In September, leaf peepers around the country wait with bated breath as green leaves slowly begin transforming into fiery shades of orange, red, and gold. A month of transition, September brings cooler temperatures and the first days of fall. Author Nathaniel Hawthorne, an autumn enthusiast, wrote about the beauty of the season in his journal entries, many of which are now available to read online.

To celebrate the changing season, we asked readers of the National Trust’s weekly email newsletter to share their favorite places to admire colorful fall foliage. We received great responses from readers across the country, a sampling of which we share below.

Where is your favorite place to leaf peep?

Bonus points for what makes your favorite place special.

"My favorite place to leaf peep is in northern Wisconsin in the national forests and by the many lakes that are in Oneida and Vilas County. The hardwoods turning colors in fall and the splendor of tall evergreens. The forest floor is also very beautiful with the various flora that grows there. Then there is the aroma of the sunlight when it permeates the evergreens. I love it." - Lynne M.

"My favorite place to view fall colors is in the historic ghost town of St. Elmo in Chaffee County, Colorado, which is a stop along the Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byway. The contrast of groves of aspen trees against the historic old buildings makes for great colors, combining heritage and natural beauty." - Jessica D.

"My favorite place for leaf peeping is right here in the city of Hartford [Connecticut]. Although we do have some native forest areas in the city where leaves look like those in rural areas, many of our trees are scattered about along streets, in people’s back yards, and all over parks, cemeteries and institutional grounds. Because Hartford was very wealthy in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, we have lots of very large trees of diverse species, so we get a remarkable rolling display of beautiful foliage. We can appreciate the special character and display of individual trees. We have several places that are or could be declared arboreta. And, because we are a small (17 square miles) city, we can walk, drive, or bicycle to visit many of our finest specimens. Parking is easy in most places. Stop by for a visit." - Jack H.

"For a kid born on the Western Slope of the Rockies where aspens reigned in fall, I am especially grateful that I, at 97, legally blind and dependent on a walker, have a whole forest of color outside my deck door. It's a hybrid pear that turns red, orange, yellow, and purple in mixed areas all over the tree—a blinding (that's a joke) display of color that lasts for months! The colors fill both openings to my rooms, and when finally, the last leaf falls, I can see a grove of five giant redwoods!" - Mary W.

"My favorite place to leaf peep is in Pennsylvania driving north (or south) on Interstate 81. The rolling hills are beautiful in the fall, vast expanses of red, yellow and orange, with some green mixed in for contrast. The view is gorgeous. Looking at the trees, you would never know that this is coal country, now covered in what is probably second growth forests of mixed maple, oak, birch, dogwood, ash, serviceberry, sassafras, and poplar." - Bonnie H.

"My favorite place to leaf peep is my own backyard. I live in a historic farming town in Massachusetts in a house that was bult in 1767 and has acres of 'yard' around it with some very old, beautiful trees that are considered '100 year olds.'" - Betty Y.

"Northeast Iowa by Guttenberg and Colesburg, the 'Gateway to the Beautiful Hill Country.' I grew up in this area and each fall we had a beautiful show of color. Each school day we took the bus to school and between Colesburg and Edgewood we rolled through the hills and enjoyed the colorful view." - Kris U.