Fall foliage season is calling, and you don’t have to travel far from Philadelphia to answer.
These scenic escapes—from Bucks County and the Lehigh Valley to the Pine Barrens—make it easy to spend a day leaf peeping... or turn the trip into a cozy autumn getaway.
Bucks County was dubbed the No. 1 Fall Foliage Destination in the U.S. (by Priceline), and a great way to experience it is by visiting the charming town of New Hope.
Some outdoor activities here span a historic covered bridge tour, a private hot air balloon ride, a scenic drive along River Road / Route 32, a ride through the countryside on the New Hope Railroad fall foliage excursion, a visit to Washington Crossing Historic Park, and an adventure along the tree-lined 60-mile towpath in Delaware Canal State Park.
While there, Philadelphians can opt to make it an overnight stay by booking at the Ghost Light Inn or the Carriage House of New Hope. With the former, the 12-room boutique hotel offers a perfect stay for you and your furry friend (it's fido-friendly), and it’s also the home of the popular restaurant, Stella of New Hope. And with the latter, the venue boasts three suites with river-facing balconies for panoramic views of the fall foliage. The largest suite, Room 13, is two floors, offering a fully functional in-room chef’s kitchen, plus a sitting room complete with a fireplace.
Historic Bethlehem not only offers visitors the opportunity to check out three centuries of American history, but it's also a prime leaf-peeping destination for travelers who want to head outside of the City of Brotherly Love.
The area offers visitors the chance to check out its scenes through a self-guided tour featuring 19 historic buildings, 20 acres of land and two National Historic Landmarks. If that wasn’t enough to sell you on this destination, the area was also nominated to the U.S. Tentative List for World Heritage Designation just a few years ago.
For a fall escape less than an hour from the city, the 1.1-million-acre landscape of the Pine Barrens will reach peak color in late October.
At the edge of the Pine Barrens, Seaview, a Dolce Hotel also offers a convenient home base between Philadelphia and Atlantic City for those interested in making an overnight trip while checking out the foliage (which includes crimson and gold swamp maples, northern red oaks, evergreen pines and white cedars).
Guests can explore wooded trails and scenic waterways, or stay on the resort’s 670-acre grounds to explore two championship golf courses, indoor and outdoor pools, and sweeping views of Reeds Bay. For more fall fun, Atlantic City, Historic Smithville and other Jersey beach towns are all within an easy drive as well.
Hawk Mountain has plenty to see, and once here, visitors will get a charming view of the wild bird sanctuary located along the Appalachian flyway. Typically, the sanctuary is a hotspot for hikers, birdwatchers and outdoor enthusiasts alike, and that sentiment is elevated even more in the fall season.
The 8-mile trail system is open for everyone through the new accessible trail through the South Lookout. The official trail map is also located on Discover Lehigh Valley’s website.
1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton, discoverlehighvalley.com
Lehigh Valley holds seven of the 200+ covered bridges in Pennsylvania built in the 1800s, all of which are welcoming visitors—especially during this picturesque season.
This driveable tour covers 50 miles, but that’s not the only route that passengers can take when looking for some scenic fall scenes. According to a release, Philadelphians can also cruise along Route 611 to explore the Slate Belt’s fall foliage covering dozens of small towns including Nazareth and Bangor. Then hike, bike or walk the four-mile John M. Mauser Nature Education Trail System in Lower Mount Bethel Township. To catch a picturesque fall sunset glistening against the foliage, leaf peepers can also traverse the rolling hills of Lookout Drive and Mountain Drive near Lehigh University.
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