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Five autumn landscapes not to be missed
The writer F. Scott Fitzgerald said that "life begins again when autumn comes" and it is true that, at this point in the year, it seems as if summer is already part of the distant past and we have that familiar "back to school" feeling that invites us to slow the pace down accompanying us with the increasingly shorter and less warm days.
Autumn, whose beginning marks the equinox, is when nature is transformed again, changing the colors of trees and landscapes to a fascinating chromatic range of oranges, greenish yellows, reds, purples, and maroons.
It is a time of year that invites you to get away to connect with the visual and inspiring spectacle that is fall, with that wise and changing nature, in which the trees know they must shed their leaves to prepare for the winter that is to come and sprout again in spring with renewed strength.
We propose to you five getaways to discover autumn landscapes in which you can lose yourself between October and November while enjoying autumn in a unique way in the Northern Hemisphere.
National parks, lakes, bears, and festivals in Canada
Canada is a country with numerous national parks set around thousands of lakes surrounded by dense forests. The eastern part of the country is the best for witnessing the autumn colors in all their intensity, with leaves turning from red to orange and finally disappearing in the winter wind with a yellowish texture.
In Canada, that chromatic change of the landscape of its forests, parks, and mountains, begins in September in the areas of Ontario, Quebec, and the maritime provinces. These are the best places to observe the intense colors of autumn throughout the country.
One of Canada's oldest parks, Algonquin National Park, located in southeastern Ontario, has thousands of lakes hidden within its boundaries, with hidden forest trails offering spectacular views during fall season hiking treks.
Hiking is one of the best ways to see the spectacle of autumn in the Canadian Rockies.
A luxury resort in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
Horseback riding is a unique experience to connect with nature and the breathtaking forests of Canada.
This resort offers an immersive experience in the middle of nature in front of a beautiful lake in Canada.
Comfortable and exclusive wooden chalets for a getaway to one of the most beautiful autumns in the northern hemisphere.
Autumn brings with it local harvest festivals across Canada. Wherever you go, you'll find some celebration of autumn's bounty. On Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, there's the International Seafood Festival, in Ontario, the Pumpkin Festival and in Winona, between Toronto and Niagara, there's the great Peach Festival.
And if wine is your thing, the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada's largest wine-producing region, celebrates the grape harvest for 10 days in October with dozens of events. In Canada, we suggest staying at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort or Nimmo Bay.
Grizzly bears are the stars of autumn in Canada, before hibernation.
In western Canada, autumn is also a great time to go bear-watching. Grizzly bears, black bears, and rare spirit bears take advantage of the "great autumn feast," fishing and eating the salmon in the rivers and fattening up as much as they can before hibernation.
There is currently an estimated population of about 16,000 grizzly bears in Canada.
Autumn in New York
Many years ago Sinatra sang of the shimmering rooftops at sunset in the famous song "Autumn in New York". This season is one of the best to visit the city of skyscrapers as Central Park becomes one of New Yorker's favorite places to walk and bike along the 4-mile routes of the park that have a total of 1,700 elms and about 300 species of birds and other animals.
From Central Park, which was designed in 1853, you can visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History, two of the most famous museums in the city. To the southeast of the park is the Central Park Zoo, managed by the Wildlife Conservation Society. To the north is the Botanical Conservatory Garden.
A breathtaking view of the New York skyline from the fall in Central Park.
The use of pumpkins is one of the most famous traditions of Halloween, celebrated on October 31. Carving this fruit originated in the legends and traditions of the Celtic people of Scotland and Ireland, where turnips were originally used.
Irish immigrants who came to the United States changed the turnips for pumpkins and, since then, during the days leading up to this celebration, at almost every home in the United States, you can find these famous carved pumpkins known as Jack o' Lanterns, used to scare away evil spirits.
The famous Halloween carved pumpkins, present in every home in the United States on October 31. Photo: Bekir Donmez.
The magic of Japanese maples
Kyoto in autumn is a magical time, with a spectacular display of the color-changing leaves. The best time to enjoy autumn in the Japanese capital runs roughly from late November to early December when the Japanese maples turn red and the ginkgo leaves change to gold. During this time, the autumn foliage blends with the silhouettes of the city's temples and shrines, creating unforgettable postcards.
One of the best temples from which to witness Japanese autumn in all its splendor is the Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, which overlooks the Higashiyama area and is perfect for savoring the style of ancient Kyoto. The autumn colors can be seen from the main hall of Kiyomizu-Dera at the top of the hill, also called the "Kiyomizu Stage." The autumn chromatic carpet stretching across the Kin-un-kyo Gorge is simply breathtaking.
Eikando Zenrinji Temple is so well known for its beautiful autumn colors that it has been called "Momiji Eikando" (Momiji is the word for Japanese maples) since ancient times. The temple's Tahoto Pagoda and the 3,000 maple trees that surround it form an impressive and inspiring scene of beauty. You can enjoy the Japanese autumn from an exclusive Ryokan, the traditional Japanese type of accommodation.
Kiyomizu-dera Temple, which overlooks the Higashiyama area, is a perfect place to savor the style of ancient Kyoto.
Momiji is the word that designates the Japanese maples that change their color to that magical and characteristic red in autumn.
Experience autumn in Japan while staying in an exclusive traditional Ryokan.
View of the Japanese autumn forest from the Ryokan.
Fairytale Forests in Germany
Rhineland-Palatinate is one of Germany's 16 federal states and is crossed by the Rhine, Moselle, and Nahe rivers. This area populated by dense forests and castles that look like something out of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale is perfect for an autumn getaway. If you love hiking, this is an ideal place for a forest bath or a walk in silence among the trees while you connect with nature through all five senses.
In this German region, you can also visit different and beautiful castles with centuries of history, sail on the Rhine, discover picturesque villages, and enjoy different wine experiences because it is in Rhineland-Palatinate, where 70% of the wine is grown and produced in Germany.
This German region is characterized by its imposing medieval castles such as this one in Eltz, built in the 12th century. Photos: Julia Solonina.
Strolling through the Rhineland forests allows you to discover hidden treasures such as this small church.
"And all the lives we have lived and all the lives to come are full of trees and falling leaves..."
Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf
Forest baths promote inner peace and emotional well-being. Photo: Jakob Owens.
The "forest baths" originated in Japan, known as Shinrin Yoku, which means "absorbing the atmosphere of the forest". This practice of walking through a forest in a leisurely and immersive way was born to promote contact with nature in an urban population that presented a very high level of stress and anxiety associated with work.
This practice not only promotes inner peace and emotional well-being but also strengthens the immune system, and reduces blood pressure, anxiety, and stress hormones.
Among vineyards and cypresses in Tuscany
Tuscany experiences one of its moments of maximum splendor in autumn when the colors of the hills and vineyards transform into yellows, browns, reds, and purples. It is the time of the grape harvest in this Italian region and an ideal time to enjoy the best local products with different experiences and gastronomic festivals dedicated to chestnuts, white and black truffles, and oil.
- The "funghi porcini" are one of the most appreciated autumn mushrooms by the Italians to prepare different pasta and risotto recipes. —
- In Tuscany, various festivals dedicated to chestnuts are held during the month of October —
- The Chianti region is famous for its wines and winemaking experiences —
- The white truffle is one of the most exclusive foods of Italian gastronomy
For nature lovers, we recommend spending a few days discovering Chianti: a picturesque landscape among harmonious hills and vineyards, which you can also cycle through. Along the paths and small country roads, there is always something to discover: abbeys, churches, medieval fortresses, castles, and stately villas that will transport you to the rich medieval past of this area.
Autumn is one of the best times to visit Tuscany.
The historic thermal baths of Montecatini Terme, ideal for an experience of relaxation and wellness.
A former family "borgo" converted into a luxury resort to enjoy Tuscany in style.
Stay in an exclusive Tuscan villa to discover the best of autumn in that region.
Trails along the so-called wine routes are ideal for unforgettable wine and gastronomic experiences and, if wellness is your thing, there are several historic Tuscan spas such as those of Montecatini Terme, one of the favorite destinations for writers and artists in the nineteenth-century, which today combines both modern and traditional treatments and methods. During your stay in Tuscany, you can stay at a favorite hotel there: Castiglion del Bosco.
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