October 4, 2006

Just Leaf Town

Fall Drives East to West

Come summer, you hit the beach. Come fall, you hit the road — for leaves and crisp country drives. And so, our favorite day and weekend trips.

Williamstown, Mass.
Cute Cred: A dappled valley beneath Mount Greylock.
Point of View: The Mohawk Trail along Route 2 passes leaf-crammed summits, bridges, and farms.
Get Cozy: Blantyre, for Tudor elegance.
Chow Down: At Cafe Latino at Mass MoCA in nearby North Adams.
Drink Up: At swanky Mezze (the food’s good, too).
Drive Time: Three hours from Boston and NYC.

Blue Ridge Mts.,Va.
Cute Cred: Majestic mountains, colorful leaves, and charming vineyards.
Point of View: Skyline Drive, 100 miles through Shenandoah National Park.
Get Cozy: Foster Harris House, like Inn at Little Washington, for a lot less.
Chow Down: Four and Twenty Blackbirds, unexpectedly cheerful and quirky.
Drink Up: Gray Ghost Vineyards for Adieu, a late harvest Vidal Blanc.
Drive Time: An hour and a half from D.C.

Starved Rock State Park, Utica, Ill.
Color Cred: Eighteen canyons and sandstone bluffs in a blanket of trees.
Point of View: By foot, more than thirteen miles of trails. By canoe, great views from the bottom up.
Get Cozy: Starved Rock Lodge. Book Pioneer cabins (away from the families).
Chow Down: LaSalle County Historical Society’s Annual Burgoo Festival is October 8.
Drink Up: August Hill Winery for local vino.
Drive Time: An hour and a half outside of Chicago.

Murphys, Calif.
Cute Cred: Gold Rush history, boutique wineries.
Point of View: Take Route 80 through Auburn (old mining town) to Highway 49 as far as you want.
Get Cozy: Querencia, a romantic hillside B&B.
Eat Seasonally: Alchemy Market & Wine Bar/Cafe, a casual picnic pit stop.
Drink Up: Twisted Oak Winery. It’s fun, tongue-in-cheek, and crazy.
Drive Time: Two and a half hours from San Fran.

Santa Ynez Valley, Calif.
Cute Cred: Leaves, never brown; sky, rarely gray.
Point of View: Tequepis Trail runs along the Santa Ynez range near the Cachuma Lake Recreation Area.
Get Cozy: Fess Parker for inn, spa, and restaurant.
Chow Down: Lunch and weekend breakfast at Cafe Quackenbush at The General Store in Los Alamos.
Drink Up: Take a Wine Country Cycling tour. October 21 is the annual arts and crafts fest Day in the Country (805-688-1222).
Drive Time: About two and a half hours north of L.A. (Take 101 to 154.)