Top 15 Spots to View Fall Foliage by Boat

Can you feel it? The weather's starting to change, Starbucks has brought back their pumpkin drinks and almost all home good stores have decked out their shelves in Fall and Halloween décor. But my favorite thing about this time of year is watching the leaves change-and, of course, football Saturdays. I am from the South after all. People travel sometimes hundreds of miles for 'leaf-peeping,' but have you ever thought of experiencing this from the water? We've added to Discover Boating's list for the best spots to catch the beauty of nature this time of year as seen from the water.

If you're ever in the Portland area, I highly encourage you to make your way to the Columbia River Gorge, no matter what time of year. Hike up Multnomah Falls, stop in Hood River for a brewery tour or just enjoy the passing scenery. The peak times to see the changing of the leaves lasts only about two weeks normally, sometime between September and early October.

Lake Tahoe, and especially North Lake Tahoe, is the perfect place to see Mother Natures changing wardrobe. Watch the Sierra Nevada Mountains transform. With it being only a short drive from Reno, this is an easy destination to travel to.

Just outside of the famous Keystone and Breckenridge ski resorts sits the Dillon Reservoir. The area is known for the Dillon Yacht Club-the nation's highest sailing club with an elevation of 9,017 feet above sea level-and for the beautiful yellow and gold leaves produced by the Aspen trees dotting the area.

Door County, Wisconsin can be traveled to in about an hour by car from Green Bay, or real boating enthusiasts can take a week-long trek to make their way along Lake Michigan to the area. The area is known for its state park, wineries and lighthouse.

Mackinac Island may just be the pride of Michigan. Located on Lake Huron, visitors have to take a ferry just to get to the island. But once there, they can enjoy the beauties of nature, relax at the Grand Hotel or visit Fort Mackinac. Peak leaf-peeping season normally takes places within the first two weeks of October here.

Can you think of a place that embodies the fall season more than a national park in Maine? Acadia National Park, located on Mt Desert Island on the coast of Maine, is an outdoor lover's paradise. From seeing wildlife like moose to the array of birches, oaks and maples making up a rainbow of hues, this peaceful oasis is any boater's dream.

Whether you're looking for America's own version of the Loch Ness monster or just wanting to watch the seasons change, Lake Champlain is an ideal location to spend some time on the water. For motorists, the Lake Champlain Byway was just ranked by Geotab as one of America's most iconic road trips.

The stunning fall colors are in full force in the Hudson River Valley. Enjoyed by boaters, motorists and bird watchers, the area comes alive this time of year. The best way to take in all the sites is by renting kayaks to enjoy a peaceful meander around the waterways-this will also ensure you won't scare away the bald eagles and herons before you can get a good look at them.

Niagara Falls draws in over a million visitors a year. With so many people wanting to see the Falls up close, two all-new, completely electric, zero-emission catamaran-style boats are being deployed in mid-September to help make tours to the Falls more environmentally friendly. Fall is the best time to visit the area as much of the summer traffic has died down and the changing of the leaves provides a beautiful backdrop to the magnificent falls.

You may not know how to say its name, but Lake Nockamixon is a great place for novice and professional boaters alike. The lake itself takes up more than a thousand acres of the over five thousand acres Nockamixon State Park to the north of Philadelphia.

Located on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay sits St. Michaels and one of the best-loved maritime museums. The town itself is the picture-perfect setting to the American Dream-with pie baking competitions, pumpkin carving contests and even an OysterFest. The best time to see the changing leaves is thought to be in the third week of October.

Lake Norman is a favorite getaway for those living in the Charlotte area. Only 20 miles north of the city, it offers a world of escape from the busy city lifestyle. Those wanting to visit to see nature's fireworks will be rewarded by traveling to the area anytime between October and early November.

As you travel further south, it normally takes the leaves longer before they start changing colors. With a similar viewing season to Lake Norman, Lake Keowee in South Carolina is just about an hour outside of Greenville. The lake is a favorite among recreational boaters and skiers.

Nestled among the North Georgia Mountains sits Lake Burton. With 2,800 acres of shoreline, there are plenty of alcoves to just sit back and enjoy the changing of the leaves among the mountains. Just be sure to also make the cruise by Nick Saban's $11 million lakefront home.

Located in Middle Tennessee, just over an hour's drive from Nashville, is Center Hill Lake. Surrounded in the west by Edgar Evins State Park, this reservoir was made in the late 1940s and has been a local favorite ever since.