BIZ Online NGLCC

As the temperatures drop, it's a reminder that fall is upon us, and one of the most treasured pastimes of Americans has arrived—leaf peeping!

While the Northeast lays claim to some of the best fall foliage in America, color tours aren't limited to New England. Other parts of the country are experiencing the change in seasons with the same vitality and beauty.

For those of you looking to plan a fall color tour outside of your area or even your region, here are some favorite spots across America that are worth a visit. (You can also refer to the U.S. Forest Service for peak times and fall color reports.)

East Texas

The Lone Star state is a rare destination for color tour lovers, many of whom are commonly found traveling the heavily forested northern states. While not as rich in the vast displays of colors, northeast Texas has its moments of glory.

Winnsboro is a quiet, quaint town with a population of only 3,600 and is a perfect getaway. The town is extremely friendly to LGBT visitors, and several of its establishments are gay-owned, including a popular winery. In the fall, Winnsboro's fields of pumpkins make for a lovely drive. The town has autumn trail days scheduled for every weekend in October while the town's well-known antique car rally also takes place every fall. The trees here include a colorful combination of maples, elms and sweet gum along with red sumacs.

A gay-owned bed and breakfast, Thee Hubbell House, is one of the town's historic treasures, a colonial-style plantation home. Owner Tim Carmichael says, "With the shifting of the seasons, it's not until the end of October and mid-November when the leaves reach the peak of their color. We have a true, old fashioned downtown with great antique shopping, a great day spa and no Wal-Mart! Winnsboro is also ideal for LGBT visitors. In fact, many of them are surprised to find such a welcoming spot hidden away in Texas!"

When to visit: foliage peaks as late as the third week of November.

Saugatuck, Michigan

With more than 100 different species of trees, Michigan is one of the most scenic states in the country for fall color tours. One of Michigan's beach towns, Saugatuck, is a beautiful little art village—a haven for artists attracted to the town's sandy beaches and grassy dunes. But another great reason to visit Saugatuck is its beautiful fall colors.

Saugatuck is home to a significant LGBT population, and its shops and other establishments are always warmly welcoming of gay visitors.

Look for the beech, sugar maple and sassafras trees as they turn from green to gold in the fall. From lighthouses and harbors to gardens and wineries, the town provides a great backdrop for fall color tours. Most inns and B&Bs—many of them LGBT-owned—offer foliage tours. Outdoor activities are plentiful, including golf, dune rides, boat cruises and hiking as well as jazz and chamber music concerts. Saugatuck and nearby Douglas maintain the charm of small-town rural America; it ranks fifth in the list of the 100 Best Small Town Getaways published in Midwest Living magazine.

Janet Schmidt of the Saugatuck/Douglas Area Business Association says, "Hiking in the sand dunes and trails are some of the favorite activities here as the leaves start to turn and color spreads everywhere."

When to visit: Accurate reporting of Saugatuck's foliage can be found at Michigan.org.

New Hope, Pennsylvania

Less than an hour north of Philadelphia, New Hope has become increasingly popular with tourists interested in nature and the town's quaint charm. New Hope boasts of a large number of bed and breakfasts—many of which offer foliage tours—as well as historic sites and horse carriage tours. The pine, hemlock and maple trees that dominate Pennsylvania scenery turn gold and flaming red come October.

Mary Gardner at the New Hope Visitors Center says, "Generally, the fall foliage season starts around the middle of October, although we are subject to varying weather conditions. The drive along River Road (Route 32 north of town) and its back roads, and the view from Bowman's Tower just south of New Hope are especially beautiful."

One of the best ways to view fall in New Hope is taking the fall foliage trains run by the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad. The vintage steam trains run in round trips out of New Hope Station and a local commuter rail station, and give passengers two and a half hours to enjoy the beautiful Bucks County fall colors. The entire railroad runs through scenic countryside replete with flowing streams and rock cuts. The trains run every weekend in October, and the best way to ride is in the Open Air Car.

When to visit: Mid-October. The fall foliage trains start October 4th.

Yosemite, California

Autumn in Yosemite, California may not be all colorful mountains and valleys, but if you get the timing and the place right, you're in for a rare treat. Yosemite Valley and Park, famous for its waterfalls, meadows and the majestic Half Dome peak, put up quite a show around the first week of November.

Watch out for the spectacular dogwood trees while coming in and out of the park on Highway 41 from the south or Highway 120 from the northwest. The ruling color among the trees (broadleaf maples, oaks, cottonwoods and aspens) is yellow, which turns into bright gold and orange in the sun. The occasional shades of red and the reigning yellow make a lovely contrast with the local landscape's evergreens, gray granite mountains and the blue sky. There are beautiful golden aspens along the banks and slopes of the Lee Vining Creek (below California Highway 120), which are also quite a sight.

When to visit: Third week of October to early November.

Willamette Valley, Oregon

Willamette Valley, Oregon is the queen of the Northwest come fall.

This is the region surrounding the Willamette River as it proceeds through orchards and farmlands from the mountains near Eugene to the Portland metropolitan area. A fertile agricultural region, the valley is the cultural and political heart of Oregon and is home to nearly 70 percent of its population. It is also well known for its vineyards and home to some of the best (and most expensive) pinot noir in the world.

The colors have already begun to change here. Scenic routes are easy to navigate along Interstate 5, or Highways 99E and 99W. Leaf watchers will find endless opportunities for foliage sighting, often reminding one of New England because of the covered bridges and quaint country architecture along the way. Don't forget to ride or bike through the historic covered bridges, known for protecting couples in search of a little privacy and earning themselves the nickname "the kissing bridges."

A must-see in the valley is the Silver Falls State Park, Oregon's largest state park, located in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Eugene. The park offers a variety of trees such as Douglas-fir, hemlock, cedar, cottonwood and maple that turn into beautiful shades of red, pumpkin and burnt gold in fall. A hiking route along the Trail of Ten Falls also leads to views of 10 different waterfalls along the way against a backdrop of brilliant, brightly colored trees.

When to visit: Mid to late October. For accurate foliage reports call the Oregon Fall Foliage Hotline at (800) 547-5445.