FAMILY
Atlantic Canadian autumns are so stunning, it’s easy to dismiss the idea of heading abroad for the fall. But as international travel becomes simpler, travellers may not want to let a season pass without planning a trip—and plenty of destinations possess unique autumn landscapes rivalling the Maritimes. If you’re planning a vacation to enjoy seasonal foliage, decide early on how you’d like to appreciate the fall scenery. Outdoorsy travellers may prefer gazing at the leaves in the forest or by the water. You needn’t fly overseas if that’s what you have in mind—small American towns like Aspen, Colorado and Stowe, Vermont are perfect choices. As mountain towns, Aspen and Stowe have scenery quite different from PEI’s. Stowe is especially convenient for Islanders, since New England is near enough to reach within a couple days by car. Stowe’s hiking trails include waterfall and mountain routes, and the town’s microbreweries and cideries can break up the day. If you’d prefer a dramatic change of scene for your autumn trip, set out for Kyoto, Japan. Rugged multi-hour hikes are less likely in Kyoto—quite a bit of local foliage appears at Buddhist temples like Daigo-ji, Kiyomizu-Dera and Tofuku-ji. Kyoto’s balmy weather increases the likelihood that flowers like chrysanthemums will be blooming as the leaves change. If you’re looking forward to seeing fall foliage when you travel, but don’t want to block off hours to observe changing leaves, metropolitan European destinations like Prague and Paris are excellent. Much of the fall scenery in these cities is urban—either located within convenient green spaces like Prague’s Petrín Hill or Paris’s Tuileries Garden, or integrated on the borders of streets and squares. Both cities also offer a family outing (Prague Zoo and Disneyland Paris, respectively).
SPECTACULAR AUTUMN FOLIAGE BEYOND THE MARITIMES Far-Flung Fall Leaves
By Rebecca Spinner
Vermont, USA
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