Michigan Location Picked Among Top 20 Best in US for Fall Colors

There's something very appropriate about the word September.

It's the -ber part. As in brrrrrr!

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After a long, hot summer, those days with high temperatures in the 90s are behind us. Comfortable days are now often accompanied by a slight chill in the air at night, and the trees are beginning to take notice. Have you seen a few hints of yellow and red yet? They're certainly becoming more common.

Fodor's Travel is widely regarded around the world as a premier source for expert travel advice. Its experts have released a list of the Top 20 Fall Foliage Destinations in the United States, and it should come as no surprise that Michigan has an entry on their list. But where?

According to Fodor's, Michigan's Upper Peninsula is not to be missed in autumn. The guide points out that the best time for fall foliage fans (or "leaf peepers", as they're sometimes called) to visit the U.P. are between the middle of September and the middle of October. The beginning of October is typically when the most colorful sights can be seen.

Michigan's Upper Peninsula features nearly two dozen state parks, most of which are replete with trees of all native Michigan varieties. Oaks and maples often provide some vibrant reds and oranges. Beech, birch, ash and sycamore trees are responsible for some of the brilliant yellows we see. Mix them all together, and it's the perfect recipe for countless leaf-peeping oohs and ahhs.

As if the trees themselves weren't enough, in many places throughout Upper Michigan (and throughout the state, if we're being honest) we can find the breathtaking colors juxtaposed with the stark blue waters of a lake or river. That makes the experience of a U.P. fall one that should not be missed.

Get the complete rundown from Fodor's Travel here.