Who can argue that autumn is one of the most colorful times of year?

That was a rhetorical question.

Fall is pretty, mostly because of the glorious displays put on by the fall leaves changing color.  This phenomenon occurs all over the United States, but some spots offer better views than others.  Grab your camera and a road atlas and take a day trip to one of the 11 best fall foliage sites in America.

11 Places To See Fall Leaves

Fall Leaves on Carriage Road at Acadia National Park

1.  Acadia National Park – Maine

Of course anywhere in the North East is going to boast spectacular fall foliage.  The Acadia National Park offers gorgeous views and extensive Ranger-led educational programs so that you can learn more about what you’re staring at.  Make sure to head to Bar Harbor Maine before the end of October to take full advantage of the sights and services available.

Fall Leaves at Oak Mountain State Park

2.  Oak Mountain State Park – Alabama

Oak Mountain State Park is Alabama’s largest state park.  This nearly 10,000 acre forest is featured on several sight seeing lists.  Admission is only $3 for adults on weekends and holidays.  You can visit the park for fall foliage viewing from 7am to sundown.

Fall Foliage in New Hampshire

3.  Mt. Washington – New Hampshire

While it’s typical to see fall foliage while you’re driving, the Mount offers guided cruises on the M/S Mount Washington.  Starting Sunday, September 27, the Mount will offer Fall Foliage Dinner Cruises from 4:30 to 7 p.m. each Sunday through mid-October. The cruise departs from Weirs Beach, boarding at 4 p.m. Cost for adults is$43. Visit Cruise Mount Washington for more information.

Fall Color in Colorado

4.  Aspen – Colorado

It’s no surprise that Aspen, Colorado is the perfect place to watch the Aspen trees change colors with the seasons.  San Isabel National Forest offers extensive trails for viewing of some of the most fabulous aspen trees in Colorado.

New York Fall Foliage

5.  The Catskills – New York

The Catskills and Hudson Valley region is about a two hour drive from New York City.  One of the unique features of this area is that the color changing season lasts about six weeks, with colors rivaling those of its North Eastern neighbors, Vermont and Massachusetts.

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One great thing about living in Los Angeles is that no matter how long you’re here, you’re always a tourist. There are undiscovered wonders around every corner, if you can ever get around those corners, that is. Traffic, you know.

One of those wondrous, magical places is Lake Hollywood. Built in 1924, Lake Hollywood is a reservoir that provides Los Angeles with much of its drinking water.  As such, the perimeter is mostly fenced off and dogs are not allowed on the 3.2 mile path that circles it.

Right now the north gate to the path is closed, which means you enter at the south gate, walk across the dam to the other closed gate, then turn around and head back to where you started.  You don’t mind that you’re not going in a circle, because you are surrounded by this:

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A hike to Delicate Arch at Arches National Park is worth leaving the car far behind.

Antelope Valley

In Los Angeles we have the unique opportunity to stand in one place and see the ocean and snow-capped mountains at the same time.  Even with the insane population growth of our area, we are surrounded by natural beauty.  Because many of the naturally beautiful places are only accessed by short day trips out of the city, there are certain phrases you hear around here that you wouldn’t hear many other places, such as “Go to the snow” in the winter or “Go to see the flowers” in the spring.

March and April are the prime months when the desert hills surrounding Los Angeles and San Diego explode in bloom and show off their amazing array of colors.  The most famous flower of the area is the California poppy, which festoons the hillsides and valleys with its bright orange brilliance.  “The poppies are blooming!” is another exciting exclamation you might hear an Angeleno say, prompting weekend planning of a drive up to the mountains, complete with picnic gear and photography equipment.

California Poppy

By mid-April the poppies give way, however, to their supporting cast, and the once brilliantly-blooming valleys direct your attention higher in the hills, where viewing nature’s spectacle is as easy as pulling over to the side of the road.  From Los Angeles, take I-5 North and head east on Highway 138.  The most recent wildflower reports – yes, these do exist, creating another local phrase – list brilliantly blooming bands of “sunflower, lupine, poppy, phacelia, fiddleneck, red maid and goldfield.”

More than poppies

Owl's Clover

Guided tours of the area are available at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve if staff is available, and a system of easy access trails is in place which might be easier for families with young children.  But Mother Nature is not one to be confined by the boundaries of a state reserve, so the wildflowers are on display all around the drive up to the park itself.

Roadside viewing

Typical nature warnings apply if you head to the area:  take only photographs, leave only footprints.  However, try not to trample the wildflowers themselves, because it takes years for them to regenerate.  Also, up the high Mojave desert, the wind can come swooping down on you with great force, so check weather conditions before making the trip, and bring lots of water.  If the desert makes you thirsty and your cooler is empty, urban sprawl has got you covered.  Lancaster and Palmdale are pretty close by, and word has it there are tasty margaritas to be found which you can enjoy while you review the amazing pictures you took.

Author was arrested by Wildflower Police shortly thereafter

Deer In Wintertime at Highbanks

The chill of winter is settling upon us in America’s Heartland and already we are enjoying the sequela induced by cabin fever. That’s sarcasm, people. Anyone with children surely knows that whenever you sequester five energetic and bored children to the indoors for any extended period, come springtime you’ll be needing a handyman, or a general contractor. Thank the heavens for the Central Ohio Metro Park System.

Metro Parks operates 15 parks year round in seven Central Ohio counties. Educational and recreational opportunities abound for patrons of all ages and best of all, facilities and the programs are available free of charge. Thanks, voters. Don’t get the wrong idea about that statement. According to the park executive director, the Columbus (Franklin County) Metro Parks system has the largest land area, 23,500 acres, of any of the parks in Ohio but by far the lowest per resident expenditure (less than $20 a year per resident) and lowest tax millage. The Metro Parks system enables anyone to enjoy Ohio wildlife and nature year round.

Grace and Mary Innis Inniswood Gardens

Shag Bark Hickory at Inniswood Metro Gardens

What’s more enticing, is that the Metro Parks are conveniently located in you own backyard, there’s no need to travel far for a perfect wintertime getaway. And with literally hundreds of programs and activities scheduled this winter, you’re sure to find something to your liking.

Winter Hiking Series at Metro Parks

Nature programs will teach young and old how the animals survive the cold Ohio winters. Twelve of the fifteen parks have designated pet trails. It’s not just Susie and Billie with cabin fever. Fido and Fluffy need to get out, too. There are over 140 miles of trails to explore. The annual Winter Hikes Series will be kicking off Saturdays in January and February. Guided or self-guided hikes are available with refreshments and for the hearty–a decorative patch if you complete at least seven of the thirteen scheduled hikes.

When conditions are favorable most of the parks have cross country skiing trails. Several others have excellent hills for sledding: Batelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods Golf Courses, Highbanks, Sharon Woods or Blendon Woods (kids only). Call the park office, 614-891-0700 to verify conditions are right. Batelle Darby Creek and Blendon Woods also offer skating ponds.

Diehard golfers will be happy to know that Blacklick Woods Golf Course is open year round. From November through March it’s not necessary to call for a tee time though you may want to call the pro shop and verify that the course is actually playable. 614-861-3193.

Don’t let the chill of winter keep you locked indoors. Now is the perfect time to get out and enjoy the wonder of nature. The cool air and serenity of a secluded trail can be invigorating.  Columbus’ Metro Parks offer the perfect wintertime escape and just what the doctor ordered for that nasty case of cabin fever.

Hiking the Snow Covered Trails

Park hours are generally 6:30 am until dark. Click here for specifics. Photos: Ed Lamaze, and courtesy of Charmaine Gray, Diana Morse and Kim Leach via ParkScope Metro Parks Guide.

Capitol Blvd. in downtown Boise, Idaho

Boise, Idaho, used to have a reputation as a sleepy, boring kind of town. That’s all changed over the past twenty years as the population of the city and surrounding metropolitan area has boomed to over 600,000 people. It may be a big city now, but there’s still a part of the downtown that evokes that relaxed, smalltown feeling.

Julia Davis Park, which stretches out along the banks of the Boise River, is just a half-mile from the steps of the Idaho State Capitol Building and most of downtown Boise.  With a wide variety of sights and activities, It’s the perfect place for a family to spend a day.

Inside the 87-acre park, you can start off at the Idaho State Historical Museum or next door at the Boise Art Museum. My kids always wanted to head straight for the history, and I don’t blame them. The museum is small, but packed full of relics and displays that tell the story of Idaho’s past from prehistoric times through the pioneers coming west on the Oregon Trail and straight into the 21st century. On the grounds of the museum is a pioneer village, showing how settlers lived in the 1800’s.

Watching meerkats at Zoo Boise

From there, it’s a short walk through the park to our favorite little zoo, Zoo Boise. I used to go there regularly with my kids when they were toddlers. It’s big enough to keep an exotic assortment of animals, but small enough to see everything without wearing down the youngest members of the family.

The best part, at least according to my kids, is the extensive children’s area of the zoo. It’s where my son first came face to face with a Komodo Dragon, and my daughter first felt the tickle of a butterfly landing on her nose. There are plenty of slides, tunnels, and hands-on activities to keep kids busy for a few hours. Myself, I could just sit and watch the meerkats for most of an afternoon.

Zoo Boise has a brand new exhibit called African Plains, featuring giraffes and lions (not in the same enclosure, I hope). Other animals you’ll see at the zoo include tigers, bears, bald eagles, lemurs, and snow leopards.

There are other activities in and around Julia Davis Park, including a children’s science museum, the Idaho Black History Museum, Boise Trolley Tours, playgrounds, rose garden, paddle boats, and the Boise River Greenbelt.

MK Nature Center in Boise, Idaho

If you have any time left in your day, head on down the Greenbelt to the Morrison Knudsen Nature Center, a 4.6-acre fish and wildlife experience that features a mountain stream, waterfalls, and wetlands. There are multiple viewing windows for the kids to see how fish develop from tiny eggs into full-grown trout, whitefish, or kokanee.  You’ll even see nesting geese, turtles, beavers, and wild ducks.  The Center also has a large education building where kids can learn about all the different animals that make their home in Idaho.

There’s no better way to show the circle of life, at least in the fish world, than in a place like the MK Nature Center.  In fact, this was the first “field trip” we took our son on after he was born, and we always go back there when we make return trips to visit our old hometown of Boise, Idaho.

There’s even more to Boise’s downtown than Julia Davis Park, the Boise Greenbelt, and the MK Nature Center, but those three sites alone should keep any family fairly busy for a day or two.

All photos by Phil Corless

Beyond the neon and glitz of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip lie numerous opportunities for families to discover Southern Nevada’s colorful and often overlooked natural landscape. From flourishing desert meadows to red, rusty cliffs to pine tree-covered mountain peaks, just a short drive from The Strip visitors can experience hours of exploration and fun.

Located in the middle of the city and built on the site of the birthplace of Las Vegas, visitors can start their adventures at the 180-acre Springs Preserve, offering a glimpse at the region’s geology, desert plant-life and numerous animal species that call Southern Nevada home. Children are amazed by the wild jackrabbits, lizards, insects and desert tortoises on display at the Origen Experience. For those not afraid of getting a little wet, a popular exhibit is the flash flood simulator where visitors experience the exhilarating rush of water that results from the summer rains in the area deserts, canyons and mountains. 

The Springs Preserve also features nearly two miles of picturesque walking trails and lush gardens. Bottled water is recommended for exploration during the hot summer months. A visit to the Springs Preserve is also not complete without lunch at the Café by Wolfgang Puck. Pick a spot on the terrace and enjoy a view of the gardens and the nearby Las Vegas Strip. General Admission prices range from $6.95 to $18.95 and annual family passes are a great bargain for frequent visits.

A 25-minute drive west from the Las Vegas Strip is the 197,000-acre Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Once the bottom of a vast ocean, millions of years of exposure and oxidation have created a breath-taking canyon of red and orange. A 13-mile, one-way scenic drive through the canyon provides many picture-taking opportunities. For adventurous families, nearly 20 trails offer easy, moderate or strenuous hikes into the canyon where wild burros and other animals roam and ancient petroglyphs await discovery. Designated picnic and camping areas are also available.  Maps and information on seasonal trail conditions can be found at the Visitor’s Center near the entrance to the canyon. Like the Springs Preserve, bottled water is recommended for exploration during the hot summer months. Entry into Red Rock Canyon is $5.00 per vehicle with annual passes available for purchase.

Rising high above the Las Vegas Valley to the northwest, Mt. Charleston offers visitors a dramatic change in climate and scenery. The highest peak of the Spring Mountains Range in the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Mt. Charleston’s temperatures are typically 20 to 30 °F lower than in Las Vegas, making it a popular place for visitors to escape the heat of the desert floor. Mountain biking, hiking, picnicking and camping are popular summertime activities atop the mountain, as is enjoying the spectacular views. Winter transforms the mountain into a snow-covered playground for sledding and snow play. The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort features 11 trails for beginners, intermediate and skilled winter sports enthusiasts. Ski and snowboarding lessons are available for both adults and children. Equipment rental, restaurants and bars are all onsite.

For accommodations on the mountain, the Mt. Charleston Lodge features 23 comfortably furnished log cabins nestled along a mountain ridge. The Mt. Charleston Hotel features 62 charming bedrooms, with a choice of mini-suites, king suites and a Presidential suite. Early booking is recommended for the holiday season.

Photos: Red Rock Canyon by Superfish/Springs Preserve by Jason Roth