming back down to a cabin in the mountains and sitting in front of a fire with a cup of tea.

Like, it just sounds so lovely[00:18:00]

Meggan: I could not agree more, and I think that, yeah, like, the, the Rockies are beautiful all on their own, and then you're gonna add fall colors in, I can't, I can't even imagine

Jenn: Yes. All right, Meggan, where will you take us?

Meggan: I shall take you first to the USA, and New England in particular. I'm sure, don't get me wrong, that there's lots of other spots for leaf viewing in the US, but New England, there's something really special about it, including of course the Adirondacks, White Mountains, and Acadia National Park in particular, and literally just to name a few spots. If you are a regular listener to the show, my husband and I have spent a lot of time over the years in New England, I think dating back to like 2013. It is a real favorite, and there's no more beautiful time there than peak fall color season. We have noticed that spots inland, away from the water, are usually one to two weeks ahead of those trees that are along the coast, and this goes really for most leaf viewing, so it's something to keep in mind in New England in particular. I would say in [00:19:00] terms of leaf changing, um, I'm gonna say probably more, I would say October to, to late October is gonna be your best time overall in my experience. And one of our favorite spots is Acadia National Park, which is just outside of Bar Harbor, Maine. We've been going to Bar Harbor, like I mentioned, since 2013, and I do wanna say this one with caution. Um, Acadia National Park is for sure suffering right now from over-tourism, uh, with around 4 million visitors a year, with the peak of that being during the fall season. Which is a lot compared to the amount of people who actually live in Bar Harbor, which is around 5,000 people. Now, we've gone to the park in the past, bought a pass, and unless we went literally almost at dawn, finding parking at popular hikes and lookoffs was nearly impossible. And that's not only in the fall season, but in particular in the fall season. One time we tried for a few days before we were successful.

And [00:20:00] now, much like in Cape Breton, to go up on Cadillac Mountain in the park between May and October, you actually now need to book online,

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Meggan: never the case when we started visiting. So this is something to keep in mind before putting this stop on your itinerary. It is worth it, of course, but is it worth it for you to battle the crowds?

So just, uh, with a word of caution, but it's hard to leave it out because it's so beautiful.

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Meggan: Um, and there are so many other options to view leaves in New England, including just a country drive itself, you are gonna spot the leaves. But other spots in particular are the Adirondacks in upstate New York, which is a beautiful area any time of the year.

But in particular, the Ausable Chasm, known as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, is gorgeous, and with the leaves changing, you won't regret it. And then the White Mountains, which are another spot we have had the pleasure of visiting a few years ago, is so full of nature and would be extraordinary during leaf season as well. New England in general is, like, a gem of nature, great food, really friendly people, so it's not to be missed, um, [00:21:00] if it's the right spot for you

Jenn: Yeah. I haven't been to any of those locations, but I have been to Boston in October, so a little bit more city vibes, but also very fun spot to visit, uh, in the fall

Meggan: Definitely. So let's go overseas as well and head to Germany to what they call the Romantic Road, which is in Bavaria, and it's one of Europe's top road trips for fall colors, and it stretches 350 kilometers from Würzburg to Füssen in Bavaria. This drive is known as, like I mentioned, Germany's Romantic Road, designed specifically to bring in tourists to Southern Germany, and it has worked because here we are chatting about it. The best time to see leaves there is mid to late October. Um, along this drive in the fall, you will see, of course, beautiful fall colors while experiencing incredible cuisine, castles, fortresses, preserved medieval towns, craters, and waterfalls. So it is a, a trip where if you are going for the fall colors, [00:22:00] there's definitely so much more to do. there are really great suggestions online to help you make the perfect road trip, but when we spent time in Germany in 2022, we were simply enchanted by the landscape, the history, the food, and the incredible sights, and this was in June. We didn't even get the fall colors , so I can't imagine experiencing that with, uh, leaves on full display. then some towns to include on your road trip on the Romantic Road could be Uffheim, Wertheim, and Rottengen, to name a few, but there are so many options with a variety of things to do based on your interests. There's lots of articles out there, so do your research and get planning, 'cause I really think that that sounds like... I mean, going through Bavaria in the fall just sounds incredible

Jenn: All right, let's go.

Meggan: I know.

Jenn: Pack us up. Let's go

Meggan: But we can't keep adding places to our list. Well, the,

Jenn: Yes, we can.

Meggan: for- I, I know the list will go on forever. Let's skip over to France. Let's talk about a spot there, which is the Loire Valley in France. The [00:23:00] window is a bit short, as can be, um, the case with fall leaves, so mid-October to early November, um, is typically the sweet spot in the Loire Valley in France, so not a ton of time. The lower altitudes in the valley are late October, while higher altitudes are more likely to happen in early November, so something to keep in mind if you're planning a visit. Something that might be refreshing is that peak season in terms of visitors is in the summer, and things actually slow down in the fall.

So less people, if that's ideal for you, might, this might be a great location to consider. the area boasts vineyards, where the grape harvests are in September. Uh, so when October rolls around, like I mentioned, things are a bit quieter. Uh, palaces in the area are a really big draw, such as Château de Chambord, which has nearly 5,500 hectares. It's a park with woods and fields and pathways to enjoy. And also Château de Villandry, which boasts ornamental pumpkins and seasonal [00:24:00] displays. They all sort of get into the spirit. Ambrose or Amboise, I should say, is often said to be the most romantic town in the valley. Not our valley, but the Loire Valley. Uh, along with all the fall leaves, fall celebrations, consider where you want to lay your head and who, you know, wouldn't wanna consider the most, you know, small, romantic French town. There's lots of little spots you can stay in along the way, including of course Amboise, but also Blois, Montresor, and Saumur. For me, the more I know about France, I realize that only having been to Paris and Grenoble, which was both beautiful, I have like so, so much more to see, and I have, um, come to love a countryside more than like a city. So I definitely think I need to move like France a little bit higher up on my list outside of Paris

Jenn: Yeah. Uh, France is actually our like, yeah, uh, the south of France I guess in particular is really high on my husband's list, so I think that we will be there sooner rather than later. [00:25:00] Uh, but, eh, it looks so beautiful

Meggan: I know, I know. And then last but not least, of course, I wanna include Slovenia. So, uh, the Lake Bled area in Slovenia is super popular. It's been a place that we've talked about visiting a few times already. I think it was actually on one of our COVID canceled trip itineraries

Jenn: Nice

Meggan: and then we shortened the trip and had to take it off.

So I guess in saying that, I'm also really not surprised it would also be beautiful in the fall. So not only the Lake Bled area, but the Triglav National Park as well. , And I think autumn is one of the most, like underrated times to visit Slovenia. People think, I think, more summer or spring. Um, and they picture it as that summer destination, so there's lakes, of course, swimming and outdoor activities.

But come fall, the country like has that different vibe to it, which I think is the case for a lot of places. Summer is over, people are sort of taking a deep breath, and letting the fall air in. So Lake Bled is a perfect example of that. So you've got beautiful [00:26:00] golden and burnt orange trees surrounding the lake. There's like... I don't know if you've seen pictures, I'm sure you have, like there's a little island church in the middle and a castle overlooking everything. It's incredibly photogenic, um, but it's also a place where you really wanna like slow down and take it all in. then, of course, the Triglav National Park, uh, where there's the Julian Alps provide a beautiful backdrop to autumn colors.

So there's forest turquoise rivers and beautiful alpine lakes. It's a fantastic destination for walkers, of course, nature lovers, photographers, people that just wanna chill in nature. Another reason I'd recommend, um, visiting in the fall is that you can often enjoy a more relaxed experience.

Not always the case for places where autumn is super popular, so it kinda sounds like this and maybe the Romantic Road have

Jenn: Mm-hmm.

Meggan: few less people, which I think, um, is really great. So you get, kind of enjoy the seasonal food and wine and experience the country without it being all about the tourists. And I think the real appeal is that [00:27:00] Slovenia, of course, is beautiful all year round, but fall just has a different atmosphere. So I think it deserves to be on everybody's list, and I know, again, we've been talking about Europe and sort of where we'd like to go next, and it does keep popping up, so I'm sure we will get there. I'm not sure in the fall because it doesn't s- it seems like probably somewhere we'll end up in the spring, but it certainly sounds beautiful

Jenn: Mm-hmm. It does

Meggan: Well, that is it for this week's episode.

Lots of time still to plan a fall getaway to enjoy the amazing changing of the leaves for either this year or, hey, it's never too early to start planning for fall of '27. , And, uh, eh, of course, like we mentioned, fall is our, our... one of our favorite seasons. Does lead to winter, but we're not gonna think about that right now. if you are planning a fall getaway, we'd love to hear from you. What are your plans? What are you to g- gonna get up to? And you can find us to chat on social media at Travel Mug Podcast, on our website travelmugpodcast.com. Um, and if you like what we're doing here, you can leave us a comment on [00:28:00] Apple or Spotify or support the show through Buy Me A Coffee.

The link is in our show notes. And until next time, don't forget your travel mug. Bye.