Best Places to See the Leaves Change In the Albany Area
Fall arrives fast and with that comes the spectrum of colors that the leaves turn. Sometimes you get a great glimpse of the brilliance of fall in the Albany area on your way to work - but other times you'd like to take a little trip to soak in the color. Here are our five best places to check out fall in our area!
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Grafton Lakes State Park
Grafton, NYThe lakes have some very well kept trails around them which provide some excellent views of the foliage plus the added bonus of the lake adding to the natural beauty of this place. Grafton Lakes is also a great family friendly place because the trails very easy to navigate and there are plenty of picnic areas for a nice fall cookout after checking out the leaves.
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Southern Vermont College
Bennington, VTVermont as a whole is where everyone from New York City and New Jersey flock to “leaf peep” and much to the chagrin of locals they bring their driving “skills” with them. If you want to dare venture into the tourist trap, you may want to consider the view from the Everett Mansion (main building) of the Green Mountains with the Bennington Monument in view too. Don't forget to check out the fountain cascade down the mountain behind the mansion.
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Saratoga and North Creek Railway
Saratoga, NYTrain rides are always fun and most of us never really get on a train too often so what a great excuse to take the train! The Saratoga and North Creek Railway runs between those two cities which offers a breathtaking view of the majestic splendor known as fall in the Adirondack Mountains.
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Prospect Mountain
Lake George, NYThe skyline drive up the mountain was always exciting as a kid because the view at the top is so darn high! You can literally see for hundreds of miles and if you head up when the north country is in peak but points south aren’t, then you’ll be rewarded by a fading from green to fall colors. No matter what time you drive up Prospect you’ll get a great view, but fall is definitely the optimal time to take the trip!
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Thacher State Park
Voorheesville, NYThere’s a reason Thacher State Park is so popular - it’s amazing. If you’re just observing the entire Albany area from the cliffs or hiking down the Indian Ladder Trail it’s a thrilling experience to witness the views from the park. The colors as seen in fall are just stunning and taking a walk with your sweetie here is just a tad romantic too.