I've visited all 50 states solo, but there's one region I keep coming back to in the fall

After walking solo done each 50 states, I've recovered that autumn has a unsocial magic successful each portion of the country.

From the aureate aspens of my existent location successful Colorado to New England's bucket-list-worthy fiery maples, each region has its ain seasonal beauty and charm.

However, 1 portion of the state that has amazed maine astir is the Midwest. Despite being born and raised successful Illinois, I didn't admit the beauty and charm of this area successful the autumn until I moved away.

Often overlooked arsenic "flyover country," the Midwest transforms each autumn into a show that, to me, rivals the much celebrated leafage peeping areas of the country.

Midwestern mini towns consciousness for illustration they're built for fall

The Midwest is known for its small, agrarian towns, filled pinch farmland and a very chopped charm — which, successful my opinion, is astir evident successful the autumn months.

I particularly emotion towns for illustration Bayfield, Wisconsin, and Petoskey, Michigan, which person walkable downtown areas pinch unsocial shops and section restaurants, each surrounded by beautiful foliage.

Speaking of foliage, it doesn't get amended than the Midwest

When astir group deliberation of autumn foliage, they deliberation of New England. And I get it — I've visited the region during highest autumn foliage respective times, and ever urge others do so.

However, I've recovered that galore group don't recognize the autumn colors successful galore parts of the Midwest are conscionable arsenic brilliant.

I've been particularly impressed by really beautiful the leaves successful the Great Lakes region are, pinch abundant maple, cottonwood, oak, aspen, and birch trees that move vibrant shades of red, yellow, copper, and gold.

Outside the Great Lakes, likewise striking scenes beryllium successful Southern Illinois and Missouri (especially successful the Ozarks).

And, 1 of my favourite ways to position each of this incredible autumn foliage is pinch a scenic drive.

For example, I emotion driving the 20-mile Tunnel of Trees successful Michigan, which is particularly gorgeous successful the autumn months.

I besides bask taking a travel on the Great River Road, which winds its measurement done respective Midwestern states for illustration Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.

My hometown area successful Illinois moreover hosts multi-weekend autumn events centered connected scenic drives. These paths upwind done aggregate mini towns pinch beautiful foliage-filled roads to respective festivals filled pinch arts, crafts, food, and entertainment.

There are tons of ways to get extracurricular and explore

If you've spent clip successful the Midwest, you cognize it's overflowing pinch opportunities to get outside.

Plus, the outdoor activities don't extremity successful autumn present — pinch less crowds, cooler weather, and a backdrop of beautiful changing leaves, they only get better.

For example, I emotion hiking connected a information of the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which winds an awesome 1,200 miles done Wisconsin. I besides bask kayaking to oversea caves successful Apostle Islands National Lakeshore successful Lake Superior.

Similarly, I ever extremity to respect the changing leaves and waterfalls connected a hike astatine Gooseberry Falls State Park successful Minnesota.

Overall, there's truthful overmuch to emotion astir this portion of the state during the autumn months

As personification who grew up successful Illinois, I deliberation there's genuinely thing typical astir a Midwestern fall. From festivals and scenic drives to pome picking and a wide scope of events, there's ever thing to do.

Plus, I deliberation there's thing wholesome and unmistakably American astir the play present — harvest time, shot games, pome picking, and small-town fairs.

These elemental pleasures punctual maine of a slower, quieter time. It's not commercialized aliases overdone; it conscionable is. And somehow, successful each its quiet familiarity, it's stunning.

This communicative was primitively published connected October 2, 2025, and astir precocious updated connected September 16, 2026.