Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/375781
noVa scoTIa World-renowned: The cabot Trail is a sensational drive along the north shore of Cape Breton where fi ery red, orange, crim- son and gold blanket the entire highlands on a backdrop of sea-green and blue. Honourable mentions: Plan a stay in Parrsboro on Minas basin in north central nova scotia. From there take Route 2 into the cobequid Mountains. also on old Highway 311 fl anked by countless red sugar maples, the trip from Truro to Tatamagouche is one of the very best fall foliage drives in the province. Best time: Early october is peak, but consult the autumn leaf Watch weekly report, plus other tourism information at novascotia.ca. PRIncE EdWaRd Island World-renowned: PEI is known for the longest fall foliage period in north america due to the warm waters and moderate climate in the Gulf of st. lawrence and northumberland strait. your front-row seat takes you along the confederation Trail, where ruby-red maples add to the patchwork of apricot- orange and sunburst yellows of poplars, birch and beech trees. Honourable mention: Take Route 20 on the central coastal drive with its classic fi shing ports and postcard-pretty villages. stop in storied cavendish for a peek at the Green Gables farm and plan for a bite to eat in lovely Victoria-by-the-sea. Best time: Mid-september through early october is reliable for leaf peeping. Watch for updated reports at janroncommunications .com. For general trip planning, consult tourismpei.com. QuÉbEc World-renowned: Within an hour's drive of Montréal in the laurentian Mountains, great swaths of sugar maples, yellow birch and american beech ignite into orange, red and rust across endlessly rolling landscapes. suggested routes can be found at laurentides.com. Honourable mention: also within an hour of Montréal, the Eastern Townships is a collection of hills and vales, farmlands and Victorian villages brimming with the- atres, art galleries and antique shops. autumn is also ripe for the vineyard har- vest, so be sure to follow the designated Wine Route for a full array of tantalizing gastronomy. Best time: The online Québec Fall Foliage Report (janroncommunications.com) is updated every Friday and additional tourism plan- ning can be done at bonjourquebec.com. onTaRIo World-renowned: algonquin Park, one hour north of huntsville, is 7,725 square kilometres of sensational pristine wilder- ness where the luminous leaves of maples, tamaracks, red oaks and aspens push this glorious season all the way into the winds of winter. Honourable mentions: The entire Georgian bay region is spectacular in places such as Tobermory and Manitoulin Island. Perhaps lesser known but equally splendid is the drive from Penetanguishene to awenda Provincial Park. In spring, the profusion of trilliums makes the park unforgettable—and when september meets october, nature does its thing again as we watch the forests of radiant maple, oak and birch trees light up the deep-green cedar forests. Best time: aim for the last weekend of september when the peak period begins, or take your cue from parkreports.com and ontario travel.net. albERTa World-renowned: In the canadian Rocky Mountains, the leaves of birch, pop- lars and aspens turn varying shades of luminous amber, albeit still overpowered by the endless forests of evergreens. To capture a grand slice of the spectacle, drive from calgary to the banff and lake louise region, then north to jasper. Honourable mentions: on the Trans- canada highway (#1), head west from calgary and at the hwy. 40 turnoff embark on the Kananaskis Trail. To witness the marvels of the season even more close up, head south on hwy. 40 for another 10 min- utes, stop at barrier lake and then hike along its shoreline. Best time: Mid-september to mid-octo- ber will deliver what you came to see includ- ing the autumn spotting of eagles, elk, buffalo and bears. consult travelalberta.com. opposite top left—clockwise: When you walk it, bike it or drive it, there are a number of lookouts where you can stop to admire the views along the dramatic Fundy Trail in New Brunswick. new brunswick Tourism, heritage and culture A fall trip to Algonquin Park is worthwhile, especially when the spectacular colours of the sugar and red maples peak between mid-September and mid-October. ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership corp. Chemin de North Hatley, an Eastern Townships road, is part of Québec's Townships Trail, a touristic route that's easy to follow to really appreci- ate the fall colours and the his- tory of the area. stephane lemire Fall puts on a fantastic show in the Laurentian Mountains of Québec. © Tourisme laurentides Fa l l 2 0 1 4 35