Before the leaves begin to fall, it’s the best time of the year for heading out on your adventures: get in those last games of golf, pack everyone in the car to go and see the colourful leaves. There is nothing more spectacular or romantic than the dramatic changes autumn brings to the forests of Canada. When Nature casts her spell the results are dramatic. Oranges, yellows, reds, purples and browns burst into bloom and flood the countryside with a rainbow of colours. But no matter why, you cannot help feeling more alive and invigorated when you are surrounded by forests of brilliant red, orange, yellow and gold.…
As science tells us, the spectacular beauty of the autumn foliage is actually the result of a rather pragmatic natural process where trees stop synthesizing chlorophyll in their leaves. Mother Nature then moves nutrients from the old leaves and stores them for the winter in the tree’s trunks, stems and roots.
As a result, the leaves reveal their brilliant underlying colours – and across the country, you can hit the road to take in the dazzling displays of Autumn.
History has shown that generally around the 2nd to 3rd weeks of October the colors of fall seem to be at their most brilliant stage. And lucky for you, we’ve scouted out the ten best places to enjoy autumn. Oh, and no need to fret about when the peak colors will peak out – we’ve done the research for you. So get out there.
1. The Rocky Mountains, Alberta –October is the best time, the days are warmish and dry in Alberta's Rocky Mountains. The summer crowds have gone home, so you can actually find some solitude as you drink in the reds and yellows of the sub-alpine larch and other trees.
2. Niagara Parkway/Niagara on the lake - The quiet cousin to Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of Canada's - loveliest little towns. The loveliest stretch in autumn is between the small towns of Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake and reaches its pinnacle of color in October. Along the way you may want to stop at the quaint town to take a bit of refreshment in Ontario's wine country.
3. Montreal and Quebec City: Quebec offers leaf peepers some of Canada's best fall foliage viewing. Maple trees dominate the Quebec landscape, thus maple syrup making in the spring and leaf peeping in fall are two of the most popular seasonal activities. And while in Montreal, be sure to go visit Mont Royal for the best view of the city's changing colours. If you're heading out of the city, try the Laurentian Mountains for one of the most beautiful displays of fall foliage in North America. Celebrate the season by visiting resort town Mont Tremblant for its annual Symphony of Colours festival. 4. Fundy Coastal Drive, New Brunswick - Beyond its spectacular fall colours, New Brunswick offers a whirlwind of festivals, fairs and special events. The region's cultural "joie de vivre" is celebrated with music and chocolate festival, among other activities. The spectacular Fundy Coastal drive offers some of the highest tides in the world.5. Prince Edward Island - Always popular as a summer destination, visitors are discovering the beauty of Prince Edward Island in the fall. On Island hills and ridges, sugar maple leaves turn bright apricot-orange, mixing with the scarlet-reds of red maple, cherry and sumac and the vibrant yellows of poplar, beech and birch. Whether it's hiking or biking or simply meandering along the shore hands in hands with your partner, PEI offers tremendous fall foliage from mid-September until late October.6. The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia - Hailed as one of the world's most beautiful drives, the Cabot Trail winds around Cape Breton's northern shore and rewards fall color seekers in a spectacular way. You can try your hand at pumpkin racing in the unique Windsor Pumpkin Regatta. Sounds interesting right? Try it on.
7. The Bruce Peninsula, Ontario - Meander down country roads exploring the hidden treasures of this area. The Bruce Peninsula features one of the best portions of the Bruce Trail - an 800 km (almost 500 mile) hiking trail - that features splendid Ontario flora, fauna and water vistas. This is a is paradise for naturalists, photographers, cyclists, skiers, snowmobilers, scuba divers, sun bathers, sailors, hikers, people fishing and much more.
8. Agawa Canyon Trip, Ontario – Experience the fall colours in Agawa Canyon Train Tour. They are fantastically beautiful. Through the large picture windows of your comfortable coach, you will experience the same vistas and panoramas that inspired the Group of Seven to create some of Canada's most notable landscape art.
And finally, I am sure that this blend of brilliant autumn foliage, coupled with cooler temperatures and an occasional gentle breeze will make your trip an unforgettable experience.
Author:Ramya Maheshwary
