10 Fantastic Fall Foliage Destinations
The Aspen Nature Loop
Location: Flagstaff, Arizona
Why It’s Great: The Aspen Nature Loop offers both an enticing combination of fall foliage and mountain overlooks. It is not overly strenuous like some of the other high altitude hikes in the area.
Arizona Snowbowl (a ski resort & hiking destination) in Northern Arizona is home to several incredible hiking trails. The Aspen Nature Loop is a must-do on any trip to Flagstaff, even more so during the breathing autumn season. If you happen to be visiting the Grand Canyon, you will likely be staying in Flagstaff or a nearby town. Be sure to hit some of the trails during your time here – it’s the best thing to do. Alternatively, if you happen to be staying at one of the Canyon hotels, definitely plan a daytrip to Flagstaff.
The Aspen Nature Loop is a great pick because it is only 1.5 miles total. Most of the more lengthy trails in the area are hilly, long, and located at 8000 feet and above, and therefore, are much too difficult for those visiting from a lower altitude area. Hiking Aspen allows you to get in some exercise without going all out. Remember that you have less oxygen at high altitude, and thus, your body works harder and tires out easier.
Aspen is one of the few area trails where you can enjoy both the fall colors and mountain views, and it has the advantage of not getting overly crowded as the more popular options like Inner Basin. It comes as a shock to most new visitors that the foliage is this great in Arizona, an area they usually associate with cacti, relentless heat, and no trees outside of palms and desert scrub. It’s crazy to think how quickly landscapes and weather can change with a little 2 hour drive from Phoenix. In such a short period of time, you arrive in a completely different area with a fall ambiance that is totally absent in the Sonoran desert.
More info and pics from the Aspen Nature Loop
The Roger Williams Park Zoo
Location: Providence, Rhode Island
Why It’s Great: It’s the best zoo in the New England area and also a prime place for enjoying the colorful foliage of Rhode Island.
Providence’s little zoo is one of the country’s oldest zoos. It’s quite small at just 40 acres, however, it is the nicest zoo in the metro. The zoo houses a great variety of animals. The layout is nice and easily walkable. The fall is a particularly attractive time to visit as the weather is beautiful and the foliage even more so. You will see lots of different hues as you stroll around the heavily treed grounds. Also be sure to check into the annual Jack O’Lantern Spectacular, featuring over 5000 unique pumpkin carvings! This Halloween event is the tops in the area, and one of the best I’ve ever visited period!
