The leaves..they are calling you!

I happened upon this post by fellow Uptake blogger Jodi Grundig, and it reminded me that October is less than two months away, which means that leaf peeping seasson is almost upon us! In about a month, it begins in the upper Northern reaches of our country, starting in Maine and working its way down the coast and inland areas. Can you believe it’s that time of year again already? If you haven’t booked your New England accommodations yet, do so very soon — the economy may be tanking, but Leaf Peepers are very dedicated and prepared folks!

Here’s a quick summary of some hotels you should look into for this year’s beautiful fall foliage season:

Stowe, Vermont

Stowe has some truly remarkable scenery — I distinctly remember driving through the hills and valleys and seeing a single white church steeple rise above all the astoundingly colorful foliage. So pretty. The Green Mountain Inn, Stowe Motel & Snowdrift and Ye Old English Inne are all highly rated, affordable hotels. If you’re looking for something a bit more posh, check out the Trapp Family Lodge – the list of amenities is impressive.

North Conway, New Hampshire

The Old Red Inn and Cottages runs about $150 per night during this peak season, but that includes a nice breakfast. The Holiday Inn Express is a guest favorite in a gorgeous White Mountains location. Purchase your own food and cook it in the kitchenette.

Woodstock, Vermont

A must-stop! No matter which of these hotels you choose, you’re sure to be happy. The Woodstock Inn is definitely quite pricey, but if you’re looking for a romantic getaway, you found it. Looking for something cheaper? The Apple Hill Inn has rooms for less than $200/night, and it’s very charming.

Photo: Kimberlykv

Best Hotels For Fall Foliage Sightseeing

Fall is one of my favorite times to travel.  Getting outdoors doesn’t require a first-aid kit stocked with water and Benadryl and the scenery can be breathtaking.

Looking for a little fall travel inspiration?  Book a weekend at one of these hotels for a fall getaway and enjoy some of the greatest views of fall foliage.

3 Hotels For A Fall Vacation

Castlemaine Inn

Castlemaine Inn – Bar Harbor, Maine

Wake up on a crisp autumn morning in a New England bed and breakfast, spend the day driving through Arcadia National Park, and end with a quiet evening in front of your suite’s fireplace.  Add a knit scarf and leather boots and you have the perfect building blocks for a fall getaway at Castlemaine Inn in Bar Harbor.

St. Regis Aspen Resort – Aspen, Colorado

If you prefer decadent luxury over comfortable charm, the St. Regis may be provide a better backdrop to your fall fantasies.  Be pampered with butler services and spa treatments.  Listed on the 2010 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, the St. Regis sits at the foot of the Aspen Mountain.  Bring your camera and your favorite book.

Glacier Park Lodge – East Glacier Park, Montana

Want to get away from it all this fall?  You can’t get much more away than the Glacier Park Lodge.  Built in 1912, this hotel provides easy access to Glacier National Park, and not much else.  But what the Lodge is (purposefully) lacking in modern technology, it makes up for with rustic charm and sweeping views.  Leave the blackberry at home and let yourself get back to basics for a weekend in this over-sized log cabin.

Photos courtesy of banspy on Flickr, Castlemaine Inn

Seeing as I’m a Florida native (lived in Florida since I was 2, so that totally counts), Fall foliage season is one of those myths we hear about, but never get to see (like snow) unless we take a trip up north of the border. One of my favorite places “up north” is Asheville, North Carolina. It’s small, stuck in the mountains (real! live! mountains!), very laid back, and it has real! live! seasons! For us in Florida, we don’t have a Fall foliage, or really, any sort of massive leaf-color-changing time. Sure, we have a few trees around that change from green to red, but that’s about it.

Seeing the Fall foliage and leaves changing is one of those things every human needs to witness for themselves. Asheville is one of those easy places to get to from all over the east coast, and Asheville is plentiful in hotel rooms.

Biltmore House Fall Foliage, Asheville, North Carolina

Much of the changing leaves can be see within the city limits of Asheville, but a short drive into the mountains reveals vistas of color changes begging to be photographed.

Biltmore Village Inn
Touted as the “closest B&B to Biltmore House, this cottage offers ongoing specials and deals for visitors on romantic getaways. It’s hard to find a negative review of this near-perfect lodging establishment, and when you’re surrounded by the beauty that is Asheville during the Fall foliage season, you want the best.
119 Dodge Street,
Asheville, NC 28803

Holiday Inn Asheville-Biltmore East
An award-winning hotel on the Blue Ridge Parkway with views of the mountains and easy-access to more Fall foliage viewing. Like the name suggests, this hotel is close to the famed Biltmore House where photographers dream of taking their best shots.
1450 Tunnel Rd.
Asheville, NC 28805

Homewood Suites by Hilton
The list of stellar guest reviews speak for themselves at this location. The hotel sits within walking distance of much of downtown Asheville, and the just a short car ride to Biltmore House.
88 Tunnel Road
Asheville, NC 28805

Photo courtesy: Romantic Asheville

Autumn Leaves

Budget Travel Magazine published this article a couple of weeks ago, so I thought I’d share! You really can’t beat the prices. Move quickly though, these deals expire soon. Some highlights:

Up for some camping? Fall is the perfect season for it! Nights are cool, days are pleasant, and the leaves make daily hikes unimaginably pretty. Crawford Notch Campgrounds in New Hampshire offers tent sites for only $29 or cabins for $64.

Crawford Notch State Park

Another good bet in North Hampshire is the White Trellis Motel in North Conway, which is offering rooms at $69 during the week and $79 on the weekends. Hurry! Leaves are changing quickly up there.

The next two weeks are the last weeks you can take advantage of the Moose Watching Tour and Lodging Package for $119, at the Moose Mountain Inn.  2 night minimum stay. Sleep in a comfy bed and maybe see some moose! Hopefully not in your room.

A Friendly Moose.

Zoom Zoom – rent a convertible and check out the sights and sounds of Cape Cod. You can stay for two nights at the Hampton Inn in Plymouth, Massachusetts, for $150/night including convertible rental. Fun! I did this sort of thing a number of years ago on my own and it was one of the best weekend trips I’d ever taken.

Happy travels from one autumn lover to the next.

Photos: Cliff 1066, Muffet, Aske Holst