One-tank trips: Autumn awaits, this side of the rainbow
ONE-TANK TRIPS | You don't have to venture far from Chicago to bask in fall colors
One of the few upsides to the end of summer is the start of leaf-peeping season.
Take a peek at some of these nearby fall color hot spots within a tank of gas from Chicago, because you should be watching the colorful scenery, not the price at the pump:
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Folger offers these tips for amateur photographers trying to get good shots of autumn color in any region:
-- Don't discount overcast days for shooting. Cloudy days are great because colors are more saturated.
-- On sunny days, try lying on the ground, looking up through a tree with the sun coming through the leaves, and watch the colors explode as you shoot.
-- Try focusing on a single branch or one glorious leaf instead of trying to get a panoramic view of an entire valley or mountain range.
-- Use an ordinary pair of blue sunglasses as a light filter by holding it in front of your camera lens to intensify the colors.
AP
STARVED ROCK: One of the Seven Wonders of Illinois, this state park near Utica boasts 18 canyons and some of the most vibrant foliage in the state. Visitors can picnic, camp and horseback ride, and special guided hikes lead you to the best of the park's autumn hues. Don't miss Fall Colors Weekend, Oct. 18-19. If Starved Rock is too crowded, scoot over to nearby Matthiessen State Park -- less discovered and just as lovely; www.starvedrockstatepark.org.
APPLE RIVER CANYON: You won't see a ton of people, but you will spot plenty of limestone bluffs, ravines and brightly lit trees in this 297-acre state park in the town of Apple River, near the Wisconsin border. This scenic canyon was carved by the Apple River and includes five hiking trails; http://dnr.state.il.us, click on "Parks & Recreation."
MORTON ARBORETUM: This Lisle attraction might even be closer than your daily commute. More than 4,000 types of trees, shrubs and plants from around the globe are spread throughout this suburban sanctuary, where you can get up-to-date foliage info by calling the Bloom 'n' Color Hotline at (630) 719-7955; www.mortonarb.org.
LAKE GENEVA: Once called the Newport of the Midwest, Lake Geneva long has been a favorite escape for Chicagoans. The lake really comes alive in the fall, when the surrounding trees put on an impressive show. The best way to take it all in is by walking the 20.6-mile path around the lake. In addition to seeing some great color, you'll also get a peek at the old mansions built by wealthy Chicagoans in the 1890s and early 1900s. Time your visit to coincide with Oktoberfest, Oct. 11-12; www.lakegenevawi.com.
KETTLE MORAINE STATE FOREST: A whopping 22,000 acres of glacial hills, lakes, prairie restoration sites, pine woods and hardwood forests means you'll have plenty of ground to cover in the so-called Southern Unit of this massive park. The Emma Carlin and John Muir trails are great for hiking and biking, while the 115-mile Kettle Moraine Scenic Drive will send you on a picturesque road trip through six Wisconsin counties; www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/kmscenicdrive/.
HOLY HILL: The town of Hubertus is home to Holy Hill, a minor basilica and National Shrine of Mary that happens to be on one of the highest points in southern Wisconsin (read: scenic views). This cathedral and monastery, dating back to the mid-1800s, is hosting its annual arts and crafts fair -- featuring more than 230 exhibitors -- Sept. 20. If you like to look at fall colors from the golf course, swing by the nationally acclaimed Erin Hills Golf Course in nearby Hartford; www.holyhill.com.
SOUTH BEND: College campuses often make great backdrops for fall colors, and University of Notre Dame is at the head of the class. If your visit coincides with a home football game, escape the mayhem and head to Potato Creek State Park just a short drive away. Take a good look at the trees in this 3,800-acre nature preserve and you're bound to spot something else: birds. It's been dubbed an "Important Bird Area" by the National Audubon Society; www.livethelegends.org.
HARBOR COUNTRY: A collection of cute towns clustered near the lake in southwest Michigan, Harbor Country is full of art galleries, orchards, pumpkin farms and rolling country roads perfect for a scenic drive -- or better yet, bike ride. The bicycle club in the town of Three Oaks puts on a superb event each autumn called the Apple Cider Century (Sept. 28), where more than 7,000 cyclists pedal up to 100 miles around Harbor Country; www.harborcountry.org.