Connectcut Fall Foliage Tours

Plan your fall trips here!

Track the progress of the foliage with the Connecticut DEP Fall Foliage Map. Another great way to get a preview of the foliage is to check out nearby webcams and traffic cameras.

Plan a weekend fall driving tour. Here are six driving loop suggestions to take in the best of Connecticut's colorful autumn scenery.

Connecticut Route 15:
City Meets Country along the Merrit Parkway in Fairfield County.

Connecticut Route 1:
Seaside Escapes enjoy the picturesque shoreline towns with lively main streets and historic landmarks

Connecticut Route 9:
River Rambles in the river valley "one of the last great places" according to the Nature Conservancy.

Connecticut Route 7:
Alive with Color Named by National Geographic Traveler as one of the most scenic driving destinations in the country, the Litchfield Hills are a top choice for leaf peeping.

Connecticut Route 169:
Step Back In Time on a National Scenic Byway of America. Route 169 winds through history, passing Colonial homesteads, stone walls, charming inns and B&Bs and untouched farm land in classic New England towns.

Tips for all leaf peepers

Fall Foliage Driving Loops

Scenic Views and Hiking Locations

Leef Peeping at the Connecticut Shoreline

From Go New England Fall Leaf Coloring Pages for kids.

An alternative to driving to see the foliage, take a boat trip down the Connecticut River on the Lady Katherine. They are offering foliage trips - which take about 2 and a half hours - on the river. Dates available: Oct 11, 13, 15, 18, 22, 25 & Nov 1. www.ladykatecruises.com

Fall Driving Tours in Connecticut

The new Fall Foliage Driving Tours brochure from the Connecticut River Valley is out now with nine different self-guided driving tours in the River Valley.

The nine different self-guided driving tours in the River Valley's Fall Driving Tours each showcase a different part of the 46-town region:

1. Connecticut River - Metacomet Ridge Tour
Windsor,Windsor Locks, East Granby, Suffield.
Highlights include: Bielonko Farm, Brown's Harvest, Halladay Farm, Kuras Farm, Metacomet Trail, Noden-Reed House & Barn, Northwest Park and Nature Center.

2. Tobacco Valley Driving Tour
Enfield, Somers, Stafford, Ellington, East Windsor, Windsor Locks
Highlights include: Easy Pickin’s Orchard, Johnny Appleseed’s Farm, Trinity Farm.

3. East of the River Driving Tour
Glastonbury, Hebron, Andover, Manchester
Highlights include: Berruti’s Harvest Farm, Belltown Hill Orchards, D. Scaglia Fruit Farm, Rose’s Berry Farm, Scott’s Orchard & Nursery, Woodland Farm.

4. Farmington Valley Tour
Farmington, Avon, Simsbury, Collinsville
Highlights include: Avon Cider Mill, Flamig Farm, Pickin’ Patch, Talcott Mountain State Park.

5. Quinnipiac River and Metacomet Trail Tour
Southington, Plantsville, Cheshire, Meriden
Highlights include: Farmington Canal HeritageTrail, Hubbard Park and Castle Craig, Metacomet Trail, Shuttle Meadow Reservoir

6. Central Connecticut Tour
New Britain, Berlin, Kensington, Southington
Highlights include: Blue Hills Farm, Chotkowski Farm, DeMaria Family Farm, Karabin Farms, Laviana Orchards, Lewis Farms, Rogers Orchards,
Zarrella Farms.

7. Old Wethersfield, Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry and Brownstone Quarry Tour
Rocky Hill, Glastonbury, Portland, Cobalt, Middle Haddam, East Hampton,Wethersfield
Highlights include: Brownstone Quarry, Draghi & Sons Farm, Gram’s Farm, Hurd State Park, Q-P Farm Market, Rocky Hill-Glastonbury Ferry, Webb-Deane-Stevens Museum.

8. Gillette Castle and Devil's Hopyard State Parks Tour
Middletown, Haddam, East Haddam, Chester
Highlights include: Chester-Hadlyme Ferry, Devil’s Hopyard State Park,
Gillette Castle State Park, Haddam Meadows State Park

9. Connecticut River Tidelands Tour
Essex, Old Saybrook,Westbrook
Highlights include: Essex Steam Train & Riverboat Ride, RiverQuest Cruises, Scott’s CT Valley Orchard, Scott’s Farm & Greenhouse.

The brochure can be downloaded from Central Regional Tourism District's website, www.visitctriver.com. To order a copy to be mailed to you, call 800-793-4480.

Fall in Connecticut

It seems like after the third driest August in Connecticut's history that fall is approaching much faster than usual. Driving through Farmington this past week I've seen quite a bit of color forming on the leaves, and some leaves on the ground already!

I'd like to invite you all to submit your favorite fall driving routes or loops to me to share with everyone. Please email me at linzi (at) thisisct.net I'll post the best ones next week!