There's a lot to love about fall, but there's nothing quite like watching the leaves change color, from bright green to rich, gorgeous reds, yellows and oranges. Luckily, thanks to the folks at SmokyMountains.com, we can easily find the best time to see the fall foliage. Every year, the site releases an interactive map with everything you want to know about visiting the Smoky Mountains, showing users peak fall foliage viewing times across the country — and since 2016, the map has just been released Finally, now is a good time to start planning your leaf viewing trip.
When it comes to enjoying fall, many fall activities depend largely on which part of the country you're from. For example, at my home in New England, it's basically a full-on fall celebration, including apple picking, pumpkin carving, and pie baking 24/7. We also have some really beautiful trees, which means we can get some Instagram-worthy photos of the changing color of the leaves.
That's where this map comes in. While it's not guaranteed to be 100% accurate—it's an estimate after all, not a device for predicting the future—it's a good indication of when and where you might see peak color, and provides some insight into why leaves The scientific explanation for changing color.
So: When is the best time to see fall foliage in your area? You can check out the full interactive map by visiting SmokyMountains.com - but for the short version, here are the approximate times when the most beautiful foliage can be seen in each region of the country:
1. Midwest: October 14
According to SmokyMountains.com's map, there's a lot of variation in when the foliage actually peaks in the Midwest. While some areas in the Midwest were already past their peak by the time October 14 rolled around, many others were just beginning to experience their peak. So it might be worth doing some additional research on peak times in your state.
2. New England: October 7-October 14
If you want to visit the site of the Salem Witch Trials and go pumpkin and apple picking, New England might be on your mind this fall. If you check out New England during the week of October 7-14, you might also see some beautiful foliage, SmokyMountains.com reports.
3. West Coast: October 21
If you're planning on traveling west, you may want to schedule your visit during the week of October 21st. Some areas of the West Coast will be in full bloom, while others are about to have full bloom, so be sure to keep an eye out as the day approaches!
4. South: October 28
If you want to enjoy Southern hospitality, why not head south during the week of October 28th to enjoy the beautiful fall foliage?
5. Extreme South Region: November 4
Last but not least, while the rest of the country passes its peak, Florida and Texas will have some of the most beautiful fall colors. If you've missed your chance to see fall foliage elsewhere, you might as well head to Texas and enjoy some barbecue, right?
Image: pixabay /Pexels; Jiffy(5)
