By
Everett Potte, Travel+Leisure
Chebeague
Island is a short ferry ride from the hipster scene in Portland, ME,
but it still moves to a 19th-century tempo. So you can take your time
walking among the brilliant fall colors and, when the evening turns
cool, cozy up to the fireplace of the Chebeague Island Inn.
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That crispness in the air is a sure sign it’s time for the annual pageant of vivid reds, oranges, and yellows that inspires leaf-peepers to explore the towns and byways of New England, the Midwest, the mid-Atlantic, and the Northwest. But what makes a fall foliage pilgrimage truly memorable is where you choose to stay. We searched the country for properties that put you in the thick of things—and discovered that the best hotels for fall colors are as varied as the colors themselves.
You could wake up to a view of the Green Mountains and a breakfast with local maple syrup in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Or opt for Colorado, where a fall getaway means experiencing the golden splendor of Aspen trees from the minimalist aerie of a Bauhaus-inspired, largely glass-walled hotel.
Whatever their aesthetic, these are places where the breakfasts are homemade and the views are vibrant with fall colors. Of course, some rooms are better than others, so we’ve singled out which rooms savvy travelers will want to book. At North Carolina’s Applewood Manor, for instance, the York Imperial room stands out for its country charm (sleigh bed, gas log fireplace) and private balcony for enjoying the foliage that brightens up the misty Blue Ridge Mountains.
[post_ads]The Blue Ridge lends itself to exploring by car—the parkway was a WPA project built to blend in with the spectacular landscape—but these inns can also be convenient bases for hiking, antiquing, canoeing, even wine tastings at local vineyards, where it also happens to be harvest season.
So when exactly should you head out for a leaf-peeping trip? Anytime from mid-September to early November; generally, the further north you are, the sooner the leaves turn. State tourism boards and this handy interactive foliage map are your best resources for monitoring the local progression of color. But don’t delay. Wherever you’re headed, you can never book too early. Fall colors mark the year’s busiest time for many of these inns—and you’ve got a room to request.
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That crispness in the air is a sure sign it’s time for the annual pageant of vivid reds, oranges, and yellows that inspires leaf-peepers to explore the towns and byways of New England, the Midwest, the mid-Atlantic, and the Northwest. But what makes a fall foliage pilgrimage truly memorable is where you choose to stay. We searched the country for properties that put you in the thick of things—and discovered that the best hotels for fall colors are as varied as the colors themselves.
You could wake up to a view of the Green Mountains and a breakfast with local maple syrup in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Or opt for Colorado, where a fall getaway means experiencing the golden splendor of Aspen trees from the minimalist aerie of a Bauhaus-inspired, largely glass-walled hotel.
Whatever their aesthetic, these are places where the breakfasts are homemade and the views are vibrant with fall colors. Of course, some rooms are better than others, so we’ve singled out which rooms savvy travelers will want to book. At North Carolina’s Applewood Manor, for instance, the York Imperial room stands out for its country charm (sleigh bed, gas log fireplace) and private balcony for enjoying the foliage that brightens up the misty Blue Ridge Mountains.
[post_ads]The Blue Ridge lends itself to exploring by car—the parkway was a WPA project built to blend in with the spectacular landscape—but these inns can also be convenient bases for hiking, antiquing, canoeing, even wine tastings at local vineyards, where it also happens to be harvest season.
So when exactly should you head out for a leaf-peeping trip? Anytime from mid-September to early November; generally, the further north you are, the sooner the leaves turn. State tourism boards and this handy interactive foliage map are your best resources for monitoring the local progression of color. But don’t delay. Wherever you’re headed, you can never book too early. Fall colors mark the year’s busiest time for many of these inns—and you’ve got a room to request.
Omni Mount Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods, NH
Room to Book: The Corner Vista rooms have seating areas with huge windows overlooking the White Mountains.
Get Outdoors: New Hampshire’s best hiking trails are minutes away, and there are zipline canopy tours through the maple trees at adjacent Bretton Woods Resort.
Omni Hotels & Resorts.
Ashby Inn, Paris, VA
Room to Book: The Settle Room has a wood-burning fireplace and a private porch with Adirondack chairs overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Get Outdoors: Put on your hiking boots and walk under the foliage umbrella of Sky Meadows State Park, a half mile away.
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Chebeague Island Inn, Chebeague Island, ME
Kristin Tieg Photography / Courtesy of Chebeague Island
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Room to Book: An ocean-view room with a private bath. It comes tailored in crisp ginghams and plaids with a queen-size bed and works by local Maine artists.
Get Outdoors: Walk to the rocks at Deer Point for fantastic views of the bay and island.
Aspen Meadows, Aspen, CO
Courtesy of Aspen Meadows / Doug Crawford
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Room to Book: Upgrade to a spacious one-bedroom suite with a private balcony or terrace.
Get Outdoors: It’s an easy hike around Maroon Lake, at the foot of the Maroon Bells, arguably the most photographed mountain peaks in America.
Stonover Farm, Lenox, MA
Room to Book: The three-room Suite One boasts views of the field and forest from the sitting room, which is furnished with a cozy armchair and ottoman. There's also a writing desk, a marble-encased soaking tub in the bathroom, and the woods just beyond the bedroom.
Get Outdoors: The bucolic roads around Lenox are made for pedaling, so book a Trek road bike rental from the Arcadian Shop.
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Applewood Manor, Asheville, NC
This turn-of-the-century six-room B&B in the historic Montford District shares 1.5 acres with giant oaks, pines, and maples. It’s a pleasant stroll into downtown Asheville and a 10-minute drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but it can be just as tempting to settle into a rocking chair on one of the five porches.
Room to Book: The York Imperial has a sleigh bed, a gas log fireplace, and a private balcony with Adirondack furniture for enjoying the foliage on display across the mountains.
Get Outdoors: Hike a portion of the Mountains to Sea Trail along the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Columbia Gorge Hotel, Hood River, OR
Room to Book: Ask for a River View Fireplace Room, with a gas fireplace and a panoramic view of the Columbia River Gorge.
Get Outdoors: This is a fantastic place to windsurf and kite board; be prepared to get wet with a rental from Big Winds. If you prefer wine to water, explore local vineyards during their harvest season.
Wickwood Inn, Saugatuck, MI
Room to Book: The Christy suite has a fireplace, two cozy wingback chairs, a four-poster bed, and new decorative artworks and sculptures.
Get Outdoors: Take a hike in the sand dunes by the deep blue waters of Lake Michigan and the shoreline’s fiery trees.
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Otesaga Resort Hotel, Cooperstown, NY
Room to Book: Room 340, a Grand Lake View Suite, is the largest guestroom, with high ceilings, great views, a parlor, and the resort’s typical florals on the drapes and furnishings.
Get Outdoors: Rent a canoe or paddleboard from the resort to see the foliage from a lakeside perspective.
The White Gull Inn, Fish Creek, WI
Room to Book: Henriette’s Cottage is the only one-bedroom cottage at The White Gull. Guests can cozy up to the gas log fireplace in the living area, a private screened porch, and a separate bedroom with a four-poster bed and an antique English pine armoire.
Get Outdoors: Edge of Park rents bikes in Fish Creek for exploring nearby Peninsula State Park.
Rabbit Hill Inn, Lower Waterford, VT
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Cedar Glen Lodge, Lake Tahoe, CA
Room to Book: Families and groups will appreciate the two bedrooms, two baths, and gas-burning stone fireplace in Cottage No. 14.
Get Outdoors: Hiking past aspens along the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Point Pleasant Inn, Bristol, RI
Room to Book: The Bristol Harbor Suite for its king size four-poster bed and views of Bristol Harbor from the private deck.
Get Outdoors: Borrow a bike from the inn to ride along the East Bay Bike Path.
The Inn at Kent Falls, Kent, CT
Room to Book: The Lakes Suite has a king-size four-poster bed, a claw-foot soaking tub, a separate rainfall shower, and two fireplaces lit by candles instead of logs.
Get Outdoors: Local hiking paths intersect with the Appalachian Trail for a workout combined with foliage viewing.
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The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls, Hocking Hills, OH
Room to Book: The Tree House Whirlpool Cabin, which has a gas log stove, private deck, and whirlpool hot tub.
Get Outdoors: There are six major hiking trails in the Hocking Hills along with climbing and rappelling opportunities.