New York State Begins Weekly ILoveNY Fall Foliage Reports; New Interactive Map

View from Chimney Mountain, The Adirondacks. ILoveny.com/foliage report helps you monitor the progress of fall foliage throughout New York State © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

The 2021 fall foliage season is underway in New York State. Fall is one of the most popular travel times in New York, attracting visitors from around the world to explore the state’s unique communities and support local businesses. To help travelers and foliage enthusiasts plan a fall getaway, I LOVE NY will begin issuing its weekly fall foliage reports on Wednesday, September 8, and will now include a new enhanced interactive progression map (www.iloveny.com/foliage).    

The foliage report is compiled each week using the on-location field observations from I LOVE NY’s team of volunteer leaf peepers. More than 85 spotters extending across the state’s 11 vacation regions are tasked with keeping track of the color change in their area as leaves progress each week. Reports detail the predominant leaf colors, approximate percentage of change, and how much color change has progressed relative to peak conditions.  

New this year, I LOVE NY is introducing an enhanced, interactive map that tracks weekly foliage change and progression across the state throughout the season. The map, located on the I LOVE NY foliage website, showcases great foliage viewing locations in each of the various regions throughout the state. Visitors can also use the map to see what the foliage is like during peak viewing in a given area, and learn about nearby, must-see attractions. 

Thanks in part to its size and location, New York State has one of the longest and most colorful foliage seasons in the country. On any weekend from late September through mid-November, part of the state is likely experiencing peak foliage.  

“Every autumn, New York State’s spectacular foliage and natural beauty beckons travelers to our world-class state parks, majestic overlooks, historic sites and unparalleled attractions,” Governor Hochul said.”New Yorkers have long known about the stunning displays of color showcased all across the state, from Niagara Falls to Montauk Point. Now is the perfect time for residents and visitors alike to plan a fall escape and experience this incredibly colorful season in our great state.”  

“The fall foliage season in New York State is always a magical time of year, and the I LOVE NY weekly foliage report is a great tool for visitors looking to plan a seasonal getaway,” Empire State Development Vice President and Executive Director of Tourism Ross D. Levi said. “Our new interactive fall foliage map highlights a variety of attractions and events, from harvest festivals to Halloween celebrations, craft beverage trails, museums and family fun, helping residents and visitors alike to find what they love while exploring the amazing palette of autumn colors on display across the state.”  

Travelers are also invited to share their photos of New York State’s amazing foliage on social media by using the #NYLovesFall hashtag. Photos submitted to this hashtag have a chance of being featured on the I LOVE NY fall foliage website and official I LOVE NY social media accounts reaching nearly two million followers. Reports and the new interactive map are updated Wednesdays throughout the season at www.iloveny.com/foliage.Reports are also available toll-free by dialing 800/CALL-NYS (800/225-5697) from anywhere in the U.S., its territories and Canada. For more information on how to volunteer for as an I LOVE NY leaf peeper, e-mail your name, address and phone number to foliage@esd.ny.gov.

Fall Deals from Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vt.: Adult Sleepaway Camp + O’Christmas Tree Package

The AAA Four-Diamond Topnotch Resort, Stowe, Vermont, is offering fall deals including an an Adult Sleepaway Camp Promotion and O’ Christmas Tree Package.

With the kids back at school and (hopefully) settled into a new school year routine, it’s your turn to go to sleepaway camp and get some rest and relaxation in before the busy holiday season kicks into high gear.  Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vt. has an Adult Sleepaway Camp Promotion valid on travel Oct. 20 through Dec. 13: there are still s’mores (with a glass of wine), activities (tennis or beer/distillery tours, anyone?) and time to relax (soothing spa treatments) but the accommodations and company are upgraded from our youth. Stay one night, get one free 50 minute spa service, 22% gratuity included (offer valid per room and limited to one treatment per room night). Rates start at $212 per night. Book here.

And come December, picking out the family Christmas tree is a great way to kick off the holiday season, and Topnotch’s O’ Christmas Tree Package includes luxury overnight accommodations and a wagon ride through a tree farm to find the perfect tree (up to 9 feet tall) that you select and cut on-site. Once cut, the tree is professionally wrapped, packaged and loaded onto your car for a safe trip home.  Rates start at $179 per night and the package is available Nov. 29 through Dec. 20. Book here.

The AAA Four-Diamond Topnotch Resort is located 10 minutes from Stowe with the best views in the area of Mount Mansfield. Relax in the award-winning spa, enjoy locally-sourced dining at two restaurants with sweeping views of the Green Mountains, take a tennis or pickleball lesson at the Topnotch Tennis Center, or marvel at the stunning mountain views from the heated outdoor pool and Jacuzzi while sipping hot chocolate or a specialty cocktail at the outdoor fire pits, or during a horseback or carriage ride arranged through the Equestrian Center at Topnotch. Mountain Ops Outdoor Gear located on property can arrange and outfit for any activity year-round, from skiing and boarding to mountain biking and fishing, or take the Topnotch Brewery and Distillery Tour which visits the region’s highly acclaimed breweries and distilleries. Dogs are welcome at Topnotch, with dog beds, CBD treats and special canine-friendly turndown service and spa treatments.

Call 800-451-8686 or visit www.topnotchresort.com/.

 

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Vermont, Staking Claim for ‘World’s Best Foliage’ Provides Weekly Foliage Reports

After years of watching other states attempt to position themselves as autumn destinations, Vermont has thrown down the gauntlet and declared itself the home of the World’s Best Foliage.

“No one does foliage better than Vermont,” declared Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. “Three-quarters of our state is forested, and we have the highest percentage of maple trees in the country. With our flaming reds, blazing oranges and glowing yellows, we have the most vibrant fall colors in the world.”

In previous years, states as far away as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona have claimed their fall season was as pretty as Vermont’s. “Clearly, we’re the bar,” said Megan Smith, Commissioner for the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. “Our fall advertising campaign will articulate the myriad reasons we have the World’s Best Foliage. Our hope is that people will be inspired to come see it for themselves.”

Smith added that Vermont’s fall campaign isn’t just about bragging rights. Visitors spend $460 million during the foliage season, which represents about a quarter of overall visitor spending each year. Nearly 3.5 million people travel to Vermont in the fall to experience its unique working landscape of bucolic villages, pastoral meadows, and forested hillsides.

To help visitors plan their trip during “peak” season, the state’s official tourism website, www.VermontVacation.com, will offer weekly foliage reports, Best Bets for driving tours, and a foliage tracker. The website will rely on information from the state’s Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and its commissioner, Michael Snyder. Snyder is a well-regarded forester, and with over 30 years of professional experience, has earned the title of Vermont’s official Foliage Forecaster.

“Predicting fall’s color changes is part science and part luck,” admitted Snyder. “We know the science of color change and the factors that influence it, but we don’t know exactly how it will unfold in any given year. The good news is, our foliage is like a day on the slopes—when it’s good, it’s great. And even when it’s a bit off, it’s still really good.”  Snyder says Vermont’s abundant spring rain and summer sunshine have created the right conditions for a spectacular fall in 2015.

To see the top reasons why Vermont has the World’s Best Foliage, go to www.VermontVacation.com/worldsbestfoliage.

 

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Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort offers ‘Fantastic Fall’ Rates as Pro Surfers Gather

Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s fabled North Shore is celebrating the season’s world-class North Shore surf with Fantastic Fall rates starting at $209 a night for newly renovated epic ocean-view accommodations. Be there for the kickoff to the world’s top surf competitions with fall rates for travel from Sept. 1-Nov. 27, 2014.

For surfers and their global followers, this 7-mile stretch of white sand beaches possesses its own heroes, legends, and icons. The epic waves, the incredible natural beauty and the friendly people have inspired distinctive music, art, photography, film, and even food that are uniquely part of the North Shore vibe.

Be one of the first to experience Turtle Bay’s recent renovations, including newly renovated guestrooms; two new restaurants with farm-to-table and sea-to-table cuisine; the new Nalu Kinetic Spa and Wellness Center; and two new retail outlets with exclusive coastal styles. Plus, the fall lineup of North Shore surf events is unrivaled – check out the HIC Pro at Sunset Beach from Oct.28-Nov.10, 2014, or the REEF Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa from Nov.12-23, 2014. The Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach runs Nov. 24-Dec. 1, 2014.

Turtle Bay also offers incredible value with an unbeatable lineup of on-site activities – from stand-up paddle boarding and surf lessons at the Hans Hedemann Surf Center to Segway tours, hiking and mountain biking across the resort’s 880 acres to horseback rides at the Stables, beachside yoga at the new Nalu Kinetic Spa and 36 holes of championship golf on two renowned courses. As part of the special Golftober event at Turtle Bay, all guests golf for free throughout the month of October on either course.

Limited quantities of Fantastic Fall rates are available, and rates are subject to change. Call (808) 293-6000 or visit turtlebayresort.com for more.

To discover the destination and stay up to date on the Turtle Bay experience, check out Oahusfablednorthshore.com.

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TourCrafters Offers Air-Inclusive Deals for Fall Travel to Spain, Italy, Booked by Aug 28

TourCrafters is offering air-inclusive packages to Florence, Italy, in September and October © 2014 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

TourCrafters is offering air-inclusive deals to Spain and Italy for September and October, booked and paid for by August 28.

This is the ideal time to travel to Europe: the weather is pleasant, the sidewalk cafés are open, but the summertime crowds have gone home.

TourCrafters’ six-night Madrid and Barcelona deal, for example, costs only $1,919 including round-trip air fare from New York, daily breakfast, three nights’ accommodation in a 3-star Madrid hotel, a half-day Madrid sightseeing tour, high-speed AVE train from Madrid to Barcelona, three nights in a 3-star Barcelona hotel and a half-day Artistic Tour of Barcelona.

You’ll have a chance to see such Madrid highlights as the Royal Palace, the Paseo del Prado and the Gran Via, and then take in some of the capital’s great museums and fine shops on your own. TourCrafters even offers an optional excursion to Toledo. In Barcelona the tour covers Catalan architect Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces—the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, and buildings on the Paseo de Gracia—but you’ll also have time to see the Gothic Quarter and the fascinating life (cafés, market, canaries, flower stalls) along Las Ramblas, as well as to dine in some of its celebrated restaurants.

TourCrafters is also offering the following September/October air and land deals: Rome and Florence, from $1,919; Madrid, Mallorca and Barcelona, from $3,079; Madrid, Ibiza and Barcelona, from $2,559; and Italy by Train, from $2,379.

In addition, for a limited time only, TourCrafters is having an Airfare Sale from New York (JFK) to several European destinations including London, Paris, Munich, Vienna, Prague and Athens.

All prices are per person, double occupancy. Air fare add-ons are available from many other cities than New York. Fuel charges are included but are subject to change by the airlines. Airport taxes ($109 per person) are not included and hotel taxes in Italy must be paid directly to the hotel in euros.

For more information on these last-minute fall deals, visit www.tourcrafters.com, click “Special Offers,” and then “Deal of the Week.” For reservations, call 800-482-5995.

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