3 Out-of-the-Car Ways to Experience the Colors of Fall

Leaf-peeping road trips to enjoy the changing of the leaves bring hordes of tourists to America’s Northeast every fall, crowding roadways and descending on some of the country’s quaintest small towns. While driving around to see the brilliant reds, yellows and oranges of autumn may sound like a great time for you, the kids may not be so enthused about endless hours in the car. To create a fall family itinerary the whole family will enjoy, check out these options for fun trips that let you have fun as a family while enjoying the incredible beauty of the season.

© Visit Rhode Island

Ride the (Pedal-Powered) Rails Through Rhode Island
Rhode Island is quintessential New England, which means some of the most incredible fall foliage you can find, and along the way you also get some incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean. Rail Explorers offers a fun option for families — pedal-powered rides through the woods where you can not only get in lots of leaf-peeping, but you’ll also be able to enjoy fresh fall air and ensure the family gets plenty of exercise.

Options include the Northern Ramble, a 6-mile tour along Aquidneck Island coastal railway, and the Southern Circuit tour, which takes you from Portsmouth Grove to an exclusive waterfront picnic area. The rail tours generally take between 90 minutes and two hours and are appropriate for all skill levels, with round-trip routes giving you time for a picnic and one-way trips providing a shuttle back to your starting point.

Bike Through Nature in Pennsylvania
The Great Allegheny Passage is well-known as one of the premier nature trails in the country, running from Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with miles and miles of easy to traverse trails in between. Pennsylvania, which often slips under the radar when it comes to the viewing of fall foliage, is a great place to discover this trail with a family bike ride through the woods.

Families can either hop on their own bikes or rent them from places that cater to this route, like Confluence Cyclery, located in Confluence, Pennsylvania. They have a variety of bikes to choose from, including e-bikes, making it possible for the whole family to enjoy a ride through nature. Tandem bikes, children’s bikes and trailer bikes are also available, so even the little ones who can’t ride yet get to tag along.

© The Preserve Sporting Club & Resort

Hobbit Houses, Zip Lining and Horseback Riding in Rhode Island
The Preserve Sporting Club and Resort in Richmond, Rhode Island, offers families lots of ways to experience the fall colors by spending their days taking part in unique resort offerings rather than staying cooped up in a car all day. The resort, nestled in a private estate surrounded by beautiful woodlands, offers many family-friendly experiences like zip lining through the treetops at 250-foot elevation drops, giving you a bird’s-eye view of the changing leaves in the fall.

There is horseback riding at the equestrian center, kayaking along the waterways, and hiking and mountain biking through the woods. But a truly unique way for families to enjoy fall is at the resort’s own curated Hobbit House Village. Inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings movies, this collection of picturesque dwellings is the perfect place to take some family photos amidst the beautiful fall foliage and seasonal pumpkin patch decorating the village throughout October.