With summer coming to a close, welcome the radiant red and sunny yellow hues of the autumn leaves. From over-the-top leaf peeping packages in D.C. to foliage-inspired amenities in Charleston, South Carolina, the following destinations are a must-visit for leaf peeping:
Washington, D.C.
Luxury boutique hotel The Jefferson in D.C. invites leaf-peepers to celebrate fall’s crisp air and color with the extravagant Deluxe Golden Fall Package. Travelers will become the new owner of an Audi convertible to drive past D.C.’s most colorful foliage, a chartered helicopter ride and chauffeured wine tour around the Virginia vineyards, and a “golden hour” sunset yacht cruise. Guests will also receive a gold bottle of champagne upon check-in, fall-themed treats at turndown and Presidential Suite accommodations.
Lexington, Kentucky
Travelers can take a curated private helicopter ride via Geo Heli Lexington and experience aerial views of 400 stunning horse farms, Keeneland Racecourse, Lexington Cemetery (nationally recognized as an arboretum with more than 200 varieties of trees), and the contrasting teal Kentucky River. Visitors staying at The Inn at Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill can take in the views aboard the Dixie Belle paddlewheeler, which gives hour-long excursions daily from the Shaker Village landing.
Charleston, South Carolina
Visitors can take in the beautiful foliage by land, sea and air with French Quarter Inn’s Charleston Perspective package. Enjoy a private helicopter tour with champagne, a sailboat ride on the harbor aboard a chartered yacht, and an exclusive horse-drawn carriage tour throughout cobblestone alleyways of the Historic District, all while taking in the gorgeous autumn scenery.
Finger Lakes, New York
Rivaling for the best fall foliage in the country, the Finger Lakes region offers a variety of options for travelers to take in the scenery. Consider the Inns of Aurora, a collection of four luxurious inns in the Finger Lakes, where travelers are treated to an immersive foliage experience surrounded by vibrant red and orange hues on the tree-lined property. Guests wake up to gorgeous views of the vivid leaves while overlooking Cayuga Lake on a private balcony, or relax amongst the trees on one of the numerous porches.
Franklin, Vermont
Just 10 minutes from the Quebec border, this picturesque town in Northern Vermont is the ideal destination for fall. Come autumn, the landscape is transformed into a vibrant palette of colors that few places can rival. Look to the nearby Green Mountains for optimal verdure viewing or swap homes for a stay at a delightful country house with a direct view of the mountains.
Quebec, Canada
Home to monstrous mountains and snaky ski slopes, Quebec offers breathtaking backdrops for the ultimate fall photo shoot. Only an hour from the border of Vermont and an hour drive from bustling Montreal, Quebec is home to fantastic fall foliage that can be seen from the panoramic gondola in Mont-Sainte-Anne or the trails at La Vallée Bras-du-Nord. Thanks to home swapping platforms such as HomeExchange and GuestToGuest, it’s easier than ever to plan and enjoy a home exchange vacation without ever having to exchange cash.