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Now that the first presidential debate is behind us, it’s time to give serious thought to the big decision that’s just weeks — even days — away.
Where will you enjoy the remarkable fall foliage?
Pennsylvania remains among the very best places to enjoy autumn colors. In fact, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources doesn’t mince words
“Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state in the nation — or anywhere in the world,” The DCNR website insists. “This is no empty boast. Only three regions of the world support deciduous forests that display fall autumn color: eastern North America; the British Isles and parts of northwestern Europe; northeastern China and northern Japan. Forests in other regions are either tropical or dominated by conifers.”
Didn’t know that? Not really a surprise. It’s easy to overlook the jewels in your own back yard.
The stunning nature of Keystone State autumns can best be appreciated by visiting the epic scenery of the American west: high deserts and vast flat farmland with hardly a tree in sight, And when trees do appear, it’s evergreens as far as the eye can see. Lovely, majestic, and monotone year round.
Yes, you can see plenty of deciduous trees painting themselves in eye-popping shades elsewhere, but again, as DCNR notes, Pennsylvania really is unique thanks to those three selling points any real estate agent will stress: Location, location, location.
Sitting between 40 and 42 degrees North latitude, the state “supports 134 species of trees and many more shrubs and vines that contribute to the display of autumn color.”
Defying its chunky-sounding acronym, DCNR makes the mix of trees truly poetic:
“Gray and paper birch, mountain maple and mountain-ash from the north share Penn’s Woods with southern red oak, sweetbay and umbrella magnolias, sourwood, persimmon and sweetgum from the south. Ohio buckeye, bur oak, and shingle oak, common to the Mississippi Valley, have eastern outposts on the Allegheny Plateau.”
True, the quality of the show can be impacted by rainfall and temperatures as autumn approaches, but even a shabby autumn in Northeast Pennsylvania outshines most other areas.
And you have a plethora of places showcasing the Pennsylvania palette within a day’s drive: The waterfalls of Ricketts Glen, the old railroad bed of Lehigh Gorge State Park, the vistas of Hickory Run State Park, the sauntering paths of Frances Slocum or Nescopeck state parks.
Only a bit further is the gorge of Pine Creek State Park to the West and the sweeping vistas of the Delaware Water Gap to the east. The options are nearly endless
So set some time aside and pick a garden of autumn Eden. Thanks to the different weather in different locales, you’ve got all month. DCNR predicts prime leaf-peeping season in the northern tier from Oct. 8-17, in Luzerne and surrounding counties from Oct. 15-24, and in points south from Oct. 21-31.
Let autumn take your breath away.