Now that leaves on a few trees are changing is the time to figure out where to go to see spectacular color in a few weeks and next month.
Door County Visitors Bureau photo
But if you don’t want to merely drive some place for fall color and then head back home then consider a vacation destination with great views, hiking, biking, fun shops and lots of lodging and dining choices.
Where: Door County, Wisconsin, near Green Bay
Why:
- · Good hiking and biking in state parks
- · Really good art galleries
- · Fun crafts and clothes shopping
- · Excellent dining choices
- · Beautiful views of Lake Michigan and Green Bay
. Lots of lodging choices
More information at Door Vacation and Door County
Where: Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois
Why:
- · Scenic overlooks, hilly terrain and interesting stone formations
- · Good hiking, biking in Giant City State Park
- · Shawnee Wine Trail tastings
- · Makanda, a delightful artist comunity
More information at Shawnee National Forest, Shawnee Wine Trail, Giant City State Park and Makanda.
Where: Brown County, Bloomington area
Why:
- · Good hiking, biking and horseback riding in Brown County State Park
- · Fun crafts shops in Nashville
- · Scenic hills and Hoosier National Forest
- · Renown architecture in nearby Columbus
- . Indiana University has a beautiful campus (go on a non-football weekend)
More information at Brown County State Park , Hoosier National Forest and Columbus.
Where: Wisconsin Dells on the Wisconsin River
Why:
- . Good river boat scenery
- . Nice hikes
- . Fun water-parks for kids
- . Interesting photo museum in town
- . Circus World in nearby Baraboo
More information at Fall colors Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, and fall color advantage.
TC Visitors Bureau photo
Where: Traverse City/Sleeping Bear Dunes in northern Michigan below the UP
Why:
- · Good hiking in a scenic national park
- · Excellent wine trails
- · Wonderful dining choices
- · Beautiful views of Lake Michigan and Traverse Bay.
More information at fall color trip, Traverse City/Sleeping Bear and Traverse
Fall color tips: For current Midwest color reports go directly to a state’s tourism site.
Wisconsin’s suggested scenic drives are at Travel Wisconsin.
Michigan is at Michigan.org and at Fall Color Tours.
Minnesota is at MNUS and Explore Minnesota.
Illinois is at Enjoy Illinois and ILUS.
Indiana is at Visit Indiana and Hoosier fall color. http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/docs/fallcolor.htm
Have a fun, safe trip!