There’s nothing like autumn, regardless of where you are. The sun drops low in the sky and the falling leaves add an earthy essence. The colors add a texture to the landscape you only get once a year. Add smoke from a distant fire and all the ingredients are there for a breathtaking experience.
North, South, East, or West?
Autumn is in the air, universally beloved as one of the most popular months for weather and scenic beauty. In the north, of course, the chill has arrived. Use the Wandry mobile application to follow the annual spectacle of color as the leaves turn, and the sun dips low in the sky.
It’s just as popular in warmer climates as the intense summer heat and humidity ease. The foliage takes a unique, less severe turn as the colors fade, and the oak trees drop their acorns. Having trouble deciding where to go? Use the Wandry app to find your autumn destinations.
Northeast
Burlington, VT
Use the Wandry app Travel Specifications and Prepare features to see what lies ahead regarding restrictions. If Burlington, Vermont, is your destination, you’ll currently see no limits other than mask requirements for medical care facilities and public transportation.
Use the interactive maps to find a place for lunch, lodging, and critical spots for scenery. It’s a rural state, with only two Interstate highways that pass anywhere, so let Wandry lead you through the maze of backroads to navigate the area.
Take your pick on which direction you want to go, northeast or northwest, before the clocks change and leaves are on the ground. The Wandry app is here to help, especially if you’re not familiar with your surroundings. Spend less time navigating the journey (and multiple apps) and more time enjoying the arrival.
Northwest
North Cascades National Park
If you’re impressed with the dramatic change in landscape from lower to upper New England, you’ll be dazzled by the geography of the northwestern U.S. A few hours north of Seattle, Washington, North Cascades National Park contains more than 300 glaciers, and mountain elevations well over 10,000 feet.
Wandry’s Maps and Weather Alerts serve as valuable assistants in a wide-ranging, remote location such as this. You’ll see that the high elevations in October are off-limits, but that drives to particular sites in and around the Cascades provide stunning views.
You’ll also discover that there is too much to see in a day or two, so you may want to consult the various Wandry app features to prioritize your journey.
North Central
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore
Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, on the banks of Lake Superior in Michigan, offers a gentler yet no less spectacular view of the change of seasons. Miners Castle (partly shown above) is the most recognizable of the rock formations along the 42-miles of coastline. Use Wandry’s Know Before You Go feature to discover hotels less than 15 miles away from the main attraction.
Look a little further into the app, and you see that there are 12 miles of beaches, dunes, lighthouses, and waterfalls. Let Wandry’s maps lead the way and enjoy a place you probably never knew existed.
West
High Sierra Region
California’s High Sierra Region’s Eastern Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations to witness the change of season. It’s a vast area featuring stunning hikes and drives with vistas in every direction.
Unless you know where you’re going, however, you’re going to need a point in the right direction, and that’s where Wandry comes in. Numerous parks in this region feature skiing, hiking, camping, and almost any outdoor activity you can imagine.
Through Wandry’s Weather feature, El Dorado National Forest is currently closed because of wildfires. All roads, trails (including the Mormon Emigrant Trail), and facilities within the area are closed. You may save yourself hundreds of miles of driving by preparing ahead of time.
Are you going to keep heading west after visiting the Sierras? Consult Wandry and learn that if you go to Los Angeles, everyone who enters bars, gyms, entertainment venues, and other public places must be vaccinated beginning November 4, 2021.
The views in the Sierras are spectacular, even if you never leave your vehicle, but plan by checking Wandry’s Travel Specifications, Weather, and Maps to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
South
Natural Bridge State Park
Natural Bridge State Park in the western portion of Virginia is a hidden gem for autumn foliage in the southern states. Discover an awe-inspiring 215-foot-tall natural limestone bridge carved out by the waters below.
You’ll find that the park is lush with foliage in all directions around the scenic bridge and that Thomas Jefferson once owned it.
Through the Prepare feature, you’ll notice that face coverings are requested for all visitors indoors, as is social distancing outdoors. Looking a little deeper into the app, you’ll find six miles of walking trails and the 30-foot-tall Lace Falls. Start at the visitor center and take it from there.
Let Wandry Be Your Autumn Guide
Airfares are low, and businesses are back open, gearing up for the seasons they had to tiptoe through last year. The early choices for foliage are the northern states, of course. The southern states are a little slower to show their colors – perhaps a better option later in the month?
Pick a place and use the Wandry app to find a restaurant and a place to stay nearby. The interactive maps and travel information reduce the stress that comes with too much time on your phone.
Save your eyes for the places you came to see.