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

Colorado Aspens

When I hear “Colorado,” I usually think of two things: Denver and skiing. But, as Colorado locals and dedicated leaf peepers already know, the state is also a fantastic place to experience beautiful fall foliage colors. The colors there are, overall, a little different than what you might see in the Northeast simply because there are so many aspen trees in Colorado. But, I can tell you that these aspens acquire unbelievably beautiful shades of yellow in September and October; an entire hillside covered by them is an impressive, memorable site.

The Grand Junction area is one of the best places to see fall color. Any of these Grand Junction, Colorado hotels will be perfect starting points for your trip. The fall colors in this area start to show by mid-September, and you can follow the color change south.

And, from now until the end of the month, the fall foliage near Telluride, Colorado should be gorgeous. You might find that prices for Telluride hotels are a little more here than they are in Grand Junction, but the area is so pretty.

And, according to this article, if you stay at any Crested Butte Mountain Resort property in September or October, you save 25%! Perfect timing for leaf peepers and nature lovers alike.

Photo Credits: PDSPhil

Fall Foliage

Ok, Leaf Peepers, check this place out! I really can’t believe that there are still rooms available at The Carriage House Bed & Breakfast in Woodstock, Vermont. Woodstock is very popular during autumn, especially at the height of the leaf changes. I stayed here when I did a three-day road trip throughout the region back when I lived in Boston, and I can tell you it’s a really cute Bed & Breakfast. It’s actually right outside of Woodstock, but a very short drive.

If you’re looking for complete privacy, this may not be your best bet because as I remember it, there’s a sort of common breakfast table where everyone goes and eats breakfast in the mornings. I liked it, though because you get to meet some new people and have some pleasant conversation before setting out for the day.

There are only eight rooms, and two of them have whirlpool tubs (I got one of those when I booked because I booked about 9 months in advance!) I remember the breakfast being very good, and they serve you homemade delicious chocolate chip cookies and tea.

The owners were very nice and friendly.

If you’re going to book here, book soon! I’m so surprised these rooms are not completely gone. It’s a very cute place.

Happy Leaf Peeping!

Photo Credit: zappowbang