Refreshing and Inspiring Fall Foliage Vacations
As the dog days of summer wind down, your clients start thinking about cooler climates, and the autumn seasons for 2020 and 2021 hold great promise. It’s the time of year when bed and breakfasts throughout the northern and mountainous states start filling to capacity, and leaf peepers rejoice.
To generate ideas and discover destinations, enroll today in the North America Destination Specialist Course. And for an exciting look into one of the most popular fall foliage destinations, register for New Hampshire Travel and Tourism: Fall Foliage on August 31 at 11:00 am (EDT). For those of you with Premium Access, these learning opportunities are included at no charge as part of your benefits.
As you consider fall foliage vacations, you may have some favorite places you send clients for optimum viewing. Certainly, what often springs to mind is New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest—the state’s number-one attraction when the maple and birch leaves reach their peak, usually from the end of September through mid-October. During this time, the White Mountains attract millions of visitors from around the world to view the incredible display. Keeping in mind the varying reopening dates, operating hours, and availability of attractions and accommodations, it is imperative that you do your research.
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In addition to the White Mountains, there are many different vacation options across North America for your clients to soak up nature in all its glory. Here are five worth considering:
1. From a cruise ship or riverboat. Royal Caribbean and other cruise lines will provide breathtaking views of the northeast coast up through Canada in 2021. And your clients may spot lighthouses and humpback whales as a bonus along the way. This year, your river cruise lovers might find it fun to revel in the vibrant fall colors along the banks of the Ohio River from the deck of the Belle of Louisville paddlewheel steamboat in Louisville, Kentucky. Sunset cruises—with cocktail in hand—are particularly pleasant.
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2. From a car. This common mode of transportation becomes uncommon when your clients are taking it for a spin in Washington state through the Cascade Mountains, Olympic Mountains, and every scenic byway in between. And there are many spots in Vancouver and throughout British Columbia that offer eye-popping views of changing leaves. Venues for wine tastings or chowder cookoffs make nice stopping points at day’s end.
3. From a train. Pennsylvania is lovely in the fall, and train travel can be a restful yet exhilarating option for taking in the fiery seasonal hues. Time it right, and your clients can partake in a “Haunted Halloween” or “Trick or Treat” trip on the New Hope and Ivyland Railroad through beautiful Bucks County.
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4. On foot. What better way for clients to immerse themselves in nature than by hiking, backpacking, or camping in the Blue Ridge Parkway? Moseying anywhere along the 384 miles from Asheville, North Carolina to Charlottesville, Virginia offers your clients plenty of dramatic scenery, sparkling mountain streams, and a multitude of birds and wildlife for the alert visitor. And there are plenty of places to indulge in outstanding barbeque and to listen to talented Bluegrass musicians.
5. In a balloon. An up-close aerial view of the leaves in New England would be absolutely amazing. Floating 500 to 1,000 feet above apple orchards, forests, and lakes offers breathtaking views and many photo opportunities. And a champagne picnic among the treetops would be the perfect spot for a romantic wedding proposal.
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Once you have settled on the region and the mode of transportation, be sure to weave in some local festivities, such as apple picking and pumpkin carving. Your clients’ relaxing, restorative, and refreshing itinerary will be complete.
