Jessie KohThe consistently warm and humid climate of Southeast Asia often inspires residents to seek respite in destinations offering distinct seasonal variations. Travel provides an opportunity to experience the contrasting beauty and climatic diversity of spring, autumn, and winter, offering a welcome departure from the region’s tropical environment.
With September approaching, it means that fall is on its way too! This season marks the transition from warm to cold weather and is perhaps the best season for travellers desiring cold-but-not-too-cold weather. The beautiful colour change in leaves during the fall season is also a sight to behold, giving rise to the term “leaf-peepers” to describe the many tourists that choose to travel at this time of the year to witness fall foliage.
And for fall foliage, there’s no better place to visit than Canada: here are five places in Canada that you should make your way to in order to enjoy the stunning fall colours!
1. Niagara Falls
The American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls collectively form the Niagara Falls, which sits on the border of Ontario (Canada) and New York (USA). One of the largest waterfalls in the world by flow rate, the Niagara Falls is an iconic attraction for both Canada and USA, drawing millions of visitors every year.
The Niagara Falls are even more spectacular during autumn, thanks to the changing colours of the foliage in the wooded areas around the waterfalls. Pair the majestic falls and the beauty of the fall foliage, and you have a winning combination that is surely not to be missed.
2. 1000 Islands
Another location that straddles the Canada-USA border, the Thousand Islands are an archipelago (group of islands) comprising of 1,864 islands of varying sizes. During autumn, the greenery on the riverbanks and the islands are set ablaze with colour, turning various hues of red, gold and orange. Be it on foot, by car, by cruise or even by helicopter, you’ll be able to take in the sights of the fall foliage of the Thousand Islands, making it a great destination for a diverse range of visitors looking to explore the area using different methods.
3. Mount Royal Park
Mount Royal in Montreal is the site of Mount Royal Park, one of the city’s largest green open spaces. Although Mount Royal is more of a hill than an actual mountain, the lush greenery in the park makes it a great location to see fall foliage, while offering a spectacular view of the city. If you’re looking to get a glimpse of the famous Canadian fall foliage without venturing too far out from the cities, this park will be the perfect location for you!
4. The Laurentian Mountains
Located in Quebec, the Laurentian Mountains are a mountain range famed for its colourful fall foliage. The sugar maples and yellow birches in the Laurentian Mountains are so beautiful during autumn that the city of Mont-Tremblant has an annual festival dedicated to this visual spectacle – the aptly named Symphony of Colours. Various music concerts take place at this festival, and visitors are able to enjoy musical acts amongst the beauty of the fall foliage, not to mention other activities such as hiking and horseback riding.
5. Canyon Sainte-Anne
The steep gorge of Canyon Sainte-Anne dates back to the Ice Age and is simply awe-inspiring, with the 74m tall Sainte-Anne Falls one of the highlights here that should not be missed. This location is even more gorgeous during autumn, with scarlet and gold colours blooming all around. The network of paths and three suspension foot bridges across the canyon will give you a magnificent view of the fall foliage, and for those looking to be awed by Mother Nature, Canyon Sainte-Anne will be a must-visit!
