Naz / October 22, 2004 11:02 AM

I was in Missouri a few weekends ago. Out in the backwoods, the foliage was amazing. Stunning patches of the colours of fall for miles.

Ken / October 22, 2004 11:05 AM

I'm a little biased, but the University of Chicago quad is pretty gorgeous this time of year.

Andrew / October 22, 2004 11:11 AM

I like to drive up Sheridan Road through the North Shore. There's a canopy of trees along most of the drive. Beautiful.

Ian / October 22, 2004 11:18 AM

I can't speak for this year, but last year the Morton Arboretum was pretty spectacular. It can get busy on the week-end, so go during the week if possible.

Mike / October 22, 2004 11:24 AM

Around here the best place is either Humboldt Park or Lincoln Park, but the best place in the whole world is the north shore of Lake superior in N. Minnesota or Ontario.

steven / October 22, 2004 12:37 PM

the Ozarks of MO are beautiful this time of year, so is N. Michigan.

Suzanne / October 22, 2004 12:39 PM

Skyline drive in the Shenadoah Mountains in VA.

pat / October 22, 2004 12:44 PM

my personal favorite: the drive to madison/the house on the rock.

But I'm finding that the tree lined streets of edgewater are pretty spectacular on the local level.

Ruthie / October 22, 2004 1:44 PM

I'd like to second the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota, although the fall color peaked there several weeks ago. The area gets so flooded with tourists during fall-color season that the locals call them "Leaf Peepers" and hotels fill up a year in advance.

Things are also looking mighty pretty right now down in Hyde Park, but I might be biased.

eep / October 22, 2004 1:58 PM

I'll second the Morton Arboretum. I grew up a mile from there, and the colors are always great. However, they've recently renovated parts of it, and they've jacked up their price (even for members, which sucks). If you want to go there and the place is busy as all out, here's a tip: head north on Rt. 53 about another half-mile. You'll see a forest preserve enterance on the east side of the road, sort of across from the Wal-Mart. This is Hidden Lake, and seeing as how it's butt-up against the Arboretum, it looks pretty much the same. Definitely not as big, but it's a) free and b) not as crowded. Plus, there's a lake to walk around, which is very nice.

amyc / October 22, 2004 2:15 PM

There's a nice tree at the end of my block.

Shylo / October 22, 2004 3:03 PM

Go to Hopkinton, New Hampshire if you want to see fall fuck some trees up old skool.

Maggie / October 22, 2004 3:44 PM

On Northwest Highway, through Crystal Lake, Cary and Barrington, the leaves are stunning.

margot / October 22, 2004 4:55 PM

Crested Butte, CO

There's no place like it. The colors are so intense lighting up the mountain and surrounding valley.

j3s / October 22, 2004 5:58 PM

I just got back from a long weekend in Portland - the colors changing along the Columbia River Gorge were stunning.

paul / October 22, 2004 9:02 PM

I was in central IL last weekend and went to Allerton Park. Once a private estate, the woods on the grounds contain an amazing variety of trees, which make for an amazing array of color.

Closer to home is the Ladd Aboretum along the northern stretch of McCormick Blvd. in Evanston, which makes for a nice little walk, or bike the length of McCormick through the Northshore Sculpture Park.

My favorite place is a camping spot deep within the Hoosier National Forest, just south of Brown County in IND. It's the closest drive to real wilderness. Fall is at it's best when your surrounded by it.

Heather S. / October 22, 2004 10:05 PM

Any of the various Lake County Forest Preserves

dave / October 23, 2004 2:45 AM

my favorite place in chicago is wooded island

Pete / October 23, 2004 1:09 PM

Actually, my backyard is looking pretty good at the moment. The maples are pretty vividly red. And we made our annual pumpkins trek to Dollinger Farms near Minooka yesterday, and the colors along the Illinois River were just gorgeous.

Crash / October 24, 2004 12:04 PM

Sheridan Road, from Evanston north to Highland Park. Beautiful colors, big houses, and curvy roads!

Benjy / October 24, 2004 1:43 PM

Based on suggestions here, my girlfriend and I checked out the Morton Arboretum yesterday. We'd planned to do a day trip to Wisc. but didn't get an early enough start and still wanted to see some nice trees. Thanks for the recommendation!

Steve / October 25, 2004 7:42 AM

At present, the best view is out my dining room window. I don't know shite about trees, but I do know that the leaves on the tree on our parkway is so bright and golden that it almost serves as a light source. Beeyootiful!

Of course, once they fall I'm gonna have to rake them leaves up....

vit / October 25, 2004 9:09 AM

Local -- Hyde Park
National -- You can't beat the northern east coast. New Hampshire is lovely in the fall.