50 Hotels That Are Perfect for Leaf-Peepers

We’ve all a bit of leaf-peeper in us…
It’s once again that time of year, the short, glorious season in between the joys of summer and the holidays of winter: autumn! With autumn comes some of the most beautiful scenery this world has to offer in the form of its trees. Trees are painted in reds, yellows and oranges and invite many to take longer drives, more hikes and participate in more outdoor activities to truly take advantage of the colors.

For those who enjoy leaf-peeping during this short season, these hotels and resorts across the United States and Canada offer some incredible autumn experiences, nestled in fertile forested valleys or set between the forest and the sea. While many are located in New England, considered one of the best places to experience the autumn glories, many are also located in less likely places to leaf-peep, like Washington, Idaho or Utah. Curious to learn more?

The Red Lion Inn
The Red Lion Inn has existed in some form or other since 1773, and the inn that takes its name and legacy today offers a truly historic and charming experience. Located in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, it offers a great place from which to enjoy the East Coast’s spectacular fall colors and Stockbridge’s history. Sleep in a room or suite that once graced the likes of Hawthorne, Longfellow or Wilder or Bob Dylan, or stay in one of the property’s historic village houses.

Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada is a truly spectacular hotel from which to enjoy the park and its most scenic feature, Lake Louise. The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise offers luxury accommodations with wonderful views of the surrounding forest and Lake Louise. Travelers can enjoy scenic canoe rides on the lake and ample opportunities for leaf-peeping in the national park.

Hammett’s Hotel
Hammett’s Hotel combines the best of a coastal culture with ample city leaf-peeping opportunities. Located along the historic waterfront of Newport, Rhode Island, Hammett’s Hotel offers several different nautical-inspired room and suite options, including two accessible rooms and its signature restaurant, Giusto. It’s a great place form which to explore both sides of the city’s fall activities, from sea at the nearby marine and on land wandering under the city’s trees and buildings.

Waldorf Astoria Park City
While Park City is mostly known for its awesome skiing opportunities in winter, the city and its surrounding areas comes alive during the fall with wonderfully vibrant foliage. Families can stay at the Waldorf Astoria Park City to enjoy a fall colors cruise along the nearby Jordanelle River, or just enjoy a leisurely hike or wander through the nearby forest. This luxury hotel offers rooms and suites with plenty of space for families to spread out, including suites with kitchens. The hotel also boasts a spa and Powder, its full-service restaurant.

HOTEL DU PONT
Located within the historic downtown area of Wilmington, Delaware within the scenic Brandywine Valley is the historic HOTEL DU PONT. It’s a centrally located hotel within walking distance of attractions like The Grand Opera House, Delaware Historical Society and the Riverfront. Like many East Coast states, Delaware combines the spectacular fall foliage with coastal charm and its lovely riverfront and coastline. HOTEL DU PONT features Gilded Age style and history with modern amenities and offers room and suite options, along with dining options like DECO Food Hall, Spark’d Creative Pastry and French restaurant Le Cavalier.

The Omni Mount Washington Resort
Located near New Hampshire’s biggest ski area and surrounded by the White Mountain National Forest is the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods. A stunning base from which to explore to surrounding woods, it also offers horseback riding, carriage rides, golfing and even canopy tours, which are scenic tours of the forest via zipline! The resort offers several dining and drinking options, along with a spa and townhome accommodation options.

The Hermitage Hotel
Experience the fall colors change in Nashville, Tennessee at The Hermitage Hotel, located near the capital building and its surrounding Victory Park. The 110-year-old National Historic Landmark has just finished a multi-million-dollar renovation bringing its former glory back to light and even offers a private gardener-led tour of nearby Cheekwood Estate & Gardens, which also hosts the popular fall event, Cheekwood Harvest.

The Drake Oak Brook
Located just outside of Chicago is aptly named Oak Brook, Illinois, which offers 173 acres of forested trails, including the scenic Fullersburg Woods, which offers canoes for travelers and residents alike to enjoy a scenic fall foliage trip down the Salt Creek. Travelers should consider staying at The Drake Oak Brook, part of the Autograph Collection, because it offers ten acres of stunning gardens that guests can enjoy wandering or dining in. It offers a full events calendar to make the most of the fall season, including a full Thanksgiving brunch celebration.

The Omni Homestead Resort
Located in Hot Springs, Virginia is a golf course haven and historic property visited by 23 presidents across its history: The Omni Homestead Resort. Set across 2,000 acres of scenic property located along the Allegheny Mountains, it’s a wonderful place to enjoy the fall colors and fresh air. The resort even offers a naturalist-led Cascades Gorge Hike for guests, after which they can enjoy a variety of spa treatments, including natural hot springs, and plenty of dining options.

Destination Kohler
Kohler, Wisconsin is an ideal destination for experiencing the region’s fall majesty with five-star comforts. Destination Kohler, which comprises several cabins, the Inn on Wood Lake, The American Club Resort Hotel and The American Club Carriage House, offers plenty of different yet no less luxurious accommodation style and types to choose from, all with breathless views of the region’s gold courses, marshlands, lakes or forests. Travelers can rest after a long day with fall-themed spa treatments or spend the day forest-bathing with a guided lakeside yoga class.

The Omni Grove Park Inn
Located just outside of scenic Asheville, North Carolina, often rated one of the best towns in the country for viewing fall foliage, is the historic Omni Grove Park Inn. The 513-room resort boasts a spa, multiple dining areas offering locally sourced cuisine, indoor and outdoor tennis courts and pools, an 18-hole golf course and more. It’s also home to quite a bit of history, having welcomed U.S. presidents like Eisenhower, Clinton and Obama. It’s a great luxury resort for travelers looking to bathe themselves in the spectacular fall colors of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The Plaza New York
Quite possibly the most famous and historic hotel in New York City is The Plaza, a Fairmont Managed Hotel. With its ideal location right next to Central Park, guests can enjoy the fall colors throughout the best times for the Big Apple’s fall brilliance, meandering through the famous park between enjoying Broadway shows and visiting other iconic sites nearby. Fall is also a great time to visit New York City, since the crisp air and fall colors give the city a calmer atmosphere than the winter or summer.

Resort at Paws Up and The Green O
Located in Greenough, Montana in the Blackfoot Valley the all-inclusive Resort at Paws Up and its adults-only experiential escape, The Green O. Whatever style of travel you enjoy, from luxury cabins to safari-style tents and intimate adults-only tree houses, travelers can immerse themselves in the great outdoors and the forest that surrounded the resort. Autumn activities are all about the outdoors here, from cattle drives to ATV tours and much more.

Fairmont Copley Plaza
Since 1912, the Fairmont Copley Plaza in Boston, Massachusetts has been the mainstay for luxurious city stays in the port city. Travelers can enjoy crisp sea air and fall foliage throughout the city, but guests with cars can also enjoy quick drives to the region’s apple picking, pumpkin picking, hiking and other fun fall activities. The hotel is also currently offering a “Spirits of Boston” tour for the month of October specifically for guests who’d like to enjoy learning about the history of the city with spine-tingling stories.

Manoir Hovey
Manoir Hovey is a 5-star Relais & Châteaux property located right along Lake Massawippi just minutes from the quaint Quebec village of North Hatley. If that isn’t enough to draw your interest, it’s also over 120 years old and takes inspiration from George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate. Besides offering a selection of seasonal lake and forest activities (it’s also near a national park, perfect for forest bathing), there are a few fall experiences you can only enjoy here, like a visit to the Abbaye de Saint-Benoit-du-Lac, a Benedictine abbey dating back to 1912. There, guests can listen to Gregorian chants, pick apples, hike and more.

The Inn at Perry Cabin
Located just across scenic Chesapeake Bay in St. Michaels, Maryland is The Inn at Perry Cabin, a relaxing accommodation that combines the best of land and sea activities. From waterside yoga to sailing and golfing, there’s plenty for guests to enjoy in between leaf-peeping along Maryland’s beautiful shores and within its forests. The Inn also boasts its own fair share of history: it dates back to the 1800s!

Sakura Ridge: The Farm & Lodge
For travelers wanting to experience the joys of fall festivities and outdoor activities, Sakura Ridge: The Farm & Lodge offers a perfect opportunity along the scenic Hood River in Oregon. With a Japanese influence, this working orchard, farm and lodge connects guests with their outdoor-loving side. It’s also located near Mount Hood and offers a great place from which to enjoy nature photography.

The Darcy
Washington, D.C. might be more favored for spring travels due to its scenic pink and white cherry blossoms, but it comes alive in a more vibrant way during the autumn. Strolling through parks, tree-lined monuments and city streets is sure to be a memorable experience in our nation’s capital city. For a boutique experience with free bike rentals, check out the 226-room The Darcy, featuring contemporary-classic design and a great location from which to explore the city.

Chatham Bars Inn
Located just a short walk away from the town of Chatham, Massachusetts is Chatham Bars Inn. Boasting its own quarter-mile private beach and an 8-acre farm from which guests can enjoy fall festivities like pumpkin picking, it’s a great place for travelers wanting to combine coastal activities with leaf-peeping. It’s also a member of Historic Hotels of America, dating back to 1914.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch
Located in Avon, Colorado is popular luxury ski resort, The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch, but one lesser-known charm about this resort is its autumn offerings. Located near the Rocky Mountains, it’s a great place for outdoor lovers to come and watch the fall colors as they turn. Foodies can also enjoy delicious seasonal menus at two of the resort’s restaurants, Sakara and WYLD.

Massanutten Resort
One of the best-rated places in the country to visit during fall is the Shenandoah Valley, and it’s why Massanutten Resort is a great place for travelers to enjoy leaf-peeping. While it offers a range of great seasonal experiences, the Blue Ridge Mountains become spectacularly vibrant during the fall. Guests can enjoy a chair lift ride above the forest canopy to historic Massanutten Peak, hike in nearby Shenandoah National Park or enjoy the resort’s Fall Festival, offering the best of American autumn activities.

Hotel Kinsley
Located between the Hudson River and the Catskills Mountains is Hotel Kinsley, boutique hotel located in the former capital of New York. Located across four completely restored historic buildings ranging from the 17th to the 19th centuries, this accommodation offers free passes to the region’s state parks and preserves for travelers to truly enjoy the fall colors. The hotel also offers a range of wellness offerings for travelers to relax after long days spent hiking or kayaking.

Langdon Hall
Located in Cambridge, Ontario is the Relais & Châteaux property, Langdon Hall. Guests will think they’ve stepped into the English countryside at this scenic and luxurious resort nestled within forests. It boasts over seven miles of walking and hiking trails within its 75 acres of Carolinian Forest and beautifully manicured flower and vegetables gardens, an award-winning spa, tennis court, croquet lawn, library and much more. Guests can also enjoy wine tastings, archery lessons and garden tours during their stay.

Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C.
Travelers looking to leaf-peep in the nation’s capital in style can enjoy staying at the historic Waldorf Astoria Washington D.C., located in the Old Post Office building. It boasts a Michelin-starred chef and one of the closest locations to the White House, Smithsonian Institute and Washington Monument, all short walks away. Its location to so many parks also ensures that guests can enjoy easy access to some of the city’s best urban leaf-peeping opportunities, while travelers can enjoy local vineyard tours or scenic rides along the Potomac within easy driving distance.

Mill Falls at the Lake
Located along scenic Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith, New Hampshire is Mill Falls at the Lake, a boutique resort offering a variety of wellness and outdoor activities to enjoy. Guests can choose from a variety of locations and accommodation styles, from private lakeside cabins to the historic Inn at Mill Falls. They can also rent bikes to peddle through town and into the forest, or simply sit by the lake in front of a fire and roast s’mores.

Shore Lodge
Just under three hours from Boise, Idaho is one of the best places in the state for experiencing its leaf-peeping: Shore Lodge, located in Payette National Park on the shores of Payette Lake. Offering 77 guest suites and a breathtaking array of outdoor activities to enjoy, Shore Lodge also offers a spa with hot springs, three dining areas, a golf course and plenty of opportunities to experiencing the glories of fall.

Old Edwards Inn
Located within the picturesque and rugged Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina is Old Edwards Inn and Spa, a European-inspired Relais & Châteaux property and mountain retreat. It offers a variety of accommodation styles ranging from private vacation rentals and cottages to luxury guest rooms to fit any travel party. While located in the heart of Highlands, it also features close proximity to Nantahala National Park. Amenities at the inn include farm-to-table dining, a spa, a golf course and great opportunities to enjoy the fall colors.

Twin Farms
About an hour and a half from Burlington is an adults-only, all-inclusive experience that offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fall colors of the state that is famous for its fall foliage: Twin Farms. This hotel offers private cottages or suites home to museum-quality works of art, farm-to-table meals (all-included, of course), along with a wide variety of included experiences, ranging from free bikes to fall foliage picnics, kayaking, fly fishing, yoga and wellness classes, a Japanese furo and much more, all located within the glories of a Vermont autumn.

StoneHaven Le Manoir
StoneHaven Le Manoir is located in a historic manor dating from 1908 in the Laurentians in Quebec, Canada. Home to glorious autumn forests, this historic property is a luxury escape perfect for travelers looking to explore the sights in style and comfort. A Relais & Châteaux property, it’s nearby the Lac-des-Sables and features an Italian Garden, 34 uniquely designed rooms, a traditional Sunday tea service, curated autumn-themed recipes, a spa, parlor games and much more. Travelers can stick to the manor’s vast estate or hike even further to experience Quebec’s fall colors.

Alderbrook Resort & Spa
Located in Union, Washington along the Hood Canal, Alderbrook Resort & Spa offers a great place from which to explore the Pacific Northwest’s autumn glories. It offers its own portion of large and maintained trails across its 88-acre property, boasting five miles of walking and hiking trails. Travelers can choose from 16 cottages or 77 different rooms. The resort even employs a naturalist to educate guests and protect the large property, which is home to both the region’s signature pines as well as maples. Guests can also view the fall colors from the water by kayak, hydro-bike, yacht or seaplane.

Crystal Mountain Resort
Crystal Mountain Resort is a family owned resort located just outside of Traverse City in Michigan. With over 260 rooms, cottages, villas and retreats, a spa, rooftop terrace and much more, there’s something for everyone and every travel style. But it’s truly its outdoor experiences that make it a great place to enjoy some leaf-peeping: it features 58 downhill trails, two golf courses, the state’s only alpine slide, horse-drawn carriage rides and includes scenic chairlift fall foliage rides and mountain bike excursions. It’s also located near Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, a 70,000-acre park located right on scenic Lake Michigan.

Mohonk Mountain House
Located in New Paltz in the Hudson Valley of New York is a historic resort dating back to the 1860s. Mohonk Mountain House, located a short drive away from New York City, offers 85 miles of surrounding forest trails to hike, bike and wander through to view some of the state’s best fall foliage. The resort features a variety of accommodation options, as well as a spa and plenty of tours, excursions and activities to enjoy, like a golf course, stables, fall lake activities and much more.

Bellyard Hotel
Located near the 200-acre Piedmont Park in Atlanta’s West Midtown area is the artsy and innovative Bellyard Hotel, park of the Tribute Portfolio. The Bellyard Hotel is a great option for travelers not wishing to leave the city to view glorious fall foliage, or for those looking to integrate a city stay into their fall trip. Travelers can enjoy two dining options, including the St. Germain French Bakery, a variety of rooms and suites (including accessible options) along with the Interlock, a multi-use development in which the hotel is located.

Miraval Berkshires
Located in Lenox, Massachusetts in the heart of the scenic Berkshires is a wellness-centric luxury resort that offers a great place to reconnect with nature and yourself: Miraval Berkshires. Travelers can enjoy a variety of inclusions, like all meals and full access to the Life in Balance Spa. It also allows guests to set their intentions during their stay, enjoy a variety of fitness and wellness classes and workshops and wander throughout the resort’s gorgeous property. Accommodations range from rooms and suites in the historic Wyndhurst Mansion to rooms and suites in the carriage houses.

The Kentucky Castle
Travelers don’t need to visit Europe to stay in a castle: just travel to Lexington! Located within a 110-acre estate is The Kentucky Castle, a modern creation offering a unique luxury travel experience. It offers luxury suites, a spa, farm-to-table cuisine and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fall colors, including horseback riding and hiking, farm experiences, yoga on the castle’s roof, tours of the estate and more.

Wildflower Farms, Auberge Resorts Collection
Recently opened on September 30th is a brand-new luxury escape in the heart of the scenic Hudson Valley in New York: Wildflower Farms, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection. It’s located within 140 acres with orchards, a farm, heirloom gardens and, as its name suggests, fields of wildflowers. Accommodations range from suites to private cabins and cottages, all designed with a modern, sustainable style. Wellness classes, pottery making, sessions on the farm and foraging in the garden are only some of the experiences available to guests at Wildflower Farms.

Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection
Located across 12,000 acres of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia is Primland, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection. This luxurious resort has a more rustic atmosphere, without skimping on the luxuries guests love. Guests can enjoy staying in suites or private cottages, and experience the fall glories of the mountainous area by RTV, on horseback, hiking, golfing and more. The resort also offers a spa and indoor pool for year-round use.

Big Cedar Lodge
Big Cedar Lodge is located across 4,600 acres of the Ozarks in Missouri, a scenic and mountainous area that blooms in reds and golds during the fall. It offers a large entertainment area with bowling and go-kart racing for kids, and is located near the Dogwood Canyon Nature Park, where travelers can hike, ride horses and more. Guests of the lodge can take scenic fall foliage cruises on Table Rock Lake with its yacht, take a chuckwagon tour and enjoy weekly fall programming to help guests enjoy the season to its fullest.

Goldener Hirsch, Auberge Resorts Collection
Find a modern ski resort experience that offers great opportunities for leaf-peeping in style at family-owned Goldener Hirsch, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection. Located in Deer Valley, Utah in the scenic Wasatch Mountains, Goldener Hirsch offers 18 rooms and suites along with 40 residences, a terrace, rooftop pool, farm-to-table dining, spa and more. Travelers can take cooking classes, rides horses, take a full moon excursion and much more.

Keswick Hall
Located in Shenandoah Valley outside of Charlottesville is Keswick Hall, a historic retreat dating back to 1912. The recently reglorified resort offers rooms and suites, a Pete Dye-designed golf course, a holistic spa, farm-to-table dining experiences and much more. Guests can enjoy taking hikes among the nearby forests, sample wines at the local wineries and visit historic sites like Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello estate.

Detroit Foundation Hotel
Experience the city trees change and the historic architecture of Detroit at the Detroit Foundation Hotel. Offering close proximity to some of the city’s best during a bike ride, guests can enjoy cycling along the streets to historic Belle Isle Aquarium or enjoy a different side to leaf-peeping at the Ann Scripps Whitcomb Conservatory, home to rare species of plants from around the world. The hotel offers a selection of rooms and suites to choose from, along with unique collaborations with local artists.

Hotel Vermont
Hotel Vermont is a downtown Burlington hotel offering a stay that is both rustic and modern. Located near scenic Lake Champlain, the hotel offers a great location to explore both the city of Burlington and its natural fall wonders, including activities on the lake, like fall foliage cruises, or hiking up Mount Philo. Hotel Vermont features a mixture of room and suite options with kitchenettes for longer stays.

Montauk Manor
Montauk Manor, located in Montauk, New York on the tip of Long Island, is a great fall escape for travelers looking to enjoy some time away from the big city taking in the crisp fall air. The hotel offers room and suite options, with up to three bedrooms for large families or groups of friends. Guests can take advantage of the complimentary shuttle into Montauk, or just enjoy the scenic ocean views and fall colors from their windows.

Alila Napa Valley
The luxury adults-only Alila Napa Valley might be located in a wine region of California that isn’t always considered a place for leaf-peeping, but that’s just not true! Guests can enjoy biking around the quaint town of St. Helena, the surrounding countryside, colored in autumn majesty, along with the access to over 400 nearby wineries. The hotel also offers 68 room and suite options with balconies or oversized terraces complete with firepits to snuggle up to on those colder nights.

Woodstock Inn & Resort
The storied Woodstock Inn & Resort in Woodstock, Vermont offers a great place from which to enjoy the autumn majesties in one of the best places in the country to experience them. The resort offers a historic stay that offers great fall experiences like golfing, fly-fishing and hiking miles of scenic trails throughout the Vermont countryside.

The Georges
The Georges is a three-building historic property in Lexington, Virginia offering a unique stay across its 21 guest rooms. This boutique hotel is locally owned and offers three dining options, but its location is one of its greatest draws: it’s located within a small city offering 78,000 acres of state and national parks to explore, including the Allegheny and Blue Ridge mountain ranges. Hiking, biking, fishing, paddling and other fun outdoor experiences are all on offer here.

The Nines
Located in downtown Portland, Oregon is The Nines, part of The Luxury Collection. This LEED Silver Certified hotel offers a great spot from which to discover the city’s fall glories, plus it’s only a short car ride or walk away from The Portland Japanese Garden, a 5.5-acre park located within Washington Park and offering a traditional glimpse into Japanese horticulture and garden design. The Nines offers a selection of room and suite options, along with two restaurants and a lounge.

Chebeague Island Inn
Unplug and let nature reign at the secluded Chebeague Island Inn, the only hotel located on Chebeague Island. Only a short ferry ride from Portland, Maine, Chebeague Island Inn offers not TVs, no cell service and no Internet, offering a perfect escape for those looking for a digital detox this fall. Guests can walk the beach, bike around the island’s scenic routes, head to the golf course or just roast s’mores on your own firepit. The historic hotel offers 21 different guestrooms to choose from, farm-to-table meals, yoga classes, tennis course and more.

St. James Hotel
Located in Red Wing, Minnesota is the Victorian-style St. James Hotel, offering 67 guestrooms. It’s a member of the Historic Hotels of America and offers views of the scenic Mississippi River, two dining options, bike rentals and plenty of things to do nearby. Located near Frontenac State Park, one of the best areas in the nation for watching migratory birds during the transition seasons, and near Lake Pepin, there’s so many outdoor activities to enjoy while taking in the crisp air and golden leaves.

The Grand Hotel
The historic Grand Hotel on scenic and motor-less Mackinac Island in Michigan is a great option for travelers looking for a slow, relaxing falll vacation filled with outdoor activities and fall fun. A member of Historic Hotels of America, The Grand Hotel has welcomed presidents, starlets and other notables since its opening. Rooms range from one bedrooms rooms to suites and even a private cottage. The hotel offers dining, golfing, a salon, afternoon tea, stables and more.