Five Weekend Trips for Fall Foliage

The season of pumpkin spice lattes and oversized sweaters is upon us — AKA the best time of the year. From apple orchards and ghost hunting to corn mazes and leaf peeking, these five river towns represent the best of the season.

Red Wing, MN

Before the weather gets cold enough to make it borderline uninhabitable, stop by Red Wing to experience a small-town fall that seems straight out of the movies. Nestled against Barn Bluff (does it get any more fall-sounding than that?), Red Wing is a highly walkable, historic town, the kind of place where art installations dot street corners and mom-and-pop shops pass down the generations. If the name sounds familiar, you may be thinking of Red Wing Shoes or Red Wing Pottery — both of which operate museums in the area. For peak fall feelings, hike Barn Bluff for foliage-infused panoramic views, head across the river to Driftless Orchard for fresh cider pressing and u-pick produce, and stop in at Uffda Shop to learn about the Scandinavian art of hygge (translation: making your life as cozy as possible).

Maysville, KY

Although, at first glance, Maysville looks like a quiet, small town, it knows how to throw a party — and three of them are in September! As the rolling forests around it change colors and create a striking contrast to the white steeples and domes of downtown, Maysville's residents hit the streets for the Limestone Cycling Tour (biking along the region's scenic backroads), the Simon Kenton Festival (frontier days celebration in a 19th-century village), and Pig Out (live entertainment, vendors, and barbecue). Amidst the festivities, make sure to visit the Russell Theatre and its memorial to hometown star Rosemary Clooney, the world-renowned miniatures collection at the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center, and the "birthplace of bourbon" as represented by the Old Pogue Distillery.

Ellijay, GA

Nestled along the Cartecay River in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, Ellijay is home to outdoor activities, a historic downtown, and the apple capital of Georgia. Although it can be tempting to stay on your balcony and bask in the blazing colors of the foliage all day, make sure to carve some time out to visit the fall-themed attractions for which Ellijay is famous: Hillcrest Orchards for the Apple Pickin' Jubilee (featuring pig races, funnel cakes, and apple tree mazes), the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway for open-air train rides along a historic route, or Amicalola Falls for hatchet throwing and hiking along one of the tallest waterfalls east of the Mississippi. For the ultimate apple adventure, time your visit to coincide with the Georgia Apple Festival, two weekends in October filled with arts and crafts, food, live music, parades, and — of course — apples.

Townsend, TN

As a gateway to the Great Smoky Mountains, Townsend provides a front-row seat to some of the country's most famous foliage. While there's no bad view in the 500,000+ acre national park, I'm partial to Cades Cove, a valley that looks much as it did in the 1800s — down to the functioning grist mill and sorghum-making demonstrations. If you get there early enough in the morning, you might even see black bears making their way to hibernation. On the other side of Townsend, you'll find a theme park named for one of Tennessee's favorite daughters: Dolly Parton. During the fall months, Dollywood transforms into a fall-themed fantasyland, complete with towering pumpkin displays, thousands of fall flowers, and a seasonal menu (think candy corn punch and pumpkin spice latte cupcakes).

Fort Madison, IA

After years of research, I can confirm that the Midwest has fall figured out. It's the kind of place where you'll find family farms and friendly festivals in just about every town, no matter how small, in a setting that is criminally underrated. One of my favorite places to celebrate the season in is Fort Madison, a historic railroad town in the heart of Iowa's farm country. Whether you choose to spend the day trainspotting or watching the leaves turn in Old Settlers Park, make sure to venture out to nearby Donnellson, home of Harvestville Farm. As the name might suggest, fall is at the heart of Harvestville and, each year, the family farm transforms into a celebration of the season: pumpkin displays, corn mazes, wagon rides, giant board games, bonfires, and — my favorite — a "retail barn" stocked with home decor and homemade treats. I still think about their pumpkin bars at least once a week.