Americans call it “leaf peeping,” while the Japanese call it “momijigari.” Whatever the culture, there’s a term for witnessing the changing colors of leaves, a universal act that spurs awe and wonder and makes one reflect on the passage of time. Fall foliage is worth booking a trip around, but you need not limit yourself to the standard hike or road trip. While we’ll always have these classic leaf-peeping excursions, there’s excitement in reinventing a ritual.
Once you start to experience the first chills of the season, consider getting a little whimsical: Mush your way through the Alaskan forest, float away on a hot air balloon in the Finger Lakes, or zipline past the Rockies. You could rent a run-of-the-mill cabin somewhere in the Hudson Valley, or you could go big with a tree house, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows. Ditch that standard New England inn and opt instead for a houseboat in coastal Maine, perfect for riverside scenery. The possibilities are endless, and the experiences on this list will ensure you see the changing colors of fall from all kinds of perspectives. Below, seven alternative ideas for leaf peeping across the US.
Hop on a gondola
While mountain resorts are best known for skiing in the winter, many keep off-season tourists happy with scenic sky rides. Take the Gondola SkyRide at Stowe Mountain Resort, for instance, which carries visitors up to Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. Running until mid-October, the ride is an excellent way to bask in New England’s autumnal glory and drops passengers off right at the resort’s Cliff House Restaurant for a scenic meal. Similarly, the Gondola at Telluride Mountain Village in southwest Colorado allows visitors to take in golden aspens from 10,800 feet above and can be used to access various hiking trails. Over at Lutsen Mountains in Minnesota, leaf peepers can take the Summit Express to get some of the best views in the state, including sightings of the Sawtooth Mountains and Lake Superior.