Autumn Kicks off with a Splash of Fall Color

in Family Fun, Outdoors, Regional Getaways
September 29, 2014

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Autumn has officially arrived in Illinois, bringing beautiful fall colors for leaf-peepers to discover! There are plenty of festivals, attractions and events throughout the state for you to celebrate the season. Here’s what you can expect:

Chicago & Beyond

This time of year, the Chicagoland area is just beginning to see fall colors. Maples are among the first to turn, combining beautiful shades of orange and red colors, but don’t expect to see many oaks or hickory trees turning just yet!

Check out these fun-filled experiences for the whole family:

Get lost at the Jonamac Orchard and Corn Maze, now through November 1
Take a leaf-peeping hike and grab lunch at Starved Rock Canyons

Vote for your favorite straw man at the 30th Annual St. Charles Scarecrow Festival, October 9-11.

Beautiful fall colors along Great River Road in Alton.

Great Rivers Country

The yellow, red, orange and purple hues of leaves in Great Rivers Country are as varied as the communities themselves. Along this 500 mile stretch of Illinois you’ll see a wonderful color palette revealed on hackberry, hickory, sumac, sassafras and white ash.

Make a fall drive with stops along the Great River Road:

Witness history and heritage at De Immigrant Dutch Windmill in Fulton
Paddle along the Mississippi River with the Celebration Belle paddleboat in Moline

See the leaf colors change at Pere Marquette State Park in Grafton.

Maple leaves turn a fiery red and orange in the fall.

Trails to Adventure

The Trails to Adventure region is typically among the first to show vibrant fall colors. The goldenrod flowers along the area’s winding roads are an autumn sight to see with new ones blooming bright for contrast and variety. The white ash, green ash, sumacs and sassafras together create delightful combinations of reddish orange, yellow, purple and red.

Enjoy the fall scenery in southern Illinois:

See Illinois like you never imagined at the Garden of the Gods in Karbers Ridge
Get a different perspective canoeing through the Cache River State Natural Area in Belknap
Kick back in your personal treehouse at Timber Ridge Outpost & Cabins in Elizabethtown