Idyllic Hotels for Romantic Fall Foliage Tours

Provided you’ve chosen the right destination, romance is in full bloom — even in autumn. The russets, golds, rich browns and brilliant orange colors come courtesy of cooler temps and an annual reduction in chlorophyll production in trees, including Bitternut Hickory, Red Maple, Black Cherry, Sugar Maple, Black Walnut, White Ash, American Hornbeam and Flowering Dogwood.

Couples in search of fall color who opt for locations in upstate New York have plenty to choose from when it comes to dreamy lodging worthy of Mother Nature’s annual display. At Lake Placid Inn in the Adirondacks, handcrafted furnishings and regional crafts make up the modern rustic décor at the inn’s apartment-style residences. There’s nature right outside the door, plenty of forest paths for hiking, and a lake to explore from a canoe or kayak. Dine in with a leisurely meal prepared in your fully equipped kitchen, then head outdoors to sit beside the fire pit and listen to the burbling music of the property’s stream. Tear yourself away long enough to visit the Olympic Jumping Complex to ride the glass elevator to the observation deck for more great views of changing leaves in the Adirondack High Peaks.

View of the high peaks region from the summit of Hopkins Mt after a light snowfall in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. Photo: Bob Grabowski | Dreamstime.com

The Zen Garden and winding pathways at The Abbey Inn & Spa in the Hudson River Highlands are just two reasons to plan a fall escape at this stunning boutique property. The stone mansion began its life in 1902 as the convent of the Episcopal Sisters of Saint Mary’s. Now restored and reinvented as a luxury retreat, the hotel has 42 tranquil guestrooms, a full-service spa and a farm-to-table restaurant that draws from the bounty of fruits, veggies, meats and dairy products produced locally. Lounge by the private pool or the natural pond, or head into nearby Peekskill for a coffee and an afternoon of antique shopping.

Leaf peeping doesn’t get any better than views from an open-air biplane soaring above the Hudson Valley. That’s just one of the memorable experiences you can plan at the Mirbeau Inn & Spa Rhinebeck. The almost three-acre property features luxury suites with fireplaces and deep-soaking tubs. Dinner choices at Willow by Charlie Palmer include seared filet mignon au poivre with heirloom spinach and Yukon gold puree; caramelized Mary’s chicken with sunchoke, spinach puree, pickled trumpet mushrooms and truffled chicken jus; grilled stuffed Maine lobster; and a range of nightly specials. No romantic dinner should end before dessert, of course. The menu includes decadent selections such as warm Macintosh apple crisp with toasted oat streusel and vanilla bean ice cream; and the Mirabeau ice cream sundae with warm caramel, chocolate cream and bourbon cherries.