From the Great Lakes to lazy rivers to historic villages, it's easy to find fall colors on scenic drives around the Midwest. Midwest Living's September/October issue lists 10 trip ideas to experience the beauty of the season.
In northwest Illinois, start in the town of Grand Detour and head north along the Rock River, with stops at Lowden State Park, White Pines Forest State Park, Mississippi Palisades State Park and Galena.
Twenty miles west of Iowa City, travel between the seven villages of the Amana Colonies, established by German and Swiss immigrants, then head to Amish country in Kalona.
In Wisconsin, the looping Horicon Marsh Parkway will take you through a freshwater cattail marsh and wildlife area. Birdwatchers will enjoy seeing the annual migration of geese and other birds.
In Nebraska, the drive from Grand Island to the Nebraska National Forest through the town of Broken Bow will take you from farmland to the waving grasslands of the state's Sandhills, and on to the woods.
From Sandusky, Ohio, you can reach Pelee Island in southern Ontario by a car ferry that runs through the end of September. The island has a wine pavilion where you can take a tasting tour and buy a picnic lunch, or head to the Fish Point Nature Reserve.
The Lakewalk in Duluth, Minn., is a good place to see the changing leaves along the shore of Lake Superior. You can explore eight state parks, and you'll want to plan stops at Split Rock Lighthouse, Palisade Head, Superior National Forest, Lutsen and Grand Marais.
In Indiana, start in Rockville for a tour of Parke County, which calls itself the covered bridge capital of the world, with 30 bridges built between 1856 and 1920. A covered bridge festival is scheduled for Oct. 14-23.
Fall colors typically reach their peak in mid-October along the Ohio River between Ohio and Kentucky. Start your trip in Cincinnati, cross the river at Aberdeen into Maysville, Ky., and continue to Augusta and Covington.
For a trip along the Missouri River, start in St. Joseph, Mo., head to Atchison, Kan., and drive on to Weston, Mo.
In Michigan, drive a loop from Houghton along the Keweenaw Peninsula on Lake Superior.
For detailed driving routes, check out Midwest Living magazine, and for more information on autumn drives, go to http://www.midwestliving.com/fallcolor.
