Fabulous fall getaways

Canada’s blazing bushes and dazzling displays of Autumn: a guide to some fabulous foliage spots.

As science tells us, the spectacular beauty of the Autumn foliage is actually the result of a rather pragmatic natural process where trees stop synthesizing chlorophyll in their leaves. Mother Nature then moves nutrients from the old leaves and stores them for the winter in the tree’s trunks, stems and roots.

As a result, the leaves reveal their brilliant underlying colours – and across the country people hit the road to take in the dazzling displays of Autumn. Here’s a guide to just a few of the country’s many fabulous foliage spots.

Prince Edward Island
Always popular as a summer destination, visitors are discovering the beauty of Prince Edward Island in the fall. The warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait moderate PEI’s climate, creating one of the longest fall foliage periods in northeastern North America. On Island hills and ridges, sugar maple leaves turn bright apricot-orange, mixing with the scarlet-reds of red maple, cherry and sumac and the vibrant yellows of poplar, beech and birch. Whether it’s hiking or biking or simply meandering along the shore, PEI offers tremendous fall foliage from mid-September until late October. To learn more, go the PEI Fall Foliage Website.

The Laurentian Mountains, Quebec
Take in the dazzling display of Quebec’s sugar maple trees, provincial yellow birch and American beech. The Laurentian Mountains are known as one of the most beautiful fall foliage spots in North America. Visit the resort town of Mont-Tremblant for its annual Symphony of Colours festival which includes Fall Concerts and the annual Grand Prix of Colours event. Visit Quebec’s official tourism website for details.

The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia celebrates Autumn with an array of events including film and theatre festivals, Celtic Colours International Festival and the Maritime Fall Fair. Or you may want to try your hand at pumpkin racing in the unique Windsor Pumpkin Regatta.

Considered one of the world’s most beautiful drives, the Cabot Trail winds around Cape Breton’s northern shore. Colours typically reach their peak the first or second week of October. For more, visit the Cape Breton Highlands National Park or the Nova Scotia Fall Foliage Report.

Fundy Coastal Drive, New Brunswick
Beyond its spectacular fall colours, New Brunswick offers a whirlwind of festivals, fairs and special events. The region’s cultural “joie de vivre” is celebrated with music, seafood extravaganzas and a chocolate festival, among other activities. The spectacular Fundy Coastal drive offers some of the highest tides in the world. For more about New Brunswick in the fall, click here.

The Bruce Peninsula, Ontario
Colour seekers will not be disappointed by Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula, located in the heart of a World Biosphere Reserve. The massive, rugged cliffs overhanging the clear waters of Georgian Bay are inhabited by thousand year old cedar trees. The park features habitats from rare alvars to dense forests and clean lakes. Colours typically reach their peak in early October.